Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 10, 2026

2,020 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $308.17/cwt -5.33 vs last sale · ≈ $2,849/hd at 924 lb · 95 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $402.60/cwt +15.10 vs last sale · ≈ $2,326/hd at 578 lb · 69 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $453.98/cwt ≈ $1,761/hd at 388 lb · 64 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,020 797 676
Feeder cattle 1,522 414 319
Slaughter cattle 378 295 269
Replacement cattle 120 88 88

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale (9-03-26): Feeder steers and heifer calves were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers under were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mixed. Calves offered plain to average quality and yearlings offered average to attractive quality. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light to moderate offerings. Yearlings were offered in small packages this week, however demand for light offerings was good. Many tested open heifers out of replacements were seen again this sale. Lots of variation in quality was noticed on both calves and yearlings. Calves continue to be marketed due to dry conditions. Demand for very light weight offerings suitable to develop into yearlings was very good. CME positions moved higher today which helped provide some additional market support. Market activity was moderate to active with a moderate size buyer pool noticed. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and offerings. Cow quality was mostly plain to average today. Many cows coming off pasture and range are lame or blemished in some way and several buyers were present and willing to purchase these cows to feed. Feeding cows sold mostly 5.00 lower on boning and lean cows, breaking flesh feeding cows sold mostly steady to firm. Slaughter cows generally steady on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Bull quality was more attractive this week compared to last week. Young age cow offerings were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Many fleshy offerings were seen again this week. Many of these offerings were purchased to feed and sold to feeding cow buyers. Demand for 2 year old cows which have never calved was very good as buyers purchased these to feed.

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
333–345 unweaned 338 16 562.50–582.50 $574.83 $1,943 —
383–386 unweaned 385 12 537.50–545.00 $541.24 $2,084 —
405–425 unweaned 422 54 501.00–545.00 $516.08 $2,178 —
455–477 unweaned 463 29 447.50–472.50 $467.04 $2,162 +25.10
500–537 unweaned 532 34 407.00–445.00 $420.26 $2,236 —
576 576 11 408.00 $408.00 $2,350 —
567–594 unweaned 578 58 381.00–410.00 $401.58 $2,321 +14.08
623–640 unweaned 637 12 375.00–380.00 $379.19 $2,415 —
652 unweaned 652 5 362.00 $362.00 $2,360 —
720 unweaned 720 7 355.00 $355.00 $2,556 —
735 735 3 382.00 $382.00 $2,808 —
778 778 9 379.00 $379.00 $2,949 +29.00
805 805 3 347.50 $347.50 $2,797 —
902 902 7 316.00 $316.00 $2,850 —
953–960 958 17 310.00–311.00 $310.77 $2,977 -0.23
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
268 unweaned 268 3 580.00 $580.00 $1,554 —
368–398 unweaned 392 29 480.00–510.00 $491.57 $1,927 +1.57
403–438 unweaned 426 9 490.00 $490.00 $2,087 —
492 unweaned 492 5 442.50 $442.50 $2,177 -2.50
537 unweaned 537 3 397.50 $397.50 $2,135 —
587 unweaned 587 26 382.50 $382.50 $2,245 —
764 764 5 356.00 $356.00 $2,720 +11.00
809–845 810 34 340.00–349.00 $348.72 $2,825 —
835 835 13 335.00 $335.00 $2,797 —
902–905 903 4 317.50–322.50 $321.25 $2,901 +1.25
943 943 3 312.00 $312.00 $2,942 -8.00
974–998 984 7 295.00–296.00 $295.57 $2,908 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
679–693 690 28 345.00–349.00 $348.02 $2,401 +3.02
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
799 799 10 342.50 $342.50 $2,737 —
878 878 15 314.00 $314.00 $2,757 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
863 863 8 324.00 $324.00 $2,796 —
919 919 6 316.00 $316.00 $2,904 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050 1050 6 289.00 $289.00 $3,034 —
1109 1109 7 276.50 $276.50 $3,066 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
673 673 3 380.00 $380.00 $2,557 +30.00
783 783 2 345.00 $345.00 $2,701 —
846 846 8 342.00 $342.00 $2,893 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 unweaned 280 2 535.00 $535.00 $1,498 —
336–337 unweaned 336 21 485.00–495.00 $487.86 $1,639 —
418–424 unweaned 423 28 455.00–473.00 $471.10 $1,993 +50.43
458–485 unweaned 478 30 385.00–415.00 $408.23 $1,951 +4.60
480–489 483 12 371.00–378.00 $373.36 $1,803 —
527–546 unweaned 535 9 365.00 $365.00 $1,953 -7.50
580–599 unweaned 592 18 347.50–348.00 $347.81 $2,059 —
596 596 28 350.00 $350.00 $2,086 —
604 unweaned 604 5 347.00 $347.00 $2,096 —
660–676 unweaned 671 6 327.50–330.00 $328.32 $2,203 —
728–746 741 7 335.00 $335.00 $2,482 —
758 758 2 337.50 $337.50 $2,558 —
780 780 6 321.00 $321.00 $2,504 —
807–840 836 27 325.00–329.00 $328.57 $2,747 -1.43
861–896 880 29 310.00–320.00 $314.05 $2,764 —
907–929 918 27 295.00–300.00 $297.38 $2,730 -16.12
922–933 927 68 306.00–316.00 $312.46 $2,897 -1.04
953–994 979 26 294.00–309.00 $303.53 $2,972 +8.21
984 984 36 284.00 $284.00 $2,795 -11.32
1001–1048 1019 51 287.50–299.50 $296.34 $3,020 +6.25
1033–1041 1039 10 275.00–282.50 $281.01 $2,920 -9.08
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344 unweaned 344 9 465.00 $465.00 $1,600 —
353–398 unweaned 388 64 445.00–460.00 $453.98 $1,761 —
401–443 unweaned 419 7 410.00 $410.00 $1,718 —
482–491 unweaned 487 7 360.00–375.00 $366.36 $1,784 —
518 unweaned 518 7 364.00 $364.00 $1,886 -3.50
615–635 unweaned 621 5 321.00–327.50 $323.90 $2,011 —
715 715 3 320.00 $320.00 $2,288 -1.98
803–835 818 23 297.50–314.00 $306.35 $2,506 —
928–938 934 5 282.50–285.00 $283.49 $2,648 -20.00
990 990 1 280.00 $280.00 $2,772 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
608 unweaned 608 5 312.50 $312.50 $1,900 —
904–920 912 8 305.00 $305.00 $2,782 —
1061 1061 10 288.00 $288.00 $3,056 +4.87
1071–1082 1076 12 267.00–275.00 $270.35 $2,909 -12.78
1103–1110 1107 5 251.00–254.00 $252.80 $2,798 -18.24
1138 1138 4 270.00 $270.00 $3,073 -1.04
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
387–392 unweaned 391 15 400.00–405.00 $400.99 $1,568 +20.99
820 820 2 290.00 $290.00 $2,378 —
986 986 7 266.00 $266.00 $2,623 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
720 720 1 332.50 $332.50 $2,394 —
752 752 9 321.00 $321.00 $2,414 —
765 765 3 304.00 $304.00 $2,326 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1084 1084 8 262.50 $262.50 $2,846 —
1175 1175 4 236.00 $236.00 $2,773 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 unweaned 338 10 570.00 $570.00 $1,927 —
372 unweaned 372 14 535.00 $535.00 $1,990 —
415–418 unweaned 415 26 500.00–515.00 $513.84 $2,132 +23.84
455 unweaned 455 2 465.00 $465.00 $2,116 —
571 unweaned 571 4 385.00 $385.00 $2,198 —
605–646 unweaned 618 31 350.00–385.00 $373.20 $2,306 —
653 unweaned 653 2 345.00 $345.00 $2,253 —
823 823 5 335.00 $335.00 $2,757 —
911 911 11 322.50 $322.50 $2,938 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 2 525.00 $525.00 $1,706 —
390 unweaned 390 1 470.00 $470.00 $1,833 —
475 unweaned 475 4 422.50 $422.50 $2,007 —
585 unweaned 585 2 360.00 $360.00 $2,106 —
733 733 2 342.50 $342.50 $2,511 —
951–960 953 5 295.00–305.00 $302.98 $2,887 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1252–1295 1263 4 227.50–235.00 $229.42 $2,898 +6.42
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265 1265 1 222.50 $222.50 $2,815 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1310 1310 80-85% 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,572 -48.72
1250–1380 1318 80-85% 10 140.00–143.00 $140.88 $1,857 -27.84
1321–1581 1432 80-85% 66 135.00–153.00 $145.51 $2,084 +1.98
1305–1595 1465 80-85% 11 127.50–139.00 $134.54 $1,971 —
1235–1545 1486 80-85% 106 155.00–164.00 $162.02 $2,408 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1528–1735 1569 75-80% 15 156.00–162.00 $158.97 $2,494 +4.82
1493–1750 1605 75-80% 8 141.00–151.00 $145.81 $2,340 —
1620 1620 75-80% 2 144.00–145.00 $144.50 $2,341 —
1510–1955 1637 75-80% 9 137.00–141.00 $139.38 $2,282 —
1723–1730 1724 75-80% 7 153.00 $153.00 $2,638 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875 875 85-90% 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,094 —
915 915 85-90% 1 97.50 $97.50 $892 —
1010–1090 1055 85-90% 4 90.00–107.50 $100.68 $1,062 —
1155–1235 1189 85-90% 4 135.00–145.00 $139.44 $1,658 -26.17
1070–1295 1190 85-90% 13 112.50–137.50 $126.52 $1,506 -39.09
1070–1250 1192 85-90% 8 140.00–144.00 $141.53 $1,687 -24.08
1195–1220 1208 85-90% 2 151.00–159.00 $155.04 $1,873 +15.04
1210–1289 1273 85-90% 5 164.00–165.00 $164.19 $2,090 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
825 825 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,279 —
1265–2120 1736 16 160.00–173.00 $169.39 $2,941 —
1771 1771 4 174.00 $174.00 $3,082 +6.67
1655–2280 1910 30 172.00–187.00 $179.98 $3,438 —
2030–2175 2116 7 187.00–197.00 $191.64 $4,055 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1175 1175 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 195.00 $195.00 $2,291
1145–1221 1188 (<2 yrs)Open 19 223.00–273.00 $237.41 $2,820
1255 1255 (<2 yrs)Open 1 195.00 $195.00 $2,447
1325 1325 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 171.00 $171.00 $2,266
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
885 885 (<2 yrs)Open 1 227.50 $227.50 $2,013
1140 1140 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 161.00 $161.00 $1,835
980–1268 1196 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 170.00–205.00 $177.17 $2,119
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1235 1235 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 167.00 $167.00 $2,062

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1125 1125 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00
1196 1196 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 22 3,300.00 $3,300.00
1265 1265 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 3,050.00 $3,050.00
1415 1415 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,650.00 $2,650.00
1430 1430 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 2,675.00 $2,675.00
1475 1475 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,200.00 $2,200.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1047–1385 1132 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 2,850.00 $2,850.00
1177 1177 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 2,325.00 $2,325.00
1205 1205 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 2,250.00 $2,250.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1017 1017 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9 288.00 $288.00 $2,929
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1125 1125 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 3,200.00 $3,200.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1220 1220 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 3,500.00 $3,500.00 —
1877 1877 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 10 3,650.00 $3,650.00 —
Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
770 770 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,100.00 $1,100.00 —

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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.