Cattle Market Pulse

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

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, March 15, 2023

917 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 $220.22/cwt ≈ $1,101/hd at 500 lb · 36 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $243.81/cwt ≈ $1,421/hd at 583 lb · 34 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $209.00/cwt +7.08 vs last sale · ≈ $1,150/hd at 550 lb · 33 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 917 733 698
Feeder cattle 395 220 45
Slaughter cattle 332 404 335
Replacement cattle 190 109 318

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week due to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed on steers and heifers. Demand for feeders was mostly good for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average, with a limited number of attractive consignments. CME positions sold off the last few trading secessions as outside equities weigh on the market. However, demand for feeder cattle remains strong despite buyers having to piece together loads. Market activity was mostly active again this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to firm on all offerings. Cows started off with a weak undertone but strengthened as the sale progressed. Packer buyers opted to send a few set of cows to feed again this week. Feeding cows sold steady to firm on an attractive offering. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive this week. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, higher undertones were noticed. Bull quality continues to see huge variation. Many bulls are thin and light. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. Buyers showed the best demand for high quality cows suitable to rebreed. Young offerings sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher.

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
419 419 4 280.00 $280.00 $1,173 —
457 unweaned 457 5 267.50 $267.50 $1,222 —
466 466 4 275.00 $275.00 $1,282 —
519 519 13 270.00 $270.00 $1,401 —
580 580 3 253.00 $253.00 $1,467 —
553–598 unweaned 583 31 242.00–245.00 $242.92 $1,416 —
625 625 8 235.00 $235.00 $1,469 +2.40
816 816 19 180.00 $180.00 $1,469 —
851 851 4 175.00 $175.00 $1,489 —
996 996 17 162.00 $162.00 $1,614 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 2 280.00 $280.00 $960 —
423 423 2 275.00 $275.00 $1,163 +10.00
623–635 627 4 220.00–222.50 $220.88 $1,385 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
359 359 7 252.50 $252.50 $906 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–398 386 4 230.00–237.00 $235.41 $909 —
400 unweaned 400 3 217.50 $217.50 $870 —
476 476 4 227.50 $227.50 $1,083 —
500 unweaned 500 20 218.00 $218.00 $1,090 —
500 500 16 223.00 $223.00 $1,115 —
550 unweaned 550 33 209.00 $209.00 $1,150 —
623 623 11 205.00–209.00 $208.27 $1,298 —
668–698 686 5 185.00–189.00 $186.56 $1,280 —
720–739 733 14 177.00–183.00 $181.30 $1,329 -2.18
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 2 235.00 $235.00 $806 —
515 515 10 200.00 $200.00 $1,030 -5.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 unweaned 400 3 170.00 $170.00 $680 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
598 598 2 192.00 $192.00 $1,148 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 unweaned 383 2 275.00 $275.00 $1,053 —
465 unweaned 465 2 235.00 $235.00 $1,093 —
515 unweaned 515 2 242.50 $242.50 $1,249 —
567 567 3 215.00 $215.00 $1,219 —
700–731 721 6 185.00–192.50 $187.43 $1,351 —
876 876 11 168.50 $168.50 $1,476 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
775 775 2 165.00 $165.00 $1,279 —
1003 1003 5 148.00 $148.00 $1,484 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860 860 85-90% 1 65.00 $65.00 $559 —
975 975 85-90% 1 81.00 $81.00 $790 -1.50
1000–1253 1129 85-90% 24 71.00–86.00 $78.40 $885 +6.77
1083–1243 1188 85-90% 9 85.00–88.00 $86.60 $1,029 +5.66
1120–1275 1225 85-90% 5 93.00–97.00 $94.75 $1,161 —
1030–1335 1235 85-90% 45 74.00–85.50 $80.55 $995 —
1097–1373 1267 85-90% 39 84.00–92.50 $87.13 $1,104 -0.26
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230–1595 1430 80-85% 72 86.50–95.50 $91.30 $1,306 -2.36
1370–1475 1433 80-85% 6 81.00–88.00 $85.58 $1,226 -8.08
1335–1540 1443 80-85% 7 90.00–94.00 $92.85 $1,340 -0.81
1280–1665 1473 80-85% 18 80.00–87.50 $84.68 $1,247 —
1473 1473 80-85% 2 96.50 $96.50 $1,421 —
1405–1550 1484 80-85% 10 96.00–103.00 $97.64 $1,449 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1529–1601 1559 75-80% 12 91.00–96.00 $93.86 $1,463 —
1580 1580 75-80% 1 87.00 $87.00 $1,375 —
1605 1605 75-80% 1 97.00 $97.00 $1,557 -0.50
1525–1699 1640 75-80% 10 85.00–92.50 $90.49 $1,484 -3.37
1638–1875 1731 75-80% 12 92.00–96.00 $93.74 $1,623 +2.65

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135–1380 1262 3 83.00–85.00 $83.60 $1,055 —
1455–1945 1723 24 85.00–103.00 $94.69 $1,632 -2.60
1780–2105 1861 4 118.00–119.00 $118.72 $2,209 —
1915–2165 2035 6 127.00–134.00 $130.07 $2,647 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
875–1405 1104 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 94 86.00–120.00 $99.70 $1,101
890–1278 1119 (<2 yrs)Open 35 113.00–141.50 $130.59 $1,461
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
865 865 (<2 yrs)Open 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,133
948–1016 1006 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 82.00–87.00 $86.43 $869

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
977 977 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,325.00 $1,325.00
961–1065 978 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,325.00–1,410.00 $1,394.58
1245 1245 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,325.00 $1,325.00
1302–1368 1328 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,075.00–1,125.00 $1,104.40
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1279 1279 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,600.00 $1,600.00
1313 1313 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1355 1355 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,175.00 $1,175.00
1446 1446 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,350.00 $1,350.00

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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.