Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 18, 2025

2,390 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 $459.37/cwt +9.30 vs last sale · ≈ $2,623/hd at 571 lb · 101 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $540.54/cwt +29.20 vs last sale · ≈ $2,514/hd at 465 lb · 100 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $420.55/cwt +3.25 vs last sale · ≈ $2,675/hd at 636 lb · 78 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Head itemized in priced lots 2,390 — —

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
250–265 258 2 700.00–705.00 $702.43 $1,812 +12.43
305–347 333 8 600.00–650.00 $617.99 $2,058 +9.94
398 398 9 592.50 $592.50 $2,358 -29.23
415–435 421 7 572.50–581.00 $578.49 $2,435 +1.84
450–475 463 89 535.00–557.00 $544.32 $2,520 +38.98
482 unweaned 482 11 510.00 $510.00 $2,458 -24.00
505–540 511 37 470.00–511.00 $482.66 $2,466 +16.20
565 unweaned 565 24 470.00 $470.00 $2,656 +16.96
550–596 573 77 442.50–471.00 $456.06 $2,613 +9.04
607–646 636 78 412.00–434.00 $420.55 $2,675 +6.86
695 695 3 375.00 $375.00 $2,606 -23.29
704 704 10 353.00 $353.00 $2,485 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
348 348 3 500.00 $500.00 $1,740 -130.00
440–448 443 11 500.00–535.00 $511.93 $2,268 +3.38
465 unweaned 465 6 490.00 $490.00 $2,278 +8.54
490 490 1 480.00 $480.00 $2,352 -0.48
521–540 523 12 440.00–457.50 $443.60 $2,320 +18.15
565 565 1 427.50 $427.50 $2,415 +15.75
620 620 2 395.00 $395.00 $2,449 +3.14
666 666 7 344.00 $344.00 $2,291 +6.96
753–799 779 7 343.00–345.00 $343.83 $2,678 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 500.00 $500.00 $1,425 —
368 368 3 460.00 $460.00 $1,693 -77.87
410 410 2 510.00 $510.00 $2,091 +50.00
466 466 6 390.00 $390.00 $1,817 -20.67
805 805 5 305.00 $305.00 $2,455 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 unweaned 465 3 495.00 $495.00 $2,302 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 398 2 410.00 $410.00 $1,632 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
238 238 3 580.00 $580.00 $1,380 —
324 324 12 517.50 $517.50 $1,677 -19.90
340 unweaned 340 1 530.00 $530.00 $1,802 —
360–397 375 32 489.00–495.00 $492.42 $1,847 +16.90
400–429 427 29 467.50–475.00 $467.93 $1,998 +12.93
465–489 unweaned 475 25 420.00–444.00 $435.96 $2,071 +2.75
450–498 477 38 432.50–450.00 $443.86 $2,117 -18.45
500–509 unweaned 509 18 411.00–432.50 $431.33 $2,195 +25.74
503–545 528 56 397.50–432.50 $412.99 $2,181 -13.70
557–593 563 66 362.00–395.00 $380.57 $2,143 +2.47
605–643 625 32 350.00–361.00 $354.95 $2,218 -10.92
619–645 unweaned 642 41 352.00–352.50 $352.06 $2,260 -18.68
657–677 665 16 346.00–355.00 $351.84 $2,340 +1.84
700 700 1 340.00 $340.00 $2,380 —
755 755 15 329.00 $329.00 $2,484 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
302–340 324 24 480.00 $480.00 $1,555 -15.00
371–385 376 9 470.00 $470.00 $1,767 +19.28
395 unweaned 395 5 420.00 $420.00 $1,659 -65.00
400–445 418 41 402.50–440.00 $413.77 $1,730 -26.33
445 unweaned 445 4 440.00 $440.00 $1,958 -15.00
455–485 473 18 415.00–435.00 $427.00 $2,020 +12.37
503–545 522 33 365.00–387.50 $378.63 $1,976 -16.37
555–599 582 37 340.00–360.00 $353.44 $2,057 +28.02
620–640 633 8 341.00–349.00 $343.75 $2,176 +15.68
650–687 670 10 319.00–330.00 $326.02 $2,184 +23.52
700–735 730 7 307.00–309.00 $308.73 $2,254 —
793 793 3 295.00 $295.00 $2,339 —
800 800 2 280.00 $280.00 $2,240 —
878 878 5 295.50 $295.50 $2,594 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 2 420.00 $420.00 $840 —
233 unweaned 233 3 400.00 $400.00 $932 —
288 288 2 445.00 $445.00 $1,282 —
305 305 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,220 —
438 438 3 397.50 $397.50 $1,741 +2.00
480 480 4 360.00 $360.00 $1,728 +5.95
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
374–398 384 7 345.00–360.00 $353.34 $1,357 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 unweaned 370 4 540.00 $540.00 $1,998 —
408–441 432 14 460.00–500.00 $489.20 $2,113 -90.80
439 unweaned 439 5 450.00 $450.00 $1,976 —
465–468 467 3 430.00–435.00 $431.66 $2,016 —
649 649 28 343.00 $343.00 $2,226 —
788 788 2 290.00 $290.00 $2,285 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
679 679 26 336.00 $336.00 $2,281 —
1379 1379 6 194.00 $194.00 $2,675 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
457 457 3 405.00 $405.00 $1,851 -15.00
516–525 518 5 380.00–385.00 $383.99 $1,989 —
640 640 2 325.00 $325.00 $2,080 -12.50
952 952 3 287.50 $287.50 $2,737 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
584 584 8 340.00 $340.00 $1,986 —
1250–1253 1252 4 217.00–232.50 $220.87 $2,765 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515–546 533 7 340.00–395.00 $362.79 $1,934 —
733 733 2 275.00 $275.00 $2,016 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
893 893 85-90% 6 55.00 $55.00 $491 —
1015–1265 1141 85-90% 66 87.50–117.50 $110.03 $1,255 -13.13
1165 1165 85-90% 1 122.50 $122.50 $1,427 -16.04
1159–1238 1170 85-90% 112 165.75–169.00 $166.14 $1,944 +27.60
1010–1282 1186 85-90% 20 55.00–87.50 $80.93 $960 -57.61
1050–1288 1192 85-90% 69 150.00–165.00 $160.13 $1,909 +21.59
1075–1275 1195 85-90% 15 115.00–149.00 $138.93 $1,660 +0.39
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1266 1266 80-85% 38 169.00 $169.00 $2,140 —
1290–1388 1328 80-85% 9 95.00–117.00 $108.50 $1,441 -25.04
1135–1710 1348 80-85% 116 156.00–170.00 $163.23 $2,200 +29.69
1215–1565 1368 80-85% 62 126.00–157.50 $149.88 $2,050 +8.28
1325–1423 1390 80-85% 3 122.00–140.50 $134.62 $1,871 -6.98
1330–1725 1462 80-85% 3 80.00–102.50 $88.85 $1,299 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1505 1505 75-80% 1 190.50 $190.50 $2,867 —
1450–1663 1553 75-80% 6 148.00–158.50 $154.90 $2,406 —
1555–1590 1558 75-80% 15 169.00–174.00 $170.21 $2,652 —
1563 1563 75-80% 3 170.50 $170.50 $2,665 —
1441–1910 1566 75-80% 40 155.00–171.00 $165.83 $2,597 —
1560–1895 1714 75-80% 5 159.00–165.50 $162.40 $2,784 +9.40
1915 1915 75-80% 1 147.00 $147.00 $2,815 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1395–1635 1558 6 162.00–170.00 $166.36 $2,592 —
1522–1800 1592 4 172.00 $172.00 $2,738 —
1546–2235 1736 20 131.00–172.00 $146.96 $2,551 —
1730–2480 1898 22 172.00–181.00 $176.06 $3,342 -4.94
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1515 1515 1 177.00 $177.00 $2,682 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
879 fancy 879 (<2 yrs)Open 209 359.00 $359.00 $3,156
771–1135 930 (<2 yrs)Open 174 240.00–337.50 $297.09 $2,763
895–1465 1061 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 105 172.00–322.50 $257.43 $2,731
1150–1525 1335 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 161.00–197.50 $173.96 $2,322
1338 1338 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 170.00 $170.00 $2,275
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
825–880 thin fleshed 853 (<2 yrs)Open 2 190.00–200.00 $194.84 $1,662
833–1178 963 (<2 yrs)Open 28 222.50–278.00 $252.20 $2,429
835–1370 1073 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 16 177.50–245.00 $198.05 $2,125
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
740 740 (<2 yrs)Open 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,924

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1010–1106 1080 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 11 2,900.00–3,100.00 $3,048.98
1094 1094 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 13 3,150.00 $3,150.00
1096–1280 1170 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 3,300.00–3,350.00 $3,315.63
1463 1463 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 2,400.00 $2,400.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
853 853 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 1,100.00 $1,100.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1360–1380 1373 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 2,225.00–2,275.00 $2,241.50

↑ 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.