Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 28, 2024

1,484 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $293.19/cwt -11.81 vs last sale · ≈ $1,228/hd at 419 lb · 68 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $298.63/cwt +13.12 vs last sale · ≈ $1,571/hd at 526 lb · 52 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1-2 steers $359.42/cwt +25.66 vs last sale · ≈ $1,380/hd at 384 lb · 43 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,484 1,149 726
Feeder cattle 530 301 305
Slaughter cattle 705 709 323
Replacement cattle 249 139 98

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality today was mostly plain to average. Demand was mostly moderate for light offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the market today. Demand for cows was mostly light to moderate for mostly moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 lower on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-6.00 lower. Good demand was seen for a limited offering of bred cows. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were average to below average. Cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. Quality was mostly average. Young age offerings sold generally steady on a light offering.

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
275 unweaned 275 1 435.00 $435.00 $1,196 —
356–399 unweaned 384 43 350.00–379.00 $359.42 $1,380 +25.66
403–439 unweaned 416 22 322.00–347.50 $338.01 $1,406 —
497 unweaned 497 3 309.50 $309.50 $1,538 —
510–545 unweaned 526 52 283.00–311.00 $298.63 $1,571 +13.12
603–635 unweaned 614 6 255.00–262.50 $259.91 $1,596 —
676–699 unweaned 686 9 240.00–247.50 $244.10 $1,675 -8.90
890 890 2 237.00 $237.00 $2,109 —
938 938 2 215.00 $215.00 $2,017 -10.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
252–260 unweaned 258 10 450.00–455.00 $450.98 $1,164 +9.13
314–326 unweaned 322 14 400.00–412.50 $408.14 $1,314 -11.86
362 unweaned 362 3 390.00 $390.00 $1,412 —
450–499 unweaned 487 10 309.00–332.50 $314.88 $1,533 -6.12
600–626 unweaned 619 11 259.00–262.50 $259.93 $1,609 —
675 unweaned 675 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,688 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
467 unweaned 467 6 192.50 $192.50 $899 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
596 596 4 252.50 $252.50 $1,505 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
546 unweaned 546 4 202.50 $202.50 $1,106 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328 unweaned 328 2 370.00 $370.00 $1,214 —
815 815 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,923 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
263–295 unweaned 286 14 355.00–370.00 $366.06 $1,047 —
312–330 unweaned 313 20 340.00–347.50 $344.48 $1,078 —
405–448 unweaned 419 68 281.00–300.00 $293.19 $1,228 -11.81
470–493 unweaned 480 10 260.00–280.00 $270.99 $1,301 —
536 unweaned 536 19 260.00 $260.00 $1,394 —
575 unweaned 575 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,380 ±0.00
918–935 925 5 214.50–220.00 $216.80 $2,005 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
363–379 unweaned 372 27 327.00–337.50 $330.59 $1,230 -29.41
422 unweaned 422 30 301.00 $301.00 $1,270 —
511 unweaned 511 14 286.00 $286.00 $1,461 —
555 unweaned 555 3 260.00 $260.00 $1,443 ±0.00
677–680 unweaned 678 5 230.00 $230.00 $1,559 —
953 953 3 217.00 $217.00 $2,068 —
995 995 4 213.00 $213.00 $2,119 -1.31
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1053 1053 3 211.00 $211.00 $2,222 —
1075 1075 1 207.00 $207.00 $2,225 —
1135 1135 4 198.00–205.50 $203.63 $2,311 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
521 unweaned 521 7 250.00 $250.00 $1,302 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 unweaned 383 8 351.00 $351.00 $1,344 -21.65
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 unweaned 435 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,392 —
465 unweaned 465 1 287.50 $287.50 $1,337 —
685–690 unweaned 688 2 231.00–234.00 $232.49 $1,600 —
740 unweaned 740 1 227.50 $227.50 $1,684 —
1020 1020 1 207.50 $207.50 $2,116 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–1120 1110 2 197.50 $197.50 $2,192 —
1150 1150 1 200.00 $200.00 $2,300 +7.01
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 unweaned 490 2 260.00 $260.00 $1,274 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1078–1625 1366 80-85% 108 103.00–114.00 $110.20 $1,505 +1.58
1310–1540 1369 80-85% 24 128.00–132.00 $129.47 $1,772 +20.85
1205–1720 1402 80-85% 239 113.00–127.00 $122.11 $1,712 +4.54
1330–1500 1423 80-85% 6 105.00–113.00 $108.40 $1,543 -9.17
1295–1575 1442 80-85% 19 94.00–105.50 $100.93 $1,455 -35.29
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795–980 925 85-90% 5 80.00–97.00 $86.91 $804 -10.32
1030 1030 85-90% 1 82.50 $82.50 $850 +0.10
1012–1255 1134 85-90% 29 87.00–98.00 $94.95 $1,077 -6.38
1040–1283 1171 85-90% 30 120.00–128.00 $123.72 $1,449 +13.02
990–1295 1172 85-90% 74 109.00–121.00 $113.43 $1,329 +2.73
1025–1325 1184 85-90% 33 97.00–112.00 $101.97 $1,207 -8.73
1005–1280 1200 85-90% 46 99.00–111.00 $104.89 $1,259 -28.24
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1516–1765 1600 75-80% 12 110.00–123.50 $120.37 $1,926 —
1517–1758 1601 75-80% 11 123.00–128.00 $125.19 $2,004 —
1450–1708 1622 75-80% 3 105.00–106.00 $105.70 $1,714 —
1470–1705 1636 75-80% 5 130.00–135.00 $131.52 $2,152 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1370–1835 1593 17 122.50–146.00 $135.76 $2,163 —
1710–2120 1951 8 147.00–153.50 $149.47 $2,916 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
760–1200 941 (<2 yrs)Open 77 141.00–205.00 $189.02 $1,779
968 968 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 142.50 $142.50 $1,379
1045 1045 (<2 yrs)Open 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,724
920–1300 1077 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 89 128.00–188.50 $163.04 $1,756
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
840–1115 971 (<2 yrs)Open 10 130.00–171.00 $153.07 $1,486
870–1085 980 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 131.00–153.00 $138.01 $1,352
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
965 965 (<2 yrs)Open 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,351

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1248 1248 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,950.00 $1,950.00
1050–1535 1295 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12 2,000.00–2,400.00 $2,282.05
1225–1384 1359 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 2,200.00–2,350.00 $2,330.68
1430 1430 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,950.00 $1,950.00
1464 1464 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,675.00 $1,675.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1133–1194 1174 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 169.00–178.00 $175.10 $2,056
1570–1780 1645 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 111.00–122.00 $117.48 $1,933
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1198–1258 1222 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,775.00–1,925.00 $1,836.77
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1340 1340 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,775.00 $1,775.00

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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.