Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 5, 2024

1,760 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $222.44/cwt +10.65 vs last sale · ≈ $1,953/hd at 878 lb · 275 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $249.15/cwt ≈ $1,933/hd at 776 lb · 70 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $240.93/cwt ≈ $2,067/hd at 858 lb · 57 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,760 753 1,611
Feeder cattle 1,303 265 1,134
Slaughter cattle 353 397 462
Replacement cattle 104 91 15

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. CME positions continue to see downward pressure and have moved lower since the last reported sale. Feeder prices mirrored the lower movement of feeder contracts. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate for light to moderate offerings. Quality today was mostly average on steers and average to attractive on heifers with several packages of tested open replacement heifers on offer. One full load lot of heifers off grass were seen these offerings were met with mostly good demand. Most cattle were offered in small to moderate size packages. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 lower on all classes. Feeding cows sold steady to 5.00 lower. Cow and bull quality was mostly average this week and lower than last sale. Most cows continue to show lighter body condition scores as dry weather and big calves are pulling cows down. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week with many very full cows noticed. Bull quality this sale was mostly average. Many bulls have been turned out and were in light flesh. Demand for feeding bulls was slightly lighter this sale as buyers searched for bulls to meet quality and weight requirements. Feeding bulls sold generally steady to weak. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested this sale to develop any market trend. Quality was mostly average this week.

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 6 370.00 $370.00 $955 —
300 unweaned 300 1 390.00 $390.00 $1,170 —
368 unweaned 368 2 330.00 $330.00 $1,214 —
421–435 unweaned 432 17 324.00–327.50 $324.80 $1,403 —
455 unweaned 455 6 329.00 $329.00 $1,497 —
500 unweaned 500 2 292.00 $292.00 $1,460 —
739 739 5 265.00 $265.00 $1,958 +12.00
750–793 776 70 247.00–256.00 $249.15 $1,933 —
813–820 814 6 243.00–250.00 $248.82 $2,025 —
853–889 858 57 232.00–243.50 $240.93 $2,067 —
901–939 915 39 227.00–229.00 $228.19 $2,088 +0.19
953–985 974 41 218.00–223.50 $221.76 $2,160 —
1027 1027 11 210.00 $210.00 $2,157 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
363–378 unweaned 371 10 309.00–320.00 $314.77 $1,168 —
400 unweaned 400 1 317.50 $317.50 $1,270 —
467–498 unweaned 490 22 275.00–282.00 $280.18 $1,373 +10.18
518–543 unweaned 526 9 260.00–283.00 $276.01 $1,452 +36.01
589 unweaned 589 11 257.50 $257.50 $1,517 —
645 645 3 254.00 $254.00 $1,638 —
659 unweaned 659 5 249.00 $249.00 $1,641 +22.00
729 729 5 251.50 $251.50 $1,833 +11.50
793 793 4 241.00 $241.00 $1,911 —
803–841 831 8 231.00–237.00 $234.47 $1,948 —
858 858 2 228.00 $228.00 $1,956 —
925–949 935 10 223.00–223.50 $223.20 $2,087 +0.70
993 993 2 214.00 $214.00 $2,125 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
695 695 18 274.50 $274.50 $1,908 +43.50
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
553 553 2 274.00 $274.00 $1,515 +31.50
652–695 673 16 246.00–257.00 $250.49 $1,686 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
925 925 6 225.00 $225.00 $2,081 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
660 unweaned 660 4 210.00 $210.00 $1,386 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
633 unweaned 633 3 233.00 $233.00 $1,475 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 unweaned 510 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,250 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 unweaned 255 5 350.00 $350.00 $892 —
338 unweaned 338 3 305.00 $305.00 $1,031 —
353–398 unweaned 377 8 300.00–310.00 $304.57 $1,148 —
439–441 unweaned 440 30 286.00–290.00 $288.27 $1,268 —
473 unweaned 473 3 255.00 $255.00 $1,206 —
580–594 591 32 260.00–262.00 $260.50 $1,540 —
664–698 679 9 250.00–253.50 $251.90 $1,710 —
753–780 759 15 234.00–245.00 $242.77 $1,843 +25.77
820–838 836 45 224.50–229.50 $228.37 $1,909 +15.37
841 841 8 218.00 $218.00 $1,833 +5.00
858–891 878 275 218.00–223.00 $222.44 $1,953 +10.65
908–928 915 14 217.00–219.50 $218.71 $2,001 +10.71
918–932 930 21 211.00–212.00 $211.86 $1,970 +3.86
952–975 970 15 205.00–215.00 $209.17 $2,029 +11.67
1006–1029 1021 34 196.00–208.50 $200.73 $2,049 -0.38
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
522 522 11 255.00 $255.00 $1,331 —
626–630 626 17 251.00–253.00 $251.24 $1,573 —
780 780 43 222.50 $222.50 $1,736 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426–443 unweaned 431 7 263.00–265.00 $264.41 $1,140 +27.41
484 484 6 255.00 $255.00 $1,234 —
485 unweaned 485 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,188 —
545 545 5 246.50 $246.50 $1,343 —
841–844 843 21 216.00–221.00 $217.66 $1,835 —
877 877 5 217.00 $217.00 $1,903 —
915 915 2 212.00 $212.00 $1,940 +11.00
995 995 3 195.00 $195.00 $1,940 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
584 584 7 255.00 $255.00 $1,489 —
676 676 15 231.00 $231.00 $1,562 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1079 1078 8 187.50–201.50 $192.74 $2,078 -3.47
1125 1125 2 194.00 $194.00 $2,182 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
635 unweaned 635 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,524 —
1140 1140 3 160.00 $160.00 $1,824 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
477 unweaned 477 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,192 —
537 unweaned 537 12 240.00 $240.00 $1,289 —
873 873 8 223.00 $223.00 $1,947 +2.29
913 913 3 215.00 $215.00 $1,963 +6.00
1090 1090 1 212.50 $212.50 $2,316 +18.01
1200 1200 1 187.00 $187.00 $2,244 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085 1085 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,953 —
1120 1120 1 187.50 $187.50 $2,100 —
1190 1190 1 185.00 $185.00 $2,202 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810 810 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,660 —
910 910 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,934 +11.50
965 965 1 210.00 $210.00 $2,026 +8.00

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945 945 85-90% 2 97.00 $97.00 $917 —
945–990 965 85-90% 3 107.00–111.00 $108.97 $1,052 -4.03
1000–1245 1118 85-90% 9 95.00–103.00 $100.28 $1,121 -29.26
1078–1370 1206 85-90% 38 110.00–123.00 $117.23 $1,414 -24.19
1138–1263 1206 85-90% 14 126.00–135.50 $131.80 $1,590 -9.62
1010–1450 1209 85-90% 37 105.00–116.00 $112.29 $1,358 -29.13
1175–1335 1278 85-90% 3 120.00–131.00 $125.56 $1,605 -5.31
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290–1665 1405 80-85% 8 140.50–142.00 $141.13 $1,983 +17.50
1223–1610 1408 80-85% 40 126.00–139.00 $132.94 $1,872 +9.31
1265–1575 1420 80-85% 27 120.00–125.00 $124.20 $1,764 +0.48
1250–1615 1424 80-85% 19 111.00–122.00 $117.43 $1,672 -6.29
1385–1645 1485 80-85% 3 99.00–105.00 $102.18 $1,517 -46.03
1420–1680 1535 80-85% 7 125.00–133.00 $126.97 $1,949 -10.48
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1420 1420 75-80% 2 140.00 $140.00 $1,988 —
1543–1610 1589 75-80% 10 133.00–138.50 $135.68 $2,156 -13.32
1523–1930 1629 75-80% 16 130.00–133.50 $132.23 $2,154 -12.77
1500–1900 1641 75-80% 10 134.00–138.00 $136.14 $2,234 -8.37
1660–1820 1725 75-80% 3 126.00–132.50 $129.84 $2,240 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1295–1723 1534 5 132.00–154.00 $148.94 $2,285 —
1305–1810 1567 9 151.00–161.00 $158.30 $2,481 +10.43
1523–2008 1685 28 127.50–152.00 $142.63 $2,403 —
1700–2235 1925 26 152.00–162.00 $155.79 $2,999 -6.25
2100–2160 2130 2 165.00–170.00 $167.54 $3,569 —
2545 2545 1 152.00 $152.00 $3,868 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
874–1365 1001 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 18 140.00–179.50 $167.27 $1,674
910–1129 1066 (<2 yrs)Open 19 155.00–173.00 $165.19 $1,761
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1050–1260 1155 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 133.00–136.00 $134.36 $1,552

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1066–1203 1098 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 45 2,350.00–2,375.00 $2,361.87

↑ Back to top

Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020 1020 85-90% 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,173 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
563 563 3 167.50 $167.50 $943 —
678 678 14 167.00 $167.00 $1,132 —

↑ 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.