Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 17, 2022

5,919 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction report →

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $228.35/cwt +1.34 vs last sale · ≈ $1,090/hd at 477 lb · 622 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $195.17/cwt +0.06 vs last sale · ≈ $1,117/hd at 572 lb · 397 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $188.99/cwt -2.85 vs last sale · ≈ $1,183/hd at 626 lb · 304 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,919 3,295 4,850
Feeder cattle 5,604 3,037 4,252
Slaughter cattle 280 179 386
Replacement cattle 35 79 212

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifer were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 lower, 450-499 lbs steers sold steady to 10.00 lower, steer calves over 500 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower. Heifer calves under 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, heifers over 600 lbs sold unevenly steady. Quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive with lots of variance seen this week. Demand for feeders was mostly light to moderate. Cold and snowy conditions have been seen over the past week and cattle have greened up considerably. Weather was a big factor in demand for light calves today as buyers backed up calf prices due to concern over weather stress. Todays high was only 21 degrees and tonight's low is forecasted for the low single digits, the coldest of the fall. A large buyer pool was on hand for todays sale, with both farmer feeders and order buyers actively bidding on offerings. Market activity was mostly mostly active today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and light offerings. Cow quality was mostly plain to average today. Both slaughter and feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on both classes. Packers showed mostly light demand for slaughter cows as they put most cows away on feed, either for the upcoming holidays or to feed to premium white. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
322–338 unweaned 336 26 252.50–262.50 $257.91 $867 —
350–390 unweaned 374 16 252.00–266.00 $257.81 $964 -29.01
411–421 unweaned 417 244 240.00–256.00 $251.22 $1,048 -3.64
450–458 455 14 227.00–228.00 $227.42 $1,035 -2.31
450–495 unweaned 478 608 214.00–238.00 $228.37 $1,092 +1.69
502–549 unweaned 526 222 197.00–214.00 $204.86 $1,078 -1.95
528 528 10 209.00 $209.00 $1,104 -3.00
553–580 559 26 187.00–200.00 $196.06 $1,096 -0.06
554–598 unweaned 573 371 190.00–205.00 $195.11 $1,118 +0.36
605 605 3 193.00 $193.00 $1,168 —
608–647 unweaned 626 301 181.00–194.00 $188.95 $1,183 -2.89
650–683 unweaned 667 141 178.00–191.00 $186.59 $1,245 —
676 676 14 176.50 $176.50 $1,193 -16.46
700–745 unweaned 723 117 170.00–183.00 $176.52 $1,276 -4.75
774–794 unweaned 784 14 167.00–170.00 $168.48 $1,321 -1.02
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
217 unweaned 217 3 300.00 $300.00 $651 —
274 unweaned 274 16 270.00 $270.00 $740 —
341–344 unweaned 344 87 240.00–241.00 $240.95 $829 -34.91
371–398 unweaned 389 17 230.00–246.00 $239.66 $932 —
413 413 4 232.50 $232.50 $960 —
411–447 unweaned 428 58 220.00–235.00 $228.87 $980 -11.76
473–496 491 24 208.50–210.00 $208.80 $1,025 —
485–499 unweaned 491 35 197.50–211.00 $204.39 $1,004 —
524 524 4 187.50 $187.50 $982 —
506–538 unweaned 532 48 188.00–194.50 $193.51 $1,029 +3.38
552–598 unweaned 573 27 181.00–185.00 $183.66 $1,052 +0.75
582 582 22 184.00 $184.00 $1,071 —
606–639 unweaned 623 79 163.00–178.00 $170.79 $1,064 -8.95
645 645 5 180.00 $180.00 $1,161 —
659–665 662 21 165.00–166.00 $165.53 $1,096 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
444 unweaned 444 40 205.00 $205.00 $910 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
371 unweaned 371 10 248.00 $248.00 $920 —
570 unweaned 570 6 186.00 $186.00 $1,060 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
723 unweaned 723 13 168.00 $168.00 $1,215 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215–245 unweaned 241 17 240.00–241.00 $240.90 $581 —
308–335 unweaned 332 95 228.00–230.00 $229.59 $762 +7.29
350–392 unweaned 373 155 210.00–223.00 $219.79 $820 +5.56
410 410 24 206.00 $206.00 $845 -2.00
405–449 unweaned 421 250 197.00–218.00 $214.22 $902 +6.08
450–497 unweaned 471 237 186.00–209.50 $195.27 $920 +0.24
465–496 487 29 184.00–190.00 $186.58 $909 -6.42
502 502 8 186.50 $186.50 $936 -5.00
511 fancy 511 38 196.00 $196.00 $1,002 —
502–547 unweaned 522 243 184.50–193.75 $188.44 $984 +4.61
551 fancy 551 22 191.00 $191.00 $1,052 —
550–598 unweaned 568 137 172.00–189.00 $180.87 $1,027 +0.31
615 615 6 167.00 $167.00 $1,027 -8.00
603–649 unweaned 619 192 163.00–173.50 $169.75 $1,051 -5.95
648 648 30 175.50 $175.50 $1,137 —
650–694 unweaned 678 57 164.00–168.00 $165.65 $1,123 +1.25
705–744 unweaned 723 15 160.50–167.00 $164.03 $1,186 +8.03
751 fancy 751 28 170.25 $170.25 $1,279 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 unweaned 345 4 222.50 $222.50 $768 —
352–395 unweaned 371 41 195.00–211.00 $204.34 $758 +9.34
404–434 unweaned 422 22 184.00–197.50 $188.81 $797 -4.19
464 464 10 157.50 $157.50 $731 -20.00
458–490 unweaned 481 43 170.00–185.00 $182.02 $876 -0.03
525 525 4 172.00 $172.00 $903 +2.00
525–538 unweaned 534 28 167.50–179.00 $174.59 $932 +1.29
580–596 unweaned 593 10 164.00–170.00 $168.83 $1,001 +14.94
660 unweaned 660 7 155.00–159.00 $157.29 $1,038 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423 unweaned 423 15 196.00 $196.00 $829 —
604 604 45 163.50 $163.50 $988 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
486 unweaned 486 5 186.00 $186.00 $904 —
507–549 unweaned 521 18 175.00–176.00 $175.65 $915 -0.35
583 unweaned 583 11 161.00 $161.00 $939 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 520 19 149.00 $149.00 $775 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
589 unweaned 589 6 146.00 $146.00 $860 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 unweaned 535 3 179.00 $179.00 $958 -18.00
770 unweaned 770 5 148.00 $148.00 $1,140 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810 810 85-90% 1 46.00 $46.00 $373 —
925–950 938 85-90% 2 57.00–57.50 $57.25 $537 +13.25
1028–1210 1046 85-90% 13 37.50–42.00 $38.84 $406 —
1026–1375 1175 85-90% 48 48.00–58.00 $54.65 $642 -5.47
950–1314 1218 85-90% 43 50.50–59.00 $54.16 $660 -7.69
1115–1348 1254 85-90% 22 59.00–63.50 $60.28 $756 +18.44
1110–1318 1279 85-90% 7 61.00–62.00 $61.26 $784 +19.42
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1335–1550 1407 80-85% 22 68.50–73.25 $71.19 $1,002 +7.63
1335–1495 1409 80-85% 18 53.00–63.00 $58.97 $831 -4.59
1320–1503 1426 80-85% 38 55.00–60.00 $57.36 $818 -17.34
1621 1621 80-85% 4 74.00 $74.00 $1,200 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1457 1457 75-80% 24 75.00 $75.00 $1,093 —
1570 1570 75-80% 4 69.50 $69.50 $1,091 -10.50
1605–1990 1706 75-80% 8 69.00–74.50 $72.69 $1,240 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1300 1300 1 71.00 $71.00 $923 —
1430–2120 1665 5 74.50–88.50 $79.32 $1,321 —
1675–1855 1765 2 90.00 $90.00 $1,588 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
738 thin fleshed 738 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 72.50 $72.50 $535
879–1030 923 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 22 70.00–91.00 $80.65 $744

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.