Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, June 19, 2024

2,357 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction report →

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $256.75/cwt ≈ $2,200/hd at 857 lb · 40 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $317.50/cwt ≈ $1,613/hd at 508 lb · 32 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $216.00/cwt ≈ $2,097/hd at 971 lb · 32 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,357 860 1,986
Feeder cattle 699 77 449
Slaughter cattle 721 583 636
Replacement cattle 937 200 901

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Demand for feeder cattle was good to very good for light to moderate offerings. Package sizes were small to moderate today and larger than the last two weeks. Quality was mostly plain to average today. Many strings of blemished feeder cattle were seen today as backgrounders cleaned out lots for turn out. Market activity was mostly active with several buyers bidding ringside as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows sold very good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Additional Packers were in the market this week and they showed very good demand for cows for immediate harvest. Packer buyers trying to buy high quality cows to feed were forced to pay up significantly for cows this week in order to secure offerings. Slaughter cows sold 4.00-8.00 higher on boning and breaking cows, lean cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-9.00 higher on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Thin, short term feeding cows destined for harvest around the 4th of July sold 2.00-3.00 higher. Cow quality was mostly attractive to very attractive today, and overall better than last week. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average this week. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Bulls Quality today was mostly attractive. Packers opted to feed several sets of light to middle weight bulls again this week. Demand for bulls suitable to feed was very good. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 5.00 lower. Demand for very high quality offerings remains very good. However, quality this week was average to attractive and overall not as attractive as last week. Around 350 pairs were on offer for todays sale. Quality was average to attractive. Demand for pairs was mostly good. A large crowd was on hand in the afternoon for todays pair special. Market activity for was mostly active with lots of buyers actively bidding on offerings.

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
553–594 584 32 323.00–337.50 $328.01 $1,916 —
610 610 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,952 —
678–696 687 28 289.00–306.00 $295.03 $2,027 —
719 719 4 289.00 $289.00 $2,078 +10.62
753 753 2 268.00 $268.00 $2,018 —
810–813 813 19 256.00–257.00 $256.95 $2,089 —
853–878 857 40 252.00–257.00 $256.75 $2,200 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
302 302 3 370.00 $370.00 $1,117 —
533–536 535 15 315.00–325.00 $321.68 $1,721 —
690 690 3 282.00 $282.00 $1,946 +5.30
750–775 765 5 255.00–256.00 $255.61 $1,955 —
810–823 817 4 241.00–255.00 $247.94 $2,026 +42.94
954 954 9 226.00 $226.00 $2,156 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
935 935 2 223.00 $223.00 $2,085 —
1221 1221 20 180.00 $180.00 $2,198 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1058 1058 14 191.00 $191.00 $2,021 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870 870 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,958 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
140 140 1 675.00 $675.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
399 399 6 315.00 $315.00 $1,257 —
443 443 3 315.00 $315.00 $1,395 —
485 485 10 310.00 $310.00 $1,504 —
532 532 6 302.50 $302.50 $1,609 —
594 594 16 283.00 $283.00 $1,681 —
618–630 621 16 255.00–279.00 $275.20 $1,709 +22.24
655 655 2 256.00 $256.00 $1,677 —
750–785 768 6 233.00–237.00 $234.66 $1,802 —
960–974 971 32 216.00 $216.00 $2,097 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
508 508 32 317.50 $317.50 $1,613 —
557 557 3 294.00 $294.00 $1,638 —
685 685 10 266.00 $266.00 $1,822 +6.00
703 703 2 252.00 $252.00 $1,772 —
757 757 5 244.00 $244.00 $1,847 +0.69
822 822 3 230.00 $230.00 $1,891 —
860 860 8 231.50 $231.50 $1,991 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
699 699 9 254.00 $254.00 $1,775 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
661 661 4 229.00 $229.00 $1,514 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
70 70 2 125.00 $125.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
336 336 5 430.00 $430.00 $1,445 —
523 523 5 290.00 $290.00 $1,517 —
626 626 7 281.00 $281.00 $1,759 —
838 838 3 234.00 $234.00 $1,961 —
859–883 868 8 228.00–234.00 $231.71 $2,011 +0.59
955 955 6 225.00 $225.00 $2,149 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1018 1018 6 220.00 $220.00 $2,240 —
1056–1083 1062 9 216.00–217.50 $217.16 $2,306 —
1105 1105 1 207.50 $207.50 $2,293 ±0.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 307.50 $307.50 $1,660 —
870–890 874 5 222.50–226.00 $225.29 $1,969 —
938–947 942 7 221.00–223.00 $222.14 $2,093 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
108–124 116 4 600.00–725.00 $666.81 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010 1010 1 205.00 $205.00 $2,070 —
1155 1155 1 187.50 $187.50 $2,166 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
90 90 2 600.00 $600.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1241–1525 1317 80-85% 75 137.00–148.00 $143.50 $1,890 +27.50
1235–1515 1319 80-85% 64 136.00–147.00 $141.21 $1,863 +25.21
1185–1615 1382 80-85% 110 146.00–154.00 $149.57 $2,067 +10.36
1300–1520 1396 80-85% 5 118.00–136.00 $128.21 $1,790 -11.00
1200–1614 1425 80-85% 11 132.00–135.00 $133.76 $1,906 -10.13
1325–1484 1450 80-85% 17 148.00–155.50 $153.18 $2,221 —
1463 1463 80-85% 2 151.50 $151.50 $2,216 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835–885 860 85-90% 2 117.50–128.00 $122.90 $1,057 +16.08
905 905 85-90% 1 102.00 $102.00 $923 —
1045–1235 1108 85-90% 3 125.00–127.00 $125.74 $1,393 -7.23
1085–1235 1176 85-90% 4 118.00–127.00 $123.95 $1,458 -15.45
1010–1300 1180 85-90% 7 131.00–137.00 $135.18 $1,595 -4.22
1025–1241 1183 85-90% 37 128.00–138.00 $135.93 $1,608 -3.47
1196–1271 1232 85-90% 17 139.00–149.50 $142.41 $1,754 —
1180–1285 1255 85-90% 5 141.00–151.00 $143.47 $1,801 +3.55
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1383–1645 1514 75-80% 11 132.00–138.00 $135.94 $2,058 —
1462–1650 1524 75-80% 9 152.50–156.00 $153.04 $2,332 —
1525 1525 75-80% 2 154.00 $154.00 $2,348 —
1489–1790 1614 75-80% 19 140.00–148.00 $144.30 $2,329 +2.30
1615 1615 75-80% 2 146.00 $146.00 $2,358 +4.00

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1337–1585 1378 6 142.00–144.00 $142.38 $1,962 —
1651 1651 4 158.00 $158.00 $2,609 —
1565–1765 1670 6 143.00–149.00 $144.73 $2,417 —
1560–2165 1881 21 152.00–169.00 $163.62 $3,078 +5.27
1880–2375 2092 25 171.00–189.50 $177.61 $3,716 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
712–1255 1047 (<2 yrs)Open 128 153.50–220.00 $188.23 $1,971
890–1410 1144 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 39 143.00–192.50 $158.15 $1,809
1165–1385 1248 (<2 yrs)Open 8 154.00 $154.00 $1,922
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
958–1057 1024 (<2 yrs)Open 15 147.50–165.00 $152.96 $1,566
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
900–1035 938 (<2 yrs)Open 7 167.50–185.00 $175.18 $1,643
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
705 705 (<2 yrs)Open 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,198
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795 795 (<2 yrs)Open 1 202.50 $202.50 $1,610

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Bred Cows

Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
720–869 786 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 9 1,800.00–1,950.00 $1,873.69
904 904 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 9 2,075.00 $2,075.00
950 950 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1031–1249 1128 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 1,900.00–2,325.00 $2,109.17
1237 1237 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,250.00 $2,250.00
1238 1238 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,075.00 $2,075.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
998 998 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,850.00 $1,850.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1373 1373 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 125.00 $125.00 $1,716

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
783 783 15 224.00 $224.00 $1,754 —
897 897 24 215.00 $215.00 $1,929 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
883 883 21 230.00 $230.00 $2,031 —
966 966 14 218.00 $218.00 $2,106 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
715 715 2 227.50 $227.50 $1,627 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1245 1245 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 13 2,775.00 $2,775.00 —
1142–1477 1255 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 72 3,000.00–3,400.00 $3,296.66 —
1277 1277 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —
1440 1440 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 2,925.00 $2,925.00 —
1353–1572 1542 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 29 2,450.00–2,550.00 $2,535.11 —
1423–1753 1597 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 55 2,450.00–3,000.00 $2,844.76 —
1618 1618 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 2,350.00 $2,350.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1238 thin fleshed 1238 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 9 2,150.00 $2,150.00 —
1268 1268 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —
1200–1387 1302 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 11 2,000.00–2,350.00 $2,203.37 —
1315–1337 1322 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 15 2,000.00–2,350.00 $2,117.96 —
1470 1470 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
990–1048 1039 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 19 2,910.00–2,950.00 $2,916.02 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1333–1435 1359 85-90% 4 122.00–126.00 $124.94 $1,698 —
1315–1723 1582 80-85% 4 138.00–141.00 $139.84 $2,212 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
970–986 978 (<2 yrs)Open 59 3,150.00–3,175.00 $3,161.97 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
805 805 (<2 yrs)Open 4 2,050.00 $2,050.00 —

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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.