Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 9, 2023

6,394 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $282.71/cwt +7.64 vs last sale · ≈ $1,314/hd at 465 lb · 447 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $250.69/cwt -9.59 vs last sale · ≈ $1,429/hd at 570 lb · 390 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $262.70/cwt +5.99 vs last sale · ≈ $1,623/hd at 618 lb · 387 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,394 3,773 3,295
Feeder cattle 6,009 3,454 3,037
Slaughter cattle 255 234 179
Replacement cattle 130 85 79

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were both too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher with instances of 20.00-25.00 higher seen at times on very high quality offerings. Steers 450-699 lbs sold unevenly steady with steady to higher prices seen for high quality calves and lower prices seen for plain to average quality calves. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold steady to 3.00 higher, heifer calves 500-649 lbs sold mostly 3.00 to 5.00 lower, heifer calves over 650 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 lower. Demand was mostly moderate to good for all feeder cattle on offer. CME positions sold off sharply today with triple digit losses seen on all contracts. The nearby November sold 5.80 lower to close at 229.00, while the January contract closed 7.85 lower to close at 224.925. Despite this, buyers showed good demand for feeder cattle as quality was outstanding and offered buyers some of the highest quality feeders of the fall thus far. As many as 19 buyers were active in buying cattle. This helped sustain demand throughout the sale as many buyers stayed late into the night to finish loads. Package sizes were significantly larger this week with several load lots of calves seen. Demand was good for both load lots and packages. Calves with fall preconditioning shots sold with the best demand and sold with strong premiums to calves with only spring shots. This led to wide price spreads at times. A few weaned calves were seen this week. Demand for weaned calves was moderate, however little to no premium was seen for weaned calves this week. Most weaned calves were pushing moderate amounts of fill, which was a turn off to many buyers. Market activity was mostly active today with a very large crowd on hand of both farmer feeders and order buyers noticed. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for mostly light offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested this week to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. High quality feeding cows sold fully steady in a narrow comparison. Thin feeding or turn out cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, steady to firm undertones were noticed. 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
258 unweaned 258 2 405.00 $405.00 $1,045 —
361–389 unweaned 373 46 365.00–400.00 $378.62 $1,412 +36.33
400 400 23 362.50 $362.50 $1,450 —
402–443 unweaned 428 98 330.00–382.50 $343.28 $1,469 +12.55
467 467 7 312.50 $312.50 $1,459 —
453–495 unweaned 480 253 301.00–346.00 $310.73 $1,492 -0.53
502–545 unweaned 524 252 280.00–305.00 $293.67 $1,539 +3.84
553–590 578 33 256.00–259.50 $257.14 $1,486 —
550–598 unweaned 579 352 259.00–280.00 $263.37 $1,525 -9.34
609–622 fancy 612 132 268.00–272.00 $271.17 $1,660 —
601–646 unweaned 621 255 249.00–264.00 $258.32 $1,604 +1.61
651–684 unweaned 663 111 237.00–252.50 $246.45 $1,634 -0.81
680 680 43 243.50 $243.50 $1,656 +4.00
702–745 unweaned 723 40 236.00–240.00 $236.76 $1,712 -8.69
750–788 unweaned 782 18 231.00–237.00 $232.25 $1,816 -2.75
794 794 9 229.00 $229.00 $1,818 -13.01
815 815 2 225.50 $225.50 $1,838 —
901–903 902 28 220.00–223.00 $221.39 $1,997 —
969 969 10 211.00 $211.00 $2,045 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
354–366 unweaned 359 19 340.00–365.00 $353.25 $1,268 +28.67
405–428 unweaned 412 13 320.00–332.50 $323.99 $1,335 +12.25
476–497 unweaned 484 32 292.00–297.50 $295.63 $1,431 +10.55
528–542 unweaned 535 12 275.00–279.00 $276.97 $1,482 -0.17
558–592 unweaned 584 92 244.00–261.00 $248.82 $1,453 -2.62
601–647 unweaned 624 29 240.00–247.00 $244.28 $1,524 +6.66
655–696 unweaned 671 63 230.00–236.50 $233.94 $1,570 -2.31
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311 311 8 320.00 $320.00 $995 —
337 unweaned 337 11 322.50 $322.50 $1,087 —
418 unweaned 418 37 337.50 $337.50 $1,411 —
498 unweaned 498 22 294.00 $294.00 $1,464 +1.50
539 539 29 274.00 $274.00 $1,477 —
565–591 unweaned 584 47 205.00–250.00 $243.92 $1,424 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410 unweaned 410 3 362.00 $362.00 $1,484 —
496 unweaned 496 7 285.00 $285.00 $1,414 —
525 unweaned 525 10 282.00 $282.00 $1,480 —
558–567 unweaned 566 15 255.00–256.00 $255.13 $1,444 +5.13
633 unweaned 633 11 241.00 $241.00 $1,526 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
341 341 7 290.00 $290.00 $989 —
428 428 28 296.00 $296.00 $1,267 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
585 unweaned 585 16 215.00 $215.00 $1,258 —
719 unweaned 719 8 187.50 $187.50 $1,348 —
940 940 3 196.00 $196.00 $1,842 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
408 unweaned 408 8 315.00 $315.00 $1,285 —
560 unweaned 560 7 225.00 $225.00 $1,260 —
718 718 6 214.00 $214.00 $1,537 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
326 326 18 305.00 $305.00 $994 —
349 unweaned 349 8 296.00 $296.00 $1,033 -11.78
363–395 unweaned 386 58 297.00–304.00 $302.82 $1,169 -1.60
391–399 392 54 296.00–300.00 $299.32 $1,173 —
400–448 unweaned 424 62 285.00–301.00 $293.16 $1,243 +4.82
462 462 125 291.50 $291.50 $1,347 —
450–487 unweaned 466 322 267.00–293.00 $279.30 $1,302 +4.23
515 fancy 515 21 278.00 $278.00 $1,432 +1.00
506–548 unweaned 527 268 251.00–272.00 $259.86 $1,369 -3.72
550–595 unweaned 570 349 239.00–257.00 $249.65 $1,423 -6.48
558–578 fancy 570 41 258.00–262.00 $259.53 $1,479 -11.47
600–625 unweaned 613 41 235.00–243.50 $240.53 $1,474 -2.28
670–687 unweaned 681 56 222.00–231.00 $225.89 $1,538 -10.96
700–711 unweaned 706 12 218.50–224.00 $221.73 $1,565 —
734–743 739 20 223.00–224.00 $223.55 $1,652 —
763–789 778 74 221.00–226.00 $223.12 $1,736 —
803–842 833 100 216.00–224.00 $220.35 $1,836 —
867 fancy 867 92 223.00 $223.00 $1,933 —
865–893 882 89 213.50–218.50 $214.91 $1,896 -3.35
900–935 919 62 214.50–219.50 $217.82 $2,002 +3.32
954 954 11 215.50 $215.50 $2,056 —
1028 1028 7 190.00 $190.00 $1,953 —
1080 1080 113 189.50 $189.50 $2,047 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
274 unweaned 274 4 295.00 $295.00 $808 ±0.00
373–381 unweaned 378 13 282.50–287.00 $284.21 $1,074 +16.03
400–445 unweaned 422 22 255.00–272.00 $264.17 $1,115 -7.42
465–499 unweaned 484 82 244.00–263.00 $251.96 $1,219 +0.54
506–545 unweaned 527 100 238.00–254.00 $242.81 $1,280 +3.06
552–585 unweaned 563 18 233.00–238.00 $235.81 $1,328 -1.85
631 unweaned 631 4 230.00 $230.00 $1,451 +1.66
654 unweaned 654 7 224.00 $224.00 $1,465 +3.00
743 unweaned 743 5 209.00 $209.00 $1,553 -5.00
775–780 778 25 216.00–219.00 $217.32 $1,691 -11.68
854–862 858 15 208.00–212.00 $210.12 $1,803 -2.88
903–937 919 25 195.00–203.00 $201.34 $1,850 —
997 997 5 196.00 $196.00 $1,954 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
397 397 21 287.00 $287.00 $1,139 —
407 unweaned 407 7 265.00 $265.00 $1,079 —
498 498 44 260.00 $260.00 $1,295 —
511–541 unweaned 517 26 249.00–254.00 $252.99 $1,308 +32.99
667–696 689 47 218.00–223.00 $221.87 $1,529 —
705–711 708 11 213.00–218.00 $215.26 $1,524 —
753 753 17 205.00 $205.00 $1,544 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
527 unweaned 527 13 234.00 $234.00 $1,233 —
609–638 unweaned 623 30 226.50–233.00 $229.25 $1,428 —
688 unweaned 688 3 218.00 $218.00 $1,500 —
1239 1239 23 171.00 $171.00 $2,119 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 unweaned 505 22 210.00 $210.00 $1,060 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
453 unweaned 453 16 195.00 $195.00 $883 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
593 unweaned 593 4 228.50 $228.50 $1,355 —
948 948 5 166.00 $166.00 $1,574 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
585 unweaned 585 4 235.00 $235.00 $1,375 —
610–648 unweaned 621 10 220.00–231.00 $227.56 $1,413 -2.44

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965 965 85-90% 1 78.00 $78.00 $753 -6.00
1050–1430 1128 85-90% 14 51.50–65.00 $53.19 $600 —
983–1277 1156 85-90% 48 67.50–82.50 $77.45 $895 -3.26
1113–1355 1193 85-90% 15 82.50–87.00 $84.36 $1,006 +5.41
1195 1195 85-90% 1 92.00 $92.00 $1,099 +13.05
1085–1295 1208 85-90% 14 67.00–80.00 $73.98 $894 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1278–1525 1348 80-85% 27 77.00–87.00 $82.87 $1,117 —
1338–1510 1426 80-85% 20 78.00–84.00 $80.46 $1,147 -18.04
1455–1570 1513 80-85% 2 103.00–105.00 $104.04 $1,574 —
1435–1563 1514 80-85% 7 90.00–102.00 $97.25 $1,472 —
1535 1535 80-85% 2 86.00 $86.00 $1,320 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1650–1655 1653 75-80% 2 102.00–105.00 $103.50 $1,711 —
1650–1725 1677 75-80% 3 85.00–100.00 $90.61 $1,520 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1270–1305 1288 2 92.00–95.00 $93.52 $1,205 —
1796–1943 1862 9 110.00–114.00 $111.84 $2,082 +13.75
1833–1985 1884 3 94.00–105.00 $97.86 $1,844 -0.23

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
858–1237 933 (<2 yrs)Open 42 132.50–161.00 $150.88 $1,408
845–1095 955 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 36 105.00–151.00 $122.67 $1,171
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
960–970 965 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 100.00–102.50 $101.26 $977
995 995 (<2 yrs)Open 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,144

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
986–1135 1005 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 1,800.00–1,850.00 $1,842.94
1110 1110 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,550.00 $1,550.00
1120 1120 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,400.00 $1,400.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1145 1145 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00

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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.