Cattle Market Pulse

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

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, October 11, 2024

3,062 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 steers $303.78/cwt +6.97 vs last sale · ≈ $1,610/hd at 530 lb · 271 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $319.61/cwt +3.78 vs last sale · ≈ $1,557/hd at 487 lb · 155 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $333.25/cwt +0.74 vs last sale · ≈ $1,263/hd at 379 lb · 151 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,062 1,575 908
Feeder cattle 2,993 1,529 862
Slaughter cattle 64 28 31
Replacement cattle 5 18 15

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. 450-549 lbs steers sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher; 550-649 lbs steers sold mostly 5.00-15.00 higher. Steers over 650 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifer calves sold generally steady with the exception of 550-599 lbs heifers sold mostly 5.00 higher. All yearling cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling quality was mostly plain today. Many sets of blemished yearlings sold as ranchers sold the cuts off summer video and county sales. Spring born calf quality was average to very attractive. Many sets of front end, home raised calves were seen today. Demand was light to moderate for yearlings as quality hampered demand. Demand for calves was mostly moderate to good. Offerings were moderate. The best demand continues to be for light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings. Package sizes were mostly small to moderate today, with no load lots seen. Market activity was mostly active with lots of buyers both in the stands as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand was mostly light for very light offerings.

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
220 unweaned 220 1 460.00 $460.00 $1,012 —
258–283 unweaned 278 11 440.00 $440.00 $1,223 +5.00
308–340 unweaned 331 28 410.00–415.00 $414.33 $1,371 +17.69
355–393 unweaned 380 77 365.00–414.00 $385.61 $1,465 -15.30
403–447 unweaned 427 144 330.00–351.00 $343.02 $1,465 -13.53
453–499 unweaned 487 155 313.00–331.00 $319.61 $1,557 +3.78
500–548 unweaned 530 271 295.00–319.00 $303.78 $1,610 +5.07
558–595 unweaned 575 102 286.00–305.00 $297.74 $1,712 +19.50
605–639 unweaned 623 145 282.00–297.00 $290.75 $1,811 +9.67
650–692 unweaned 665 42 263.00–285.00 $275.16 $1,830 -1.58
710 710 19 269.00 $269.00 $1,910 +15.00
708–728 unweaned 716 8 260.00–265.00 $263.09 $1,884 +17.09
727 727 5 259.00 $259.00 $1,883 +5.00
755 unweaned 755 22 254.00 $254.00 $1,918 +13.00
765 765 11 260.00 $260.00 $1,989 —
804 unweaned 804 7 248.00 $248.00 $1,994 —
935–941 940 8 238.00–243.00 $238.62 $2,243 —
1001 1001 28 227.00 $227.00 $2,272 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
248 unweaned 248 2 410.00 $410.00 $1,017 —
268 unweaned 268 3 410.00 $410.00 $1,099 +5.00
324–337 unweaned 331 16 284.00–370.00 $327.47 $1,084 —
356–399 unweaned 386 13 342.50–355.00 $346.05 $1,336 -3.95
408–449 unweaned 433 34 310.00–336.00 $326.38 $1,413 +8.21
472–497 unweaned 483 31 282.00–310.00 $298.58 $1,442 —
508–548 unweaned 529 47 276.00–302.00 $290.94 $1,539 +10.19
557 557 13 280.00 $280.00 $1,560 —
558–595 unweaned 581 47 270.00–284.00 $275.38 $1,600 +13.38
610 unweaned 610 4 271.00 $271.00 $1,653 —
655–665 unweaned 664 8 246.00–261.00 $259.15 $1,721 +4.15
668 668 30 268.00 $268.00 $1,790 —
813 813 1 249.50 $249.50 $2,028 +1.70
865 865 2 233.00 $233.00 $2,015 -2.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
571 unweaned 571 4 245.00 $245.00 $1,399 -26.00
743 unweaned 743 8 223.00–242.00 $230.13 $1,710 —
760 unweaned 760 10 233.50 $233.50 $1,775 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
402 unweaned 402 8 337.50 $337.50 $1,357 —
650 650 10 266.00 $266.00 $1,729 —
792 792 3 253.00 $253.00 $2,004 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
681 681 11 250.00 $250.00 $1,702 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 unweaned 335 2 305.00 $305.00 $1,022 —
886 886 5 231.00 $231.00 $2,047 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
644 unweaned 644 4 222.50 $222.50 $1,433 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555 unweaned 555 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,249 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
276 unweaned 276 4 385.00 $385.00 $1,063 +25.00
307–347 unweaned 334 9 341.00–355.00 $345.29 $1,153 —
356–399 unweaned 379 151 320.00–348.00 $333.25 $1,263 +0.74
408–446 unweaned 431 81 307.00–319.00 $311.04 $1,341 -0.95
450–477 unweaned 468 72 290.00–306.00 $296.07 $1,386 +1.41
503–547 unweaned 517 149 275.00–293.00 $283.63 $1,466 +3.67
561–589 unweaned 575 94 269.00–279.00 $272.95 $1,569 +9.34
634 unweaned 634 14 252.50 $252.50 $1,601 +0.12
753–760 758 17 247.00–249.00 $247.70 $1,878 +0.10
840–849 843 47 236.00–239.50 $238.37 $2,009 +5.87
888 888 7 235.00 $235.00 $2,087 +7.23
941–945 941 26 217.00 $217.00 $2,042 -6.99
956 956 42 218.50 $218.50 $2,089 +1.00
978–998 986 5 206.00–211.00 $208.98 $2,061 -8.52
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
298 unweaned 298 2 350.00 $350.00 $1,043 +12.76
300–333 unweaned 326 10 315.00–340.00 $330.97 $1,079 +15.97
380–398 unweaned 396 9 317.00–318.00 $317.89 $1,259 -0.56
401–403 unweaned 401 13 302.00–310.00 $303.85 $1,218 +10.78
457–499 unweaned 477 49 275.00–287.00 $280.81 $1,339 +4.13
507–532 unweaned 518 29 243.00–268.00 $256.79 $1,330 -17.21
571 unweaned 571 4 250.00 $250.00 $1,428 —
626 unweaned 626 10 249.00 $249.00 $1,559 —
716–743 721 11 231.00–247.00 $244.00 $1,759 +22.00
754–776 771 33 237.50–239.00 $237.81 $1,834 -0.69
818–830 822 3 225.00–227.00 $225.67 $1,855 -5.70
883 883 8 227.00 $227.00 $2,004 —
903 903 5 209.00 $209.00 $1,887 —
927–943 937 8 213.00–218.50 $216.46 $2,028 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 unweaned 495 20 254.00 $254.00 $1,257 —
747 747 3 224.00 $224.00 $1,673 —
788 788 3 220.00 $220.00 $1,734 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
444 unweaned 444 16 302.00 $302.00 $1,341 +14.00
682 682 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,671 —
783 783 3 230.00 $230.00 $1,801 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
646 unweaned 646 4 238.00 $238.00 $1,537 —
1107 1107 6 197.00 $197.00 $2,181 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
342 unweaned 342 3 302.50 $302.50 $1,035 —
473 unweaned 473 6 253.00 $253.00 $1,197 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
546 unweaned 546 8 222.50 $222.50 $1,215 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 unweaned 230 1 465.00 $465.00 $1,070 —
440 unweaned 440 3 327.50 $327.50 $1,441 —
465 unweaned 465 14 326.00 $326.00 $1,516 —
513 unweaned 513 11 302.00 $302.00 $1,549 —
713 713 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,782 —
1020 1020 4 207.50 $207.50 $2,116 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 unweaned 405 4 330.00 $330.00 $1,336 —
498 unweaned 498 16 295.00 $295.00 $1,469 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1418 1341 80-85% 19 121.00–131.00 $123.19 $1,652 —
1398 1398 80-85% 3 111.00 $111.00 $1,552 -10.00
1403 1403 80-85% 2 133.00 $133.00 $1,866 +29.00
1370–1475 1420 80-85% 3 97.50–104.00 $100.91 $1,433 -3.09
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
950 950 85-90% 1 107.50 $107.50 $1,021 —
1015–1225 1120 85-90% 2 111.00 $111.00 $1,243 —
1180 1180 85-90% 1 99.00 $99.00 $1,168 -8.51
1173–1330 1225 85-90% 6 100.00–114.00 $105.91 $1,297 +11.59
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1608 1608 75-80% 4 123.00 $123.00 $1,978 +6.00
1600–1785 1693 75-80% 2 130.00 $130.00 $2,201 —
1915–1985 1950 75-80% 2 123.00–128.00 $125.54 $2,448 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1330–1383 1365 3 121.00–129.00 $126.40 $1,725 —
1640–1775 1708 2 148.00–150.00 $148.96 $2,544 —
1840–1850 1847 3 126.00–137.00 $133.35 $2,463 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1090 1090 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,472
1133 1133 (<2 yrs)Open 3 140.00 $140.00 $1,586
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1010 1010 (<2 yrs)Open 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,313

↑ Back to top

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.