Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock · usually sells Wednesdays

Sale of Wednesday, July 1, 2026

746 head sold ·Official USDA report · Past reports (244)

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 746 1,729 0
Feeder cattle 112 544 0
Slaughter cattle 444 656 0
Replacement cattle 190 529 0

Compared to last week (6-24-26): Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mixed from plain to average, with lots of variation noticed. Most offerings were in small packages or as singles. Demand was mostly moderate to good. Buyers were mostly on the sidelines this week as the upcoming 4th of July holiday has many buyers out of the market this week. Market activity was moderate to active with a small crowd of feeder buyers on hand. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 lower on a lower quality offering on all classes. Demand for feeding cows was good this week with a large buyer pool noticed. Canadian buyers were back in the market this week as they purchased cows to ship north to feed. Slaughter cows sold on good to very good demand as packers all showed need for cows for immediate harvest as this was their last opportunity to buy slaughter cows before the holiday break. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on boning and lean cows, while breaking cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. Slaughter cow quality was mostly plain this week as most cows purchased for slaughter were too blemished to feed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower. Feeding bulls sold steady to 5.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week, with lots of variation noticed. Cow quality this week was mostly plain to average and not as good as last week. Demand for young cows suitable to feed or rebreed was light to moderate this week. Many buyers were out of the market this week as they didn't take cattle this week due to the holiday. Quality was mostly average and not as attractive as last week. Young cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed, especially on young cows over 1150 lbs.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1006–1033 1015 6 306.00–316.00 $312.61 $3,173
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
710–725 718 2 385.00–391.00 $387.97 $2,786 -14.53
773 773 2 371.00 $371.00 $2,868 -14.46

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625–630 629 8 405.00–415.00 $413.76 $2,603 +0.38
712 712 3 365.00 $365.00 $2,599 -4.71
767–780 770 4 362.00–365.00 $362.76 $2,793 +4.80
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425–445 438 3 465.00–480.00 $469.85 $2,058
615–629 627 6 385.00–390.00 $385.82 $2,419 -4.18
775–798 790 3 332.50–340.00 $337.55 $2,667 -7.39
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
678 678 2 345.00 $345.00 $2,339
725 725 3 339.00 $339.00 $2,458

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
428 428 3 520.00 $520.00 $2,226
708–745 720 3 345.00–365.00 $358.11 $2,578 -11.89
835 835 1 330.00 $330.00 $2,756
1005 1005 1 280.00 $280.00 $2,814
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1193 1193 2 247.50 $247.50 $2,953 -15.98
1260 1260 1 241.00 $241.00 $3,037 +3.50
1390 1390 1 246.00 $246.00 $3,419
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625 625 2 400.00 $400.00 $2,500 -32.50
778 778 2 357.50 $357.50 $2,781

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Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1580 1387 80-85% 112 175.00–185.00 $180.73 $2,507 -7.99
1405 1405 80-85% 1 150.00 $150.00 $2,108 -18.06
1435 1435 80-85% 1 159.00 $159.00 $2,282 -9.06
1230–1618 1444 80-85% 42 185.00–192.00 $187.51 $2,708 +19.45
1305–1670 1448 80-85% 14 153.00–174.00 $166.12 $2,405 -1.94
1535 1535 80-85% 1 175.50 $175.50 $2,694
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
775–910 843 85-90% 2 125.00–127.50 $126.35 $1,065
905 905 85-90% 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,358
1055 1055 85-90% 1 166.00 $166.00 $1,751
950–1295 1150 85-90% 20 160.00–174.00 $166.86 $1,919 +24.34
1143–1310 1186 85-90% 6 157.50–165.00 $161.47 $1,915 -2.26
1160–1285 1204 85-90% 5 185.00–187.50 $185.48 $2,233
1075–1380 1238 85-90% 31 172.00–182.00 $178.58 $2,211
1160–1325 1261 85-90% 5 140.00–153.00 $145.54 $1,835
1435 1435 85-90% 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,650
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1550 1550 75-80% 8 188.50 $188.50 $2,922 +23.59
1375–1705 1611 75-80% 33 173.25–183.00 $176.81 $2,848 +12.50
1410–1885 1618 75-80% 6 162.50–169.00 $165.00 $2,670 +0.69
1500–1870 1679 75-80% 4 152.00–162.00 $158.93 $2,668
1720–1860 1790 75-80% 2 164.00–166.00 $164.96 $2,953 -5.56

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195 1195 1 185.00 $185.00 $2,211
1305–1755 1523 18 205.00–211.00 $208.56 $3,176 +9.33
1695 1695 1 205.00 $205.00 $3,475
1735–2175 1828 8 190.00–205.00 $198.44 $3,627
1460–2380 1999 31 205.00–220.00 $213.56 $4,269
1630–2480 2038 16 222.00–233.00 $224.14 $4,568
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2255 2255 1 190.00 $190.00 $4,284
2405–2430 2418 2 211.00–214.00 $212.51 $5,138

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
820–1262 1140 (<2 yrs)Open 37 210.00–335.00 $249.80 $2,848
1065–1440 1228 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 40 188.00–270.00 $214.22 $2,631
1305–1353 1337 (<2 yrs)Open 3 200.00–215.00 $204.88 $2,739
1355 1355 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 183.00 $183.00 $2,480
1195–1405 1358 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 10 184.00–202.50 $189.28 $2,570
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
900–1390 1046 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 183.00–295.00 $232.80 $2,435
990–1155 1073 (<2 yrs)Open 2 245.00–282.50 $262.31 $2,815
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
870 870 (<2 yrs)Open 1 240.00 $240.00 $2,088
810–920 875 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 235.00–285.00 $252.13 $2,206
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
830–883 865 (<2 yrs)Open 3 302.50–310.00 $304.90 $2,637
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
760 760 (<2 yrs)Open 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,710

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1220–1530 1375 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 3,900.00–4,100.00 $4,040.85
1450 1450 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,900.00 $2,900.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1255 1255 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 3,200.00 $3,200.00

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1090 1090 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 4,450.00 $4,450.00

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Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1096–1280 1146 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 4,350.00–4,400.00 $4,384.77
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1482–1580 1500 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 11 4,300.00–4,450.00 $4,421.27 +159.42
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1510 1510 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 4,300.00 $4,300.00
1523 1523 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 3,800.00 $3,800.00

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070 1070 85-90% 1 138.00 $138.00 $1,477

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high 512.50 low 367.50 Sep 2025 Jun 2026

550–599 lb Medium and Large 1 steers — head-weighted average $/cwt by sale date, last 12 months.

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.

← Previous sale (Jun 24, 2026)