Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, March 7, 2024

3,358 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 $317.32/cwt +23.32 vs last sale · ≈ $1,978/hd at 623 lb · 280 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $305.23/cwt +21.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,744/hd at 572 lb · 278 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $321.92/cwt ≈ $1,659/hd at 515 lb · 255 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,358 870 1,865
Feeder cattle 3,002 199 1,288
Slaughter cattle 268 480 446
Replacement cattle 88 191 131

Market comments — USDA reporter

The last feeder special was February 15th all feeder comparisons are to that sale. Feeder steers under 500 lbs sold steady to firm; steers 500-749 lbs sold mostly 10.00 higher; steers over 750 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Heifers under 500 lbs sold mostly steady to firm; heifers 500-749 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher; heifers over 750 lbs were too lightly tested last feeder special to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this sale was mixed from plain to attractive. Most offerings sold moderate size packages this sale with several partial load lots seen. Demand for all feeders was good to very good. Offerings were moderate to heavy. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings, most steers 500-750 lbs and heifers 475-650 lbs were purchased for that purpose. CME positions showed some strength throughout the week as higher cash bids for slaughter cattle improved demand throughout the week. The March feeder cattle contract closed today at 251.025, while the April closed at 256.30, 2.025 and 2.575 higher respectfully than last Thursdays close. Market activity was very active this week. Bidding today was noticeably urgent as buyers bid rapidly over offerings and started bidding at the auctioneer's opening bid ask. Weigh up cows sold on very good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cow comparisons are to last weeks sale which featured mostly weigh up cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher on all offerings in a narrow comparison. Most offerings sold to feed this week. Quality was mostly average to attractive. Demand for feeding cows was very good. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-7.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mixed this sale. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 10.00-12.00 higher. Demand for this class was very good. Many sets of young heifers were purchased to feed. Some of these offerings sold higher than yearling prices late last fall.

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
378–399 386 35 384.00–388.00 $387.25 $1,495 —
407–441 424 32 367.00–380.00 $374.01 $1,586 +3.20
432 unweaned 432 12 342.50 $342.50 $1,480 —
453 unweaned 453 6 374.00 $374.00 $1,694 —
455–499 488 110 349.50–370.00 $361.65 $1,765 +13.65
508 value added 508 69 369.00 $369.00 $1,875 —
520 unweaned 520 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,664 —
500–540 529 71 338.00–358.00 $352.47 $1,865 +7.88
550–596 584 101 323.50–340.00 $331.08 $1,934 —
589 unweaned 589 25 331.00 $331.00 $1,950 —
600 unweaned 600 2 307.50 $307.50 $1,845 —
602 value added 602 17 325.00 $325.00 $1,956 —
608–643 625 261 306.00–329.00 $316.90 $1,981 +22.90
656–699 680 180 280.00–307.00 $294.70 $2,004 —
703–732 719 29 269.00–273.00 $270.38 $1,944 +1.88
749 749 30 261.00 $261.00 $1,955 —
782 782 23 256.00 $256.00 $2,002 —
810 810 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,025 —
857–892 876 41 234.00–242.00 $236.41 $2,071 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
316 unweaned 316 7 360.00 $360.00 $1,138 —
375 375 2 378.00 $378.00 $1,418 —
430–446 442 8 352.50–367.50 $356.15 $1,574 +15.15
455–499 484 30 325.00–347.00 $341.82 $1,654 +14.27
500–518 513 39 325.00–331.00 $330.57 $1,696 —
567–592 586 13 312.00–315.00 $312.69 $1,832 —
603 thin fleshed 603 12 311.00 $311.00 $1,875 —
634–646 639 19 298.00–303.00 $301.09 $1,924 +18.09
667 667 3 275.00 $275.00 $1,834 +13.00
705–748 727 5 263.00–264.00 $263.41 $1,915 +9.41
752–770 762 13 253.00–258.00 $255.05 $1,943 —
805–838 826 12 237.00–242.00 $238.47 $1,970 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
412 412 3 360.00 $360.00 $1,483 —
473 473 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,514 —
558 558 5 312.00–317.00 $314.00 $1,752 —
658 658 3 269.00 $269.00 $1,770 —
700 700 1 252.00 $252.00 $1,764 —
753–775 758 9 251.00–259.50 $257.57 $1,952 —
838 838 3 231.00 $231.00 $1,936 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
349 349 5 357.50 $357.50 $1,248 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
458 458 3 300.00 $300.00 $1,374 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
394 unweaned 394 21 315.00 $315.00 $1,241 —
445 445 12 320.00 $320.00 $1,424 +2.00
454–486 469 99 317.50–329.50 $325.40 $1,526 +12.07
503 value added 503 79 340.00 $340.00 $1,710 —
500–547 521 176 300.00–328.00 $313.80 $1,635 —
552–599 564 171 286.00–315.50 $304.04 $1,715 +20.11
579 value added 579 70 313.00 $313.00 $1,812 —
592 592 37 296.00 $296.00 $1,752 +12.07
604–637 618 62 267.00–289.00 $282.14 $1,744 +14.14
602–645 628 150 285.00–294.00 $290.84 $1,826 +22.84
668–685 678 70 252.00–267.50 $261.48 $1,773 +8.60
702 702 12 259.00 $259.00 $1,818 —
702–745 729 48 241.25–254.00 $244.99 $1,786 —
758–795 790 91 237.00–242.00 $238.11 $1,881 —
815–845 830 7 228.00–240.50 $236.78 $1,965 —
872–878 872 48 218.00–223.00 $222.79 $1,943 —
903–943 925 11 215.00–217.00 $216.11 $1,999 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353–386 380 16 320.00–337.50 $325.53 $1,237 +8.53
415–438 420 20 310.00–315.00 $311.47 $1,308 -0.53
450–480 470 18 300.00–317.00 $309.23 $1,453 +6.23
502–549 526 29 295.00–301.00 $298.05 $1,568 —
584 584 14 286.00 $286.00 $1,670 +43.50
606–620 612 7 267.00–269.00 $268.13 $1,641 —
693 693 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,732 —
715–748 738 25 231.00–241.50 $239.40 $1,767 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368–393 374 24 320.00–327.00 $325.16 $1,216 —
428 428 11 316.00 $316.00 $1,352 —
465 465 11 310.00 $310.00 $1,442 —
580 580 5 317.50 $317.50 $1,842 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
687 687 6 250.00 $250.00 $1,718 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,458 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485–495 490 2 325.00–334.00 $329.55 $1,615 —
528–529 529 13 320.00–330.00 $328.46 $1,738 +13.46
565–583 577 3 314.00–317.00 $314.98 $1,817 —
635 635 3 305.00 $305.00 $1,937 —
655–681 678 8 280.00–293.00 $281.57 $1,909 —
715–730 728 6 246.00–259.00 $256.87 $1,870 +16.87
809–840 815 5 212.50–222.00 $214.46 $1,748 —
850 850 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,862 —
978–980 979 3 209.00–216.00 $211.34 $2,069 -6.66
1015–1043 1029 4 207.00–209.00 $207.99 $2,140 -2.01
1090 1090 1 212.00 $212.00 $2,311 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1268 1268 2 130.00 $130.00 $1,648 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830–993 934 85-90% 9 92.00–100.00 $98.10 $916 —
960 960 85-90% 1 79.00 $79.00 $758 —
965–973 970 85-90% 3 104.00–110.00 $105.99 $1,028 —
967–1218 1075 85-90% 18 105.50–110.00 $109.20 $1,174 +30.20
1020–1225 1102 85-90% 8 95.00–110.00 $104.05 $1,147 —
1123–1290 1154 85-90% 7 120.00–128.00 $122.21 $1,410 +28.33
1043–1282 1156 85-90% 11 112.00–119.00 $116.91 $1,351 +23.03
1115–1235 1190 85-90% 6 120.00–123.00 $121.19 $1,442 —
1092–1320 1192 85-90% 15 111.00–118.00 $115.89 $1,381 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1340 1340 80-85% 1 119.00 $119.00 $1,595 +7.12
1365 1365 80-85% 1 104.00 $104.00 $1,420 -13.55
1340–1478 1368 80-85% 33 123.00–127.00 $124.58 $1,704 +7.03
1280–1610 1387 80-85% 14 114.00–122.00 $119.09 $1,652 +1.54
1285–1440 1401 80-85% 4 123.00–124.00 $123.77 $1,734 +15.15
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1458–1570 1476 75-80% 29 126.00–127.50 $127.28 $1,879 +16.78
1427–1755 1526 75-80% 11 119.00–122.00 $121.23 $1,850 —
1453–1628 1560 75-80% 6 125.50–128.50 $126.95 $1,980 —
1623–1735 1660 75-80% 3 101.00–110.50 $107.19 $1,779 —
1645–1985 1815 75-80% 2 118.00–122.00 $119.81 $2,175 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1699 1699 65-75% 8 125.00 $125.00 $2,124 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035 1035 1 93.50 $93.50 $968 —
1271 1271 4 115.00 $115.00 $1,462 +17.00
1395–1795 1553 5 113.00–125.00 $117.84 $1,830 +4.80
1425–1975 1751 8 124.00–137.00 $130.74 $2,289 —
1925–2219 2155 7 140.00–144.00 $141.65 $3,053 +1.98

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
760–1250 953 (<2 yrs)Open 13 153.00–231.00 $187.29 $1,785
868–1292 1065 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 44 121.00–181.00 $161.61 $1,721
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1075 1075 (<2 yrs)Open 1 154.00 $154.00 $1,656
933–1259 1161 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 19 113.00–139.00 $124.27 $1,443
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
583 583 (<2 yrs)Open 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,428
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
910 910 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,274

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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.