Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, October 10, 2024

3,391 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $306.42/cwt +11.18 vs last sale · ≈ $1,427/hd at 466 lb · 239 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $328.80/cwt ≈ $1,578/hd at 480 lb · 199 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $290.60/cwt -0.40 vs last sale · ≈ $1,683/hd at 579 lb · 186 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,391 952 2,078
Feeder cattle 2,980 417 1,812
Slaughter cattle 267 374 148
Replacement cattle 144 161 118

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale: Feeder calves were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on all calves on offer. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good on both yearling and calves. Offerings were moderate. Spring born calves are approaching prices not seen since the July video sale, with a few eclipsing prices seen this summer. CME positions traded mixed higher today with triple digit gains seen on all contracts through May 2025. Quality today was mixed from plain to attractive. Package sizes were mixed today, however many small packages were seen. A couple light loads were seen today. Market activity was mostly active this sale. A large buyer pool was noticed with many bidders seen both ringside as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light offerings. Feeding cow demand was mostly good and most cows sold to feeding buyers this week. Packers competed with private feeders as they tried to fill loads for the week. Very few cows were purchased to slaughter this sale. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Cow and bull quality was plain to average. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average today as most cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Bull quality this sale was mostly average. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to weak. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 10.00 higher. Demand for rebreed cows was mostly good to very good this sale. 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
235 unweaned 235 1 445.00 $445.00 $1,046 +25.00
314–347 unweaned 337 44 408.00–450.00 $412.88 $1,391 +17.88
360–385 unweaned 366 31 390.00–411.00 $405.30 $1,483 —
403–443 unweaned 419 81 340.00–370.00 $355.01 $1,487 -27.04
452–493 unweaned 480 199 307.00–335.00 $328.80 $1,578 —
501–534 unweaned 518 105 304.00–321.50 $311.67 $1,614 +1.43
551–596 unweaned 579 186 284.00–304.00 $290.60 $1,683 -0.40
609–630 unweaned 618 47 271.50–291.00 $280.02 $1,731 —
653–670 unweaned 663 29 266.00–270.50 $268.64 $1,781 —
711–745 723 35 268.00–277.00 $270.57 $1,956 +5.57
720–737 unweaned 724 14 253.00–256.50 $255.74 $1,852 —
731–744 743 62 260.00 $260.00 $1,932 -5.00
754–795 787 56 269.50–272.00 $269.72 $2,123 —
811–827 815 13 253.00–257.00 $256.06 $2,087 —
837 837 3 248.00 $248.00 $2,076 —
902 902 18 249.00 $249.00 $2,246 +9.80
998–999 999 8 228.50–231.00 $229.44 $2,292 +14.44
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 unweaned 295 7 417.50 $417.50 $1,232 —
308–323 unweaned 312 18 380.00–405.00 $397.60 $1,241 —
350–380 unweaned 362 35 330.00–390.00 $371.40 $1,344 +2.26
420–447 unweaned 440 19 325.00–337.50 $327.22 $1,440 -32.78
452–495 unweaned 461 34 291.00–310.00 $305.34 $1,408 -0.66
505–544 unweaned 529 51 295.00–302.50 $298.60 $1,580 —
579–594 unweaned 582 22 272.00–277.00 $276.07 $1,607 —
603–607 unweaned 605 5 269.00–270.00 $269.40 $1,630 —
655 unweaned 655 4 246.00 $246.00 $1,611 —
705 705 2 255.00 $255.00 $1,798 -5.00
765 765 7 254.00 $254.00 $1,943 -4.00
949 949 4 231.00 $231.00 $2,192 —
955 955 4 228.00 $228.00 $2,177 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 unweaned 590 3 274.00 $274.00 $1,617 +11.00
600–610 unweaned 604 5 260.00–263.00 $261.79 $1,581 —
606 606 9 266.00 $266.00 $1,612 —
688–691 unweaned 690 11 255.00–258.00 $256.09 $1,767 —
775 unweaned 775 4 253.00 $253.00 $1,961 —
1185 1185 1 201.00 $201.00 $2,382 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
580 580 8 279.00 $279.00 $1,618 —
645 645 6 266.00 $266.00 $1,716 —
695 695 15 273.00 $273.00 $1,897 —
705 705 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,710 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
498 unweaned 498 14 290.00 $290.00 $1,444 —
513–526 unweaned 519 9 250.00–266.00 $258.79 $1,343 —
595 unweaned 595 3 247.00 $247.00 $1,470 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–292 unweaned 278 16 360.00–400.00 $372.41 $1,035 -10.12
303–318 unweaned 315 34 340.00–370.00 $351.43 $1,107 —
360–398 unweaned 383 86 322.50–349.00 $333.52 $1,277 +16.02
409–433 unweaned 423 39 310.00–323.00 $316.50 $1,339 -0.25
451 fancy 451 31 318.00 $318.00 $1,434 —
450–494 unweaned 468 208 287.50–316.00 $304.69 $1,426 +9.45
505–548 unweaned 522 135 276.00–294.00 $281.80 $1,471 —
554–597 unweaned 574 71 258.50–275.00 $265.07 $1,522 —
585 585 13 268.00 $268.00 $1,568 —
601–630 unweaned 617 22 253.00–262.00 $258.30 $1,594 —
658–685 665 20 252.00–255.00 $252.77 $1,681 —
669 669 7 222.00 $222.00 $1,485 —
725 725 7 248.50 $248.50 $1,802 +0.50
758–799 780 113 246.50–252.00 $249.01 $1,942 —
823 823 8 243.50 $243.50 $2,004 +10.00
843 843 4 230.50 $230.50 $1,943 -3.00
881 881 8 233.00 $233.00 $2,053 +8.26
904 fancy 904 21 240.00 $240.00 $2,170 —
904–926 908 110 224.00–234.50 $230.73 $2,095 +11.73
993 993 7 217.00 $217.00 $2,155 +2.00
1016 1016 7 220.50 $220.50 $2,240 +12.55
1043 1043 4 196.00 $196.00 $2,044 -11.95
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 unweaned 245 2 350.00 $350.00 $858 —
326–335 unweaned 328 26 315.00–340.00 $332.63 $1,091 +15.13
403–449 unweaned 439 70 280.00–307.00 $297.56 $1,306 —
475–498 unweaned 479 64 277.00–290.00 $287.95 $1,379 —
525–548 unweaned 530 19 264.00–274.00 $265.78 $1,409 +17.78
567–590 unweaned 580 14 241.00–258.00 $251.40 $1,458 —
756 756 5 245.00 $245.00 $1,852 +20.00
830 830 3 210.00 $210.00 $1,743 -9.47
910 910 2 225.00 $225.00 $2,048 +11.91
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
389 unweaned 389 14 324.00 $324.00 $1,260 —
566 unweaned 566 7 253.00 $253.00 $1,432 —
571 571 5 253.50 $253.50 $1,447 —
621 621 10 247.00 $247.00 $1,534 —
669–697 686 31 245.00–247.00 $246.25 $1,689 —
760 760 7 240.00 $240.00 $1,824 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
454 unweaned 454 7 288.00 $288.00 $1,308 —
538 unweaned 538 13 266.00 $266.00 $1,431 —
578 578 8 254.00 $254.00 $1,468 —
1095 1095 1 205.00 $205.00 $2,245 +1.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
439 unweaned 439 10 270.00 $270.00 $1,185 —
487 487 5 210.00 $210.00 $1,023 —
505 unweaned 505 1 257.50 $257.50 $1,300 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
587 unweaned 587 8 241.00 $241.00 $1,415 —
1187 1187 3 184.00 $184.00 $2,184 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
499 499 5 256.00 $256.00 $1,277 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353–375 unweaned 370 8 342.50–355.00 $345.49 $1,278 —
413 unweaned 413 8 336.00 $336.00 $1,388 -51.50
528–531 unweaned 530 27 306.00 $306.00 $1,622 +2.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645 unweaned 645 12 241.00 $241.00 $1,554 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
662 662 7 232.50 $232.50 $1,539 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1258 1258 3 171.00 $171.00 $2,151 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1275–1385 1336 80-85% 9 135.00–143.00 $137.94 $1,843 +13.47
1295–1685 1416 80-85% 23 120.00–135.00 $128.80 $1,824 —
1275–1640 1427 80-85% 34 107.00–120.00 $113.05 $1,613 —
1363–1610 1435 80-85% 7 92.00–103.00 $96.48 $1,384 —
1515–1590 1535 80-85% 7 114.00–118.00 $117.26 $1,800 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970 970 85-90% 3 77.50 $77.50 $752 —
1120 1120 85-90% 1 77.50 $77.50 $868 —
965–1250 1154 85-90% 10 127.00–138.00 $131.87 $1,522 +19.23
1043–1250 1172 85-90% 9 92.00–95.00 $93.69 $1,098 -7.78
1145–1290 1203 85-90% 13 99.00–115.00 $102.14 $1,229 -27.01
1055–1260 1208 85-90% 6 116.00–124.00 $118.51 $1,432 -10.64
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1570 1570 75-80% 2 119.50 $119.50 $1,876 +4.50
1600 1600 75-80% 1 124.00 $124.00 $1,984 —
1605–1845 1732 75-80% 13 122.00–129.00 $124.60 $2,158 -1.25
1785 1785 75-80% 1 114.00 $114.00 $2,035 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1700–1975 1810 13 129.00–144.00 $134.73 $2,439 -13.99
1950–2085 2015 3 147.00–156.00 $151.28 $3,048 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
850 thin fleshed 850 (<2 yrs)Open 24 190.00 $190.00 $1,615
814–1070 965 (<2 yrs)Open 73 179.00–208.00 $194.88 $1,881
988–1305 1126 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 132.50–180.00 $144.17 $1,623
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1145 1145 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,523
1158 1158 (<2 yrs)Open 2 140.00 $140.00 $1,621

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1157 1157 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 2,050.00 $2,050.00
1187 1187 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1310–1560 1441 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,800.00–1,850.00 $1,843.51
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1531 1531 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 106.00 $106.00 $1,623
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1310 1310 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,625.00 $1,625.00

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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.