Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, May 7, 2026

1,674 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $375.45/cwt -13.16 vs last sale · ≈ $2,673/hd at 712 lb · 43 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $506.08/cwt -5.76 vs last sale · ≈ $2,363/hd at 467 lb · 34 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $499.61/cwt -10.75 vs last sale · ≈ $2,608/hd at 522 lb · 31 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,674 2,561 1,173
Feeder cattle 588 2,235 455
Slaughter cattle 517 138 385
Replacement cattle 569 188 333

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale (4-30-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Demand was moderate to good for light offerings. Quality limited demand today as many ranchers and backgrounders cleaned up pens and pastures. Many lame and blemished offerings were seen this sale. Most feeders were offered in small groups or as singles with no load lots seen. Buyers pick around to try and fill loads for the week. Demand did diminish as buyers filled loads and exited the market. A small crowd was on hand for todays sale. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand. Demand for feeding cows remains very good. Canadian buyers continue to buy high quality cows to ship north and feed. American packers tried to fill feeding loads for the week but showed no desire to push offerings higher. Quality this week was average to very attractive with many reputation ranches offering cows this week. Feeding cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Slaughter cows sold steady to weak as packers showed slightly lighter demand for cows too lame or blemished to feed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Demand for feeding bulls was very good this sale. Feeding bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age offerings suitable to feed or rebreed comprised a large portion of the cow offering this week. Buyers continue to be willing to take up to middle age cows to turn out and rebreed. Young cow offerings sold with higher undertones on a higher quality offering. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive and overall more attractive than last 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
406 406 4 610.00 $610.00 $2,477 —
419 unweaned 419 7 585.00 $585.00 $2,451 —
468 468 5 577.50 $577.50 $2,703 -12.50
508 unweaned 508 22 532.50 $532.50 $2,705 —
587 587 3 474.00 $474.00 $2,782 -49.42
652–657 654 8 435.00–437.00 $435.75 $2,850 -22.71
713 713 3 410.00 $410.00 $2,923 -6.35
760–763 762 3 385.00–391.00 $386.99 $2,949 -9.64
909 909 10 351.00 $351.00 $3,191 +21.23
913 913 6 341.00 $341.00 $3,113 +11.23
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 unweaned 290 2 600.00 $600.00 $1,740 —
370–395 379 4 600.00–605.00 $601.22 $2,279 —
415–435 unweaned 422 3 560.00–570.00 $566.56 $2,391 —
500–544 522 31 490.00–516.00 $499.61 $2,608 -10.75
579 579 5 455.00 $455.00 $2,634 -17.72
619 619 5 440.00 $440.00 $2,724 +6.15
655–667 662 7 372.50–427.00 $400.09 $2,649 -29.91
700–735 712 3 392.50–395.00 $393.36 $2,801 -4.16
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
523 unweaned 523 3 450.00 $450.00 $2,354 —
510–544 537 5 447.50–460.00 $449.87 $2,416 —
615–633 629 9 400.00–415.00 $403.26 $2,537 -6.74
710–722 717 5 367.50–385.00 $378.07 $2,711 —
763 763 2 360.00 $360.00 $2,747 —
885 885 3 330.00 $330.00 $2,920 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1127 1127 11 278.00 $278.00 $3,133 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
508 508 2 495.00 $495.00 $2,515 +25.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465–480 467 34 505.00–512.50 $506.08 $2,363 -5.76
514–539 534 24 460.00–480.00 $473.01 $2,526 -18.84
559–590 561 14 440.00–455.00 $453.87 $2,546 -10.49
628–645 634 3 411.00–415.00 $412.36 $2,614 +14.86
689 689 5 386.00 $386.00 $2,660 -11.33
705–726 712 43 362.00–384.00 $375.45 $2,673 -13.16
755–760 758 12 354.00–359.00 $358.17 $2,715 -4.46
837 837 12 341.50 $341.50 $2,858 -7.87
891 891 8 317.00 $317.00 $2,824 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 1 525.00 $525.00 $1,916 +15.00
442–446 445 8 505.00–513.00 $510.02 $2,270 -6.44
515–535 523 9 439.00–441.00 $440.44 $2,304 -21.23
585 585 12 417.50 $417.50 $2,442 -9.85
615–628 625 4 375.00–382.50 $380.65 $2,379 -20.79
650–695 682 9 340.00–381.00 $363.75 $2,481 +13.75
740 740 3 358.00 $358.00 $2,649 -3.89
783 783 3 350.00 $350.00 $2,740 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
431 431 11 502.50 $502.50 $2,166 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520–545 533 4 405.00–430.00 $412.38 $2,198 —
630 630 1 347.50 $347.50 $2,189 —
847 847 5 312.00 $312.00 $2,643 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
635 635 3 377.50 $377.50 $2,397 -28.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565 565 1 385.00 $385.00 $2,175 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
558 558 8 450.00 $450.00 $2,511 —
668 668 4 392.50 $392.50 $2,622 —
705–723 715 6 355.00–370.00 $361.70 $2,586 —
785 785 2 347.50 $347.50 $2,728 —
810–848 839 4 340.00–347.00 $345.31 $2,897 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
588 588 4 457.50 $457.50 $2,690 —
922 922 14 327.00 $327.00 $3,015 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1009–1038 1017 7 301.00–306.00 $304.54 $3,097 —
1063–1080 1072 6 285.00–295.00 $290.63 $3,116 -4.37
1240 1240 2 230.00 $230.00 $2,852 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
85–97 88 7 925.00 $925.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
734 734 6 347.00 $347.00 $2,547 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080–1095 1090 3 275.00–280.00 $276.65 $3,015 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1214–1580 1340 80-85% 119 188.00–194.00 $190.42 $2,552 +19.94
1320–1435 1378 80-85% 2 142.50–147.50 $145.10 $1,999 -46.24
1345–1435 1383 80-85% 8 159.00–164.00 $161.36 $2,232 -29.98
1260–1615 1389 80-85% 51 176.00–187.00 $183.16 $2,544 -8.18
1250–1535 1398 80-85% 18 154.00–175.00 $168.10 $2,350 -23.24
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890 890 85-90% 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,380 —
975 975 85-90% 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,121 —
1020–1090 1063 85-90% 4 110.00–120.00 $114.92 $1,222 +9.92
1032–1290 1102 85-90% 32 175.00–186.00 $181.88 $2,004 —
910–1255 1103 85-90% 26 150.00–173.00 $165.34 $1,824 —
1000–1260 1126 85-90% 6 127.50–142.50 $132.35 $1,490 —
1000–1250 1155 85-90% 3 147.50–157.50 $152.69 $1,764 -5.19
1080–1330 1222 85-90% 110 186.00–196.00 $191.37 $2,339 +1.11
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1520–1578 1559 75-80% 4 165.00–171.00 $166.97 $2,603 —
1510–1638 1575 75-80% 11 186.00–192.50 $187.53 $2,954 —
1620–1670 1638 75-80% 4 176.00–184.00 $179.78 $2,945 —
1505–1805 1657 75-80% 9 153.00–164.00 $161.91 $2,683 -21.09
1503–1805 1689 75-80% 10 165.50–171.00 $166.98 $2,820 -4.02

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1555–1755 1644 4 191.00–206.00 $197.59 $3,248 —
1340–2008 1701 29 212.00–219.00 $216.98 $3,691 +11.05
1450–2125 1845 6 205.00–212.00 $209.60 $3,867 —
1736–2340 1980 10 222.00–231.00 $224.99 $4,455 —
1840–2490 2064 14 209.00–220.00 $216.98 $4,478 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2210 2210 1 218.00 $218.00 $4,818 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775–1305 1002 (<2 yrs)Open 188 227.50–373.00 $319.75 $3,204
1030–1085 1058 (<2 yrs)Open 2 237.50–275.00 $255.76 $2,706
900–1363 1102 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 142 191.00–335.00 $268.01 $2,953
1088–1368 1190 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 50 190.00–262.00 $202.72 $2,412
1238 1238 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 196.00 $196.00 $2,426
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
940–960 thin fleshed 953 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 196.00–275.00 $249.03 $2,373
765–1185 999 (<2 yrs)Open 16 220.00–340.00 $274.25 $2,740
910–1275 1052 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 27 195.00–282.50 $213.37 $2,245
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
645–753 717 (<2 yrs)Open 3 260.00–285.00 $277.50 $1,990
853 853 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 260.00 $260.00 $2,218
883 thin fleshed 883 (<2 yrs)Open 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,898
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
865 865 (<2 yrs)Open 4 332.50 $332.50 $2,876
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1185 1185 (<2 yrs)Open 1 205.00 $205.00 $2,429
1500 1500 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 188.00 $188.00 $2,820

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
968 968 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 3,300.00 $3,300.00
1153–1335 1229 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 4,000.00–4,200.00 $4,139.51
1417–1548 1465 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 3,400.00–3,475.00 $3,436.26
1513 1513 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 3,250.00 $3,250.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
948 948 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 3,500.00 $3,500.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1265 1265 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 3,350.00 $3,350.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1095 1095 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 3,800.00 $3,800.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1240–1335 1288 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 3,900.00–4,100.00 $3,996.31

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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.