Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 1, 2022

5,826 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $186.58/cwt -2.41 vs last sale · ≈ $1,164/hd at 624 lb · 573 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $182.97/cwt +0.70 vs last sale · ≈ $1,052/hd at 575 lb · 381 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $189.57/cwt +0.19 vs last sale · ≈ $1,006/hd at 531 lb · 304 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,826 5,919 4,214
Feeder cattle 5,586 5,604 3,923
Slaughter cattle 159 280 192
Replacement cattle 81 35 99

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale: Yearling steers and heifer were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Yearling cattle were mostly average to attractive in quality. Most yearlings on offer were out of a grow lot this sale, however most were in light to moderate flesh, with only a few sorts of fleshy offerings noticed. Demand for all yearlings was good. Steer calves sold generally steady on all offerings this sale. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold 5.00 lower on a poorer quality offering. 550-599 lbs heifers sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher, all other weights of heifer calves sold generally steady. Quality this week was mixed and varied greatly. Heavy offerings were seen this sale as cattle were consigned from a large geographic area. Demand was mostly moderate for heavy offerings. A large buyer pool was on hand for todays sale with very good buyer participation noted. Market activity was mostly active throughout todays long sale which stretched late into the evening. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on both feeding and slaughter cows. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too narrowly compared as well. Demand for young cows suitable to rebreed was stronger this sale compared to two weeks ago.

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
311 311 7 285.00 $285.00 $886 —
300–349 unweaned 320 27 273.00–290.00 $277.52 $888 +19.61
356 356 4 285.00 $285.00 $1,015 —
360–375 unweaned 369 32 251.00–280.00 $264.65 $977 +6.84
420 420 2 244.00 $244.00 $1,025 —
400–448 unweaned 432 181 235.00–255.00 $245.59 $1,061 -5.63
451–494 unweaned 467 104 219.00–240.00 $229.55 $1,072 +1.18
465–487 482 20 224.00–241.00 $228.56 $1,102 +1.14
503–541 unweaned 519 196 197.50–218.00 $206.80 $1,073 +1.94
562–592 569 64 190.00–198.00 $196.52 $1,118 +0.46
551–597 unweaned 582 205 187.00–202.00 $193.80 $1,128 -1.31
611–648 622 115 179.00–198.50 $193.77 $1,205 +0.77
600–649 unweaned 624 458 178.00–192.00 $184.78 $1,153 -4.17
650–698 unweaned 679 148 171.00–183.50 $176.85 $1,201 -9.74
680–694 684 33 179.00–182.50 $181.46 $1,241 +4.96
709–745 732 100 170.00–188.50 $185.63 $1,359 —
759 759 7 170.50 $170.50 $1,294 —
808–822 unweaned 819 43 177.00–186.00 $184.35 $1,510 —
820–821 821 25 174.50–179.00 $174.86 $1,436 —
859–881 860 116 169.50–189.25 $188.38 $1,620 —
960–993 979 17 159.50–161.00 $160.39 $1,570 —
1000–1008 1002 328 175.00–182.00 $180.43 $1,808 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
248 unweaned 248 3 300.00 $300.00 $744 ±0.00
323 323 4 235.00 $235.00 $759 —
325 unweaned 325 5 235.00 $235.00 $764 -5.95
375–392 unweaned 381 16 221.00–240.00 $228.32 $870 -11.34
430 430 10 237.00 $237.00 $1,019 +4.50
427–447 unweaned 434 30 220.00–226.00 $225.31 $978 -3.56
480–488 unweaned 488 65 195.00–210.00 $199.76 $975 -4.63
508–536 527 110 179.00–194.00 $186.74 $984 -0.76
503–545 unweaned 530 67 181.00–205.00 $191.65 $1,016 -1.86
550–566 unweaned 554 38 181.00–189.00 $187.65 $1,040 +3.99
580–582 581 7 176.00–196.00 $190.30 $1,106 +6.30
601 601 5 180.00 $180.00 $1,082 —
605–649 unweaned 630 11 174.00–177.00 $176.74 $1,113 +5.95
655 unweaned 655 5 175.00 $175.00 $1,146 —
691 691 6 164.00 $164.00 $1,133 -1.53
711 711 8 183.00 $183.00 $1,301 —
720–725 unweaned 724 7 168.00–169.00 $168.72 $1,222 —
768 768 5 175.00 $175.00 $1,344 —
903–906 904 11 156.00–169.00 $161.92 $1,464 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
716 unweaned 716 7 169.00 $169.00 $1,210 +1.00
1056 1056 58 167.00 $167.00 $1,764 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 20 258.00 $258.00 $1,006 —
414 unweaned 414 4 222.50 $222.50 $921 —
454 454 22 206.00 $206.00 $935 —
507 unweaned 507 5 189.00 $189.00 $958 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
414 unweaned 414 13 210.00 $210.00 $869 —
785 785 5 167.00 $167.00 $1,311 —
815 815 11 157.00 $157.00 $1,280 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
447 unweaned 447 7 155.00 $155.00 $693 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1028 1028 4 136.00 $136.00 $1,398 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 5 207.50 $207.50 $654 —
310–320 unweaned 317 3 205.00–210.00 $206.63 $655 -22.96
366–379 375 21 215.00–223.00 $217.60 $816 —
358–391 unweaned 389 56 200.00–220.00 $206.41 $803 -13.38
413–441 unweaned 428 58 198.00–214.00 $205.14 $878 -9.08
436 436 9 184.00 $184.00 $802 -22.00
415–449 444 100 200.00–213.00 $207.68 $922 +1.68
454–456 455 33 204.00–210.00 $208.18 $947 +21.60
454–497 unweaned 475 150 186.00–200.00 $191.32 $909 -3.95
506–534 516 94 183.00–193.00 $190.88 $985 +4.38
511–548 unweaned 537 210 178.00–196.50 $188.99 $1,015 +0.55
553–591 unweaned 570 253 171.00–189.00 $180.43 $1,028 -0.44
578–587 584 128 188.00 $188.00 $1,098 —
604 604 13 180.50 $180.50 $1,090 +13.50
606–616 unweaned 611 87 161.50–179.00 $172.25 $1,052 +2.50
653–662 unweaned 655 28 155.50–169.00 $159.51 $1,045 -6.14
669 669 14 164.50 $164.50 $1,101 —
700–718 702 28 163.00–165.00 $164.78 $1,157 —
707 unweaned 707 7 166.00 $166.00 $1,174 +1.97
883 883 28 169.00 $169.00 $1,492 —
912 912 12 164.00 $164.00 $1,496 —
914 unweaned 914 16 164.50 $164.50 $1,504 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
346 346 7 199.00 $199.00 $689 —
348 unweaned 348 2 191.00 $191.00 $665 -31.50
378–396 unweaned 390 17 182.00–200.00 $189.95 $741 -14.39
403–427 unweaned 417 8 172.00–206.50 $182.31 $760 -6.50
427 427 9 185.00 $185.00 $790 —
451–484 unweaned 474 54 165.00–175.00 $172.25 $816 -9.77
460–498 487 17 178.00–181.00 $178.83 $871 +21.33
520 520 27 177.00 $177.00 $920 +5.00
511–546 unweaned 524 66 159.00–177.00 $167.94 $880 -6.65
558 558 3 157.00 $157.00 $876 —
584–598 unweaned 588 12 147.00–169.00 $163.81 $963 -5.02
614 unweaned 614 4 165.00 $165.00 $1,013 —
628 628 6 156.00 $156.00 $980 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318 unweaned 318 12 195.00 $195.00 $620 —
366 unweaned 366 8 192.50 $192.50 $705 —
400–446 426 9 174.00–176.00 $174.84 $745 —
471 unweaned 471 24 177.00 $177.00 $834 —
533–534 534 16 164.00–172.00 $167.00 $892 —
828 828 7 163.50 $163.50 $1,354 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
407–418 unweaned 409 34 165.00–171.00 $169.74 $694 —
430 430 6 173.00 $173.00 $744 —
498 unweaned 498 4 155.00 $155.00 $772 —
750 750 5 131.00 $131.00 $982 —
872 872 3 132.00 $132.00 $1,151 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
376–381 379 25 172.50–179.00 $176.42 $669 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
611–645 unweaned 631 20 154.00–159.00 $156.76 $989 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1021 1021 10 139.00 $139.00 $1,419 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
357 unweaned 357 5 230.00 $230.00 $821 —
538 unweaned 538 11 188.00 $188.00 $1,011 +9.00
629 unweaned 629 4 169.00 $169.00 $1,063 —
743 743 9 165.00 $165.00 $1,226 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1107 1107 20 123.00 $123.00 $1,362 —
1196 1196 7 116.50 $116.50 $1,393 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 12 191.00 $191.00 $774 —
535 unweaned 535 4 178.00 $178.00 $952 —
858 858 3 152.00 $152.00 $1,304 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426 426 14 170.00 $170.00 $724 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110 1110 85-90% 1 59.00 $59.00 $655 —
1163–1171 1169 85-90% 5 56.50–57.00 $56.60 $662 +1.95
1105–1261 1196 85-90% 14 58.00–63.50 $61.79 $739 +7.14
1045–1285 1208 85-90% 8 52.00–57.00 $55.70 $673 +1.54
1220 1220 85-90% 2 69.00 $69.00 $842 +14.84
1065–1440 1236 85-90% 8 40.00–46.00 $42.62 $527 -11.54
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1270–1440 1335 80-85% 17 57.00–63.00 $60.94 $814 —
1308–1565 1377 80-85% 10 50.00–60.00 $54.09 $745 —
1330–1545 1445 80-85% 6 66.00–76.00 $73.29 $1,059 +15.93
1482 1482 80-85% 5 70.00 $70.00 $1,037 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1438–1543 1491 75-80% 6 75.00–76.50 $75.78 $1,130 +0.78

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080 1080 1 61.00 $61.00 $659 —
1455–2060 1727 11 74.00–85.00 $80.07 $1,383 —
2030 2030 1 89.00 $89.00 $1,807 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
835–1040 934 (<2 yrs)Open 12 90.00–105.00 $96.49 $901
968–1130 1027 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 26 60.00–85.00 $74.19 $762

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1064–1097 thin fleshed 1074 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 10 1,175.00–1,185.00 $1,178.06
1133–1310 1158 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 7 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1164 thin fleshed 1164 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,125.00 $1,125.00

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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.