Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 14, 2023

2,380 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 steers $253.25/cwt +8.45 vs last sale · ≈ $1,586/hd at 626 lb · 144 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $277.06/cwt +11.42 vs last sale · ≈ $1,291/hd at 466 lb · 136 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $287.21/cwt +2.64 vs last sale · ≈ $1,206/hd at 420 lb · 91 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,380 4,188 3,772
Feeder cattle 1,870 3,640 3,158
Slaughter cattle 287 310 429
Replacement cattle 223 238 185

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested this week to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 500 lbs sold mostly steady to firm; Steers 500-599 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; steer calves over 600 lbs sold mostly mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Heifer calves under 400 lbs were not well compared; heifer calves 400-499 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher; heifer calves 500-549 lbs sold mostly 5.00 lower on a lower quality offering; 550-649 lbs heifers were not well compared; Heifers over 650 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Demand was mostly moderate to good this sale. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. A large portion of the offering was comprised of weaned calves this week. Demand for long weaned calves was mostly good. Many sets of calves were weaned over 50 days. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings, and buyers were willing to take heavier weights of calves to grass this week. Most calves were offered in small groups this sale with very few partial loads seen and no load lots seen. CME positions improved throughout much of the week and buyers showed stronger demand for all offerings as a result. Today, the January contract closed at 219.35, which is 9.325 higher than last Thursdays close, while the March contract closed at 220.125, up 8.95 from last Thursdays close. Market activity was mostly active today with a large crowd on hand. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for mostly light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher on boning and lean cows, Breaking cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. High quality feeding cows sold 1.00-2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Thin feeding cows sold 2.00-4.00 higher on a higher quality and better yielding offering. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were mixed today. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on light to moderate demand today. Quality was mostly average and most offerings sold to feed. This class sold mostly steady.

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Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
388 388 3 330.00 $330.00 $1,280 -28.03
419–429 unweaned 422 15 325.00–336.00 $333.02 $1,405 +1.65
405–445 428 20 320.00–340.00 $330.10 $1,413 -3.01
450–470 unweaned 457 6 292.50–317.50 $308.92 $1,412 +1.56
455–499 477 69 297.00–325.00 $308.27 $1,470 +1.54
500–515 507 32 289.00–305.00 $302.78 $1,535 +35.78
510–543 unweaned 520 34 293.00–300.00 $296.53 $1,542 +6.28
550–590 572 19 264.00–282.00 $270.26 $1,546 +3.52
570–586 unweaned 581 55 255.00–269.00 $263.43 $1,531 +1.12
600–636 620 75 249.00–263.50 $254.75 $1,579 +7.37
618–634 unweaned 633 69 251.50–254.00 $251.61 $1,593 +7.47
655–685 unweaned 663 44 233.00–249.00 $244.29 $1,620 +9.60
678 678 5 232.00 $232.00 $1,573 -1.98
718–719 unweaned 719 13 234.00–236.00 $234.77 $1,688 +12.85
700–728 724 7 232.00–237.00 $236.31 $1,711 +14.13
750–787 761 23 215.00–223.50 $220.83 $1,681 —
813 813 4 198.00 $198.00 $1,610 —
871 871 13 209.00 $209.00 $1,820 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
321 321 5 321.00 $321.00 $1,030 —
368 unweaned 368 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,178 —
397–399 398 7 315.00–320.00 $317.86 $1,265 -26.29
411 411 10 307.50 $307.50 $1,264 -12.90
478–497 482 35 255.00–287.50 $279.83 $1,349 -12.38
585 585 4 253.00 $253.00 $1,480 +13.00
609–649 638 21 227.00–240.00 $235.47 $1,502 +4.33
667 unweaned 667 5 232.00 $232.00 $1,547 +8.00
655–692 676 8 225.00–232.00 $229.64 $1,552 +6.64
700–715 703 6 211.00–221.00 $215.00 $1,511 —
926 926 15 203.00 $203.00 $1,880 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
327 327 29 335.00 $335.00 $1,095 +1.00
350–376 unweaned 366 10 302.00–315.00 $310.02 $1,135 —
440 440 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,320 -17.50

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368–397 376 19 280.00–285.00 $284.17 $1,068 -15.59
400–449 411 50 276.00–295.00 $289.67 $1,191 +4.90
413–441 unweaned 431 41 279.00–290.00 $284.21 $1,225 +1.09
458–470 unweaned 463 8 271.00–281.00 $277.19 $1,283 +11.96
452–480 466 128 263.00–291.00 $277.05 $1,291 +11.15
504–524 unweaned 515 15 244.00–256.00 $251.66 $1,296 -8.47
513–527 525 52 246.00–255.00 $253.82 $1,333 -6.38
557–583 unweaned 573 31 230.00–250.00 $237.53 $1,361 +2.58
568–599 592 27 228.00–241.00 $231.90 $1,373 -18.03
638 638 42 229.00–232.50 $231.67 $1,478 +6.41
639 unweaned 639 18 230.00 $230.00 $1,470 -2.24
655–686 unweaned 665 17 212.00–230.50 $222.86 $1,482 +11.05
665–698 670 22 215.00–228.00 $224.10 $1,501 —
700 700 28 221.00–222.00 $221.93 $1,554 +15.93
833 833 6 195.00 $195.00 $1,624 —
889–895 893 13 193.00 $193.00 $1,723 -4.47
925 925 2 188.00 $188.00 $1,739 —
960 960 5 188.00 $188.00 $1,805 +1.57
1028 1028 16 186.50 $186.50 $1,917 —
1143 1143 2 176.00 $176.00 $2,012 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
297 297 3 270.00 $270.00 $802 ±0.00
325–346 340 17 265.00–272.50 $269.94 $918 -0.06
374 unweaned 374 5 280.00 $280.00 $1,047 +15.00
366–394 382 17 264.00–265.00 $264.61 $1,011 -15.54
413 unweaned 413 4 270.00 $270.00 $1,115 +20.00
413–422 417 7 272.50–277.00 $275.05 $1,147 +10.05
467–493 484 21 242.00–255.00 $250.83 $1,214 -3.22
528–543 539 33 220.00–242.00 $235.51 $1,269 —
585 585 2 206.00 $206.00 $1,205 -20.93
754–780 757 16 180.00–190.00 $188.71 $1,429 —
857 857 3 188.00 $188.00 $1,611 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307–308 307 22 270.00–276.00 $274.91 $844 —
354 354 40 270.00 $270.00 $956 -10.00
539 539 4 223.00 $223.00 $1,202 —
633 633 8 190.00 $190.00 $1,203 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
393 393 2 235.00 $235.00 $924 —
453 453 3 220.00 $220.00 $997 -2.00
455 unweaned 455 6 225.00 $225.00 $1,024 —
521 521 4 220.00 $220.00 $1,146 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
704 704 11 187.50 $187.50 $1,320 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
608 608 9 206.00 $206.00 $1,252 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426–448 unweaned 436 11 300.00–310.00 $305.33 $1,331 —
505–518 unweaned 515 13 267.50–283.00 $279.49 $1,439 +9.38
559 unweaned 559 8 270.00 $270.00 $1,509 —
627 627 5 236.00 $236.00 $1,480 —
645 unweaned 645 6 225.00 $225.00 $1,451 —
714 unweaned 714 4 209.00 $209.00 $1,492 —
808 unweaned 808 2 205.00 $205.00 $1,656 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318 unweaned 318 5 305.00 $305.00 $970 —
390 unweaned 390 4 285.00 $285.00 $1,112 —
694 694 4 205.00 $205.00 $1,423 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
700–775 738 85-90% 2 65.00–70.00 $67.37 $497 —
700–880 790 85-90% 2 52.50–55.00 $53.89 $426 —
1030–1145 1084 85-90% 4 56.00–62.50 $59.59 $646 +2.65
930–1285 1111 85-90% 29 70.00–82.00 $79.18 $880 +19.18
940–1290 1178 85-90% 50 82.00–90.00 $84.95 $1,001 +1.23
1005–1455 1184 85-90% 9 66.00–80.00 $71.69 $849 -12.03
1170–1287 1250 85-90% 7 81.00–82.50 $81.64 $1,020 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1345–1360 1356 80-85% 4 85.00–89.00 $85.99 $1,166 -2.44
1304–1487 1381 80-85% 29 77.00–86.00 $82.80 $1,143 -5.63
1250–1620 1399 80-85% 62 86.50–95.50 $89.85 $1,257 —
1385–1525 1455 80-85% 2 81.00–83.50 $82.19 $1,196 +5.17
1410–1634 1589 80-85% 5 97.00 $97.00 $1,541 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1515 1515 75-80% 1 87.00 $87.00 $1,318 —
1522–1635 1550 75-80% 4 94.00–97.50 $94.92 $1,471 +3.92
1690 1690 75-80% 1 96.00 $96.00 $1,622 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230 1230 2 119.00 $119.00 $1,464 —
1585 1585 1 94.00 $94.00 $1,490 -15.00
1615–2150 1812 10 111.00–120.00 $116.08 $2,103 —
1952 1952 3 120.50 $120.50 $2,352 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
786–1255 905 (<2 yrs)Open 99 102.50–145.00 $134.28 $1,215
875–1350 1003 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 31 85.00–123.00 $111.06 $1,114
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
820–1080 881 (<2 yrs)Open 9 111.00–126.50 $119.68 $1,054
790–1095 943 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 82.00–110.00 $93.73 $884

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1199 1199 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,700.00 $1,700.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
907 907 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,550.00 $1,550.00

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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.