Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 14, 2024

3,894 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $305.50/cwt +8.41 vs last sale · ≈ $1,743/hd at 571 lb · 427 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $352.41/cwt +5.56 vs last sale · ≈ $1,680/hd at 477 lb · 303 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $289.63/cwt +9.75 vs last sale · ≈ $1,797/hd at 620 lb · 264 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,894 4,615 5,026
Feeder cattle 3,505 4,302 4,779
Slaughter cattle 310 185 180
Replacement cattle 79 128 67

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale: Feeder steer calves all sold 5.00-10.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold generally steady; heifer calves over 500 lbs sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand was mostly good to very good for all calves on offer. Offerings were mostly moderate. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. A wider variety of quality was seen this week. Demand for weaned calves was stronger this week as more weaned offerings were seen. Small packages of calves continue to sell at a discount to large packages. Market activity was active this sale with buyers rapidly bidding on offerings. A larger buyer pool noticed this week as well. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand and light offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend however higher undertones were noticed. Demand was higher as buyers tried to fill loads for the week. Feeding cows sold with the best demand again this week. Feeding cows sold with higher undertones as feeding buyers also 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 any market trend. 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
275 275 1 475.00 $475.00 $1,306 —
295 unweaned 295 2 465.00 $465.00 $1,372 +5.23
310 unweaned 310 2 435.00 $435.00 $1,348 +13.04
354–396 unweaned 372 29 406.00–425.00 $416.75 $1,550 +13.14
385 385 4 408.00 $408.00 $1,571 —
405–408 407 8 385.00–391.00 $388.76 $1,582 —
414–444 unweaned 424 26 366.00–395.00 $387.57 $1,643 +7.65
450–491 unweaned 476 247 332.00–370.00 $354.65 $1,688 +4.71
455–495 480 56 333.00–360.00 $342.53 $1,644 +12.76
500–549 unweaned 516 115 310.50–338.00 $327.20 $1,688 +13.20
503–528 521 29 324.00–331.00 $326.03 $1,699 —
563–569 565 31 309.00–310.00 $309.39 $1,748 +22.39
550–598 unweaned 571 396 290.00–316.00 $305.20 $1,743 +7.64
601–634 unweaned 620 193 282.00–299.00 $289.57 $1,795 +7.41
601–627 620 67 283.00–293.50 $291.22 $1,806 +36.85
644 644 4 266.00 $266.00 $1,713 +11.63
651–678 unweaned 662 84 260.00–279.50 $275.32 $1,823 +7.52
659–688 670 18 260.00–270.00 $263.04 $1,762 —
702–722 unweaned 718 52 258.00–273.00 $269.09 $1,932 +10.60
706–740 731 30 257.00–262.50 $260.70 $1,906 -1.30
753 unweaned 753 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,845 -14.38
813 unweaned 813 6 234.00 $234.00 $1,902 —
900 900 2 240.00 $240.00 $2,160 —
958–987 981 19 234.75–236.00 $235.01 $2,305 +8.01
1097 1097 6 218.00 $218.00 $2,391 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
263 unweaned 263 2 420.00 $420.00 $1,105 —
317–345 unweaned 318 25 410.00–435.00 $432.17 $1,374 +47.17
365 365 6 395.00 $395.00 $1,442 +12.90
350–383 unweaned 377 13 375.00–405.00 $392.76 $1,481 +22.66
402 402 5 330.00 $330.00 $1,327 —
418 418 9 355.00 $355.00 $1,484 —
406–440 unweaned 428 31 320.00–352.00 $334.45 $1,431 -12.83
470–474 unweaned 473 10 320.00–327.50 $325.26 $1,538 +30.59
492 492 3 322.50 $322.50 $1,587 +12.50
518–549 unweaned 540 40 295.00–318.00 $302.96 $1,636 +9.06
570–590 unweaned 581 30 280.00–285.00 $283.49 $1,647 +14.89
614–619 unweaned 614 44 248.00–282.00 $278.89 $1,712 +10.89
616–640 628 14 252.00–275.00 $268.30 $1,685 —
641 641 9 252.00 $252.00 $1,615 —
661 661 5 257.00 $257.00 $1,699 —
668–696 unweaned 677 15 250.00–269.00 $258.51 $1,750 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420–443 434 5 330.00–365.00 $351.45 $1,525 +55.45
477 477 9 334.00 $334.00 $1,593 —
569 569 12 291.00 $291.00 $1,656 —
641 641 4 263.00 $263.00 $1,686 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 unweaned 335 1 425.00 $425.00 $1,424 —
570 unweaned 570 9 285.00 $285.00 $1,624 —
598 598 7 292.00 $292.00 $1,746 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
381 unweaned 381 4 330.00 $330.00 $1,257 —
675 675 11 243.00 $243.00 $1,640 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500 500 2 232.50 $232.50 $1,162 —
642 642 7 230.00 $230.00 $1,477 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
373 unweaned 373 6 235.00 $235.00 $877 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
304 304 4 380.00 $380.00 $1,155 —
322–335 unweaned 324 7 377.50–380.00 $377.87 $1,224 -4.78
360–399 unweaned 385 28 344.00–385.00 $355.59 $1,369 -6.31
402–448 unweaned 421 40 319.00–345.00 $331.86 $1,397 -9.66
440 440 14 327.00 $327.00 $1,439 -27.00
450–493 468 29 308.00–320.00 $315.94 $1,479 +10.94
454–497 unweaned 483 120 300.00–318.00 $307.47 $1,485 -5.99
503–548 518 45 274.00–308.00 $284.13 $1,472 -32.12
500–548 unweaned 526 211 285.00–310.00 $295.83 $1,556 +5.50
551–584 568 10 268.00–280.00 $273.83 $1,555 +30.83
556–597 unweaned 572 147 258.00–275.00 $268.47 $1,536 -6.19
574 574 6 243.00 $243.00 $1,395 ±0.00
605 605 3 256.00 $256.00 $1,549 -15.00
604–621 unweaned 615 47 249.00–256.00 $253.05 $1,556 +3.32
620 620 16 268.50 $268.50 $1,665 -2.50
651 651 41 252.50 $252.50 $1,644 +17.50
663–678 unweaned 676 21 237.00–238.00 $237.91 $1,608 -6.03
765 unweaned 765 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,798 -1.00
991 991 7 202.00 $202.00 $2,002 —
1011 1011 11 206.00 $206.00 $2,083 —
1020 1020 12 212.00 $212.00 $2,162 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 unweaned 295 24 367.50 $367.50 $1,084 —
315–317 unweaned 317 11 345.00–375.00 $372.29 $1,180 —
375–391 unweaned 383 8 327.50–337.50 $332.60 $1,274 —
426 unweaned 426 7 315.00 $315.00 $1,342 +17.50
449 449 5 315.00 $315.00 $1,414 +15.00
466 466 7 309.00 $309.00 $1,440 —
483–497 unweaned 491 5 270.00–290.00 $282.14 $1,385 -10.65
519 519 6 267.50 $267.50 $1,388 —
573–594 unweaned 581 30 236.00–256.00 $246.62 $1,433 +3.02
597 597 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,433 —
612–630 unweaned 619 5 242.00–243.00 $242.59 $1,502 —
668 unweaned 668 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,536 —
704 704 9 236.00–239.00 $237.67 $1,673 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
367 unweaned 367 9 337.50 $337.50 $1,239 —
388 388 2 290.00 $290.00 $1,125 -22.50
405–429 unweaned 419 23 285.00–312.50 $300.68 $1,260 -9.32
419–439 429 14 305.00–310.00 $307.44 $1,319 +24.94
462 462 3 270.00 $270.00 $1,247 —
515 unweaned 515 7 265.00 $265.00 $1,365 +9.00
533 533 8 258.00 $258.00 $1,375 —
552 552 8 252.00 $252.00 $1,391 +10.00
607 unweaned 607 14 237.00 $237.00 $1,439 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
441 441 10 265.00 $265.00 $1,169 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
393 unweaned 393 3 290.00 $290.00 $1,140 —
433 unweaned 433 4 245.00 $245.00 $1,061 —
440 440 3 255.00 $255.00 $1,122 —
Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
371 unweaned 371 7 180.00 $180.00 $668 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
578 unweaned 578 2 231.00 $231.00 $1,335 -15.00
605 unweaned 605 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,361 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 unweaned 548 2 292.50 $292.50 $1,603 +2.50
595 unweaned 595 4 259.00 $259.00 $1,541 +11.00
695 unweaned 695 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,598 —
824 824 6 229.00 $229.00 $1,887 —
1010 1010 1 222.50 $222.50 $2,247 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1025 1025 1 217.50 $217.50 $2,229 —
1205 1205 1 182.00 $182.00 $2,193 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
940 940 85-90% 1 63.00 $63.00 $592 —
975 975 85-90% 1 81.00 $81.00 $790 —
880–1310 1105 85-90% 11 62.00–83.00 $73.57 $813 -32.56
1130–1160 1150 85-90% 6 100.50–102.00 $100.99 $1,161 +13.42
1142–1245 1161 85-90% 13 103.00–106.50 $105.54 $1,225 +17.97
962–1400 1171 85-90% 51 92.00–103.00 $99.64 $1,167 +12.07
1080–1233 1172 85-90% 109 110.00–118.00 $116.00 $1,360 +28.43
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1227–1462 1338 80-85% 33 105.00–118.00 $114.99 $1,539 —
1350–1505 1375 80-85% 19 103.00–106.50 $104.87 $1,442 -4.80
1300–1563 1411 80-85% 17 103.00–107.00 $104.36 $1,473 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1405–1495 1450 75-80% 2 117.50–118.00 $117.74 $1,707 —
1485 1485 75-80% 1 118.00 $118.00 $1,752 —
1565 1565 75-80% 1 112.00 $112.00 $1,753 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1625–1980 1842 10 120.00–141.00 $133.51 $2,459 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1024 1024 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 7 121.00 $121.00 $1,239
1119 1119 (<2 yrs)Open 5 140.00 $140.00 $1,567
1124–1154 1129 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 25 122.50–139.00 $136.30 $1,539
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
828–998 899 (<2 yrs)Open 6 122.50–172.50 $145.94 $1,312
887–1250 948 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 119.00–165.00 $132.94 $1,260

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
990 990 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00
1045–1124 1071 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,200.00–2,425.00 $2,278.69
1050–1250 1183 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,550.00–1,600.00 $1,564.79
1185 1185 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,925.00 $1,925.00
1175–1490 1333 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 1,950.00–2,200.00 $2,060.23
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1060 thin fleshed 1060 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,200.00 $1,200.00

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
697 697 13 219.00 $219.00 $1,526 —
878 878 17 206.00 $206.00 $1,809 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
791 791 28 238.50 $238.50 $1,887 —
914 914 13 220.00 $220.00 $2,011 —

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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.