Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, October 11, 2023

1,640 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 $278.91/cwt -23.59 vs last sale · ≈ $1,503/hd at 539 lb · 37 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $279.83/cwt +7.73 vs last sale · ≈ $1,329/hd at 475 lb · 30 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $217.15/cwt +0.15 vs last sale · ≈ $2,100/hd at 967 lb · 22 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,640 742 1,559
Feeder cattle 599 374 487
Slaughter cattle 791 216 791
Replacement cattle 250 152 281

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this sale or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers under 500 lbs, and lower undertones were noticed on both sexes of calves heavier than 500 lbs. Yearlings were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Quality today was mostly plain to average and most calves were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand was mostly light to moderate on all feeders over 500 lbs. Good demand was seen for all calves under 500 lbs. Buyer participation was light today as both quality and volume kept some buyers from starting loads. CME positions rebounded slightly today with the nearby October gaining 2.225 and November gaining 1.65 to settle at 250.175 and 252.00 respectively. Market activity was mostly moderate this sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold on lighter demand again this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold 2.00 to 3.00 lower. Feeding cow demand was moderate this sale. Several buyers were active in buying thin cows to feed or turn out on corn stalks this winter. Most of these cows were purchased as slaughter cows last week thus no comparisons are available. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold 2.00-3.00 lower. Packers showed lighter demand for feeding cows this week, however competition with independent feeders and order-buyers kept prices from falling off sharply. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady on a higher quality offering. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Cow quality today was mostly average today. Several packages of young age cows sold this week. Demand for these offerings was mostly good as feeding and rebreeding buyers competed over attractive offerings. Young age cows sold generally steady.

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
326 unweaned 326 4 370.00 $370.00 $1,206 +37.50
378 unweaned 378 2 372.50 $372.50 $1,408 +40.00
402–420 unweaned 411 11 347.50–360.00 $354.15 $1,456 —
462–491 unweaned 474 19 291.00–322.50 $311.33 $1,476 +8.83
527–548 unweaned 539 37 276.50–283.00 $278.91 $1,503 -23.59
553–584 unweaned 571 18 264.00–274.00 $268.78 $1,535 -2.72
630–645 unweaned 644 20 261.00–264.00 $263.65 $1,698 -8.35
655–687 unweaned 674 5 241.00–242.00 $241.39 $1,627 —
788 788 12 271.00 $271.00 $2,135 —
1085 1085 4 216.50 $216.50 $2,349 —
1092 1092 3 213.00 $213.00 $2,326 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 unweaned 520 12 270.00 $270.00 $1,404 —
553 unweaned 553 7 267.00 $267.00 $1,477 —
1205 1205 1 187.00 $187.00 $2,253 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
276 unweaned 276 4 360.00 $360.00 $994 —
363 unweaned 363 2 340.00 $340.00 $1,234 +40.00
405–411 unweaned 410 7 332.50–355.00 $335.67 $1,376 +25.67
544 unweaned 544 4 255.00 $255.00 $1,387 —
575 unweaned 575 1 262.00 $262.00 $1,506 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 unweaned 400 3 340.00 $340.00 $1,360 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
331 unweaned 331 4 320.00 $320.00 $1,059 +10.00
399 unweaned 399 7 312.50 $312.50 $1,247 +27.50
405–426 unweaned 417 15 291.00–313.00 $300.35 $1,252 +15.35
453–499 unweaned 475 30 265.00–290.00 $279.83 $1,329 +7.73
546–549 unweaned 547 20 250.00–256.00 $252.11 $1,379 +6.11
554 unweaned 554 10 252.00 $252.00 $1,396 +1.00
620–648 unweaned 639 9 241.00–246.00 $242.62 $1,550 +1.62
708 unweaned 708 2 237.50 $237.50 $1,682 —
962–982 967 22 216.00–217.50 $217.15 $2,100 +0.15
1021–1029 1026 17 210.50–211.50 $211.09 $2,166 +1.85
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475–497 unweaned 482 9 257.00–260.00 $258.97 $1,248 —
508 unweaned 508 2 235.00 $235.00 $1,194 —
580 unweaned 580 2 244.00 $244.00 $1,415 —
820 820 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,763 -7.48
890–898 896 7 214.00 $214.00 $1,917 -4.73
903–935 922 5 209.50–213.00 $210.87 $1,944 -4.13
965 965 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,949 +0.40
1025–1035 1028 3 200.00–205.00 $201.68 $2,073 —
1080 1080 2 196.50 $196.50 $2,122 —

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1094 1094 4 165.00 $165.00 $1,805 —
1193 1193 6 124.00 $124.00 $1,479 -41.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105 1105 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,890 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1236–1500 1377 80-85% 162 97.00–107.50 $101.97 $1,404 -12.37
1358–1565 1400 80-85% 40 88.00–98.50 $93.67 $1,311 —
1301–1600 1421 80-85% 39 85.00–95.50 $91.81 $1,305 -10.99
1385–1564 1504 80-85% 36 109.00–114.00 $112.50 $1,692 +1.84
1395–1780 1530 80-85% 4 98.50–104.50 $101.76 $1,557 -8.90
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900 900 85-90% 1 82.00 $82.00 $738 —
890–1303 1100 85-90% 33 65.00–77.00 $74.88 $824 —
1180 1180 85-90% 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,263 +19.71
925–1335 1212 85-90% 57 82.00–94.00 $89.25 $1,082 -9.60
1040–1293 1216 85-90% 54 94.00–106.00 $100.71 $1,225 +1.86
1068–1410 1233 85-90% 40 81.00–93.00 $85.72 $1,057 -13.13
1225–1285 1265 85-90% 3 94.00–101.00 $96.60 $1,222 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1528–1775 1532 75-80% 55 110.50–111.25 $111.23 $1,704 —
1510–1707 1608 75-80% 10 108.00–111.00 $109.23 $1,756 -1.39
1704 1704 75-80% 4 106.50 $106.50 $1,815 +2.86
1720 1720 75-80% 1 104.00 $104.00 $1,789 -4.82

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1288–1390 1340 12 115.00–120.00 $119.14 $1,596 —
1250–1685 1455 10 91.00–105.00 $99.34 $1,445 —
1018–2168 1767 18 109.00–117.00 $111.93 $1,978 —
1625–1965 1782 9 89.00–103.00 $97.15 $1,731 —
1745–2120 1987 6 119.50–121.50 $120.50 $2,394 +10.12

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
835–1230 1041 (<2 yrs)Open 83 129.00–180.00 $155.61 $1,620
913–1340 1114 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 65 104.00–155.00 $128.52 $1,432
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
785–1170 961 (<2 yrs)Open 12 131.00–162.00 $147.78 $1,420
950–1175 1045 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 107.00–107.50 $107.37 $1,122
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
690 690 (<2 yrs)Open 1 120.00 $120.00 $828

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1131–1151 1142 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 14 1,775.00–1,800.00 $1,789.39
1143–1280 1250 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 18 1,850.00–1,900.00 $1,889.84
1417 1417 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 15 1,475.00 $1,475.00
1425 1425 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 1,485.00 $1,485.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1463 1463 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 90.00 $90.00 $1,317

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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.