Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, December 12, 2025

342 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $467.21/cwt +22.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,757/hd at 376 lb · 69 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $338.86/cwt -15.32 vs last sale · ≈ $1,969/hd at 581 lb · 34 head
light 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $516.13/cwt ≈ $1,703/hd at 330 lb · 20 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Head itemized in priced lots 342 — —

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
552 552 13 401.00 $401.00 $2,214 —
614–628 618 14 382.00–386.00 $384.84 $2,378 +26.81
668–680 675 20 359.00–362.00 $360.34 $2,432 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
438 438 7 475.00 $475.00 $2,080 —
454–495 462 10 450.00–470.00 $465.72 $2,152 —
595 595 5 389.00 $389.00 $2,315 +7.35
602–640 617 5 355.00–366.00 $359.56 $2,218 +13.87

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
319–337 330 20 510.00–520.00 $516.13 $1,703 —
361–394 376 69 442.50–490.00 $467.21 $1,757 —
566–598 581 34 332.50–342.00 $338.86 $1,969 -17.14
645 645 15 335.00 $335.00 $2,161 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 3 435.00 $435.00 $1,740 +40.00
451–475 459 6 390.00–395.00 $393.28 $1,805 +6.28

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965–1170 1055 85-90% 5 120.00–137.00 $129.19 $1,363 —
1060 1060 85-90% 1 132.50 $132.50 $1,404 —
1020–1270 1147 85-90% 13 102.50–122.50 $110.00 $1,262 -40.00
1025–1238 1149 85-90% 4 65.00–95.00 $85.93 $987 -64.07
1108–1195 1174 85-90% 21 153.00–160.00 $158.23 $1,858 +70.73
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290–1430 1353 80-85% 17 156.00–161.00 $159.03 $2,152 —
1375 1375 80-85% 1 97.50 $97.50 $1,341 —
1220–1460 1386 80-85% 9 110.00–152.00 $144.10 $1,997 —
1365–1560 1460 80-85% 3 102.00–125.00 $113.80 $1,661 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1520–1825 1625 75-80% 6 141.00–152.00 $147.08 $2,390 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265 1265 1 142.50 $142.50 $1,803 —
1260–1623 1464 4 150.00–172.00 $165.42 $2,422 —
1220–1675 1578 15 175.00–180.00 $177.57 $2,802 —
1525–1873 1756 11 175.00–183.00 $180.90 $3,177 —
1420–2250 1835 2 165.00–172.00 $169.29 $3,106 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
815–823 820 (<2 yrs)Open 3 270.00–275.00 $273.34 $2,241
865–1060 1003 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 210.00–240.00 $217.79 $2,184
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
780 780 (<2 yrs)Open 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,716

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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.