Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 21, 2024

3,228 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 $368.79/cwt +16.38 vs last sale · ≈ $1,745/hd at 473 lb · 156 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $270.92/cwt +13.99 vs last sale · ≈ $1,680/hd at 620 lb · 149 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $248.79/cwt +13.79 vs last sale · ≈ $1,924/hd at 773 lb · 134 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,228 3,894 5,026
Feeder cattle 2,921 3,505 4,779
Slaughter cattle 205 310 180
Replacement cattle 102 79 67

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale: Feeder steer calves under 500 lbs sold mostly 15.00-25.00 higher in a narrow comparison, steer calves over 500 lbs sold 3.00 to 10.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold generally steady to weak on a lower quality offering; heifer calves over 500 lbs sold mostly 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 mostly plain to attractive, with a very limited offering of very attractive cattle seen. Quality this week was much lower than last weeks offering. Demand for weaned calves was stronger again this week as more weaned offerings were seen. Small packages of calves continue to sell at a discount to large packages. Demand for light weight calves suitable to go to grass was very good today. Market activity was active this sale with buyers rapidly bidding on offerings. A larger buyer pool was noticed this week as up to 16 order buyers and a few farmer feeders were in the seats actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand and light offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend however, steady to 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 an accurate market trend, lower undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly 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
230 unweaned 230 1 510.00 $510.00 $1,173 —
250–289 unweaned 279 9 485.00–512.00 $494.79 $1,380 +29.79
285 285 2 500.00 $500.00 $1,425 +25.00
305–325 unweaned 311 6 465.00–490.00 $483.57 $1,504 +48.57
322 322 3 470.00 $470.00 $1,513 —
351–370 356 7 435.00–460.00 $452.59 $1,611 +44.59
350–395 unweaned 381 83 424.00–452.50 $434.25 $1,654 +17.50
401–448 425 66 382.50–435.00 $404.81 $1,720 +16.05
400–444 unweaned 427 23 380.00–426.00 $402.55 $1,719 +14.98
459–488 unweaned 472 73 362.00–380.00 $371.91 $1,755 +17.26
455–493 474 83 347.00–381.00 $366.05 $1,735 +23.52
503–549 unweaned 519 48 322.00–347.00 $338.38 $1,756 +11.18
526–536 534 29 334.00 $334.00 $1,784 +7.97
550–598 unweaned 578 106 307.00–324.00 $316.73 $1,831 +11.53
598 598 14 295.00 $295.00 $1,764 -14.39
605–613 610 19 296.00–305.00 $299.29 $1,826 +8.07
604–639 unweaned 619 70 293.00–310.50 $300.69 $1,861 +11.12
652–671 unweaned 661 127 285.00–292.00 $290.13 $1,918 +14.81
700–716 713 45 257.00–275.00 $271.43 $1,935 +10.73
702–737 unweaned 714 18 258.00–272.50 $267.05 $1,907 -2.04
750–788 unweaned 775 20 246.00–259.00 $255.01 $1,976 +10.01
772–780 775 10 254.00–263.00 $257.91 $1,999 —
880 880 3 246.00 $246.00 $2,165 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 2 480.00 $480.00 $1,440 —
343 unweaned 343 3 420.00 $420.00 $1,441 -12.17
355–370 unweaned 363 2 410.00–415.00 $412.45 $1,497 +19.69
395 395 2 400.00 $400.00 $1,580 +5.00
428 unweaned 428 3 375.00 $375.00 $1,605 +40.55
462 unweaned 462 3 350.00 $350.00 $1,617 +24.74
520–540 unweaned 530 2 325.00–328.00 $326.47 $1,730 +23.51
511–538 531 28 310.00–328.00 $320.19 $1,700 —
582 unweaned 582 10 297.50 $297.50 $1,731 +14.01
598 598 2 285.00 $285.00 $1,704 —
603–630 610 15 264.00–280.00 $275.59 $1,681 +7.29
655–670 unweaned 664 14 259.00–276.00 $268.97 $1,786 +10.46
661–692 671 18 253.00–273.00 $266.13 $1,786 +9.13
714 unweaned 714 4 256.00 $256.00 $1,828 —
839 839 7 235.00 $235.00 $1,972 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 5 455.00 $455.00 $1,456 —
499 499 4 345.00 $345.00 $1,722 +11.00
535–549 unweaned 544 21 312.00–323.00 $320.41 $1,743 —
596 596 7 292.00 $292.00 $1,740 +1.00
650–695 672 12 246.00–265.00 $259.31 $1,743 —
737 737 5 242.50 $242.50 $1,787 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 unweaned 255 19 440.00 $440.00 $1,122 —
280 280 9 480.00 $480.00 $1,344 —
521 unweaned 521 8 282.50 $282.50 $1,472 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
557 557 5 300.00 $300.00 $1,671 —
658 unweaned 658 6 272.00 $272.00 $1,790 —
661 661 8 268.00 $268.00 $1,771 —
1147 1147 3 205.00 $205.00 $2,351 —
1152 1152 3 205.00 $205.00 $2,362 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360–384 unweaned 379 13 355.00–365.00 $356.48 $1,351 +0.89
384 384 13 330.00 $330.00 $1,267 —
413 413 12 330.00 $330.00 $1,363 +3.00
405–430 unweaned 424 43 335.00–342.50 $338.00 $1,433 +6.14
459–486 475 37 312.50–325.00 $315.95 $1,501 +0.01
482–490 unweaned 486 13 301.00–312.50 $305.00 $1,482 -2.47
480–499 496 21 295.00–296.00 $295.86 $1,467 -20.08
508–542 unweaned 527 62 293.00–308.00 $298.78 $1,575 +2.95
525–545 540 19 292.00–308.00 $296.10 $1,599 +11.97
558–577 564 36 272.00–288.00 $285.07 $1,608 +11.24
563–582 unweaned 566 64 278.00–285.00 $279.34 $1,581 +10.87
593 593 31 256.00 $256.00 $1,518 +13.00
611 611 8 264.00 $264.00 $1,613 +8.00
600–632 unweaned 620 41 253.00–269.00 $260.61 $1,616 +7.56
603–641 621 100 270.00–278.50 $275.70 $1,712 +7.20
655–665 unweaned 660 2 240.00–247.00 $243.53 $1,607 +5.62
672 672 3 244.00 $244.00 $1,640 -8.50
702 unweaned 702 10 246.00 $246.00 $1,727 —
710–749 745 40 247.00–252.50 $252.03 $1,878 —
756–777 771 110 250.00–251.00 $250.27 $1,930 —
783 783 24 242.00 $242.00 $1,895 —
805–845 841 28 240.00–244.00 $240.27 $2,021 —
850–865 863 8 230.00–235.00 $230.62 $1,990 —
900–944 910 23 220.00–230.00 $227.23 $2,068 —
968 968 4 211.00 $211.00 $2,042 +9.00
950–988 970 42 212.00–222.50 $221.44 $2,148 +19.44
1033–1045 1034 16 204.00–210.00 $204.38 $2,113 -7.62
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
261–299 unweaned 286 30 345.00–368.00 $361.01 $1,032 -6.49
317 317 3 350.00 $350.00 $1,110 —
333–347 unweaned 341 28 332.00–365.00 $358.52 $1,223 -13.77
356–377 369 21 322.50–335.00 $325.85 $1,202 —
372–382 unweaned 375 33 310.00–347.50 $334.76 $1,255 +2.16
411–437 unweaned 417 38 295.00–312.50 $306.90 $1,280 -8.10
422–443 427 32 315.00–320.00 $317.82 $1,357 +2.82
457–483 unweaned 464 31 275.00–304.00 $292.21 $1,356 +10.07
473–488 486 23 300.00 $300.00 $1,458 -9.00
504–540 512 17 262.50–280.00 $266.59 $1,365 -0.91
501–549 unweaned 522 21 278.50–286.00 $284.43 $1,485 —
576–598 unweaned 579 13 260.00–266.00 $265.05 $1,535 +18.43
583 583 6 260.00 $260.00 $1,516 +20.00
707 707 11 239.00 $239.00 $1,690 +1.33
740 740 4 246.00 $246.00 $1,820 —
874 874 5 216.00 $216.00 $1,888 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 323 3 355.00 $355.00 $1,147 —
363–387 377 13 300.00–320.00 $310.34 $1,170 +20.34
387–398 unweaned 389 19 310.00 $310.00 $1,206 -27.50
452–473 unweaned 464 40 272.50–297.00 $286.99 $1,332 —
472 472 11 274.00 $274.00 $1,293 +4.00
589 589 5 252.00 $252.00 $1,484 —
624 624 17 234.00 $234.00 $1,460 —
673–688 675 13 247.00–250.00 $247.47 $1,670 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
574 unweaned 574 5 244.00 $244.00 $1,401 +13.00
618 618 8 243.00 $243.00 $1,502 —
643 unweaned 643 3 249.00 $249.00 $1,601 —
1120 1120 5 199.00 $199.00 $2,229 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
204 unweaned 204 5 200.00 $200.00 $408 —
319 319 7 287.50 $287.50 $917 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
418–433 unweaned 426 4 382.00–397.50 $389.61 $1,660 —
600 unweaned 600 1 284.00 $284.00 $1,704 —
935 935 1 215.00 $215.00 $2,010 —
1039 1039 4 211.00 $211.00 $2,192 -11.50

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
975 975 85-90% 1 75.00 $75.00 $731 -6.00
1025 1025 85-90% 1 122.00 $122.00 $1,250 —
1010–1048 1047 85-90% 29 83.00–85.00 $83.07 $870 —
1033–1220 1147 85-90% 54 103.00–110.00 $105.74 $1,213 —
1050–1218 1166 85-90% 24 112.00–118.00 $115.91 $1,352 +16.27
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1375 1375 80-85% 1 82.00 $82.00 $1,128 -22.87
1325–1568 1488 80-85% 16 105.00–110.00 $109.31 $1,627 —
1315–1544 1509 80-85% 18 113.00–118.00 $115.05 $1,736 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1427 1427 75-80% 8 116.00 $116.00 $1,655 —
1525 1525 75-80% 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,982 —
1668 1668 75-80% 2 118.00 $118.00 $1,968 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1455 1455 3 120.00 $120.00 $1,746 —
1585 1585 1 122.00 $122.00 $1,934 —
2205 2205 1 141.00 $141.00 $3,109 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
779–1150 907 (<2 yrs)Open 44 167.00–220.00 $200.83 $1,822
925–1150 1052 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 22 135.00–180.00 $152.95 $1,609
1093 1093 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 122.00 $122.00 $1,333
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1075 1075 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 132.00 $132.00 $1,419
1265–1268 1267 (<2 yrs)Open 4 134.00–135.00 $134.50 $1,704

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1235 1235 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00

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Beef Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
695 695 4 215.00 $215.00 $1,494 —

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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.