Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, September 25, 2024

895 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 3-weight M&L 1 steers $392.50/cwt ≈ $1,307/hd at 333 lb · 19 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 steers $268.89/cwt ≈ $1,261/hd at 469 lb · 16 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $250.00/cwt -17.00 vs last sale · ≈ $1,130/hd at 452 lb · 13 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 895 1,286 636
Feeder cattle 344 966 176
Slaughter cattle 436 268 347
Replacement cattle 115 52 113

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly plain to average today. Most feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. CME feeder contract positions continue to show positive movement following last weeks cattle on feed report. Demand was moderate to good for light offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate today, with a smaller buyer pool noticed compared to last week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed lighter demand for all cows destined for immediate harvest. Feeding cow demand was mostly moderate and significantly stronger than demand for slaughter cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly 6.00-12.00 lower on all classes. Feeding cows sold with the best demand again this week. A large percentage of the cow offering was purchased to feed as most sound cows sold to feeding orders. Feeding cows sold mostly 6.00-10.00 lower. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive and overall more attractive than last week. Weigh conditions were mixed with both very full and very empty cows noticed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-5.00 lower. Feeding bull demand was light again this sale as packer buyers were the only buyers to purchase bulls to feed. Quality today was mostly average to attractive for bulls and similar to last weeks offering. Feeding bulls were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed as demand from rebreed buyers was mostly 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
208 unweaned 208 5 460.00 $460.00 $957 —
260 unweaned 260 1 465.00 $465.00 $1,209 —
333 unweaned 333 19 392.50 $392.50 $1,307 —
475–480 unweaned 477 11 290.00–294.00 $291.83 $1,392 -9.17
687 687 9 253.00 $253.00 $1,738 -16.50
943 943 11 219.00 $219.00 $2,065 —
1058 1058 10 208.00 $208.00 $2,201 -7.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
266 unweaned 266 6 435.00 $435.00 $1,157 +50.00
454–483 unweaned 469 16 265.00–279.00 $268.89 $1,261 —
555 unweaned 555 10 271.00 $271.00 $1,504 —
828 828 3 234.00 $234.00 $1,938 -6.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
194 unweaned 194 4 445.00 $445.00 $863 —
368–398 unweaned 391 9 282.50–285.00 $283.02 $1,107 -18.41
452 unweaned 452 13 250.00 $250.00 $1,130 -17.00
534 unweaned 534 9 265.00 $265.00 $1,415 —
830–845 841 7 221.00–227.00 $223.55 $1,880 +11.55
922 922 6 204.50 $204.50 $1,885 -7.74
920–928 923 7 213.00–214.00 $213.57 $1,971 +1.33
1005–1048 1016 8 182.00–186.00 $183.03 $1,860 -1.97
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 unweaned 210 4 445.00 $445.00 $934 —
511–515 unweaned 512 5 271.00–274.00 $273.40 $1,400 —
558 unweaned 558 5 243.00 $243.00 $1,356 —
627–636 unweaned 633 8 238.50–242.00 $240.70 $1,524 —
756 756 4 240.00 $240.00 $1,814 +1.52
859–872 863 10 227.00–230.50 $229.44 $1,980 +10.01
900–938 925 8 217.00–218.00 $217.69 $2,014 +19.69
990 990 2 219.00 $219.00 $2,168 +27.00
1019–1024 1022 8 211.00–212.00 $211.50 $2,162 +9.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
558–561 unweaned 560 6 235.00–247.00 $243.01 $1,361 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 unweaned 535 2 246.50 $246.50 $1,319 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
532 unweaned 532 6 240.00 $240.00 $1,277 —
834 834 4 210.00 $210.00 $1,751 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1090 1090 3 215.00 $215.00 $2,344 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
570 unweaned 570 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,396 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1266–1595 1341 80-85% 10 109.00–114.00 $113.19 $1,518 —
1185–1610 1367 80-85% 131 116.00–128.00 $123.64 $1,690 —
1210–1590 1403 80-85% 13 129.00–135.00 $130.72 $1,834 -3.49
1025–1688 1443 80-85% 21 103.00–113.00 $109.35 $1,578 -17.12
1325–1750 1481 80-85% 13 114.00–125.00 $119.18 $1,765 —
1440–1538 1499 80-85% 5 127.00–129.00 $128.23 $1,922 —
1595 1595 80-85% 1 92.00 $92.00 $1,467 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–995 945 85-90% 2 105.00–107.50 $106.32 $1,005 —
955–962 960 85-90% 4 72.50–82.50 $80.01 $768 -23.99
970–995 983 85-90% 2 100.00–102.00 $101.01 $993 -2.99
1005 1005 85-90% 1 75.00 $75.00 $754 —
1020–1485 1151 85-90% 29 90.00–108.00 $99.57 $1,146 -31.78
1148–1160 1151 85-90% 4 109.00–111.00 $110.50 $1,272 -20.85
980–1275 1192 85-90% 25 113.00–125.00 $121.27 $1,446 +4.71
1000–1298 1199 85-90% 41 108.00–117.00 $110.05 $1,319 -6.51
1175–1288 1255 85-90% 11 127.00–132.00 $129.26 $1,622 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1330 1330 75-80% 1 122.00 $122.00 $1,623 —
1363–1600 1513 75-80% 13 127.00–136.00 $130.85 $1,980 —
1565–1643 1599 75-80% 11 124.00–131.00 $128.77 $2,059 —
1680 1680 75-80% 1 116.00 $116.00 $1,949 —
1625–1793 1737 75-80% 3 127.00–134.50 $129.34 $2,247 +0.59
1900 1900 75-80% 1 122.50 $122.50 $2,328 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1227–1300 1249 5 112.50–128.00 $121.94 $1,523 —
1425–1880 1619 13 131.00–146.00 $136.93 $2,217 —
1365–1905 1693 23 125.00–146.00 $136.75 $2,315 —
1740–1965 1868 18 147.00–155.00 $149.51 $2,793 -2.49
1985–2085 2035 2 163.00 $163.00 $3,317 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2335 2335 1 157.00 $157.00 $3,666 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
875–1035 945 (<2 yrs)Open 35 165.00–193.50 $186.10 $1,759
975–1190 1080 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 23 135.00–175.00 $148.61 $1,605
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
800–855 828 (<2 yrs)Open 2 165.00–180.00 $172.25 $1,426
950–1125 1038 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 122.00–122.50 $122.23 $1,269

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
978–1211 1091 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 16 1,900.00–2,225.00 $2,034.26
1360 1360 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1283 1283 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 111.00 $111.00 $1,424
1304 1304 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 113.00 $113.00 $1,474

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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.