Cattle Market Pulse

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

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, October 9, 2024

1,216 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 3-weight M&L 1 steers $397.50/cwt ≈ $1,403/hd at 353 lb · 21 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $342.01/cwt +9.51 vs last sale · ≈ $1,371/hd at 401 lb · 20 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $286.86/cwt +8.16 vs last sale · ≈ $1,615/hd at 563 lb · 18 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,216 609 1,640
Feeder cattle 437 251 599
Slaughter cattle 617 297 791
Replacement cattle 162 61 250

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality was mostly plain to average today. Most feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of todays sale. Packers showed light demand for slaughter cows but moderate to good demand for feeding cows. Private feeding buyers showed good demand for all cows suitable to feed. Very few cows were purchased for immediate harvest this sale. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to weak on breaking cows; boning and lean cows sold 2.00 to 4.00 lower. Feeding cows sold with the best demand again this week. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 lower with the biggest decrease seen in poorer quality and lower yielding cows. Bidding was very active for high quality feeding cows. A very large buyer pool was seen for feeding cows this week. Cow quality was mixed from plain to attractive. Weigh conditions were mostly average today. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 1.00 higher. Feeding bull demand was slightly stronger this week as a few private buyers showed light demand for feeding bulls. Quality today was mostly average to attractive for bulls and similar to last weeks offering. Feeding bulls sold mostly 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 5.00 higher. Demand from rebreed buyers was mostly good. More buyer were actively bidding on young cows this week compared to last.

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
226 unweaned 226 4 410.00 $410.00 $927 —
298 unweaned 298 3 412.50 $412.50 $1,229 —
313 unweaned 313 9 402.50 $402.50 $1,260 —
353 unweaned 353 21 397.50 $397.50 $1,403 —
401–403 unweaned 401 20 340.00–350.00 $342.01 $1,371 +9.51
536 unweaned 536 4 304.00 $304.00 $1,629 +5.00
541 541 4 292.00 $292.00 $1,580 —
553–575 unweaned 563 18 280.00–294.00 $286.86 $1,615 +14.99
626 unweaned 626 7 276.00 $276.00 $1,728 —
655–668 unweaned 663 5 262.00–270.00 $265.16 $1,758 +11.16
741 unweaned 741 6 245.00 $245.00 $1,815 —
988 988 2 229.50 $229.50 $2,267 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403–413 unweaned 407 5 322.50–337.50 $331.41 $1,349 —
475 unweaned 475 5 304.00 $304.00 $1,444 +3.00
510 unweaned 510 6 275.00 $275.00 $1,402 -1.00
630 unweaned 630 4 252.00 $252.00 $1,588 —
825 825 2 247.00 $247.00 $2,038 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
363 unweaned 363 5 315.00 $315.00 $1,143 —
438 unweaned 438 8 262.50 $262.50 $1,150 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565 unweaned 565 4 246.00 $246.00 $1,390 —
617 unweaned 617 3 230.00 $230.00 $1,419 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840 840 2 222.50 $222.50 $1,869 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–287 unweaned 274 5 365.00–380.00 $370.58 $1,015 —
318 unweaned 318 6 325.00 $325.00 $1,034 —
467 unweaned 467 3 280.00 $280.00 $1,308 -7.00
503–530 unweaned 521 9 270.00–272.00 $270.64 $1,410 —
551–560 unweaned 553 10 264.00–266.00 $265.59 $1,469 —
608 unweaned 608 6 255.00 $255.00 $1,550 +6.00
841 841 8 230.00 $230.00 $1,934 —
877 877 3 226.00 $226.00 $1,982 -3.00
919 919 6 220.00 $220.00 $2,022 —
966 966 6 216.00 $216.00 $2,087 -0.55
1010–1028 1024 5 209.00–212.00 $211.41 $2,165 —
1045 1045 1 203.50 $203.50 $2,127 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
683–692 688 14 219.00–225.00 $221.55 $1,524 —
749 749 11 217.50 $217.50 $1,629 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
513 unweaned 513 2 262.00 $262.00 $1,344 —
896 896 4 219.00 $219.00 $1,962 —
968 968 2 196.00 $196.00 $1,897 —
970 970 3 206.00 $206.00 $1,998 —
1048 1048 2 195.00 $195.00 $2,044 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 unweaned 470 1 271.00 $271.00 $1,274 —
585 unweaned 585 2 233.00 $233.00 $1,363 —
1055–1095 1081 6 200.00–207.00 $203.64 $2,201 -5.08
1225 1225 2 190.00 $190.00 $2,328 -4.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
709 709 4 210.00 $210.00 $1,489 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
397 unweaned 397 3 285.00 $285.00 $1,131 +40.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 unweaned 345 10 377.50 $377.50 $1,302 —
368 unweaned 368 2 370.00 $370.00 $1,362 —
475 unweaned 475 2 297.00 $297.00 $1,411 —
565 unweaned 565 2 272.50 $272.50 $1,540 —
993 993 3 208.00 $208.00 $2,065 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1122–1128 1124 5 193.00–195.00 $194.20 $2,183 -12.80
1165–1190 1178 2 185.00–189.00 $186.98 $2,203 -14.02
1205 1205 3 183.00 $183.00 $2,205 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1275 1275 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,912 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1328–1505 1376 80-85% 12 101.00–111.00 $108.15 $1,488 -27.28
1290–1595 1400 80-85% 46 133.00–138.00 $134.94 $1,889 —
1263–1660 1402 80-85% 165 117.00–130.00 $124.09 $1,740 —
1305–1595 1432 80-85% 22 103.00–115.00 $111.87 $1,602 —
1500 1500 80-85% 1 97.50 $97.50 $1,462 -20.10
1420–1653 1537 80-85% 11 112.00–119.00 $114.55 $1,761 -3.05
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865–970 935 85-90% 3 94.00–96.00 $95.38 $892 -12.12
995 995 85-90% 1 107.50 $107.50 $1,070 —
1055 1055 85-90% 1 122.50 $122.50 $1,292 +31.23
993–1170 1083 85-90% 10 82.50–88.00 $86.58 $938 -4.69
1039–1287 1125 85-90% 29 100.00–112.50 $104.27 $1,173 —
1020–1325 1142 85-90% 36 90.00–105.00 $99.91 $1,141 —
1025–1310 1224 85-90% 27 126.00–130.00 $127.11 $1,556 +5.11
1075–1312 1226 85-90% 57 111.00–125.50 $120.41 $1,476 -1.59
1170–1315 1269 85-90% 7 106.00–112.00 $108.79 $1,381 +0.40
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1462–1645 1552 75-80% 15 120.00–126.00 $122.23 $1,897 -10.27
1535–1660 1590 75-80% 4 116.00–119.00 $117.48 $1,868 -15.02
1530–1666 1630 75-80% 7 128.00–128.50 $128.07 $2,088 +3.07
1550–1725 1638 75-80% 2 128.00–132.00 $130.11 $2,131 +5.11
1503–1780 1639 75-80% 6 109.00–119.00 $116.39 $1,908 -8.61
1601–1810 1656 75-80% 18 120.00–127.00 $124.76 $2,066 +7.76

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1830 1475 23 136.00–144.00 $140.96 $2,079 —
1252–1895 1500 4 146.00–153.00 $150.37 $2,256 —
1395–2050 1734 13 128.00–146.00 $139.97 $2,427 —
1640–2435 2003 17 148.00–159.00 $152.21 $3,049 —
1810–2365 2117 5 161.00–170.00 $165.43 $3,502 —
2550 2550 1 167.00 $167.00 $4,258 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
781–1235 990 (<2 yrs)Open 80 156.00–207.00 $190.46 $1,886
935–1378 1183 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 29 132.00–172.50 $145.62 $1,723
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
850–1065 926 (<2 yrs)Open 4 147.50–180.00 $168.30 $1,558
945–1175 1074 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 140.00–144.00 $140.88 $1,513
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
716 716 (<2 yrs)Open 4 168.00 $168.00 $1,203

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1018–1290 1095 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 9 1,985.00–2,150.00 $2,065.58
1079–1125 1096 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 2,000.00 $2,000.00
1175 1175 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 1,450.00 $1,450.00
1324 1324 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 1,650.00 $1,650.00

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040 1040 85-90% 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,300 —
1318–1365 1334 85-90% 6 91.00–94.00 $92.98 $1,240 —
1570 1570 85-90% 4 85.50 $85.50 $1,342 —
1649 1649 80-85% 11 101.00 $101.00 $1,665 —

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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.