Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, April 16, 2026

1,011 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction report →

heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $353.12/cwt ≈ $2,309/hd at 654 lb · 20 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $442.69/cwt +12.69 vs last sale · ≈ $2,607/hd at 589 lb · 18 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $430.33/cwt ≈ $2,900/hd at 674 lb · 16 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,011 779 0
Feeder cattle 334 219 0
Slaughter cattle 402 232 0
Replacement cattle 275 328 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale (4-9-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend however higher undertones were noted on feeder steers and bulls, while steady to lower undertones were noted on feeder heifers. Demand was mostly good for light offerings. Feeders were offered in mostly small packages or as singles. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Weigh up cows and bulls sold on good to very good demand for heavier offerings. Slaughter cows sold uneven; leans and breakers sold 4.00 to 8.00 lower, while boners sold 6.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold 3.00 lower. Feeding cows and bulls overall sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher. Young age offerings suitable to feed or rebreed comprised a large portion of the sale this week. Buyers were willing to take up to middle age cows to turn out and rebreed. Young cow offerings were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average to 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
290 290 1 710.00 $710.00 $2,059 —
340 340 1 660.00 $660.00 $2,244 —
360–365 363 2 645.00–680.00 $662.38 $2,404 —
473–498 480 7 535.00–545.00 $542.04 $2,602 +4.19
525–540 533 2 500.00–525.00 $512.32 $2,731 —
550–559 555 12 490.00–510.00 $500.46 $2,778 +8.46
600 600 2 485.00 $485.00 $2,910 —
665–675 674 16 412.50–431.50 $430.33 $2,900 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390–395 393 3 550.00–580.00 $559.92 $2,200 —
438 438 2 525.00 $525.00 $2,300 —
455–495 472 4 425.00–480.00 $458.86 $2,166 —
520–535 528 2 420.00–455.00 $437.75 $2,311 -62.25
550 550 1 470.00 $470.00 $2,585 +5.21
605 605 3 420.00–425.00 $423.33 $2,561 -1.00
650–665 654 20 342.50–390.00 $353.12 $2,309 —
775 775 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,480 —
880 880 1 322.50 $322.50 $2,838 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
646 646 7 352.50 $352.50 $2,277 —
1025–1030 1028 2 315.00 $315.00 $3,238 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390–395 393 2 480.00–510.00 $494.90 $1,945 —
410 410 2 420.00 $420.00 $1,722 —
480 480 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,920 —
620–640 630 2 332.50–335.00 $333.77 $2,103 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360–380 373 3 515.00–520.00 $518.39 $1,934 -46.61
405–420 415 3 470.00–482.50 $474.07 $1,967 -75.93
482 482 12 492.50 $492.50 $2,374 —
508–533 529 14 447.50–470.00 $452.75 $2,395 -13.99
555–593 589 18 420.00–460.00 $442.69 $2,607 +12.69
668–685 671 5 387.50–390.00 $389.49 $2,613 -0.77
700–730 721 7 358.00–400.00 $388.36 $2,800 +9.36
820–833 830 5 335.00–342.50 $336.48 $2,793 —
855–883 869 6 339.00–357.50 $345.43 $3,002 —
920–934 931 10 325.00–352.50 $349.18 $3,251 —
988 988 3 330.00 $330.00 $3,260 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385–395 390 2 450.00–520.00 $485.45 $1,893 —
486–490 487 8 400.00–410.00 $401.26 $1,954 -73.74
523 523 2 410.00 $410.00 $2,144 —
555–590 580 5 355.00–407.50 $371.73 $2,156 —
608–645 623 5 342.50–347.50 $345.43 $2,152 —
710–739 733 5 315.00–335.00 $331.13 $2,427 -36.72
840 840 1 327.50 $327.50 $2,751 —
870–875 873 2 260.00–325.00 $292.41 $2,553 —
925 925 1 305.00 $305.00 $2,821 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555 555 1 430.00 $430.00 $2,386 —
660–688 682 7 356.00–380.00 $367.92 $2,509 —
805 805 1 325.00 $325.00 $2,616 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
438–440 439 3 305.00–360.00 $341.61 $1,500 —
465–485 475 2 360.00–365.00 $362.55 $1,722 —
505–515 510 2 305.00–350.00 $327.28 $1,669 —
625 625 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,688 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500–525 517 3 335.00–355.00 $341.45 $1,765 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
597 597 3 435.00 $435.00 $2,597 —
605–638 629 4 400.00–430.00 $409.74 $2,577 —
730 730 3 385.00 $385.00 $2,810 —
760 760 1 357.50 $357.50 $2,717 —
820–840 830 2 345.00–365.00 $354.88 $2,946 —
860 860 1 345.00 $345.00 $2,967 —
923–945 930 6 312.50–330.00 $327.05 $3,042 —
973 973 2 315.00 $315.00 $3,065 —
1020–1035 1023 5 272.50–307.50 $300.42 $3,073 —
1075–1087 1085 7 284.00–300.00 $286.26 $3,106 —
1190 1190 2 260.00 $260.00 $3,094 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 560.00 $560.00 $1,260 —
551–575 560 8 435.00–440.00 $436.93 $2,447 +21.93
885 885 1 317.50 $317.50 $2,810 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1535 1311 80-85% 86 175.00–187.50 $183.76 $2,409 +4.92
1195–1490 1343 80-85% 15 163.00–175.00 $166.93 $2,242 -11.91
1180–1490 1383 80-85% 3 165.00–166.00 $165.36 $2,287 —
1365–1520 1398 80-85% 6 188.00–196.00 $190.96 $2,670 —
1435–1538 1486 80-85% 3 151.00–159.00 $155.91 $2,317 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1335–1620 1496 75-80% 32 185.50–191.00 $188.39 $2,818 —
1238–1750 1513 75-80% 40 177.00–184.00 $181.03 $2,739 —
1470–1665 1536 75-80% 10 161.00–164.00 $163.29 $2,508 —
1470–1705 1549 75-80% 4 137.50–150.00 $143.91 $2,229 —
1425–1845 1655 75-80% 23 166.00–175.50 $171.75 $2,842 +0.42
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
800–1195 1051 85-90% 7 137.50–146.00 $141.77 $1,490 +7.10
960–1280 1131 85-90% 4 117.50–127.50 $123.46 $1,396 -39.43
845–1340 1147 85-90% 10 149.00–157.50 $153.90 $1,765 -4.10
985–1290 1178 85-90% 13 174.00–182.50 $178.66 $2,105 +4.60
1038–1324 1212 85-90% 20 181.00–187.50 $183.37 $2,222 +70.87
1155–1340 1222 85-90% 5 165.00–171.00 $167.40 $2,046 -16.49

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1263–1425 1379 7 233.00–250.00 $245.55 $3,386 +40.05
1170–1870 1538 17 212.00–220.00 $215.85 $3,320 —
1350–2225 1664 22 215.00–221.00 $219.02 $3,644 —
1285–2088 1909 8 227.00–234.00 $229.52 $4,382 —
YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1124–1215 1138 15 257.50–266.00 $260.74 $2,967 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1750–2210 1980 2 207.50–209.00 $208.34 $4,125 —
2200 2200 1 215.00 $215.00 $4,730 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
952–1056 981 (<2 yrs)Open 14 304.00–305.00 $304.51 $2,987
865–1300 1125 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 91 234.00–278.00 $255.96 $2,880
945–1410 1207 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 26 195.00–212.50 $204.78 $2,472
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775–1032 978 (<2 yrs)Open 11 310.00–320.00 $316.32 $3,094
853–1106 1032 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 24 282.50–303.00 $292.05 $3,014
895–1280 1162 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 13 220.00–247.00 $234.65 $2,727
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1055–1310 1207 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 14 215.00–228.00 $219.81 $2,653
1245–1375 1301 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 6 185.00–191.00 $188.63 $2,454

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1115–1150 1133 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 3,050.00–3,250.00 $3,151.55
1138–1360 1212 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 3,000.00–3,400.00 $3,250.39
1138–1380 1218 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 3,000.00–3,400.00 $3,215.23
1215–1327 1297 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 4,150.00–4,400.00 $4,230.41
1280–1344 1323 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 3,400.00–3,550.00 $3,501.61
1150–1409 1379 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 12 4,300.00–4,485.00 $4,469.37
1298–1465 1382 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 3,800.00–3,900.00 $3,853.02
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1125 1125 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 3,550.00 $3,550.00
970–1345 1158 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,600.00–2,800.00 $2,716.20
1100–1225 1163 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 2,300.00–2,600.00 $2,458.06
1045–1285 1203 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,375.00–2,550.00 $2,499.34
1215 1215 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,700.00 $2,700.00
890–1365 1235 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 2,400.00–2,600.00 $2,503.80
1120–1570 1352 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 3,700.00–3,950.00 $3,853.21

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
920–940 930 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 2,750.00–2,950.00 $2,851.08
1005 1005 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,750.00 $3,750.00
1040 1040 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 3,300.00 $3,300.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1245–1315 1280 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 4,000.00–4,500.00 $4,243.16 —
1225–1438 1367 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 3,550.00–3,650.00 $3,620.13 —
1395–1413 1401 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 6 3,600.00–3,700.00 $3,633.62 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1265 1265 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,750.00 $2,750.00 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
936 936 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 4,200.00 $4,200.00 —

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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.