Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 6, 2023

1,427 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $290.38/cwt +10.38 vs last sale · ≈ $1,519/hd at 523 lb · 30 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $268.48/cwt ≈ $1,248/hd at 465 lb · 24 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $207.22/cwt ≈ $1,612/hd at 778 lb · 23 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,427 726 1,564
Feeder cattle 438 305 703
Slaughter cattle 773 323 670
Replacement cattle 216 98 191

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week and this week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average, however quality was more attractive as last weeks sale. Demand and offerings were light to moderate. All feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand and offerings. Slaughter cows sold steady to weak on boning and lean cows; breaking cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white, sold steady to weak. Thin short term feeding cows sold fully steady in a narrow comparison. Feeding buyers and slaughter cow buyers competed over these offerings keeping this class fully steady. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Demand for bulls was stronger this week as packer buyers competed over offerings. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Demand for high quality cows suitable to rebreed was mostly good, while demand for feeding quality cows was light to moderate.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–368 unweaned 356 8 310.00–325.00 $316.89 $1,128 —
408–446 unweaned 430 14 285.00–310.00 $300.25 $1,291 -8.13
450–480 unweaned 458 5 275.00–285.00 $278.58 $1,276 -5.55
500–548 unweaned 523 5 255.00–275.00 $266.62 $1,394 +26.62
560–580 unweaned 561 14 234.00–240.00 $239.56 $1,344 +10.56
600–624 unweaned 622 10 215.00–236.00 $233.97 $1,455 +1.47
665 unweaned 665 11 233.50 $233.50 $1,553 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
516–529 unweaned 523 30 281.00–300.00 $290.38 $1,519 +10.38
577 unweaned 577 22 245.00 $245.00 $1,414 -1.00
654–680 unweaned 657 8 244.00–247.00 $246.61 $1,620 +10.61
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
473 unweaned 473 2 285.00 $285.00 $1,348 —
513 unweaned 513 6 220.00 $220.00 $1,129 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 unweaned 425 4 275.00 $275.00 $1,169 —
575 unweaned 575 1 213.00 $213.00 $1,225 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815 815 3 215.00 $215.00 $1,752 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
289 unweaned 289 5 272.50 $272.50 $788 —
323 unweaned 323 11 270.00 $270.00 $872 —
350–395 unweaned 361 4 275.00–285.00 $277.73 $1,003 —
413 unweaned 413 2 261.00 $261.00 $1,078 —
470 unweaned 470 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,175 —
501–528 unweaned 515 12 210.00–235.00 $222.17 $1,144 -16.85
593 unweaned 593 15 213.00 $213.00 $1,263 -17.50
758–782 778 23 202.00–210.00 $207.22 $1,612 —
818–840 827 5 202.50–205.00 $203.52 $1,683 -9.42
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403–443 unweaned 419 11 270.00–290.00 $280.74 $1,176 —
450–485 unweaned 465 24 260.00–270.00 $268.48 $1,248 —
953 unweaned 953 2 201.00 $201.00 $1,916 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
576 unweaned 576 4 209.00 $209.00 $1,204 —
1104 1104 8 180.00 $180.00 $1,987 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 5 220.00 $220.00 $968 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
448 unweaned 448 3 210.00 $210.00 $941 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 unweaned 383 5 304.00 $304.00 $1,164 —
528–547 unweaned 543 9 225.00 $225.00 $1,222 -5.00
760 760 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,520 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260–1525 1370 80-85% 53 74.00–87.00 $83.30 $1,141 -6.36
1303–1625 1400 80-85% 46 84.50–88.00 $85.79 $1,201 -7.65
1294–1648 1422 80-85% 173 89.50–103.50 $95.79 $1,362 +11.59
1391–1460 1423 80-85% 17 105.00–106.50 $105.63 $1,503 +21.43
1495 1495 80-85% 1 90.00 $90.00 $1,346 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
880–895 885 85-90% 3 60.00–61.00 $60.66 $537 —
975 975 85-90% 2 77.00 $77.00 $751 +4.49
1010–1115 1083 85-90% 4 62.00–67.00 $64.20 $695 —
995–1355 1148 85-90% 61 74.50–84.00 $79.26 $910 -1.40
1005–1335 1230 85-90% 81 70.00–83.00 $79.46 $977 —
1100–1298 1240 85-90% 83 85.00–92.00 $88.10 $1,092 —
1193–1338 1259 85-90% 35 83.00–88.00 $85.20 $1,073 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1553–1645 1587 75-80% 5 94.50–100.00 $98.55 $1,564 —
1563–1723 1694 75-80% 17 103.00–105.50 $103.47 $1,753 —
1715–1805 1772 75-80% 3 84.50–102.00 $94.50 $1,675 —
2055 2055 75-80% 1 96.50 $96.50 $1,983 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1240 1238 2 95.00–101.00 $98.01 $1,213 +16.01
1250 1250 1 92.50 $92.50 $1,156 —
1400–2265 1813 23 106.00–115.00 $110.83 $2,009 +7.84
1535–2380 1867 11 90.00–107.00 $101.68 $1,898 —
2225 2225 1 117.00 $117.00 $2,603 +2.00
2565 2565 1 110.00 $110.00 $2,822 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1433 1433 3 100.00 $100.00 $1,433 —
1631–1808 1729 9 109.00–112.00 $110.74 $1,915 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
816–1390 999 (<2 yrs)Open 103 108.50–175.00 $152.49 $1,523
1049 1049 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 140.00 $140.00 $1,469
810–1405 1053 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 51 87.50–168.00 $116.21 $1,224
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
890 890 (<2 yrs)Open 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,353

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1123–1240 1183 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 8 1,700.00–1,875.00 $1,812.74
1318 1318 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,225.00 $1,225.00
1412 1412 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 1,225.00 $1,225.00

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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.