Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, March 2, 2023

4,329 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $194.33/cwt +3.47 vs last sale · ≈ $1,437/hd at 740 lb · 307 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $181.96/cwt +11.96 vs last sale · ≈ $1,323/hd at 727 lb · 299 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $185.77/cwt +7.67 vs last sale · ≈ $1,503/hd at 809 lb · 230 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,329 701 3,033
Feeder cattle 3,788 375 1,698
Slaughter cattle 366 201 736
Replacement cattle 175 125 599

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to two weeks ago: Steer and heifer calves were all too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good to very good for heavy offerings. Quality today was mostly average to very attractive. Several load lots of feeders were seen this week, and these offerings were met with good to very good demand. Packages sold with mostly good demand as buyers were able to piece together loads of like quality cattle. Demand for one iron, home-raised cattle was good today for all weight classes. Flesh conditions were mixed this sale as some cattle were out of grow lots while others were weaned in open pastures. Grow lot cattle were mostly in moderate flesh, however a few fleshy offerings were seen. Most grow lot cattle were pushing light to moderate amounts of tag. The best demand seen today was for cattle suitable to run on grass. Buyers offered strong premiums for green cattle which consigners kept in thin flesh. A very large crowd was on hand for todays sale. Market activity was mostly active for todays sale and remained active with strong demand throughout the sale which stretched late into the evening. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Packer buyers showed good demand for cows for immediate harvest. Packers opted to feed a few offerings as several packages of cows which had been started on feed were seen. Slaughter cows sold generally steady with last sale on all offerings. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Packer buyers continue to buy some young cow offerings away from feeding and replacement buyers as long as they fit their orders.

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
420–445 431 36 270.00–281.00 $276.02 $1,190 —
483–498 494 48 272.50–274.00 $273.94 $1,353 —
521 thin fleshed 521 89 278.50 $278.50 $1,451 —
504–544 529 118 259.00–272.00 $263.37 $1,393 +36.02
559 thin fleshed 559 29 259.00 $259.00 $1,448 —
584 584 4 218.00 $218.00 $1,273 -1.00
552–599 587 119 232.50–255.00 $242.56 $1,424 +23.56
603 thin fleshed 603 20 240.50 $240.50 $1,450 —
604–646 626 142 214.00–232.00 $219.98 $1,377 +4.98
661 thin fleshed 661 5 224.00 $224.00 $1,481 —
654–679 670 126 199.50–219.00 $206.10 $1,381 +9.10
693 693 10 187.00 $187.00 $1,296 -3.50
731 731 10 189.00 $189.00 $1,382 +9.00
700–746 740 297 193.50–204.00 $194.51 $1,439 +14.51
758–799 770 108 184.00–195.00 $189.89 $1,462 —
800–836 809 193 180.00–186.50 $185.53 $1,501 +3.92
811 fancy 811 37 187.00 $187.00 $1,517 —
853–876 854 163 181.50–183.00 $182.89 $1,562 —
903–914 906 39 177.00–179.75 $179.20 $1,624 —
984 984 15 156.00 $156.00 $1,535 +2.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450–496 466 41 237.50–265.00 $256.82 $1,197 +22.82
471 unweaned 471 17 229.00 $229.00 $1,079 —
522–543 538 14 243.00–252.50 $246.27 $1,325 —
560 unweaned 560 5 219.00 $219.00 $1,226 —
578 578 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,324 —
603–639 627 12 202.00–214.00 $210.69 $1,321 —
653–699 681 47 188.00–204.00 $197.95 $1,348 +7.45
715–723 720 3 185.00–186.00 $185.67 $1,337 —
804–825 809 12 174.50–179.50 $178.24 $1,442 +15.24
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
408 408 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,020 —
781 781 15 180.00 $180.00 $1,406 -5.00
832–839 836 25 169.00–174.50 $171.87 $1,437 —
867–884 876 12 166.00–172.50 $169.28 $1,483 —
1005–1037 1034 20 159.50–165.00 $160.03 $1,655 +2.03
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 6 230.00 $230.00 $1,000 —
459 459 6 222.50 $222.50 $1,021 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
466 466 7 250.00 $250.00 $1,165 —
528 528 3 215.00 $215.00 $1,135 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
374 unweaned 374 7 225.00 $225.00 $842 —
383–385 384 21 227.00–229.00 $227.86 $875 —
423 unweaned 423 33 230.00 $230.00 $973 —
450–474 467 53 223.00–234.00 $230.01 $1,074 —
483–494 unweaned 486 20 213.00–214.50 $213.46 $1,037 —
517–545 520 42 217.50–228.50 $227.22 $1,182 +23.22
555–580 thin fleshed 568 47 224.00–228.00 $225.83 $1,283 —
558–595 579 65 208.00–222.50 $212.44 $1,230 +21.44
603–613 thin fleshed 611 12 214.00–217.50 $216.64 $1,324 —
607–643 619 173 190.00–212.00 $199.39 $1,234 —
655 thin fleshed 655 61 209.00 $209.00 $1,369 —
667–696 686 53 185.50–189.50 $188.11 $1,290 —
705–731 fancy 717 21 188.50 $188.50 $1,352 —
700–745 728 278 175.00–186.50 $181.47 $1,321 +11.47
775 775 11 147.00 $147.00 $1,139 —
760–798 786 77 169.50–177.50 $171.88 $1,351 —
844 844 8 144.00 $144.00 $1,215 -6.00
867 867 13 143.00 $143.00 $1,240 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
376 unweaned 376 11 190.00 $190.00 $714 —
391 391 8 215.00 $215.00 $841 —
455–488 467 50 209.00–221.00 $213.36 $996 +14.18
520–544 527 37 199.00–215.50 $203.11 $1,070 —
558–581 573 20 190.00–206.00 $200.34 $1,148 —
623 623 4 188.00 $188.00 $1,171 —
655–699 680 32 172.00–183.00 $177.03 $1,204 +5.03
795 795 1 168.00 $168.00 $1,336 —
800 800 3 153.00 $153.00 $1,224 —
889 889 4 141.00 $141.00 $1,253 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410–423 417 23 212.00–220.00 $215.76 $900 —
451 451 10 211.00 $211.00 $952 —
539 539 4 208.00 $208.00 $1,121 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 5 222.50 $222.50 $868 —
651 651 7 174.00 $174.00 $1,133 —
778 778 17 170.50 $170.50 $1,326 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382–393 388 7 230.00–232.00 $230.84 $896 —
488 488 2 217.50 $217.50 $1,061 —
525–544 538 18 205.00–217.00 $213.09 $1,146 —
554–575 562 16 191.00–208.00 $202.34 $1,137 +7.34
633 633 4 191.00 $191.00 $1,209 -7.00
720 720 3 175.00 $175.00 $1,260 +3.00
878 878 2 143.00 $143.00 $1,256 —
980 980 1 154.00 $154.00 $1,509 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645 645 5 162.00 $162.00 $1,045 —
852 852 5 131.00 $131.00 $1,116 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1063 1063 2 126.00 $126.00 $1,339 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040 1040 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,352 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855 855 85-90% 1 84.00 $84.00 $718 +8.78
960 960 85-90% 1 74.00 $74.00 $710 —
1049–1156 1081 85-90% 17 61.00–69.50 $67.91 $734 —
1060–1335 1200 85-90% 89 70.00–84.00 $78.60 $943 -7.56
1035–1318 1255 85-90% 22 84.00–92.00 $86.13 $1,081 —
1260 1260 85-90% 1 91.00 $91.00 $1,147 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1258–1540 1376 80-85% 65 86.00–95.00 $90.85 $1,250 +1.82
1301–1780 1410 80-85% 16 78.00–85.00 $81.94 $1,155 —
1445 1445 80-85% 5 92.00 $92.00 $1,329 —
1330–1560 1446 80-85% 14 95.00–97.00 $96.33 $1,393 —
1456 1456 80-85% 8 96.75 $96.75 $1,409 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1486 1486 75-80% 64 93.25 $93.25 $1,386 —
1535 1535 75-80% 1 97.00 $97.00 $1,489 +1.00
1548–1603 1579 75-80% 12 88.00–92.00 $90.66 $1,432 -1.03
1685 1685 75-80% 1 95.50 $95.50 $1,609 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265 1265 1 78.00 $78.00 $987 —
1295 1295 1 93.00 $93.00 $1,204 —
1337–1925 1601 27 87.00–105.00 $95.99 $1,537 —
1643–2140 1854 12 107.00–113.00 $110.05 $2,040 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
805–1310 972 (<2 yrs)Open 59 113.00–136.00 $121.96 $1,185
850–1295 1080 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 64 83.00–112.00 $102.17 $1,103
1168 fancy 1168 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 116.00 $116.00 $1,355
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1010–1140 1075 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 82.50–84.00 $83.30 $895
905–1298 1095 (<2 yrs)Open 6 111.00–121.00 $115.67 $1,267

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1048–1325 1138 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12 1,150.00–1,350.00 $1,232.24
1343 1343 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,285.00 $1,285.00
1410 1410 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,310.00 $1,310.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1366 1366 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 87.50 $87.50 $1,195
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1213 1213 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,210.00 $1,210.00

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
738 738 3 50.00 $50.00 $369 —

↑ Back to top

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.