Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 12, 2024

4,007 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 heifers $321.27/cwt +4.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,690/hd at 526 lb · 274 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $391.48/cwt +8.57 vs last sale · ≈ $1,828/hd at 467 lb · 226 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $310.35/cwt +7.64 vs last sale · ≈ $1,907/hd at 614 lb · 197 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,007 6,457 2,380
Feeder cattle 2,928 6,162 1,870
Slaughter cattle 551 204 287
Replacement cattle 528 91 223

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Steers 450-500 lbs sold mostly 10.00 higher, steers 500-649 lbs steers sold generally steady; steers over 650 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Heifers 400-550 lbs sold mostly 3.00-10.00 higher; heifer calves over 550 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good to very good for all calves on offer. Offerings were moderate. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. A slightly smaller buyer pool was on hand for todays sale compared to last week, however despite fewer buyers, participation was good with many bidders actively bidding on offering. A few farmer feeders were in the stands again this week. Several were looking for heifers to develop into replacements. Package sizes varied greatly again this week. Fewer load lots were seen, however buyers were content to piece together loads as demand remains good to very good for all offerings. Demand for light weight calves suitable to go to grass was very good again today. The best demand for calves to go to grass was for 400-550 lbs for steers and 375-525 lbs for heifers. Market activity was active this sale with buyers rapidly bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand and heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher on all classes in a narrow comparison. Feeding cows sold with the best demand again this week. Feeding cows sold with steady to 3.00 higher undertones. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady to higher 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 on a higher quality offering. Quality was mostly average to very attractive today. Over 100 head of 1 iron home raised cows sold all off one ranch and these offerings sold with very good demand as quality was very 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
280–287 285 8 505.00–512.50 $511.58 $1,458 -2.29
290 unweaned 290 1 510.00 $510.00 $1,479 —
310–342 329 5 462.50–515.00 $482.28 $1,587 -12.07
363 unweaned 363 2 450.00 $450.00 $1,634 +8.41
371–396 375 23 432.50–447.50 $435.25 $1,632 -46.22
406–442 424 34 400.00–440.00 $414.19 $1,756 -6.19
428–442 unweaned 431 15 380.00–385.00 $383.97 $1,655 -35.76
450–499 465 203 365.00–411.00 $393.55 $1,830 +10.29
470 470 4 340.00 $340.00 $1,598 -43.26
459–495 unweaned 486 19 377.00–390.00 $380.23 $1,848 -1.77
514–527 unweaned 525 40 359.00–361.00 $359.29 $1,886 +1.95
530 530 26 336.00 $336.00 $1,781 -21.12
506–540 531 102 339.00–357.00 $346.97 $1,842 -10.15
553–568 unweaned 556 25 320.00–341.00 $333.60 $1,855 +14.97
556–596 581 58 308.50–330.00 $318.97 $1,853 -6.69
601–639 613 111 299.00–318.00 $312.62 $1,916 +12.20
602–648 unweaned 616 86 299.00–313.50 $307.43 $1,894 +4.27
677–688 unweaned 678 44 287.00–291.00 $290.54 $1,970 -3.26
670–694 691 23 285.50–289.00 $285.94 $1,976 -3.66
704–730 unweaned 707 30 277.50–293.00 $290.70 $2,055 +24.70
707–745 721 11 279.00–294.00 $288.36 $2,079 +13.74
751 unweaned 751 5 276.00 $276.00 $2,073 +18.00
753–776 774 34 262.00–266.00 $265.66 $2,056 +5.11
807 unweaned 807 3 244.00 $244.00 $1,969 —
833 833 6 262.00 $262.00 $2,182 +8.00
895 895 12 254.00 $254.00 $2,273 +8.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 2 495.00 $495.00 $1,460 —
370–394 391 8 395.00–400.00 $395.59 $1,547 -18.68
400–443 424 7 373.00–397.50 $384.16 $1,629 +29.30
435–445 unweaned 441 7 365.00–380.00 $371.35 $1,638 —
454–475 458 35 343.00–373.00 $365.13 $1,672 +25.57
584 584 9 306.00 $306.00 $1,787 +18.06
648 648 2 279.00 $279.00 $1,808 —
687 unweaned 687 8 280.00 $280.00 $1,924 +7.24
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
376 376 12 405.00 $405.00 $1,523 —
444 444 4 375.00 $375.00 $1,665 +50.00
465 465 4 337.00 $337.00 $1,567 —
592 592 10 296.00 $296.00 $1,752 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
703 703 12 270.00 $270.00 $1,898 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
441 441 7 280.00 $280.00 $1,235 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303–341 326 64 382.50–405.00 $393.85 $1,284 —
362–378 371 14 360.00–390.00 $372.54 $1,382 +0.19
390 unweaned 390 5 371.00 $371.00 $1,447 +0.59
401–439 411 136 344.00–375.00 $358.25 $1,472 +15.86
402–438 unweaned 412 10 350.00–365.00 $358.14 $1,476 +9.14
456–485 unweaned 464 30 326.00–342.00 $338.36 $1,570 +7.80
456–498 465 91 325.00–347.50 $338.46 $1,574 +6.66
500–535 unweaned 521 59 317.50–331.00 $327.22 $1,705 +10.85
506–548 525 112 311.00–325.00 $317.46 $1,667 -0.19
530 530 103 322.00 $322.00 $1,707 +4.35
553–598 585 43 276.00–309.00 $292.59 $1,712 -3.85
573–597 unweaned 589 15 275.00–284.00 $277.92 $1,637 -19.88
600–643 unweaned 624 78 262.00–277.00 $269.39 $1,681 -4.42
603–646 639 31 265.00–269.00 $268.05 $1,713 -4.29
653–668 660 30 255.00–265.00 $259.33 $1,712 -2.39
660–675 unweaned 668 11 244.00–259.00 $250.73 $1,675 -9.98
705–742 714 20 240.00–243.00 $242.22 $1,729 -1.78
730 unweaned 730 1 242.00 $242.00 $1,767 +1.00
783 783 9 239.00 $239.00 $1,871 -12.63
849 849 5 224.00 $224.00 $1,902 -14.00
913–917 917 31 238.00–247.00 $246.13 $2,257 +7.14
1037 1037 4 214.00 $214.00 $2,219 —
1175 1175 3 191.00 $191.00 $2,244 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
317–328 321 5 365.00–385.00 $376.84 $1,210 —
354–385 364 19 352.50–370.00 $356.11 $1,296 +13.23
409–439 431 55 320.00–335.00 $329.77 $1,421 +7.06
479–499 491 10 315.00–318.00 $316.83 $1,556 +7.93
544–549 547 16 289.00–299.00 $295.89 $1,619 -1.21
559–570 564 7 267.00–286.00 $277.77 $1,567 +20.27
583 unweaned 583 8 268.00 $268.00 $1,562 +3.09
722 722 13 246.00 $246.00 $1,776 +5.00
840 840 8 242.00 $242.00 $2,033 +20.00
855 855 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,838 —
944 944 11 225.00–227.00 $226.09 $2,134 —
988 988 6 218.00 $218.00 $2,154 —
1033–1046 1041 18 206.00–211.00 $207.76 $2,163 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
314 314 11 395.00 $395.00 $1,240 +30.99
364–371 369 34 355.00–362.50 $360.76 $1,331 +23.84
403 403 3 322.50 $322.50 $1,300 —
428 428 5 344.00 $344.00 $1,472 —
486 486 9 262.50 $262.50 $1,276 —
546 546 7 288.00 $288.00 $1,572 —
563 563 6 263.00 $263.00 $1,481 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430–448 446 8 304.00–318.00 $316.31 $1,411 —
499 499 34 304.00 $304.00 $1,517 —
570 570 1 277.50 $277.50 $1,582 -2.50
638 638 2 258.00 $258.00 $1,646 —
1180 1180 4 185.00 $185.00 $2,183 -8.93
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
575 575 14 220.00 $220.00 $1,265 —
685–699 692 14 220.00–226.00 $224.44 $1,553 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
708 708 5 230.00 $230.00 $1,628 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
341 341 33 455.00 $455.00 $1,552 —
382 382 70 425.00 $425.00 $1,624 —
500–548 532 19 321.00–325.00 $323.78 $1,723 —
560 unweaned 560 2 305.00–315.00 $310.00 $1,736 +7.54
560–595 589 19 301.00–309.00 $305.88 $1,802 -0.12
614 614 17 293.00 $293.00 $1,799 —
642 unweaned 642 5 280.00 $280.00 $1,798 -4.00
762 unweaned 762 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,867 —
774 774 11 234.00 $234.00 $1,811 —
1020 1020 17 219.00 $219.00 $2,234 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180 1180 1 180.00 $180.00 $2,124 —
1280 1280 4 154.00 $154.00 $1,971 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 2 319.00 $319.00 $1,739 —
605 605 3 294.00 $294.00 $1,779 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1268–1570 1369 80-85% 59 113.00–125.00 $119.32 $1,633 +13.50
1263–1675 1383 80-85% 97 91.00–116.50 $106.89 $1,478 -9.86
1205–1635 1416 80-85% 16 126.50–130.50 $128.08 $1,814 —
1415–1575 1506 80-85% 10 104.00–118.00 $110.51 $1,664 —
1310–1688 1519 80-85% 14 87.00–102.00 $92.53 $1,406 -0.55
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810–985 935 85-90% 9 65.00–81.00 $73.23 $685 -16.27
885–995 940 85-90% 2 87.00–90.00 $88.59 $833 —
1045–1183 1130 85-90% 5 88.00–100.00 $95.40 $1,078 +0.13
1070–1310 1137 85-90% 71 95.00–112.50 $108.12 $1,229 +12.85
1030–1300 1159 85-90% 16 60.00–87.00 $77.89 $903 -22.77
1114–1285 1192 85-90% 14 114.00–123.50 $120.56 $1,437 +2.64
1170–1212 1210 85-90% 53 126.00–132.50 $128.48 $1,555 —
1200–1225 1210 85-90% 3 104.00–110.50 $107.85 $1,305 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1530 1530 75-80% 1 134.50 $134.50 $2,058 —
1497–1713 1558 75-80% 16 111.50–118.50 $116.26 $1,811 +11.26
1694 1694 75-80% 8 122.00 $122.00 $2,067 +0.30
1730–1739 1734 75-80% 9 124.00–127.00 $125.34 $2,173 —
1480–1962 1829 75-80% 5 111.00–121.00 $118.09 $2,160 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1335 1335 1 119.00 $119.00 $1,589 —
1385 1385 1 144.00 $144.00 $1,994 —
1345–2002 1664 16 126.00–142.00 $136.08 $2,264 —
1525–2390 1962 26 125.00–144.00 $138.04 $2,708 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
728–1135 906 (<2 yrs)Open 306 154.00–234.50 $214.38 $1,942
910–1490 1108 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 129 123.00–201.00 $151.28 $1,676
1233 1233 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 20 124.00 $124.00 $1,529
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
865–1270 1039 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 114.00–175.00 $141.98 $1,475
900–1382 1125 (<2 yrs)Open 9 131.00–180.00 $152.56 $1,716
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
955 955 (<2 yrs)Open 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,528
945–1155 1050 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 130.00–175.00 $150.25 $1,578

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1138 1138 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 2,100.00 $2,100.00
1171 1171 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 2,400.00 $2,400.00
1235 1235 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1556–1645 1571 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 1,860.00–1,875.00 $1,862.62
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1045–1125 1085 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,850.00–1,950.00 $1,898.16
1190–1235 1220 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 2,000.00–2,450.00 $2,303.69
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1220 1220 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,675.00 $1,675.00

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
898 898 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 1,900.00 $1,900.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1094 1094 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 2,600.00 $2,600.00

↑ Back to top

Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1370 1370 80-85% 1 122.00 $122.00 $1,671 —
1687 1687 85-90% 6 89.00 $89.00 $1,501 —

↑ Back to top

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.