Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 7, 2024

4,615 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 steers $346.85/cwt +0.95 vs last sale · ≈ $1,625/hd at 469 lb · 568 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $314.00/cwt +0.10 vs last sale · ≈ $1,674/hd at 533 lb · 489 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $279.88/cwt +2.00 vs last sale · ≈ $1,763/hd at 630 lb · 317 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,615 4,895 6,394
Feeder cattle 4,302 4,598 6,009
Slaughter cattle 185 209 255
Replacement cattle 128 88 130

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale: Feeder steer calves all sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold steady to 10.00 higher, heifers over 550 lbs sold mostly steady to firm. Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly moderate to good for all calves on offer. Offerings were moderate to heavy. The first full load lots of the fall were seen this sale at Billings Livestock Commission. Demand for load lots of calves was good to very good. Quality today was mostly average to very attractive as some of the highest quality calves of the fall thus far sold today. Quality was more attractive this week compared to last week. Small packages of calves continue to sell at a discount to large packages. Market activity was mostly active this sale. Todays buyer pool was larger than last week with buyers both ringside as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand and light offerings. Most cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill today. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand was higher this week as buyers tried to fill loads for the week. Feeding cows sold mostly with the best demand. Feeding cows sold with higher undertones as feeding buyers tried to fill loads for the week. 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 steady undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly plain to average 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
250–277 unweaned 273 21 452.50–480.00 $459.77 $1,255 +19.77
318–344 unweaned 333 57 415.00–445.00 $421.96 $1,405 -5.02
361–397 unweaned 386 154 400.00–413.00 $403.61 $1,558 +13.44
401–429 unweaned 419 81 366.00–400.00 $379.92 $1,592 +4.36
450–493 unweaned 468 481 317.00–364.00 $349.94 $1,638 +4.04
461–481 472 87 314.00–352.00 $329.77 $1,557 —
504–547 unweaned 533 489 300.00–326.00 $314.00 $1,674 +0.10
558 558 11 287.00 $287.00 $1,601 —
556–587 unweaned 577 236 278.00–304.50 $297.56 $1,717 +8.66
604–649 unweaned 630 291 268.00–290.00 $282.16 $1,778 +4.28
622–648 630 26 253.00–255.00 $254.37 $1,603 —
662–683 unweaned 675 95 267.00–269.50 $267.80 $1,808 +2.65
701–737 unweaned 716 17 251.00–267.00 $258.49 $1,851 -1.51
716 716 21 262.00 $262.00 $1,876 —
757–769 unweaned 763 29 251.00–266.00 $259.38 $1,979 +14.38
775 775 1 260.00 $260.00 $2,015 —
803 803 12 258.00 $258.00 $2,072 +23.33
958 958 6 227.00 $227.00 $2,175 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307 unweaned 307 2 385.00 $385.00 $1,182 —
363–388 369 8 377.50–395.00 $382.10 $1,410 —
355–398 unweaned 382 11 362.50–385.00 $370.10 $1,414 -4.73
415–439 unweaned 424 29 343.00–350.00 $347.28 $1,472 +3.43
470 470 5 310.00 $310.00 $1,457 —
481–496 unweaned 494 65 290.50–317.00 $294.67 $1,456 -16.86
517–540 unweaned 528 20 290.00–296.00 $293.90 $1,552 +3.41
570–576 unweaned 573 27 255.00–279.00 $268.60 $1,539 -10.46
648 unweaned 648 18 268.00 $268.00 $1,737 +4.94
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
299 unweaned 299 7 445.00 $445.00 $1,331 —
363 363 13 322.50 $322.50 $1,171 —
447 unweaned 447 8 315.00 $315.00 $1,408 -25.00
448 448 13 296.00 $296.00 $1,326 —
488 unweaned 488 2 302.50 $302.50 $1,476 +5.00
500 unweaned 500 5 304.00 $304.00 $1,520 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
377 unweaned 377 10 330.00 $330.00 $1,244 —
429 unweaned 429 12 327.50 $327.50 $1,405 —
490 unweaned 490 13 279.00 $279.00 $1,367 —
523 unweaned 523 13 262.50 $262.50 $1,373 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
259–295 unweaned 286 26 390.00–400.00 $392.24 $1,122 -4.28
335–347 unweaned 344 59 367.50–388.00 $382.65 $1,316 +7.31
350–388 unweaned 364 51 351.00–368.00 $361.90 $1,317 +10.36
400–448 unweaned 411 170 315.00–352.00 $341.52 $1,404 +12.50
413 413 40 354.00 $354.00 $1,462 —
450–499 unweaned 470 183 303.00–320.00 $313.46 $1,473 +10.26
489 489 4 305.00 $305.00 $1,491 —
503–540 unweaned 528 92 282.00–298.00 $290.33 $1,533 +11.27
529 529 100 316.25 $316.25 $1,673 —
555–595 unweaned 572 166 250.00–285.50 $274.66 $1,571 +7.70
575 575 22 243.00 $243.00 $1,397 —
602 602 35 271.00 $271.00 $1,631 —
605–643 unweaned 621 43 245.00–255.00 $249.73 $1,551 +1.82
650–690 unweaned 661 32 235.00–246.00 $243.94 $1,612 +3.67
681 681 7 235.00 $235.00 $1,600 ±0.00
720–748 unweaned 738 5 235.00–241.00 $237.35 $1,752 —
770 770 4 240.00 $240.00 $1,848 -4.08
785 unweaned 785 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,853 —
853 853 20 238.50 $238.50 $2,034 +1.40
921 921 32 231.50 $231.50 $2,132 +7.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
409 unweaned 409 21 297.50 $297.50 $1,217 -3.70
441 441 6 300.00 $300.00 $1,323 —
458–471 unweaned 469 16 290.00–297.50 $292.79 $1,373 +13.53
510–543 unweaned 527 10 258.00–265.00 $262.35 $1,383 +5.24
560 560 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,344 —
577–595 unweaned 586 6 237.00–250.00 $243.60 $1,427 -4.41
708 unweaned 708 6 236.00 $236.00 $1,671 —
900 900 1 223.00 $223.00 $2,007 —
1043 1043 14 207.00 $207.00 $2,159 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
397 397 10 312.50 $312.50 $1,241 —
406 unweaned 406 4 310.00 $310.00 $1,259 —
417 417 6 282.50 $282.50 $1,178 —
478–497 unweaned 489 21 252.50–284.00 $275.27 $1,346 +19.35
549 unweaned 549 7 256.00 $256.00 $1,405 —
561 561 8 242.00 $242.00 $1,358 —
743 743 4 235.00 $235.00 $1,746 +6.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 unweaned 405 23 283.00 $283.00 $1,146 —
523 unweaned 523 10 247.50 $247.50 $1,294 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
499 unweaned 499 5 282.00 $282.00 $1,407 —
573 unweaned 573 2 246.00 $246.00 $1,410 —
1107 1107 6 202.50 $202.50 $2,242 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
386 386 5 235.00 $235.00 $907 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
483–495 unweaned 485 6 300.00–310.00 $301.70 $1,463 —
528 unweaned 528 9 290.00 $290.00 $1,531 -1.36
568 unweaned 568 2 248.00 $248.00 $1,409 —
703 703 4 239.00 $239.00 $1,680 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1112 1112 3 192.50 $192.50 $2,141 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1270 1132 85-90% 54 90.00–114.00 $106.13 $1,201 +20.13
935–1255 1134 85-90% 19 110.00–116.50 $114.77 $1,301 +28.77
1105–1390 1184 85-90% 12 85.00–89.00 $87.57 $1,037 -28.18
1185 1185 85-90% 2 99.00 $99.00 $1,173 -16.75
1055–1360 1195 85-90% 5 74.00–81.00 $77.39 $925 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–1570 1372 80-85% 37 98.00–117.00 $109.67 $1,505 —
1250–1485 1383 80-85% 14 110.00–124.00 $118.63 $1,641 —
1730 1730 80-85% 1 89.00 $89.00 $1,540 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1510 1510 75-80% 1 132.50 $132.50 $2,001 —
1640 1640 75-80% 3 126.00 $126.00 $2,066 —
1660 1660 75-80% 1 121.50 $121.50 $2,017 —
1829 1829 75-80% 4 117.00 $117.00 $2,140 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1378 1378 2 144.00 $144.00 $1,984 —
1903–1960 1922 3 125.00–141.00 $135.56 $2,605 -8.08

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
915–1167 1023 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 27 146.00–191.00 $169.17 $1,731
870–1235 1058 (<2 yrs)Open 44 142.00–200.00 $171.17 $1,811
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1110 1110 (<2 yrs)Open 10 143.50 $143.50 $1,593
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
842–1165 961 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 120.00–142.50 $130.20 $1,251
1053–1110 1064 (<2 yrs)Open 5 137.50–150.00 $147.39 $1,568

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Bred Cows

Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
882 882 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 96.00 $96.00 $847
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1032 1032 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,675.00 $1,675.00
1048 1048 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,575.00 $1,575.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1378 1378 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 112.00 $112.00 $1,543
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1225 1225 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 117.00 $117.00 $1,433
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1190 1190 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
972 972 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,875.00 $1,875.00

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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.