Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, May 30, 2024

1,217 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 $321.02/cwt ≈ $2,016/hd at 628 lb · 180 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $294.62/cwt ≈ $1,700/hd at 577 lb · 80 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $280.18/cwt ≈ $1,855/hd at 662 lb · 75 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,217 1,063 1,313
Feeder cattle 907 391 437
Slaughter cattle 209 453 641
Replacement cattle 101 219 235

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle to lightly tested last week to establish a trend. For this week's turn out special a higher undertone was noted. Demand good. Quality average. Slaughter cows and bulls up to 10.00 higher. Thin fleshed cows sold steady. Cows returning to feed sold 7.00-10.00 higher. Packer demand very good. Young cows going back to the country for feeding or breeding sold steady to 4.00 higher.

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
378 378 14 385.00 $385.00 $1,455 —
425–448 445 25 365.00–375.00 $373.85 $1,664 —
480–485 481 10 340.00–355.00 $343.02 $1,650 —
521–545 538 69 344.00–360.00 $351.66 $1,892 +10.66
553–598 577 11 323.00–342.50 $335.21 $1,934 +3.21
600–646 628 180 307.00–326.00 $321.02 $2,016 —
654–686 671 11 284.00–309.00 $295.07 $1,980 +8.39
709–740 733 69 285.50–288.00 $286.93 $2,103 —
768–773 771 4 261.00 $261.00 $2,012 +4.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–445 430 6 330.00–350.00 $342.31 $1,472 —
460–495 483 6 295.00–330.00 $308.71 $1,491 -25.29
528 528 2 325.00 $325.00 $1,716 +22.08
555–570 563 2 315.00–317.00 $315.99 $1,779 +19.58
615–645 630 3 297.00–303.00 $299.12 $1,884 —
680 680 3 265.00 $265.00 $1,802 +5.00
725–740 733 2 266.00–273.00 $269.46 $1,975 —
793 793 2 227.00 $227.00 $1,800 -24.00
829–844 836 11 228.00–230.00 $229.08 $1,915 —
885 885 4 220.00 $220.00 $1,947 —
900 900 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,935 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 1 305.00 $305.00 $1,266 —
650 650 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,560 —
735–745 737 6 215.00–245.00 $239.94 $1,768 —
895 895 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,857 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–431 429 13 285.00–300.00 $286.08 $1,227 —
450–476 461 11 300.00–327.00 $307.67 $1,418 —
522–547 532 43 295.00–300.00 $297.77 $1,584 —
551–591 577 80 285.00–298.00 $294.62 $1,700 —
600–648 639 22 268.00–286.00 $276.56 $1,767 -2.44
651–675 662 75 273.00–284.00 $280.18 $1,855 —
703 703 14 270.00 $270.00 $1,898 +22.50
705–743 735 5 250.00–263.00 $252.49 $1,856 +4.99
752–790 772 17 233.00–250.50 $242.76 $1,874 —
805 805 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,852 —
907–929 920 15 202.00–213.00 $206.34 $1,898 —
970 970 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,794 —
1055 1055 1 177.50 $177.50 $1,873 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
393–395 394 3 295.00 $295.00 $1,162 —
425 425 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,084 —
438 438 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,183 —
500–522 516 5 250.00–287.50 $266.37 $1,374 -28.20
550–599 581 57 250.00–270.00 $262.43 $1,525 -0.07
635 635 2 264.00 $264.00 $1,676 +4.03
650 650 2 263.00 $263.00 $1,710 +12.08
715–730 723 7 237.50–244.00 $243.06 $1,757 +5.06
750–785 759 9 221.00–229.00 $227.42 $1,726 -11.58
800 800 1 224.00 $224.00 $1,792 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 350 1 275.00 $275.00 $962 —
519–520 519 6 215.00–225.00 $216.67 $1,125 —
565 565 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,158 -43.00
605 605 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,543 +27.50
685–690 688 2 222.00–222.50 $222.25 $1,529 —
700–718 712 3 210.00–222.00 $218.07 $1,553 —
785 785 3 205.00 $205.00 $1,609 -16.00
853 853 2 177.00 $177.00 $1,510 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 1 317.50 $317.50 $1,667 —
705 705 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,692 —
895 895 3 215.00 $215.00 $1,924 —
1110–1118 1114 9 196.00–201.00 $198.21 $2,208 —
1205 1205 2 185.00 $185.00 $2,229 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
580 580 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,421 -27.53
725 725 1 227.50 $227.50 $1,649 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1330–1440 1352 75-80% 5 162.00–163.00 $162.21 $2,193 —
1395–1498 1476 75-80% 5 156.00–158.50 $156.69 $2,313 —
1349–1635 1478 75-80% 10 160.00–162.50 $160.69 $2,375 —
1415–1658 1489 75-80% 33 151.00–159.50 $153.64 $2,288 —
1505–1595 1545 75-80% 4 143.00–148.00 $144.98 $2,240 +1.98
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–1385 1250 80-85% 31 137.00–154.50 $146.74 $1,834 —
1200–1305 1253 80-85% 2 119.00–132.00 $125.77 $1,576 —
1260–1285 1269 80-85% 8 155.00–158.50 $156.63 $1,988 —
1148–1366 1300 80-85% 14 135.00–149.00 $140.49 $1,826 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970 970 85-90% 1 105.00 $105.00 $1,018 -29.00
1039 1039 85-90% 6 108.00 $108.00 $1,122 —
1105 1105 85-90% 3 119.50 $119.50 $1,320 +34.50
1105 1105 85-90% 1 142.00 $142.00 $1,569 +57.00
1020–1175 1137 85-90% 5 123.50–125.00 $123.98 $1,410 +8.55
1090–1180 1145 85-90% 6 130.00–140.00 $136.56 $1,564 +21.13
1150 1150 85-90% 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,449 —
1120–1184 1171 85-90% 5 145.00–148.00 $147.43 $1,726 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1470–2255 1768 6 136.00–147.00 $141.84 $2,508 -14.41
1798–2140 1941 12 163.00–171.00 $167.57 $3,253 —
1885–2255 2028 6 174.00–182.00 $177.36 $3,597 +13.76

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775–1020 949 (<2 yrs)Open 20 190.00–218.50 $205.83 $1,953
963–1030 973 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 165.00–183.00 $167.72 $1,632
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
755–1105 986 (<2 yrs)Open 8 164.00–185.00 $174.39 $1,719
900–1366 1169 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 19 130.00–155.00 $142.62 $1,667

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
995–1360 1110 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,800.00–1,900.00 $1,846.97
1125–1255 1190 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,850.00–2,150.00 $1,991.81
995–1328 1223 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,900.00–2,400.00 $2,298.51
1379 1379 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,900.00 $1,900.00
1240–1525 1387 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 2,000.00–2,400.00 $2,207.33
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1172 1172 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,800.00 $1,800.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1075 1075 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
878 878 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 2,450.00 $2,450.00 —
1280 1280 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,550.00 $2,550.00 —
1320 1320 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 7 2,500.00 $2,500.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1220 1220 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 2,550.00 $2,550.00 —
1305 1305 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,050.00 $2,050.00 —

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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.