Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 2, 2023

3,773 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 $272.71/cwt +12.11 vs last sale · ≈ $1,554/hd at 570 lb · 282 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $289.83/cwt +18.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,522/hd at 525 lb · 190 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $311.26/cwt +10.36 vs last sale · ≈ $1,488/hd at 478 lb · 187 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,773 1,213 3,728
Feeder cattle 3,454 979 3,224
Slaughter cattle 234 89 244
Replacement cattle 85 145 260

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were both too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop any market trend. The best test for steer calves was for 450-599 lbs which sold 10.00-15.00 higher in a narrow comparison; all other steer weights were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. The best test for heifer calves was for 500-549 lbs and these offerings sold mostly 15.00-20.00 higher; all other heifer calf weights were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed. Quality today was mixed from plain to attractive. Demand for all offerings improved this week as both higher board positions and better weather allowed buyers to aggressively reenter the market. The November contract closed at 242.625, 6.125 higher than last Thursdays close. Demand was mostly good to very good for moderate offerings. Most calves were offered in small packages this week, with no load lots seen. Only 9 packages of 30 head or more were seen this week. Most packages were from 5 to 15 head and buyers picked through offerings to put together loads. Calves with preconditioning shots sold with the best demand. Buyers were willing to give modest premiums for calves with both spring and fall vaccinations, this led to wide price spreads at times. Pen and country conditions remain muddy as last weeks snow continues to melt and many calves were dirty as a result. Additionally, light rain fell off and on throughout the day. Market activity was mostly active today with a large crowd on hand of both farmer feeders and order buyers noted. Weigh up cows were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate trend, however steady undertones were noticed on both feeding and slaughter cows. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average with most cows pushing heavy amounts of fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on good demand today. Quality was mostly average to attractive. Young age cows sold steady in a narrow comparison.

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
299 unweaned 299 11 367.50 $367.50 $1,099 —
307–345 unweaned 335 11 365.00 $365.00 $1,223 +25.00
352–399 unweaned 389 64 330.00–365.00 $342.29 $1,332 +3.73
401–437 unweaned 419 95 326.00–338.00 $330.73 $1,386 +6.32
453–492 unweaned 478 187 279.00–324.00 $311.26 $1,488 +10.36
504–548 unweaned 525 190 280.00–305.00 $289.83 $1,522 +18.30
551–598 unweaned 570 282 265.00–284.50 $272.71 $1,554 +12.11
603–647 unweaned 622 129 248.00–263.00 $256.71 $1,597 +15.94
650–694 unweaned 679 119 240.00–253.00 $247.26 $1,679 +7.53
697 697 24 239.50 $239.50 $1,669 +6.50
703–729 unweaned 711 44 240.00–248.00 $245.45 $1,745 —
732 732 18 241.00 $241.00 $1,764 +1.50
771 unweaned 771 10 235.00 $235.00 $1,812 —
780–787 782 15 239.50–247.00 $242.01 $1,893 —
882 882 13 234.00 $234.00 $2,064 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
274 274 18 327.50 $327.50 $897 —
315–349 unweaned 338 26 335.00–352.00 $343.57 $1,161 —
361–365 unweaned 362 34 322.50–332.50 $324.58 $1,175 —
414–445 unweaned 432 50 300.00–320.00 $311.74 $1,347 +1.68
461–498 unweaned 479 65 272.00–300.00 $285.08 $1,366 -2.92
505–515 unweaned 506 29 275.00–279.00 $277.14 $1,402 —
557–599 unweaned 584 23 238.00–263.00 $251.44 $1,468 +9.44
601–640 unweaned 616 66 231.00–244.00 $237.62 $1,464 —
651–673 unweaned 664 35 231.00–241.00 $236.25 $1,569 +6.25
712–736 unweaned 730 13 233.00–234.00 $233.22 $1,703 —
852 unweaned 852 3 216.00 $216.00 $1,840 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
373 unweaned 373 9 325.00 $325.00 $1,212 —
499 unweaned 499 8 292.50 $292.50 $1,460 —
666 666 15 233.00 $233.00 $1,552 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
376 unweaned 376 8 315.00 $315.00 $1,184 —
586 unweaned 586 16 250.00 $250.00 $1,465 —
843 unweaned 843 1 226.00 $226.00 $1,905 —
853 unweaned 853 3 227.00 $227.00 $1,936 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 16 223.00 $223.00 $1,316 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
777 777 10 180.00 $180.00 $1,399 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
459 unweaned 459 6 252.50 $252.50 $1,159 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 unweaned 280 1 335.00 $335.00 $938 —
304–346 unweaned 323 21 302.50–310.00 $307.78 $994 -15.22
357–395 unweaned 376 54 300.00–313.00 $304.42 $1,145 +5.38
408–441 unweaned 424 90 280.00–305.00 $288.34 $1,223 +20.15
450–498 unweaned 483 20 273.00–281.00 $275.07 $1,329 +14.94
502–533 unweaned 516 145 257.00–271.00 $263.58 $1,360 +17.09
523 fancy 523 29 277.00 $277.00 $1,449 —
557 fancy 557 24 271.00 $271.00 $1,509 —
550–576 unweaned 568 62 245.00–265.00 $256.13 $1,455 +17.58
611 fancy 611 20 250.50 $250.50 $1,531 —
606–646 unweaned 624 85 239.00–247.00 $242.81 $1,515 +8.81
652–684 unweaned 664 16 230.00–241.50 $236.85 $1,573 —
668 fancy 668 9 248.00 $248.00 $1,657 —
725 fancy 725 6 237.50 $237.50 $1,722 —
735–747 unweaned 746 18 220.00–226.00 $225.34 $1,681 —
760–765 unweaned 763 2 219.00–221.00 $220.00 $1,679 —
869–890 878 7 215.00–222.50 $218.26 $1,916 -2.11
920 920 6 213.50–215.50 $214.50 $1,973 +1.50
958 fancy 958 55 217.25 $217.25 $2,081 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
294 unweaned 294 8 295.00 $295.00 $867 ±0.00
369–391 unweaned 385 30 255.00–273.00 $268.18 $1,032 -14.76
414–440 unweaned 417 40 255.00–275.00 $271.59 $1,133 —
450–483 unweaned 466 58 230.00–266.50 $251.42 $1,172 +11.42
500–549 unweaned 530 70 231.00–256.00 $239.75 $1,271 —
580–593 unweaned 588 22 224.00–243.00 $237.66 $1,397 —
609–627 unweaned 623 40 220.00–233.00 $228.34 $1,423 —
688 unweaned 688 3 221.00 $221.00 $1,520 —
742 unweaned 742 3 214.00 $214.00 $1,588 —
777 777 8 229.00 $229.00 $1,779 +16.00
855 855 1 213.00 $213.00 $1,821 —
1003 1003 5 184.00 $184.00 $1,846 —
1078 1078 4 188.50 $188.50 $2,032 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 unweaned 343 7 289.50 $289.50 $993 —
456–488 unweaned 465 21 227.50–257.00 $247.65 $1,152 —
530 unweaned 530 4 220.00 $220.00 $1,166 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 unweaned 340 3 280.00 $280.00 $952 +17.50
384 unweaned 384 5 232.50 $232.50 $893 —
433 unweaned 433 12 217.50 $217.50 $942 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
597 unweaned 597 4 225.00 $225.00 $1,343 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
443 unweaned 443 4 281.00 $281.00 $1,245 —
477 unweaned 477 9 245.00 $245.00 $1,169 —
505 unweaned 505 11 252.50 $252.50 $1,275 +13.50
570 unweaned 570 3 230.00 $230.00 $1,311 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 unweaned 505 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,364 —
610 unweaned 610 5 230.00 $230.00 $1,403 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
371 unweaned 371 4 247.50 $247.50 $918 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–970 900 85-90% 3 72.00–77.50 $74.31 $669 —
990 990 85-90% 1 84.00 $84.00 $832 —
1004–1325 1156 85-90% 24 78.50–82.50 $80.71 $933 +13.71
860–1490 1186 85-90% 19 63.00–74.00 $70.78 $839 +3.78
1010–1340 1199 85-90% 61 76.00–84.00 $78.95 $947 +11.95
1250–1255 1253 85-90% 2 85.00–89.00 $87.00 $1,090 -1.01
1270 1270 85-90% 1 104.00 $104.00 $1,321 +15.99
1280–1330 1299 85-90% 6 84.50–91.00 $88.00 $1,143 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1146–1541 1357 80-85% 31 78.00–89.50 $84.05 $1,141 —
1285–1488 1388 80-85% 8 80.00–86.00 $82.91 $1,151 —
1338–1590 1404 80-85% 16 92.00–105.00 $98.50 $1,383 —
1710 1710 80-85% 1 73.00 $73.00 $1,248 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1525–1855 1596 75-80% 7 89.50–103.00 $95.38 $1,522 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1415–1668 1584 3 93.00–96.00 $95.11 $1,507 —
1675–2065 1850 6 92.00–101.00 $98.09 $1,815 —
1775–2240 2008 2 110.00–111.00 $110.56 $2,220 —
2100 2100 1 119.00 $119.00 $2,499 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
901–1060 926 (<2 yrs)Open 20 152.50–171.00 $164.47 $1,523
890–1250 1049 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 29 102.00–152.50 $118.98 $1,248
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
860–1090 1044 (<2 yrs)Open 5 101.00–122.50 $104.54 $1,091
1365 1365 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 88.00 $88.00 $1,201

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1139–1203 1150 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 12 1,800.00–1,975.00 $1,944.48
1222 1222 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,700.00 $1,700.00

↑ 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.