Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report, Billings, MT

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, January 14, 2022

6,066 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $173.90/cwt +20.45 vs last sale · ≈ $925/hd at 532 lb · 611 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $198.89/cwt +28.47 vs last sale · ≈ $1,144/hd at 575 lb · 486 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $206.43/cwt +32.51 vs last sale · ≈ $1,088/hd at 527 lb · 427 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,066 1,278 4,178
Feeder cattle 5,852 1,028 4,126
Slaughter cattle 142 250 45
Replacement cattle 72 — 7

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Friday sale(12-10-21): All yearlings were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Steer calves under 650 lbs sold sharply higher with most sales 15.00-25.00 higher than last sale. Steers over 650 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold sharply higher with most sales 15.00-20.00 higher, heifers over 550 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher. Quality this sale was mostly attractive to very attractive. Many long strings of very attractive, weaned, home-raised offerings were seen this sale. Buyers were able to buy into multiple load lots all off one ranch. Demand for these type offerings was very good. Packages of calves sold on moderate to good, however light demand was seen for small packages or singles. Most calves were weaned 60 days or longer. Demand for grass cattle was mostly very good with a large buyer pool looking for this class of cattle. Transportation issues continue to mentioned by some buyers as winter weather in the Midwest and a tight supply of drivers continues to limit demand on very large sales. Market activity this sale was mostly active, with many buyers actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested either this sale or last to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Cow quality was mostly below average this sale and many cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly good as a winter storm has slowed the volume of cattle being delivered to the packer. As a result packer buyers showed moderate to good demand for slaughter cows. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend.

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
384–397 392 49 215.00–225.50 $222.28 $871 +22.38
410–443 421 86 211.00–227.00 $223.31 $940 +16.12
450–499 468 266 210.00–228.00 $219.46 $1,027 +32.25
468 unweaned 468 12 201.00 $201.00 $941 —
500–547 527 424 199.00–213.00 $206.79 $1,090 +32.87
533 unweaned 533 3 156.00 $156.00 $831 —
550–596 575 473 190.00–206.75 $199.93 $1,150 +29.51
580 unweaned 580 13 161.00 $161.00 $934 —
600–643 622 377 173.00–191.50 $183.88 $1,144 +22.79
653–697 678 230 164.00–170.50 $168.32 $1,141 +6.24
700–743 726 115 157.00–169.50 $165.67 $1,203 +8.39
751–769 754 39 156.50–163.00 $161.77 $1,220 +12.27
800–831 816 119 154.00–160.50 $159.05 $1,298 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 323 5 207.50 $207.50 $670 —
425–433 429 16 203.00–208.00 $205.21 $880 —
463–496 487 40 201.00–204.50 $203.47 $991 —
525–538 531 52 179.00–197.50 $192.97 $1,025 +30.40
561–596 579 102 169.00–189.00 $179.87 $1,041 +27.78
609–638 621 12 157.00–168.00 $163.51 $1,015 +5.47
654 654 8 156.00 $156.00 $1,020 +8.00
703 703 3 160.00 $160.00 $1,125 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555–588 568 37 168.00–184.00 $177.29 $1,007 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
472 472 15 135.00 $135.00 $637 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
650 650 3 155.00 $155.00 $1,008 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368–395 372 49 185.00–191.00 $189.99 $707 —
403–448 431 223 179.00–193.50 $188.07 $811 +23.07
454–494 476 230 173.00–185.25 $183.11 $872 +19.11
506–544 unweaned 524 58 157.00–169.50 $161.17 $845 +8.17
503–547 533 553 167.50–180.00 $175.24 $934 +21.65
551–598 574 411 160.00–172.50 $167.18 $960 +8.35
600–645 619 206 150.00–164.50 $159.93 $990 +12.59
656–688 673 69 150.00–153.00 $151.81 $1,022 -1.19
710–746 721 38 148.50–151.00 $149.40 $1,077 +4.18
750–780 767 7 150.50–151.50 $151.08 $1,159 —
810 810 6 148.00 $148.00 $1,199 +8.56
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
346 346 9 180.00 $180.00 $623 +40.00
364 364 14 150.00 $150.00 $546 —
430–445 438 60 164.00–177.00 $168.97 $740 +9.97
460–497 481 34 153.00–168.00 $160.42 $772 —
515–547 526 56 146.00–166.50 $154.64 $813 +20.61
552–595 568 146 155.00–164.00 $161.17 $915 —
606–624 618 18 143.50–148.00 $146.53 $906 +3.30
725 725 7 140.00 $140.00 $1,015 +9.00
777 777 5 133.00 $133.00 $1,033 -1.00
827 827 14 139.50 $139.50 $1,154 —
830 830 4 131.00 $131.00 $1,087 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
559–568 567 43 147.00–152.00 $151.20 $857 —
1033 1033 9 134.00 $134.00 $1,384 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
444 444 9 174.00 $174.00 $773 —
711 711 4 144.00 $144.00 $1,024 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413 413 7 146.00 $146.00 $603 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 1 202.00 $202.00 $858 +24.50
518–525 520 9 175.00–184.00 $180.97 $941 —
580 580 3 150.00 $150.00 $870 -1.00
723 723 13 131.50 $131.50 $951 -2.13
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1029 1029 7 100.00 $100.00 $1,029 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725–940 797 85-90% 3 21.00–28.50 $23.95 $191 —
833 833 85-90% 3 41.00 $41.00 $342 —
1074–1190 1142 85-90% 17 43.00–49.50 $46.95 $536 +10.44
1150–1240 1201 85-90% 14 22.00–41.50 $37.13 $446 -6.67
1165–1260 1213 85-90% 2 54.50–60.00 $57.36 $696 +13.56
1243 1243 85-90% 2 53.00 $53.00 $659 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 18 177.00 $177.00 $867 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320 1320 80-85% 1 61.00 $61.00 $805 —
1323–1520 1341 80-85% 11 45.00–52.50 $50.65 $679 —
1260–1425 1346 80-85% 6 54.00–59.00 $56.67 $763 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1420 1420 75-80% 1 68.00 $68.00 $966 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1345 1345 1 71.00 $71.00 $955 —
1655–1690 1673 2 75.00–77.50 $76.26 $1,276 +2.56
1935–2270 2041 4 85.00–86.00 $85.28 $1,741 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
778–803 800 (<2 yrs)Open 15 88.00–90.00 $88.26 $706
821–1098 913 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 71.00–77.00 $74.16 $677
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
765 765 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 63.00 $63.00 $482

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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.