Cattle Market Pulse

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

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, October 5, 2022

912 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 heifers $174.33/cwt -0.67 vs last sale · ≈ $990/hd at 568 lb · 31 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $168.00/cwt ≈ $1,384/hd at 824 lb · 31 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $159.09/cwt -2.91 vs last sale · ≈ $1,557/hd at 979 lb · 22 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 912 1,056 2,678
Feeder cattle 409 438 801
Slaughter cattle 402 291 1,479
Replacement cattle 101 327 398

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Yearling steers were not well compared. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested either this sale or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on heifers under 850 lbs and weak undertones were noticed on heifers over 850 lbs. Demand today was light to moderate for light offerings. Quality was mostly plain to average. Most feeders were offered in small package sizes, with many singles in the offering. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and offerings. Slaughter cows sold steady on breaking cows, boning cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 lower, lean cows sold 1.00-2.00 higher. Feeding cows sold 1.00-2.00 lower this week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00 higher. Demand for lean grinding materials was higher today as both lean cows and bulls both saw increased demand. Cow and bull quality was mostly average this sale. Weigh up conditions were average to below average, with a portion of the offering pushing heavy amounts of fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Demand for these offerings was moderate to good.

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
350–375 unweaned 369 4 207.00–230.00 $214.15 $790 —
448 unweaned 448 6 205.00 $205.00 $918 —
508 unweaned 508 7 195.00 $195.00 $991 —
595 unweaned 595 11 190.00 $190.00 $1,130 —
633 unweaned 633 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,139 —
854 854 7 172.00 $172.00 $1,469 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
358 unweaned 358 4 205.00 $205.00 $734 —
435 unweaned 435 2 192.00 $192.00 $835 —
542 unweaned 542 3 179.00 $179.00 $970 —
628 unweaned 628 2 172.50 $172.50 $1,083 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
521 unweaned 521 4 162.50 $162.50 $847 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 unweaned 323 2 215.00 $215.00 $694 —
419 unweaned 419 10 195.00 $195.00 $817 —
504–547 unweaned 527 17 175.00–176.00 $175.55 $925 —
561–578 unweaned 568 31 170.00–177.00 $174.33 $990 —
705–740 711 11 170.00–172.00 $170.38 $1,211 —
750–768 765 13 169.50 $169.50 $1,297 +1.00
824 824 31 168.00 $168.00 $1,384 —
873 873 5 159.00 $159.00 $1,388 -3.73
923 923 2 159.00 $159.00 $1,468 -2.74
978–993 979 22 155.00–159.50 $159.09 $1,557 -2.91
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
433 unweaned 433 4 165.00 $165.00 $714 —
1006–1033 1010 13 156.50–159.50 $159.03 $1,606 —
1052 1052 8 152.75 $152.75 $1,607 —
1113 1113 6 149.50 $149.50 $1,664 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
444 unweaned 444 8 178.50 $178.50 $793 —
561 561 5 158.00 $158.00 $886 —
620–624 624 15 158.00–161.00 $158.20 $987 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 unweaned 320 3 175.00 $175.00 $560 —
439–440 unweaned 439 7 175.00–177.50 $176.43 $775 —
730 730 2 162.00 $162.00 $1,183 -2.92
810 810 2 152.00 $152.00 $1,231 -4.58
880 880 3 155.00 $155.00 $1,364 -2.66
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
508 508 5 155.00 $155.00 $787 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 2 205.00 $205.00 $687 —
790 790 2 147.00 $147.00 $1,161 —
911 911 4 140.00 $140.00 $1,275 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1098 1098 6 110.50 $110.50 $1,213 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150 1150 3 104.00 $104.00 $1,196 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1171–1495 1249 80-85% 19 81.50–89.50 $87.32 $1,091 —
1162–1490 1275 80-85% 15 66.00–73.50 $71.50 $912 -21.08
1295–1655 1370 80-85% 10 68.00–73.00 $70.21 $962 —
1290–1660 1403 80-85% 42 73.00–78.00 $74.30 $1,042 —
1215–1534 1409 80-85% 117 74.00–80.50 $77.40 $1,091 —
1415–1655 1526 80-85% 4 79.00–81.00 $80.00 $1,221 +6.86
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035 1035 85-90% 1 55.00 $55.00 $569 +7.15
1162–1208 1189 85-90% 16 63.00–71.00 $67.67 $805 —
1040–1370 1208 85-90% 33 58.50–69.00 $63.97 $773 —
1140–1368 1265 85-90% 14 71.50–73.50 $72.33 $915 +8.62
1228–1312 1273 85-90% 6 67.00–76.50 $72.71 $926 +9.00
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1380 1380 75-80% 1 78.50 $78.50 $1,083 —
1507 1507 75-80% 9 85.50 $85.50 $1,288 —
1481–1615 1533 75-80% 12 83.50–85.50 $85.12 $1,305 —
1578 1578 75-80% 2 88.00 $88.00 $1,389 —
1683–1870 1755 75-80% 6 71.00–81.50 $79.05 $1,387 -0.04

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1275–1310 1293 2 92.00–94.00 $92.99 $1,202 —
1275–1563 1398 7 76.00–85.50 $80.14 $1,120 —
1323–2235 1712 16 72.00–85.00 $78.34 $1,341 —
1640–2395 1917 9 88.00–95.00 $90.88 $1,742 —
1950–2130 2042 3 99.00–103.00 $100.56 $2,053 —
YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
963 963 2 134.00 $134.00 $1,290 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
738–1210 970 (<2 yrs)Open 35 91.00–120.00 $106.45 $1,033
880–1050 thin fleshed 998 (<2 yrs)Open 5 92.00–99.00 $95.77 $956
1074–1418 1173 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 25 78.00–96.50 $88.39 $1,037
1235 thin fleshed 1235 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 74.00 $74.00 $914

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1100 1100 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,300.00 $1,300.00
1130–1234 1204 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 975.00–1,025.00 $1,011.60
1271 1271 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,325.00 $1,325.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
854 854 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 850.00 $850.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1040 1040 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 900.00 $900.00

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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.