Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 8, 2022

4,750 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $200.48/cwt +6.04 vs last sale · ≈ $1,152/hd at 575 lb · 419 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $192.63/cwt +6.05 vs last sale · ≈ $1,203/hd at 625 lb · 380 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $215.66/cwt +8.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,132/hd at 525 lb · 308 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,750 5,826 4,492
Feeder cattle 4,199 5,586 3,607
Slaughter cattle 368 159 588
Replacement cattle 183 81 297

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifer were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was mostly moderate to good. Yearling cattle were mostly average to attractive in quality. Steer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. 400-449 lbs steers sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher, steer calves over 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, heifers over 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower on a lower quality offering. Demand for light weight calves did diminish as the sale progressed and buyers filled loads. Quality this week was mixed and varied greatly, much like last week. Demand for calves was mostly moderate to good. Many sets of weaned calves were seen this week. Weaned calves showed the greatest variation in quality as some were weaned very well, while others were still full bellied and rough haired. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week with good participation seen from both order buyers and farmer feeders. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested last sale to develop a full market trend, however lower 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 lightly tested last week to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand for young cows suitable to rebreed was stronger again this sale.

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
340–342 unweaned 341 14 260.00–268.00 $265.15 $904 -12.37
355–388 385 35 250.00–272.50 $253.18 $975 -31.82
386 unweaned 386 6 275.00 $275.00 $1,062 +10.35
403–439 unweaned 413 102 245.00–264.00 $257.97 $1,065 +12.38
410–444 433 31 239.00–258.00 $246.22 $1,066 +2.22
455–467 unweaned 461 14 225.00–245.00 $230.41 $1,062 +0.86
455–489 476 157 224.00–242.00 $229.54 $1,093 +0.98
500–549 unweaned 523 120 203.00–226.00 $212.66 $1,112 +5.86
501–549 526 188 202.00–234.00 $217.57 $1,144 —
552–596 unweaned 574 202 187.00–206.75 $201.37 $1,156 +7.57
553–598 575 217 191.00–205.50 $199.66 $1,148 +3.14
602–639 618 215 187.50–204.00 $194.13 $1,200 +0.36
608–647 unweaned 633 165 183.50–197.00 $190.68 $1,207 +5.90
653–698 unweaned 665 98 177.00–182.50 $181.29 $1,206 +4.44
658–693 668 81 177.50–189.00 $183.10 $1,223 +1.64
702–739 unweaned 718 33 183.00–186.00 $184.31 $1,323 —
713–725 719 73 178.50–180.00 $178.80 $1,286 -6.83
737–738 737 8 171.00–172.00 $171.75 $1,266 -13.88
758–766 unweaned 760 15 175.00–178.00 $177.19 $1,347 —
756–784 763 22 170.00–177.00 $171.31 $1,307 +0.81
804–831 812 19 165.00–177.00 $171.10 $1,389 -3.76
856 856 9 170.00 $170.00 $1,455 -18.38
933 933 7 167.00 $167.00 $1,558 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
341 unweaned 341 7 257.50 $257.50 $878 +22.50
360 360 3 227.50 $227.50 $819 —
355–395 376 19 232.50–247.50 $237.34 $892 —
382–398 unweaned 395 16 230.00–234.00 $233.27 $921 +4.95
406–413 410 10 222.50–240.00 $229.43 $941 -7.57
410–438 unweaned 427 10 220.00–240.00 $226.26 $966 +0.95
470–484 481 11 207.00–218.50 $214.36 $1,031 —
483–495 unweaned 485 17 214.00–217.50 $216.05 $1,048 +16.29
489 489 17 193.00 $193.00 $944 —
503–513 510 6 187.50–213.00 $195.89 $999 +9.15
515–549 unweaned 538 8 193.00–197.00 $195.52 $1,052 +3.87
555–595 563 50 177.00–189.50 $185.81 $1,046 -4.49
613 613 2 181.00 $181.00 $1,110 +1.00
618–641 unweaned 631 7 176.00–179.00 $177.74 $1,122 +1.00
653–680 unweaned 663 12 168.00–176.00 $172.42 $1,143 -2.58
704–710 706 6 171.00–174.50 $173.33 $1,224 -9.67
773 773 3 168.00 $168.00 $1,299 -7.00
839 839 8 168.50 $168.50 $1,414 —
988 988 4 155.00 $155.00 $1,531 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1302 1302 19 124.00 $124.00 $1,614 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 391 4 222.50 $222.50 $870 -35.50
405 unweaned 405 4 220.00 $220.00 $891 -2.50
408 408 8 222.50 $222.50 $908 —
598 598 3 165.00 $165.00 $987 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
466 466 10 135.00 $135.00 $629 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
876 876 8 150.00 $150.00 $1,314 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311–333 unweaned 316 9 215.00 $215.00 $679 +8.37
378 378 2 208.00 $208.00 $786 -9.60
381–388 unweaned 381 29 206.00–211.00 $210.65 $803 +4.24
400–443 unweaned 432 12 201.00–210.00 $204.85 $885 -0.29
427–436 432 159 202.00–213.00 $208.24 $900 +24.24
450–497 473 103 194.00–208.50 $203.86 $964 -4.32
457–496 unweaned 479 96 186.50–205.00 $199.03 $953 +7.71
507–549 unweaned 517 61 189.50–205.00 $197.94 $1,023 +8.95
530–546 532 50 190.00–201.00 $199.42 $1,061 +8.54
504–548 536 100 188.00–197.50 $192.56 $1,032 +1.68
552–582 570 64 187.00–196.50 $190.25 $1,084 +2.25
565–578 575 12 160.50–169.00 $166.91 $960 -21.09
555–583 unweaned 576 39 186.50–189.50 $187.57 $1,080 +7.14
556–591 579 75 173.00–195.00 $185.99 $1,077 -2.01
612 612 24 176.50 $176.50 $1,080 -4.00
603–636 613 44 161.00–174.00 $169.92 $1,042 -10.58
601–641 unweaned 625 131 164.00–172.00 $165.71 $1,036 -6.54
650 650 25 170.50 $170.50 $1,108 +6.00
656 unweaned 656 6 159.50 $159.50 $1,046 -0.01
738–742 742 37 153.50–161.00 $160.39 $1,190 —
822–841 837 47 176.00–182.50 $181.01 $1,515 —
878–889 884 41 168.50–177.50 $172.64 $1,526 +3.64
915 unweaned 915 6 170.50 $170.50 $1,560 +6.00
936 936 9 161.50 $161.50 $1,512 -2.50
950–981 960 27 155.00–158.00 $156.98 $1,507 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 204.00 $204.00 $796 —
391–398 unweaned 396 13 195.00–199.00 $197.78 $783 +7.83
401–420 409 14 180.00–190.00 $185.10 $757 +0.10
473 unweaned 473 3 162.50 $162.50 $769 -9.75
470–485 483 6 178.00–191.50 $189.31 $914 +10.48
505–526 unweaned 515 11 172.00–184.00 $178.32 $918 +10.38
522–537 534 13 164.00–172.50 $165.92 $886 -11.08
555–586 unweaned 573 9 150.00–172.00 $159.29 $913 -4.52
550–583 575 4 158.00–169.00 $160.63 $924 +3.63
636 unweaned 636 5 158.00 $158.00 $1,005 -7.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
483 483 3 188.00 $188.00 $908 —
487 unweaned 487 7 181.00 $181.00 $881 —
508 unweaned 508 3 164.00 $164.00 $833 —
523 523 12 165.00 $165.00 $863 —
597 597 29 150.00 $150.00 $896 —
1058–1070 1059 17 150.50–156.50 $151.21 $1,601 —
1155 1155 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,790 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
304 unweaned 304 6 205.00 $205.00 $623 +10.00
337 337 8 185.00 $185.00 $623 —
378 378 2 196.00 $196.00 $741 —
495 495 3 188.50 $188.50 $933 —
501–533 508 13 175.00–175.50 $175.38 $891 +8.38
586 586 6 154.00 $154.00 $902 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
501 501 13 144.00 $144.00 $721 —
670 670 6 141.00 $141.00 $945 —
1022 1022 10 147.00 $147.00 $1,502 +8.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 6 175.00 $175.00 $600 —
392–395 393 9 175.00–180.00 $177.23 $697 —
443–449 unweaned 448 11 160.00–177.50 $163.15 $731 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
412 unweaned 412 3 235.00 $235.00 $968 —
554–587 567 26 171.00–175.00 $173.41 $983 —
673–675 673 12 169.00 $169.00 $1,137 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
541 541 4 171.00 $171.00 $925 —
614 614 6 155.00 $155.00 $952 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175 1175 85-90% 1 69.00 $69.00 $811 +12.40
1055–1283 1178 85-90% 12 32.00–40.00 $35.25 $415 -21.35
1048–1290 1179 85-90% 26 56.00–65.50 $58.61 $691 +2.01
1055–1285 1204 85-90% 80 51.00–73.00 $53.91 $649 -1.79
1000–1315 1211 85-90% 20 46.00–54.00 $50.84 $616 -4.86
1305–1340 1323 85-90% 2 56.00–57.00 $56.49 $747 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305–1365 1320 80-85% 6 67.00–74.00 $71.95 $950 +11.01
1360 1360 80-85% 1 39.00 $39.00 $530 -15.09
1365 1365 80-85% 1 78.00 $78.00 $1,065 +23.91
1265–1660 1397 80-85% 3 63.00–64.00 $63.60 $888 +9.51
1295–1530 1398 80-85% 36 54.00–64.50 $58.31 $815 +4.22
1295–1625 1465 80-85% 29 51.00–60.50 $57.68 $845 -12.32
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1590 1590 75-80% 2 63.00 $63.00 $1,002 —
1633–1839 1770 75-80% 6 57.00 $57.00 $1,009 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1605–2060 1769 7 72.00–88.00 $83.42 $1,476 —
1965 1965 1 94.00 $94.00 $1,847 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
860 thin fleshed 860 (<2 yrs)Open 4 92.50 $92.50 $796
733–1315 923 (<2 yrs)Open 67 81.00–130.50 $111.08 $1,025
933–1360 1070 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 29 59.00–81.00 $72.70 $778
1140–1304 1293 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 15 53.00–57.00 $56.76 $734
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
897–1225 979 (<2 yrs)Open 4 72.00–72.50 $72.16 $706
1052–1170 1072 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 57.00–60.50 $59.86 $642

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1032 1032 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 985.00 $985.00
1160–1250 1183 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 1,185.00–1,200.00 $1,196.04
1278 1278 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,250.00 $1,250.00

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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.