Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, October 29, 2021

3,479 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction report →

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $160.78/cwt +2.83 vs last sale · ≈ $929/hd at 578 lb · 297 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $141.91/cwt -1.50 vs last sale · ≈ $752/hd at 530 lb · 211 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $139.41/cwt +0.29 vs last sale · ≈ $806/hd at 578 lb · 196 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,479 5,304 2,679
Feeder cattle 1,990 5,304 2,425
Slaughter cattle 288 — 214
Replacement cattle 1,201 — 40

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Friday: All yearlings were scarcely tested thus no trend is available. Steer and heifer calves all traded unevenly steady in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive, and overall quality was lower than last week. Calves were thinly tested this week as a large portion of todays sale was comprised of bred cows. Demand for calves was light to moderate. Most calves sold today in small lots or as singles. Only one load lot was seen on todays sale. Demand for calves was moderate to good for light to moderate offerings. Transportation continues to be the biggest factor limiting demand. Trucks remain very tight and most buyers refused to buy un-weaned calves that they didn't have transportation for. Large price spreads continue to be seen. Buyers continued buying calves the same way as buyers focused on buying front end calves, especially ones with two rounds of vaccinations and passed or discounted average quality calves or calves with only spring shots. Heavy discounts continue to be seen on plain or average quality cattle. Market activity this sale was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for light offerings. Slaughter and feeding cows and bulls were not reported last feeder special as these offerings sold late into the evening. Weigh up conditions were average to below average this sale.

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
323–325 unweaned 324 4 195.00–200.00 $197.51 $640 -2.21
372–380 unweaned 373 7 184.00–190.00 $184.87 $690 -6.75
403–432 415 7 176.00–177.00 $176.45 $732 -7.55
412–433 unweaned 427 66 176.00–192.50 $185.42 $792 -0.89
453–499 unweaned 484 52 167.00–189.00 $174.34 $844 +8.05
511–544 unweaned 536 26 156.00–161.00 $159.75 $856 -4.67
560–595 unweaned 578 297 152.00–165.50 $160.78 $929 +2.86
608–647 unweaned 625 41 152.00–153.75 $153.00 $956 -6.51
663–678 unweaned 670 39 145.00–158.50 $152.62 $1,023 -6.55
708 unweaned 708 7 153.50 $153.50 $1,087 -4.43
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 unweaned 440 2 165.00 $165.00 $726 +0.17
470–491 483 11 164.00–165.00 $164.35 $794 —
460–498 unweaned 491 46 140.00–165.00 $160.81 $790 +3.28
513 unweaned 513 5 151.00 $151.00 $775 ±0.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423 423 6 152.50 $152.50 $645 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
662 unweaned 662 5 143.00 $143.00 $947 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
523 unweaned 523 3 125.00 $125.00 $654 +5.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308–337 unweaned 321 13 180.00–190.00 $184.85 $593 +4.59
352–399 unweaned 376 62 165.00–183.00 $176.77 $665 -1.92
396 396 10 170.50 $170.50 $675 —
406–446 unweaned 432 52 151.00–170.00 $159.13 $687 -7.53
454 fancy 454 4 174.00 $174.00 $790 +11.26
450–485 unweaned 475 83 147.00–157.50 $152.94 $726 +0.79
503–543 unweaned 530 211 135.50–148.50 $141.91 $752 -0.94
554–598 unweaned 578 196 130.00–143.00 $139.41 $806 +0.29
600–630 unweaned 613 48 131.00–140.00 $137.31 $842 -4.46
620–641 637 5 131.00–137.00 $135.83 $865 -6.55
653–674 unweaned 659 39 131.00–140.50 $137.85 $908 +0.39
761 761 17 145.00 $145.00 $1,103 —
820–822 821 5 138.00–139.00 $138.40 $1,136 —
891 891 10 139.00 $139.00 $1,238 —
900–940 929 7 135.00–137.00 $135.55 $1,259 —
955 955 3 130.50 $130.50 $1,246 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
292 unweaned 292 28 153.00 $153.00 $447 -24.00
308–340 unweaned 319 3 167.50–174.00 $171.69 $548 —
436–438 unweaned 437 12 147.00–154.00 $149.34 $653 +4.19
438 438 11 139.75 $139.75 $612 -9.25
483 483 4 137.00 $137.00 $662 —
465–499 unweaned 484 7 137.00–144.00 $139.88 $677 +2.71
505–522 unweaned 515 5 128.00–135.00 $132.26 $681 -1.20
583 unweaned 583 4 126.50 $126.50 $737 +1.50
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
640–644 642 22 145.00–148.00 $146.63 $941 —
788 788 5 140.00 $140.00 $1,103 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
633–636 unweaned 635 6 125.00–131.00 $128.01 $813 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
347 unweaned 347 5 185.00 $185.00 $642 —
385 unweaned 385 4 175.00 $175.00 $674 —
540 unweaned 540 5 148.00 $148.00 $799 —
580–598 unweaned 594 4 130.00–140.00 $137.56 $817 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
988–1203 1155 85-90% 18 32.00–34.00 $32.42 $374 —
1025–1285 1168 85-90% 16 40.00–46.00 $42.11 $492 —
1182–1245 1199 85-90% 23 37.50–41.00 $39.10 $469 —
1050–1287 1231 85-90% 57 48.50–53.00 $50.51 $622 —
1108–1343 1253 85-90% 53 47.00–52.50 $48.71 $610 —
1013–1343 1256 85-90% 17 43.00–45.50 $44.10 $554 —
1230–1270 1259 85-90% 5 58.00–62.00 $60.31 $759 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1308–1500 1356 80-85% 19 45.00–49.00 $47.21 $640 —
1300–1685 1445 80-85% 18 55.50–64.00 $58.71 $848 —
1475 1475 80-85% 1 40.50 $40.50 $597 —
1545–1685 1615 80-85% 2 42.50–52.00 $47.04 $760 —
1650 1650 80-85% 1 58.00 $58.00 $957 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1495 1495 75-80% 1 72.00 $72.00 $1,076 —
1720 1720 75-80% 1 57.50 $57.50 $989 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1505–1765 1635 2 61.00 $61.00 $997 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
843–1145 1019 (<2 yrs)Open 11 63.00–95.00 $80.89 $824
905–1073 1028 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 26 62.50–85.00 $75.53 $776
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
903 903 (<2 yrs)Open 3 60.00 $60.00 $542

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
956–1188 thin fleshed 1056 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 19 1,185.00–1,310.00 $1,224.36
924–1400 1057 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 26 1,035.00–1,100.00 $1,059.17
1078 1078 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,275.00 $1,275.00
1109 thin fleshed 1109 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 11 950.00 $950.00
937–1290 1132 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 217 1,300.00–1,560.00 $1,411.74
1143 1143 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,150.00 $1,150.00
1145 thin fleshed 1145 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 600.00 $600.00
1018–1327 1152 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 18 925.00–1,025.00 $976.13
1202 1202 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,125.00 $1,125.00
1130–1392 1231 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 82 1,010.00–1,300.00 $1,124.33
1198–1507 1291 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 126 700.00–875.00 $810.51
1290–1301 1299 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 47 925.00 $925.00
1286–1339 1308 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 43 725.00–750.00 $739.29
1208–1410 1338 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 137 850.00–1,075.00 $967.07
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1187 1187 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 825.00 $825.00
1242–1302 1262 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 39 975.00–1,075.00 $1,009.39
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1141 thin fleshed 1141 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 52.50 $52.50 $599
1253 thin fleshed 1253 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 11 47.50 $47.50 $595
1340 1340 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9 57.50 $57.50 $770
1375 thin fleshed 1375 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 54.50 $54.50 $749

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
875–923 914 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 105 1,425.00–1,460.00 $1,439.74
936 936 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 19 1,110.00 $1,110.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
784–906 814 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 27 900.00–1,025.00 $1,004.39

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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.