Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, March 5, 2026

2,611 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 heifers $446.38/cwt +16.38 vs last sale · ≈ $2,565/hd at 575 lb · 310 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $408.05/cwt ≈ $2,744/hd at 672 lb · 210 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $422.33/cwt +22.33 vs last sale · ≈ $2,702/hd at 640 lb · 143 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,611 389 2,633
Feeder cattle 1,980 168 2,093
Slaughter cattle 323 129 341
Replacement cattle 308 92 199

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale (2-19-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good to very good for moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand for cattle suitable to go to grass was good to very good, while demand for cattle too big to go to grass was mostly good. Most feeders were offered in small to moderate size packages this week. Market activity was active. A moderate crowd of ranchers buying grass calves and order buyers was noticed. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for light offerings. Feeding cow demand continues to drive the market. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to weak on a very full offering. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week as a change in weather had all cows pushing heavy amounts of fill. A limited number of slaughter cows were purchased this week as feeding demand pushed cow prices over where slaughter buyers wanted to buy cows. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age offerings suitable to feed or rebreed sold 10.00-15.00 in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand for coming 2 year old heifers was very good this sale as several buyers showed good demand to feed these offerings. All cows that lost calves sold on good to very good demand this week which pushed all young offerings higher.

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
401–415 403 7 630.00–640.00 $638.53 $2,573 —
450–495 484 62 547.50–587.50 $565.07 $2,735 —
510–541 531 18 502.50–534.00 $515.64 $2,738 +10.64
575–588 577 141 474.00–488.00 $485.04 $2,799 —
606–645 627 86 442.00–464.00 $453.39 $2,843 —
657–675 664 40 424.00–440.00 $436.04 $2,895 —
700–736 722 55 406.00–420.50 $412.72 $2,980 +29.72
750–795 754 11 377.50–397.00 $395.13 $2,979 —
805–838 827 6 360.00–367.50 $365.07 $3,019 —
842 842 17 350.00 $350.00 $2,947 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426–430 427 7 575.00–590.00 $577.16 $2,464 —
450–473 451 41 520.00–575.00 $572.37 $2,581 —
537 537 3 500.00 $500.00 $2,685 —
595–596 596 17 460.00–470.00 $461.17 $2,749 +3.67
620–631 628 20 420.00–439.00 $432.41 $2,716 —
730–740 733 6 365.00–375.00 $368.36 $2,700 —
797 797 3 362.50 $362.50 $2,889 —
845 845 2 350.00 $350.00 $2,958 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
600 600 2 432.50 $432.50 $2,595 —
683 683 2 360.00 $360.00 $2,459 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
379 379 4 575.00 $575.00 $2,179 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 unweaned 405 3 495.00 $495.00 $2,005 —
455–485 474 94 487.50–500.00 $495.66 $2,349 -16.84
513–543 529 65 455.00–487.50 $472.17 $2,498 —
535 unweaned 535 10 440.00 $440.00 $2,354 —
574 574 118 456.00 $456.00 $2,617 +26.00
558–598 575 192 425.00–454.00 $440.46 $2,533 +10.46
632 632 8 380.00 $380.00 $2,402 -20.00
617–648 638 86 408.00–428.00 $421.89 $2,692 +21.89
644 644 49 430.00 $430.00 $2,769 +30.00
654–698 661 37 382.50–407.00 $398.24 $2,632 —
674 674 36 376.00 $376.00 $2,534 —
659–680 675 137 412.50–421.00 $419.12 $2,829 —
700–727 707 26 367.00–381.00 $376.67 $2,663 —
761 761 4 365.00 $365.00 $2,778 —
818–848 839 49 345.00–353.00 $348.31 $2,922 —
866 866 8 343.00 $343.00 $2,970 —
933 933 8 334.00 $334.00 $3,116 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
389 389 4 515.00 $515.00 $2,003 —
473–495 482 23 455.00–485.00 $479.03 $2,309 —
505 505 2 460.00 $460.00 $2,323 —
565–598 592 28 400.00–425.00 $415.67 $2,461 —
615–636 629 10 380.00–405.00 $395.10 $2,485 +17.60
745 745 2 360.00 $360.00 $2,682 —
750–780 770 6 348.00–357.00 $350.92 $2,702 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
351 351 8 470.00 $470.00 $1,650 —
463 463 3 460.00 $460.00 $2,130 —
505–519 516 8 405.00–417.50 $414.44 $2,139 —
624–643 631 24 345.00–350.00 $348.09 $2,196 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
439 439 5 485.00 $485.00 $2,129 —
543 543 20 424.00 $424.00 $2,302 —
618 618 3 405.00 $405.00 $2,503 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
489 489 5 325.00 $325.00 $1,589 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
463 unweaned 463 2 530.00 $530.00 $2,454 —
453–471 465 6 555.00–570.00 $559.87 $2,603 —
582 unweaned 582 10 460.00 $460.00 $2,677 —
625–640 634 5 410.00–412.50 $411.51 $2,609 —
707–729 717 25 365.00–370.00 $367.24 $2,633 —
824 824 9 340.00 $340.00 $2,802 —
882 882 22 340.00 $340.00 $2,999 —
937 937 7 315.00 $315.00 $2,952 —
975–980 978 3 310.00–312.50 $311.67 $3,048 —
1008 1008 2 285.00 $285.00 $2,873 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
458 458 13 510.00 $510.00 $2,336 —
575–594 590 5 427.50–430.00 $427.99 $2,525 —
990 990 16 302.50 $302.50 $2,995 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1051 1051 15 294.00 $294.00 $3,090 —
1071 1071 11 282.50 $282.50 $3,026 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
587 587 9 427.50 $427.50 $2,509 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 338 4 595.00 $595.00 $2,011 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1062 1062 3 282.00 $282.00 $2,995 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290–1450 1338 80-85% 8 150.00–162.00 $154.30 $2,065 —
1335–1360 1343 80-85% 3 170.00–189.00 $176.41 $2,369 —
1165–1660 1405 80-85% 53 170.00–183.00 $176.92 $2,486 —
1280–1610 1406 80-85% 24 152.50–167.50 $163.52 $2,299 —
1483 1483 80-85% 2 148.00 $148.00 $2,195 —
1575 1575 80-85% 1 171.00 $171.00 $2,693 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1139–1840 1279 75-80% 5 156.00–163.00 $160.99 $2,059 —
1315–1705 1460 75-80% 3 155.00–161.00 $158.06 $2,308 —
1438–1660 1547 75-80% 61 168.00–184.00 $180.26 $2,789 —
1365–1875 1705 75-80% 12 164.00–170.00 $166.66 $2,842 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875 875 85-90% 1 110.00 $110.00 $962 —
1080–1270 1175 85-90% 2 129.00–135.00 $131.76 $1,548 -13.24
1051–1295 1180 85-90% 14 151.00–162.00 $156.28 $1,844 +6.56
1175–1250 1210 85-90% 4 168.00–172.00 $169.98 $2,057 -3.93
1150–1290 1216 85-90% 5 145.00–158.00 $152.21 $1,851 -21.70

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1295–1413 1362 4 147.50–175.00 $159.51 $2,173 —
1196–1838 1391 18 183.00–199.50 $192.13 $2,673 —
1314–2040 1434 18 194.00–204.00 $198.38 $2,845 —
1455–2035 1601 12 171.00–199.00 $189.60 $3,035 —
1788 1788 6 210.00 $210.00 $3,755 +10.40
1600–2110 1904 23 201.00–218.00 $208.32 $3,966 —
2175 2175 1 224.00 $224.00 $4,872 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2000 2000 7 215.00 $215.00 $4,300 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795–1247 977 (<2 yrs)Open 107 231.00–341.00 $302.06 $2,951
895–1380 1126 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 72 197.00–335.00 $260.31 $2,931
1160–1430 1270 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 20 185.00–210.00 $193.09 $2,452
1330–1595 1418 (<2 yrs)Open 6 216.00–225.00 $221.63 $3,143
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
973–1175 1041 (<2 yrs)Open 9 255.00–300.00 $269.39 $2,804
935–1295 1144 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 17 189.00–315.00 $229.26 $2,623
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
740–885 788 (<2 yrs)Open 3 300.00–315.00 $305.61 $2,408
870–895 883 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 307.50–315.00 $311.20 $2,748
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1175–1235 1220 (<2 yrs)Open 4 237.00–242.00 $238.20 $2,906
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
810 810 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 265.00 $265.00 $2,146

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1306 1306 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 4,000.00 $4,000.00
1577 1577 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 3,400.00 $3,400.00
1625 1625 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 3,550.00 $3,550.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1645 1645 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,400.00 $3,400.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
945 945 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 29 3,900.00–4,100.00 $4,072.41
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1165 1165 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 3,800.00 $3,800.00

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
680 680 85-90% 1 105.00 $105.00 $714 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
679 679 4 270.00 $270.00 $1,833 —

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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.