Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, January 26, 2023

4,438 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 heifers $178.65/cwt +0.40 vs last sale · ≈ $1,127/hd at 631 lb · 224 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $221.30/cwt -0.18 vs last sale · ≈ $1,160/hd at 524 lb · 165 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $193.83/cwt -0.34 vs last sale · ≈ $1,225/hd at 632 lb · 158 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,438 906 1,407
Feeder cattle 3,586 498 737
Slaughter cattle 507 307 509
Replacement cattle 345 101 161

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lighly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noted on all steer calves under 750 lbs and higher undertones were noticed on steers over 750 lbs. Heifer calves sold with steady to higher undertones on all offerings. Today was the first feeder special in three weeks, while prices were generally higher today compared to last week, compared to the last feeder special on Jan. 5th, prices were mostly steady to lower. Quality today was mixed from plain to attractive, with lots of variation in quality noted. Demand was mostly moderate for moderate offerings. Package sizes varied greatly this week. Several load lots were on offer this sale, however many small packaged and singles were see as well. Most calves were long weaned from 60-90 days. A large buyer pool was on hand this sale. Orderbuyers, buying for packers, showed very good demand for high quality heavy weight offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to trend, higher undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold 3.00-4.00 higher in a narrow compairson. Demand for bulls was mostly good as slaughter and feeding buyers competed over offerings. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly higher to sharply higher in a narrow compairson. Several sets of one iron, homeraised, ranch tested open, young cows sold today. Demand for these offerings was mostly good to very good as quality was mostly attractive.

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Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
417–436 427 69 249.00–250.00 $249.53 $1,065 —
450–488 474 46 227.00–245.00 $236.26 $1,120 -0.01
500–547 524 165 211.00–230.00 $221.30 $1,160 -0.18
550–598 577 70 205.00–210.00 $206.76 $1,193 +8.03
608–649 632 158 188.00–199.00 $193.83 $1,225 -0.34
653–692 668 111 178.50–197.00 $189.51 $1,266 -1.49
703–730 715 27 177.00–188.00 $180.89 $1,293 +0.89
753–781 772 91 178.00–182.00 $181.29 $1,400 +10.49
802–847 831 57 176.50–179.50 $177.94 $1,479 +8.94
866 fancy 866 69 182.00 $182.00 $1,576 —
991 991 9 153.00 $153.00 $1,516 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 200.00 $200.00 $400 —
384–399 393 59 235.00–250.00 $240.40 $945 -12.10
430–434 433 20 228.00–230.00 $228.50 $989 —
475–499 484 12 210.00–214.00 $211.33 $1,023 -17.99
502–540 519 20 183.00–205.00 $195.72 $1,016 -17.05
570–591 589 22 185.00–193.00 $190.14 $1,120 —
608–645 628 44 176.00–187.00 $181.10 $1,137 +7.98
684 684 6 175.00 $175.00 $1,197 +4.27
705–721 713 40 165.00–174.50 $169.93 $1,212 —
782 782 3 172.00 $172.00 $1,345 —
820 820 6 161.00 $161.00 $1,320 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
451 451 8 174.00 $174.00 $785 —
512–525 523 62 165.00–168.00 $167.57 $876 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
354 354 9 249.00 $249.00 $881 —
411 411 25 216.00 $216.00 $888 -24.00
486 486 7 205.00 $205.00 $996 -18.00
638 638 6 180.00 $180.00 $1,148 —
676 676 8 173.00 $173.00 $1,169 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
309 309 11 205.00 $205.00 $633 —
362–380 373 34 207.50–215.00 $210.28 $784 —
423 423 5 210.00 $210.00 $888 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
502 502 5 202.00 $202.00 $1,014 —
595 595 3 189.50 $189.50 $1,128 —
607 607 27 182.00 $182.00 $1,105 —
693 693 3 169.50 $169.50 $1,175 —
804 804 5 162.00 $162.00 $1,302 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
442 442 8 210.00 $210.00 $928 —
509 509 6 195.00 $195.00 $993 —
561 561 7 179.00 $179.00 $1,004 —
605–643 617 19 160.00–170.00 $166.71 $1,029 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 unweaned 375 3 212.50 $212.50 $797 —
378–397 395 32 217.50–227.50 $223.29 $882 —
405–437 423 45 209.00–217.50 $213.01 $901 —
462–497 483 146 198.00–211.00 $202.77 $979 +6.77
495 unweaned 495 5 196.00 $196.00 $970 —
505–547 526 137 189.00–206.00 $198.23 $1,043 +10.89
547 unweaned 547 16 191.00 $191.00 $1,045 -0.50
559–590 576 65 180.00–194.50 $189.00 $1,089 +4.98
626 unweaned 626 45 176.50 $176.50 $1,105 —
601–649 632 179 168.50–183.50 $179.19 $1,132 +0.94
658–670 665 11 166.00–174.00 $169.60 $1,128 +0.94
716 716 22 168.00 $168.00 $1,203 +5.00
750–785 758 81 156.00–168.50 $164.16 $1,244 +4.21
903 903 4 143.00 $143.00 $1,291 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
373 373 2 200.00 $200.00 $746 —
434–447 439 20 197.00–199.00 $197.81 $868 +2.31
477–482 479 13 180.00–186.00 $183.22 $878 -7.56
571 571 79 186.50 $186.50 $1,065 +11.75
550–597 576 19 164.00–174.00 $170.40 $982 -4.35
605–628 620 18 162.00–169.00 $165.41 $1,026 —
691 691 8 159.00 $159.00 $1,099 —
710 710 6 148.00 $148.00 $1,051 —
752 752 7 151.00 $151.00 $1,136 —
885 885 2 149.00 $149.00 $1,319 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
339 339 36 195.00–210.00 $199.58 $677 —
400–401 400 33 190.00–191.00 $190.79 $763 —
468 468 12 198.00 $198.00 $927 +4.80
576 576 10 176.00 $176.00 $1,014 —
704 704 6 153.00 $153.00 $1,077 —
767 767 3 142.00 $142.00 $1,089 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
586–599 594 36 175.50–178.00 $176.39 $1,048 —
737 737 3 162.00 $162.00 $1,194 —
783 783 6 160.50 $160.50 $1,257 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
498 498 9 176.00 $176.00 $876 —
519 519 4 157.50 $157.50 $817 —
852 852 7 133.00 $133.00 $1,133 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303 303 15 180.00 $180.00 $545 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
691 691 5 1,350.00 $1,350.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
441 unweaned 441 4 230.00 $230.00 $1,014 —
576 unweaned 576 13 179.00 $179.00 $1,031 —
679 unweaned 679 55 166.00 $166.00 $1,127 —
731 unweaned 731 7 159.00 $159.00 $1,162 —
881 881 10 138.00 $138.00 $1,216 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
734 734 9 117.50 $117.50 $862 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
799 unweaned 799 4 136.00 $136.00 $1,087 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945–985 968 85-90% 3 52.00–63.00 $57.68 $558 —
866–1093 1068 85-90% 55 60.00–65.25 $64.79 $692 -8.41
920–1260 1122 85-90% 4 72.00–75.50 $73.39 $823 +9.00
1013–1273 1174 85-90% 70 55.00–66.00 $61.57 $723 -3.48
1148–1265 1184 85-90% 4 72.00–78.00 $75.03 $888 +9.98
1204–1325 1232 85-90% 22 67.50–71.00 $69.74 $859 +15.24
1129–1323 1261 85-90% 133 66.50–70.50 $67.81 $855 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1262–1550 1364 80-85% 6 74.00–77.00 $75.08 $1,024 +4.75
1325–1613 1378 80-85% 93 62.00–71.00 $69.44 $957 -0.89
1329–1625 1410 80-85% 17 74.00–76.50 $75.30 $1,062 +2.16
1357–1435 1411 80-85% 14 64.00–72.50 $69.14 $976 -4.00
1478 1478 80-85% 2 80.50 $80.50 $1,190 +17.54
1385–1605 1488 80-85% 3 75.00–82.50 $78.94 $1,175 +15.98
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1510–1735 1652 75-80% 3 76.00–78.00 $77.16 $1,275 +7.43
1608–2050 1755 75-80% 3 68.00–71.00 $69.17 $1,214 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1420–1580 1473 3 85.00–87.00 $86.29 $1,271 —
1693–1975 1758 6 100.00–107.00 $103.76 $1,824 —
1577–2095 1773 11 97.00–105.50 $100.44 $1,781 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2405 2405 1 107.00 $107.00 $2,573 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
731–1120 827 (<2 yrs)Open 81 125.00–159.00 $155.28 $1,284
730–1265 962 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 174 73.50–139.00 $104.50 $1,005
1042 1042 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 16 86.00 $86.00 $896
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
794 794 (<2 yrs)Open 5 133.00 $133.00 $1,056
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1055 1055 (<2 yrs)Open 2 123.00 $123.00 $1,298

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Dairy Heifers

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
674 674 6 138.00 $138.00 $930 —
720 720 4 130.00 $130.00 $936 —
761 761 12 130.00 $130.00 $989 —
808 808 6 129.00 $129.00 $1,042 —
870 870 1 128.00 $128.00 $1,114 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
727 727 28 177.00 $177.00 $1,287 —
827 827 9 140.00 $140.00 $1,158 —

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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.