Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, December 13, 2023

1,199 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 2 steers $224.00/cwt ≈ $1,340/hd at 598 lb · 29 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $255.75/cwt ≈ $1,174/hd at 459 lb · 21 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $307.50/cwt -3.07 vs last sale · ≈ $1,439/hd at 468 lb · 17 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,199 1,798 1,662
Feeder cattle 383 345 390
Slaughter cattle 661 1,120 1,006
Replacement cattle 155 333 266

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to two weeks ago: Last week Public auction yards held their annual Blue Ribbon sale so all comparisons are to two weeks ago as no feeders were offered last week. Feeder steer and heifer calves sold mostly steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Package sizes were small this week with lots of singles seen. Demand was mostly moderate to good with several buyers bidding aggressively as very few feeders were seen and several buyers had orders to fill. Market activity was moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of todays receipts. Demand for cows was moderate for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher on all classes. A large pool of feeding cow buyers was seen again this week and demand for feeding cows was mostly moderate to good. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold steady to 2.00 higher. Thin short term feeding cows or turn out cows sold steady to firm. Buyer participation was good this week. Quality this week was mostly average. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Slaughter bulls traded generally steady. Feeding bull buyers pushed packers throughout the sale as they fought to fill loads. Young age cows sold steady to firm following last sales sharply lower prices. Demand from rebreed buyers remains light and most cows were purchased to feed. Quality was mostly plain to average today.

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
402–433 unweaned 422 15 315.00–320.00 $318.87 $1,346 —
440 440 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,408 —
468 468 17 307.50 $307.50 $1,439 -6.50
590 590 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,534 —
611–620 unweaned 613 5 247.50–255.00 $253.48 $1,554 —
608–615 614 11 249.00–260.00 $258.02 $1,584 —
655 655 2 235.00 $235.00 $1,539 —
758–760 759 3 215.00–223.00 $220.33 $1,672 —
1017 1017 7 190.00 $190.00 $1,932 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413 unweaned 413 8 240.00 $240.00 $991 —
537 537 9 248.00 $248.00 $1,332 —
598 598 29 224.00 $224.00 $1,340 —
655 655 1 224.00 $224.00 $1,467 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
394 394 6 295.00 $295.00 $1,162 —
435 435 13 290.00 $290.00 $1,262 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
445 445 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,290 —
458 458 2 275.00 $275.00 $1,260 —
530 unweaned 530 5 262.50 $262.50 $1,391 —
529–548 538 9 260.00–267.50 $264.29 $1,422 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
449 449 5 200.00 $200.00 $898 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 282.50 $282.50 $1,243 +1.50
456–480 459 21 255.00–260.00 $255.75 $1,174 —
695 695 6 205.00 $205.00 $1,425 —
705–720 713 2 205.00–208.00 $206.48 $1,472 —
1055–1070 1063 4 181.00–188.00 $184.48 $1,961 —
1126 1126 11 173.50 $173.50 $1,954 —
1165–1170 1169 10 170.50–176.00 $174.90 $2,045 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
542 542 6 225.00 $225.00 $1,220 —
555 555 2 226.00 $226.00 $1,254 —
857–866 863 10 183.00–184.00 $183.30 $1,582 -11.70
1003 1003 3 178.00 $178.00 $1,785 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
393 393 2 260.00 $260.00 $1,022 —
401–404 403 14 257.00–275.00 $266.03 $1,072 —
742 742 3 195.00 $195.00 $1,447 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
526 526 13 200.00 $200.00 $1,052 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
401 401 4 185.00 $185.00 $742 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 unweaned 338 3 200.00 $200.00 $676 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
953 953 6 150.00 $150.00 $1,430 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
547 547 3 260.00 $260.00 $1,422 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 unweaned 548 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,260 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1295–1685 1380 80-85% 60 74.00–86.00 $81.60 $1,126 -0.64
1279–1655 1403 80-85% 110 86.00–96.50 $89.83 $1,260 +20.83
1345–1585 1414 80-85% 11 72.00–82.00 $76.41 $1,080 +7.41
1346–1610 1486 80-85% 52 97.00–99.00 $98.29 $1,461 +17.05
1285–1692 1496 80-85% 10 84.00–89.00 $86.75 $1,298 +5.51
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–940 918 85-90% 2 45.00–52.00 $48.41 $444 -14.84
925–985 948 85-90% 3 60.00–75.00 $69.79 $662 +6.54
1068–1095 1078 85-90% 7 59.00–60.00 $59.43 $641 —
1136 1136 85-90% 7 63.00 $63.00 $716 -15.75
965–1330 1164 85-90% 66 67.00–82.00 $78.29 $911 +19.68
1020–1605 1204 85-90% 46 62.00–80.00 $72.01 $867 -11.37
1065–1315 1240 85-90% 77 81.00–90.00 $83.54 $1,036 +0.96
1075–1645 1455 85-90% 3 82.00 $82.00 $1,193 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1502–1585 1520 75-80% 13 92.00–97.50 $93.58 $1,422 —
1541 1541 75-80% 4 99.25 $99.25 $1,529 —
1575 1575 75-80% 1 88.00 $88.00 $1,386 —
1586–1654 1637 75-80% 16 98.50–99.25 $99.07 $1,622 +5.19
1580–1973 1747 75-80% 17 91.50–97.75 $93.69 $1,637 +5.37

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1355 1355 1 82.00 $82.00 $1,111 —
1465 1465 1 92.00 $92.00 $1,348 —
1510–1745 1635 3 111.00–112.00 $111.69 $1,826 +12.39
1065–1985 1671 13 83.00–108.00 $99.96 $1,670 —
1620–2330 1876 14 109.00–118.00 $113.08 $2,121 -5.66
1972–2243 2080 5 122.00–122.50 $122.28 $2,543 -2.70
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2500 2500 1 112.00 $112.00 $2,800 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795–1420 965 (<2 yrs)Open 48 100.00–144.00 $129.64 $1,251
905–1327 1095 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 54 85.00–122.50 $100.22 $1,097
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
718–1240 919 (<2 yrs)Open 11 92.00–125.00 $107.52 $988
890–980 937 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 80.00–112.50 $97.04 $909

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1007 1007 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,250.00 $1,250.00
1223 1223 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1242–1300 1257 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,600.00 $1,600.00
1262 1262 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 1,600.00 $1,600.00
1388 1388 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,425.00 $1,425.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1355 1355 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 89.00 $89.00 $1,206
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1045 1045 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,175.00 $1,175.00

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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.