Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, January 23, 2025

1,988 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 heifers $358.14/cwt +10.43 vs last sale · ≈ $1,708/hd at 477 lb · 169 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $311.76/cwt +1.61 vs last sale · ≈ $1,830/hd at 587 lb · 165 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $276.78/cwt +15.78 vs last sale · ≈ $1,877/hd at 678 lb · 94 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,988 1,311 4,841
Feeder cattle 1,738 534 4,228
Slaughter cattle 141 488 480
Replacement cattle 109 289 133

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steer calves under 700 lbs sold generally steady in a narrow comparison; steers over 700 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifer calves were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand remains good to very good. Offerings were light to moderate. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Almost all calves were weaned over 50 days and were in mostly light flesh. Package sizes were mostly small to moderate with a few partial load lots on offer. Market activity was active this sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher on all classes. Packers opted to send all cows to slaughter this week as they showed very good demand for cows and bulls for immediate harvest. Feeding cows sold on good to very good demand this week as well. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00 to 6.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was average to attractive and similar to last week. Many young cows were purchased to feed again this week.

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
365–371 369 16 440.00 $440.00 $1,624 —
423–440 426 9 405.00–437.50 $412.28 $1,756 +2.28
479–495 486 44 373.00–393.00 $383.27 $1,863 -12.12
501–548 524 72 345.00–379.00 $369.48 $1,936 -1.63
550–593 575 73 335.00–352.00 $342.15 $1,967 -8.19
604–647 627 25 314.00–330.00 $319.26 $2,002 -9.74
662–696 684 68 300.00–313.00 $304.45 $2,082 —
708–726 713 44 293.00–304.50 $301.73 $2,151 -6.27
750–790 785 79 274.00–287.50 $281.47 $2,210 —
808–818 812 54 268.00–280.50 $275.07 $2,234 +9.07
851 fancy 851 49 278.50 $278.50 $2,370 —
893 893 3 255.00 $255.00 $2,277 —
940 940 4 247.00 $247.00 $2,322 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500–525 512 6 337.50–342.50 $341.65 $1,749 —
646 646 7 277.50 $277.50 $1,793 -26.50
663 663 12 287.00 $287.00 $1,903 —
717–733 722 14 260.00–281.00 $268.10 $1,936 —
774–784 782 24 261.00–275.50 $271.29 $2,121 —
835 835 3 266.00 $266.00 $2,221 —
987 987 3 236.00 $236.00 $2,329 —
1296 1296 4 193.50 $193.50 $2,508 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368 368 3 410.00 $410.00 $1,509 -55.00
428–445 439 12 372.00–390.00 $382.92 $1,681 —
488 488 2 365.00 $365.00 $1,781 +2.29
578–598 591 24 319.00–328.00 $322.44 $1,906 -0.97
640 640 2 294.00 $294.00 $1,882 -5.82
652–665 654 7 295.00–299.00 $298.42 $1,952 -7.58
708–745 737 9 276.00–286.00 $279.48 $2,060 -5.52
752 752 3 275.00 $275.00 $2,068 —
914 914 5 249.00 $249.00 $2,276 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
466 466 4 310.00 $310.00 $1,445 -15.00
634 634 8 292.50 $292.50 $1,854 —
657 657 6 267.50 $267.50 $1,757 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1109 1109 9 225.00 $225.00 $2,495 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–385 375 3 390.00–400.00 $393.16 $1,474 -6.84
419–437 424 30 350.00–397.00 $384.08 $1,628 +25.67
458–496 477 169 339.00–377.00 $358.14 $1,708 +10.43
500–528 518 17 327.50–331.00 $329.67 $1,708 -0.78
555–594 587 165 309.00–322.00 $311.76 $1,830 +1.61
615–633 623 26 281.00–300.00 $295.74 $1,842 —
667–691 678 94 268.00–284.00 $276.78 $1,877 +13.78
701–737 719 54 259.00–273.00 $267.87 $1,926 +14.65
776–778 777 46 259.00–259.50 $259.14 $2,014 —
815 fancy 815 15 263.00 $263.00 $2,143 —
905 905 9 237.00 $237.00 $2,145 —
999 999 5 228.00 $228.00 $2,278 -5.00
1003 1003 2 217.00 $217.00 $2,177 -4.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
373–386 383 10 380.00 $380.00 $1,455 +7.62
402–440 408 18 342.50–355.00 $353.40 $1,442 +13.10
450–473 463 33 312.00–340.00 $320.83 $1,485 +7.75
503–513 512 41 299.00–320.00 $317.06 $1,623 -0.44
553–577 571 87 294.50–311.00 $297.84 $1,701 —
775 775 2 251.00 $251.00 $1,945 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520–537 535 9 307.00–323.00 $308.73 $1,652 +33.73
650–670 664 4 259.00–265.00 $262.53 $1,743 -0.47
782–792 787 6 235.00–242.00 $238.48 $1,877 —
1257 1257 6 191.00 $191.00 $2,401 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
439 439 4 340.00 $340.00 $1,493 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
393 393 4 330.00 $330.00 $1,297 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110 1110 1 201.00 $201.00 $2,231 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 1 395.00 $395.00 $1,679 —
627 627 3 300.00 $300.00 $1,881 —
825 825 2 246.00 $246.00 $2,030 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020 1020 1 225.00 $225.00 $2,295 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
990 990 85-90% 1 72.00 $72.00 $713 -20.50
1020–1210 1102 85-90% 5 75.00–87.00 $81.49 $898 -12.37
1115–1220 1190 85-90% 5 96.00–109.00 $100.21 $1,192 -25.17
1045–1300 1199 85-90% 36 108.00–124.00 $116.53 $1,397 -8.85
1195–1270 1224 85-90% 9 123.00–134.50 $132.11 $1,617 +0.50
1270 1270 85-90% 2 115.00 $115.00 $1,460 +4.58
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1255–1485 1348 80-85% 28 124.00–134.00 $131.57 $1,774 —
1360–1500 1430 80-85% 2 108.00–117.00 $112.72 $1,612 +0.57
1414–1650 1463 80-85% 8 136.00–142.00 $138.01 $2,019 +3.90
1385–1555 1468 80-85% 3 118.00–123.00 $119.98 $1,761 -14.13
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1455–1520 1498 75-80% 3 138.00–139.00 $138.32 $2,072 —
1505 1505 75-80% 1 136.00 $136.00 $2,047 —
1575 1575 75-80% 1 144.50 $144.50 $2,276 —
1590 1590 75-80% 1 141.50 $141.50 $2,250 —
1576–1751 1689 75-80% 17 140.00–141.50 $141.01 $2,382 +9.94

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1720–2185 1979 4 137.00–142.00 $139.14 $2,754 —
1993–2132 2049 8 147.00–153.00 $151.41 $3,102 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
948–1405 1083 (<2 yrs)Open 50 150.00–214.00 $182.46 $1,976
1060–1433 1192 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 30 132.00–210.00 $153.51 $1,830
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
830–1030 934 (<2 yrs)Open 4 172.00–201.00 $188.70 $1,762

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1258 1258 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 1,600.00 $1,600.00
1293 1293 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 1,725.00 $1,725.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1389 1389 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,900.00 $1,900.00
1420 1420 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
950 950 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 1,975.00 $1,975.00

↑ 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.