Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 26, 2024

2,961 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $244.36/cwt +3.27 vs last sale · ≈ $1,882/hd at 770 lb · 138 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $222.85/cwt +2.85 vs last sale · ≈ $1,956/hd at 878 lb · 131 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $272.39/cwt ≈ $1,957/hd at 718 lb · 130 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,961 431 2,781
Feeder cattle 2,518 221 2,312
Slaughter cattle 354 149 347
Replacement cattle 89 61 122

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale: Feeder calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifer under 850 lbs and steady undertones were noticed on all offerings over 850 lbs. Demand was mostly good for light weight yearlings and mostly moderate for heavyweight yearlings. Demand for spring born calves was mostly moderate to good with the best demand noticed on very light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings. Many of these offerings outsold their older, heavier weight mates. CME positions posted additional gains today as higher slaughter cattle prices were seen. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. Many sets of yearlings were pushing heavy amounts of fill as warm temperatures were seen today this led to wide price spreads on many weight breaks. Package sizes were mixed this sale with a few loads and part loads noticed. Many small packages and singles were noted as well. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this sale. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand and offerings. Slaughter cows sold sharply lower than last week with all classes 10.00-12.00 lower. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-6.00 lower. Cow and bull quality was mixed this sale. Weigh up conditions were mixed today with emptier cows noticed in the morning. Cows and bulls both tanked up as the sale pushed into the morning and temperatures warmed. Bull quality this sale was mostly average. Demand for feeding bulls was light again this sale. Feeding bulls sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand for rebreed cows was mostly good this sale as several young cows were purchased for this purpose. Quality on young age cows was mostly average to attractive.

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
195 unweaned 195 1 470.00 $470.00 $916 —
255–286 unweaned 278 11 450.00–460.00 $457.49 $1,272 —
300–347 unweaned 333 29 350.00–410.00 $366.43 $1,220 —
373 unweaned 373 3 330.00 $330.00 $1,231 —
400–442 unweaned 412 28 300.00–341.00 $316.32 $1,303 —
473–495 unweaned 488 6 290.00–291.00 $290.32 $1,417 —
512–545 unweaned 529 59 277.00–290.00 $281.59 $1,490 —
558–593 unweaned 578 27 260.00–279.00 $265.88 $1,537 —
603–639 unweaned 618 49 251.00–265.00 $261.53 $1,616 —
654–685 unweaned 668 50 245.00–265.00 $253.12 $1,691 —
711 unweaned 711 10 248.00 $248.00 $1,763 —
715–730 719 120 268.00–276.50 $274.42 $1,973 —
752–787 758 56 258.00–269.00 $267.55 $2,028 +12.55
821 thin fleshed 821 17 267.00 $267.00 $2,192 —
813–848 830 45 247.50–261.50 $254.06 $2,109 —
852–893 885 36 236.00–248.00 $238.57 $2,111 +0.57
900–931 927 32 225.75–235.00 $226.96 $2,104 —
954–999 975 55 220.00–224.75 $222.56 $2,170 +3.59
1020 1020 5 218.50 $218.50 $2,229 —
1065–1094 1092 29 212.75–217.50 $213.07 $2,327 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 548 10 280.50 $280.50 $1,537 —
563 unweaned 563 9 239.00 $239.00 $1,346 —
593 593 6 283.00 $283.00 $1,678 —
660–687 675 54 268.00–274.50 $272.50 $1,839 —
783 783 4 242.00 $242.00 $1,895 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
208 unweaned 208 3 375.00 $375.00 $780 —
255–295 unweaned 287 12 385.00–405.00 $390.65 $1,121 —
327 unweaned 327 3 350.00 $350.00 $1,144 —
369 unweaned 369 5 301.00 $301.00 $1,111 —
415–449 unweaned 442 20 274.00–290.00 $282.78 $1,250 —
473 unweaned 473 4 284.00 $284.00 $1,343 —
515–542 unweaned 535 4 266.00–277.50 $268.77 $1,438 —
746 746 9 257.00 $257.00 $1,917 +4.01
770 770 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,848 —
808–831 825 8 243.00–244.00 $243.24 $2,007 +6.24
868 868 2 233.00 $233.00 $2,022 -3.00
944 944 9 223.00 $223.00 $2,105 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
694 694 4 222.00 $222.00 $1,541 —
1038 1038 3 209.00 $209.00 $2,169 —
1103 1103 18 214.00 $214.00 $2,360 —
1181 1181 10 202.50 $202.50 $2,392 —
1260 1260 2 186.00 $186.00 $2,344 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
655–674 660 20 227.50–259.00 $250.95 $1,656 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
493 493 9 245.00 $245.00 $1,208 —
571 571 4 235.00 $235.00 $1,342 —
684 684 5 232.50 $232.50 $1,590 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1123 1123 2 200.00 $200.00 $2,246 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
292 unweaned 292 3 365.00 $365.00 $1,066 —
329 unweaned 329 4 315.00 $315.00 $1,036 —
358–395 unweaned 388 11 320.00–340.00 $323.35 $1,255 —
400–401 unweaned 400 24 315.00–333.00 $319.51 $1,278 —
462–483 unweaned 466 10 267.50–297.50 $286.83 $1,337 —
500–542 unweaned 518 28 253.00–260.00 $258.40 $1,339 —
534 534 5 234.00 $234.00 $1,250 —
555–579 unweaned 571 19 236.00–244.00 $239.15 $1,366 —
605–644 unweaned 622 21 231.00–234.00 $233.23 $1,451 —
662 unweaned 662 5 239.00 $239.00 $1,582 —
672 672 17 250.00 $250.00 $1,680 —
703–748 724 116 243.00–250.00 $245.57 $1,778 -1.43
730 730 11 232.50 $232.50 $1,697 -14.50
762 fancy 762 42 253.00 $253.00 $1,928 —
753–791 774 96 230.00–246.00 $240.58 $1,862 -0.51
801–833 816 50 228.00–232.50 $230.83 $1,884 +5.62
823–833 833 49 216.00–222.25 $222.00 $1,849 -3.21
858 858 22 220.50 $220.50 $1,892 +0.50
873 873 12 217.00 $217.00 $1,894 -3.00
852–894 883 97 221.50–232.00 $224.10 $1,979 +4.10
903–923 907 96 216.00–226.00 $222.48 $2,018 +8.23
933–948 939 23 206.50–213.50 $208.73 $1,960 -5.52
950–987 970 61 209.00–213.50 $211.30 $2,050 +9.30
983–984 984 29 207.50–208.00 $207.53 $2,042 +5.53
986 986 10 204.00 $204.00 $2,011 +2.00
1025 1025 1 194.00 $194.00 $1,988 —
1013–1044 1034 33 200.50–203.50 $201.11 $2,079 —
1051–1054 1053 15 199.00–200.00 $199.27 $2,098 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
502 unweaned 502 6 226.00 $226.00 $1,135 —
593 unweaned 593 4 226.00 $226.00 $1,340 —
598 598 6 256.00 $256.00 $1,531 —
633 633 8 257.00 $257.00 $1,627 —
712–721 715 25 229.00 $229.00 $1,637 —
805–843 809 35 202.00–205.00 $204.64 $1,656 —
844 844 7 200.00 $200.00 $1,688 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
496 496 9 256.00 $256.00 $1,270 —
596 596 11 244.50 $244.50 $1,457 +0.50
616–641 620 37 244.00–245.00 $244.83 $1,518 —
653–654 654 10 240.00–243.00 $241.20 $1,577 +1.69
703 703 4 212.50 $212.50 $1,494 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295–298 unweaned 298 10 325.00–335.00 $334.01 $995 —
323 unweaned 323 5 312.50 $312.50 $1,009 —
394–396 unweaned 395 9 302.00–305.00 $303.33 $1,198 —
427 unweaned 427 4 295.00 $295.00 $1,260 —
818–839 834 13 204.00–210.00 $205.36 $1,713 -13.64
862 862 3 221.50 $221.50 $1,909 —
930 930 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,767 —
937 937 3 194.00 $194.00 $1,818 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
283 unweaned 283 2 320.00 $320.00 $906 —
902 902 3 202.00 $202.00 $1,822 —
981 981 6 208.00 $208.00 $2,040 —
1078 1078 2 201.00 $201.00 $2,167 +0.50
1088 1088 4 199.50 $199.50 $2,171 -1.00
1122 1122 7 195.50 $195.50 $2,194 +1.50
1123 1123 4 190.50 $190.50 $2,139 -3.50
1177 1177 6 184.50 $184.50 $2,172 -9.00
1180 1180 2 187.00 $187.00 $2,207 -6.50

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 495 18 231.00 $231.00 $1,143 —
900 900 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,800 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 unweaned 415 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,079 —
652 unweaned 652 3 230.00 $230.00 $1,500 —
975 975 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,950 -15.61
1050 1050 1 182.00 $182.00 $1,911 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1158 1158 3 173.50 $173.50 $2,009 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1148 1148 2 184.50 $184.50 $2,118 -5.83

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1263–1685 1371 80-85% 58 116.00–127.50 $123.81 $1,697 —
1305–1490 1388 80-85% 9 113.00–117.00 $113.69 $1,578 —
1300–1435 1395 80-85% 6 98.00–111.00 $107.59 $1,501 —
1390–1400 1395 80-85% 3 84.00–95.00 $89.67 $1,251 —
1382–1640 1402 80-85% 13 129.50–133.00 $132.69 $1,860 +13.79
1350–1507 1449 80-85% 18 129.00–135.00 $132.73 $1,923 +6.52
1305–1573 1488 80-85% 4 114.00–115.00 $114.25 $1,700 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875 875 85-90% 1 75.00 $75.00 $656 —
940–990 965 85-90% 2 94.00–95.00 $94.49 $912 -22.23
1018–1380 1138 85-90% 9 60.00–86.00 $80.18 $912 -35.46
1082–1218 1162 85-90% 23 103.00–110.00 $107.31 $1,247 -18.16
1010–1275 1163 85-90% 10 126.00–129.00 $127.60 $1,484 +2.13
1000–1275 1180 85-90% 11 92.00–105.00 $96.05 $1,133 -29.42
985–1265 1193 85-90% 28 117.00–125.00 $119.29 $1,423 -6.18
1090–1295 1214 85-90% 10 108.00–115.00 $109.41 $1,328 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1330–1590 1460 75-80% 2 116.00–119.50 $117.59 $1,717 —
1480–1620 1553 75-80% 38 118.00–121.00 $119.87 $1,862 -22.13
1575 1575 75-80% 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,969 -17.00
1518–1695 1577 75-80% 3 114.00–117.00 $115.93 $1,828 -26.07
1705 1705 75-80% 2 123.50 $123.50 $2,106 -11.87
1828 1828 75-80% 2 122.50 $122.50 $2,239 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180 1180 1 136.00 $136.00 $1,605 —
1195–1348 1272 4 127.00–131.00 $129.12 $1,642 —
1360–1580 1502 9 126.00–143.00 $136.18 $2,045 —
1659–1710 1666 7 149.50–153.00 $152.49 $2,540 —
1745–1965 1830 13 149.00–158.00 $153.37 $2,807 —
1570–1986 1871 15 123.00–144.00 $138.11 $2,584 -14.94
1935 1935 1 160.00 $160.00 $3,096 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
770–1148 969 (<2 yrs)Open 20 157.00–198.00 $177.59 $1,721
935–1316 1051 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 22 133.50–182.00 $161.28 $1,695
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1220–1290 1267 (<2 yrs)Open 3 136.00–140.00 $137.28 $1,739

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1015–1350 1144 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 1,900.00–2,225.00 $2,083.61
1356–1523 1412 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 12 2,850.00–2,900.00 $2,882.02
1568 1568 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 2,100.00 $2,100.00

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1110–1225 1168 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 2,550.00–2,650.00 $2,602.46

↑ Back to top

Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1645 1645 75-80% 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,892 —

↑ 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.