Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, October 24, 2024

3,475 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $317.09/cwt +11.23 vs last sale · ≈ $1,643/hd at 518 lb · 238 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $288.52/cwt -5.01 vs last sale · ≈ $1,674/hd at 580 lb · 175 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $360.16/cwt -13.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,552/hd at 431 lb · 172 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,475 5,033 1,213
Feeder cattle 3,041 4,775 979
Slaughter cattle 292 193 89
Replacement cattle 142 65 145

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale: Feeder steer calves under 450 lbs sold generally steady, steer calves 450-549 lbs sold 5.00 to 8.00 higher, calves over 550 lbs sold sold steady to 5.00 lower. Heifer calves under 600 lbs sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher, heifer calves over 600 lbs sold steady to weak. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed on like quality offerings. Demand was mostly good on both yearling and calves. Offerings were light to moderate. Lots of packages of calves sold today with lots of quality variation seen. Quality today was mixed from plain to attractive, however quality was not as attractive as last week. Large packages of calves sold with the best demand while small packages sold with a discount. Market activity was mostly active this sale. Todays buyer pool was slightly smaller than last week however market activity remained active with bidders both ringside as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand and offerings. Most cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill today. Slaughter cows sold with lower undertones as all cows were extremely full. Feeding cows sold with the best demand today. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00 lower on like quality offerings. Cow and bull quality was plain. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Quality was mostly plain today.

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
224 unweaned 224 5 445.00 $445.00 $997 —
268–280 unweaned 273 10 425.00–450.00 $444.49 $1,213 +11.63
303–328 unweaned 323 21 415.00–432.50 $428.37 $1,384 +1.95
353–378 unweaned 368 44 380.00–408.00 $402.16 $1,480 -1.19
403–446 unweaned 431 172 350.00–379.00 $360.16 $1,552 -13.86
450–490 unweaned 471 66 325.00–354.00 $338.41 $1,594 +6.63
500–536 unweaned 518 238 296.00–336.00 $317.09 $1,643 +11.43
550–599 unweaned 580 168 285.00–295.00 $288.37 $1,673 -5.16
588 588 7 292.00 $292.00 $1,717 —
603–649 unweaned 632 163 268.00–285.00 $274.96 $1,738 -9.13
645 645 2 274.00 $274.00 $1,767 -6.00
650–694 unweaned 673 62 267.00–271.50 $268.97 $1,810 -7.09
720–730 unweaned 724 31 252.00–268.00 $263.05 $1,904 +7.29
759–770 unweaned 761 5 249.00–250.00 $249.20 $1,896 -2.80
809 809 15 256.00 $256.00 $2,071 -1.06
868 unweaned 868 3 235.00 $235.00 $2,040 -9.00
889 889 4 244.00 $244.00 $2,169 —
916 916 16 240.50 $240.50 $2,203 —
1035 1035 1 228.50 $228.50 $2,365 +10.50
1085–1090 1087 18 223.00–223.50 $223.19 $2,426 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
372–399 unweaned 378 43 350.00–375.00 $362.08 $1,369 -0.49
412–432 unweaned 427 22 325.00–347.50 $330.85 $1,413 -17.15
478–497 unweaned 488 61 301.00–315.00 $307.44 $1,500 +14.99
506–541 unweaned 529 135 288.00–305.00 $291.90 $1,544 +5.63
542 542 2 287.00 $287.00 $1,556 —
573 unweaned 573 6 278.00 $278.00 $1,593 —
663 unweaned 663 5 258.00 $258.00 $1,711 —
735 unweaned 735 10 244.00 $244.00 $1,793 —
751–790 779 18 254.00–260.00 $256.96 $2,002 +7.07
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 unweaned 385 4 367.50 $367.50 $1,415 —
405–408 unweaned 407 12 335.00–345.00 $341.68 $1,391 —
504–548 unweaned 517 11 282.50–303.00 $295.32 $1,527 —
686 unweaned 686 11 256.00 $256.00 $1,756 —
778 unweaned 778 2 238.00 $238.00 $1,852 —
810 unweaned 810 5 236.00 $236.00 $1,912 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
412–442 unweaned 431 34 312.50–340.00 $325.03 $1,401 —
524 unweaned 524 8 272.50 $272.50 $1,428 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
541 unweaned 541 8 270.00 $270.00 $1,461 +20.00
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
608 608 7 240.00 $240.00 $1,459 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
293 unweaned 293 2 370.00 $370.00 $1,084 -13.15
301–321 unweaned 318 35 355.00–371.00 $367.22 $1,168 +3.29
362–393 unweaned 384 72 330.00–342.00 $338.20 $1,299 -0.49
418–445 unweaned 434 71 311.00–335.00 $320.48 $1,391 +1.11
454–492 unweaned 473 130 291.00–316.00 $305.64 $1,446 +3.61
475 475 12 306.00 $306.00 $1,454 —
500–533 unweaned 519 72 275.00–297.00 $287.32 $1,491 +1.81
540 540 4 288.00 $288.00 $1,555 +23.00
553–599 unweaned 564 72 261.00–273.50 $271.15 $1,529 +3.64
569–571 570 23 258.50–265.00 $260.19 $1,483 —
603 603 2 259.00 $259.00 $1,562 -0.25
600–648 unweaned 623 78 245.00–259.50 $255.02 $1,589 -3.23
651–678 unweaned 659 33 242.00–255.00 $249.90 $1,647 +0.41
674 674 19 260.00 $260.00 $1,752 —
713–725 unweaned 721 6 230.00–231.00 $230.67 $1,663 —
802–840 829 29 235.50–239.00 $237.10 $1,966 —
870 870 3 224.00 $224.00 $1,949 -10.50
874–884 878 33 231.50 $231.50 $2,033 -3.00
918–943 935 38 223.00–230.00 $224.73 $2,101 —
978–989 981 34 220.00–221.00 $220.73 $2,165 —
1008–1020 1010 5 213.00–216.00 $213.61 $2,157 +2.61
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
347 unweaned 347 7 345.00 $345.00 $1,197 +14.24
362–375 unweaned 365 15 317.50–327.50 $325.54 $1,188 +15.54
400–416 unweaned 411 39 266.00–300.00 $275.32 $1,132 -19.23
485–495 unweaned 488 16 267.00–268.00 $267.68 $1,306 -11.19
513–546 unweaned 527 15 257.50–274.00 $261.95 $1,380 -5.05
553–593 unweaned 577 24 240.00–263.00 $247.17 $1,426 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
337 unweaned 337 3 345.00 $345.00 $1,163 —
413–447 unweaned 433 36 270.00–304.00 $292.09 $1,265 -11.80
460 unweaned 460 22 280.00 $280.00 $1,288 -2.00
556 unweaned 556 13 255.00 $255.00 $1,418 —
949 949 6 203.00 $203.00 $1,926 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
288 unweaned 288 2 385.00 $385.00 $1,109 —
385–390 unweaned 388 15 310.00–312.50 $311.51 $1,209 —
430 unweaned 430 6 290.00 $290.00 $1,247 —
487–499 unweaned 491 15 260.00–289.00 $279.18 $1,371 —
537 unweaned 537 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,342 —
593 unweaned 593 2 253.00 $253.00 $1,500 —
876 876 4 226.00 $226.00 $1,980 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
407 unweaned 407 6 265.00 $265.00 $1,079 -18.79
480–493 unweaned 489 12 241.00–255.00 $245.58 $1,201 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 unweaned 375 8 282.50 $282.50 $1,059 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
356 unweaned 356 8 397.50 $397.50 $1,415 —
560–563 unweaned 562 12 260.00–285.00 $272.47 $1,531 —
642 unweaned 642 3 247.00 $247.00 $1,586 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
872 872 5 207.50 $207.50 $1,809 —
1046 1046 9 198.50 $198.50 $2,076 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 unweaned 390 5 315.00 $315.00 $1,228 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215 1215 80-85% 14 134.00 $134.00 $1,628 —
1285–1480 1393 80-85% 31 96.00–116.00 $109.64 $1,527 -31.36
1270–1565 1401 80-85% 36 115.00–130.00 $121.86 $1,707 —
1125–1535 1412 80-85% 8 91.00–104.00 $97.44 $1,376 —
1440 1440 80-85% 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,598 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050–1285 1185 85-90% 22 93.00–107.50 $103.28 $1,224 +16.28
1118–1280 1196 85-90% 10 106.00–122.50 $113.56 $1,358 +26.56
1040–1328 1211 85-90% 21 89.00–107.50 $95.40 $1,155 -13.78
1190–1293 1218 85-90% 12 129.00–130.00 $129.35 $1,575 +20.17
1228–1235 1229 85-90% 5 81.00–85.00 $84.20 $1,035 -24.98
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315–1402 1392 75-80% 27 127.50–130.00 $129.74 $1,806 —
1610–1700 1644 75-80% 11 114.00–120.00 $117.58 $1,933 —
1669–1695 1674 75-80% 5 95.50–105.00 $97.42 $1,631 —
1680 1680 75-80% 1 102.00 $102.00 $1,714 —
1624–1855 1725 75-80% 14 112.00–122.00 $118.47 $2,044 -13.53

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1458 1458 3 140.00 $140.00 $2,041 —
1695–2105 1909 5 126.00–141.00 $133.30 $2,545 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
801–1133 890 (<2 yrs)Open 26 129.00–177.00 $164.06 $1,460
978–1093 1044 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 127.50–157.50 $142.84 $1,491
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
968–1260 1083 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 18 130.00–171.00 $155.90 $1,688
1015–1238 1088 (<2 yrs)Open 16 147.50–187.00 $173.87 $1,892
1400 1400 (<2 yrs)Open 1 161.00 $161.00 $2,254

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1038–1158 1098 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,700.00–1,850.00 $1,767.84
1096–1500 1172 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 20 1,900.00–2,150.00 $1,938.77
1190–1500 1321 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,000.00–2,275.00 $2,154.66
1365 1365 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,775.00 $1,775.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1653 1653 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 114.00 $114.00 $1,884
1680 1680 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 111.00 $111.00 $1,865
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1149–1333 1229 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 112.00–115.00 $113.28 $1,392

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1030 1030 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00
1094 1094 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 2,100.00 $2,100.00

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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.