Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, November 6, 2024

2,466 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 heifers $367.07/cwt ≈ $1,175/hd at 320 lb · 14 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $345.00/cwt ≈ $1,245/hd at 361 lb · 11 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,466 2,088 2,671
Feeder cattle 258 542 246
Slaughter cattle 1,145 1,088 1,659
Replacement cattle 1,063 458 766

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Calf quality was mostly average today. Yearling quality was average to attractive with several sets of tested open replacements seen. Most feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active today. Weigh up and bred cows comprised most of todays sale. Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive. Many lame, low yielding cows were seen again this sale. Packer buyers were active in buying lower yielding slightly blemished cows to hold for the upcoming holiday. This is the fist week packers purchased short term feeding cows this fall. Demand for low dressing cows was very good this sale, these offerings sold steady to firm. More takers were seen for this class of cows this week. High quality feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-4.00 lower. Most cows were purchased to feed again this week as very few offerings were purchased for direct slaughter. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly light. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 5.00 lower on boning cows and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Weigh conditions were mostly average today. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to weak. Feeding bulls sold generally steady as a larger portion of the bull offering was purchased to feed. Quality today was mostly average for bulls. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Demand from rebreed buyers was good to very good. Quality was mostly average to attractive this week and more attractive than last weeks offering. Young cow offerings were heavy. A moderate offering of bred cows sold today and demand was mostly light to moderate as quality limited demand. Bred cow quality was mostly plain to average. A large crowd was on hand for the bred cow portion of todays sale.

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
255 unweaned 255 1 480.00 $480.00 $1,224 —
309 unweaned 309 8 440.00 $440.00 $1,360 +10.00
435 unweaned 435 5 342.50 $342.50 $1,490 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 unweaned 548 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,480 —
586 unweaned 586 4 265.00 $265.00 $1,553 —
680 unweaned 680 1 236.00 $236.00 $1,605 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307–335 unweaned 320 14 355.00–390.00 $367.07 $1,175 —
361 unweaned 361 11 345.00 $345.00 $1,245 —
846 846 4 242.00 $242.00 $2,047 —
876 876 4 230.00 $230.00 $2,015 -3.00
911–920 913 5 231.00–237.00 $235.79 $2,153 —
995 995 1 221.00 $221.00 $2,199 —
1003–1025 1013 22 208.00–220.00 $217.76 $2,206 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1111–1117 1114 13 205.00 $205.00 $2,284 —
1188 1188 2 200.00 $200.00 $2,376 —
1293 1293 2 185.00 $185.00 $2,392 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
457 457 5 296.00 $296.00 $1,353 —
598 598 3 234.00 $234.00 $1,399 —
843 843 4 223.00 $223.00 $1,880 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
770 770 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,848 —
890–895 893 3 230.00–233.00 $232.00 $2,072 —
915 915 1 223.00 $223.00 $2,040 —
1090 1090 1 205.00 $205.00 $2,234 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
409 unweaned 409 6 325.00 $325.00 $1,329 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
570 unweaned 570 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,482 —
1015 1015 1 210.00 $210.00 $2,132 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
775–965 887 85-90% 3 70.00–77.50 $74.91 $664 —
935–965 950 85-90% 2 88.00–89.00 $88.49 $841 —
980–990 985 85-90% 2 94.50–95.00 $94.75 $933 —
895–1235 1073 85-90% 14 72.50–82.00 $78.42 $841 —
1030–1258 1142 85-90% 13 81.00–93.00 $84.64 $967 +1.05
1115–1200 1158 85-90% 2 99.00–101.00 $100.04 $1,158 -25.69
925–1318 1164 85-90% 128 96.00–112.50 $107.06 $1,246 -18.67
860–1398 1180 85-90% 135 110.00–120.50 $113.17 $1,335 -12.56
1140–1268 1225 85-90% 3 122.50–124.00 $123.53 $1,513 +20.91
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1325–1365 1345 80-85% 2 96.00–99.00 $97.52 $1,312 -0.58
1293–1625 1361 80-85% 31 100.00–111.00 $106.53 $1,450 -17.96
1220–1426 1366 80-85% 23 126.00–131.00 $127.36 $1,740 +2.87
1178–1660 1369 80-85% 201 111.00–125.00 $120.85 $1,654 -3.64
1295–1450 1403 80-85% 6 108.50–117.00 $114.91 $1,612 +7.97
1442 1442 80-85% 3 84.00 $84.00 $1,211 -22.94
1512 1512 80-85% 3 91.00 $91.00 $1,376 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1194–1855 1438 75-80% 43 115.00–124.00 $118.39 $1,702 —
1529–1655 1558 75-80% 12 125.50–131.50 $128.40 $2,000 +0.38
1500–1630 1576 75-80% 10 107.00–114.00 $110.84 $1,747 -17.18
1640–1840 1721 75-80% 8 126.50–137.50 $128.73 $2,215 —
1620–1825 1723 75-80% 2 115.00–120.00 $117.35 $2,022 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350–1824 1590 25 124.00–144.00 $140.48 $2,234 —
1680–1965 1723 16 130.00–147.00 $133.77 $2,305 —
1820–2178 1980 6 144.00–149.00 $146.07 $2,892 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1888 1888 2 157.00 $157.00 $2,964 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
708–855 thin fleshed 776 (<2 yrs)Open 20 182.50–200.00 $190.89 $1,481
774–1205 915 (<2 yrs)Open 379 162.50–220.00 $202.00 $1,848
843–1216 1055 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 55 131.00–185.00 $155.56 $1,641
1219–1400 1242 (<2 yrs)Open 8 135.00–186.00 $142.19 $1,766
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
760 thin fleshed 760 (<2 yrs)Open 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,311
770–1300 966 (<2 yrs)Open 44 123.00–194.00 $154.58 $1,493
1020 1020 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 142.50 $142.50 $1,454
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
880–1570 1178 (<2 yrs)Open 3 130.50–171.00 $143.50 $1,690

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
968–1225 1065 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 7 2,200.00–2,300.00 $2,286.99
960–1410 1162 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 68 2,300.00–2,600.00 $2,410.62
1163 1163 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1199–1234 thin fleshed 1216 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 19 1,500.00 $1,500.00
1230–1497 1324 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 123 1,650.00–1,850.00 $1,723.82
1435 1435 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,300.00 $2,300.00
1285–1484 1475 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 22 1,700.00–1,925.00 $1,916.09
1390–1561 1540 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 2,000.00–2,100.00 $2,088.71
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
993–1090 1032 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1146 thin fleshed 1146 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 9 1,250.00 $1,250.00
1163–1333 1233 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 31 1,500.00–1,625.00 $1,552.48
1083–1592 1274 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11 1,800.00–2,250.00 $2,024.07
1342–1350 1345 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 26 1,775.00–1,825.00 $1,796.23
1179–1580 1384 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 20 1,850.00–2,200.00 $2,026.85
1510 1510 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,700.00 $1,700.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1045 1045 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 19 1,850.00 $1,850.00
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1553 1553 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,200.00 $2,200.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
860 860 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 2,200.00 $2,200.00
958 958 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 2,225.00 $2,225.00
943–963 959 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 21 2,100.00–2,350.00 $2,303.18
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
946 946 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 17 1,900.00 $1,900.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1119 1119 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,300.00 $2,300.00

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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.