Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, January 15, 2025

1,406 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $363.87/cwt +5.87 vs last sale · ≈ $1,892/hd at 520 lb · 11 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,406 1,134 266
Feeder cattle 214 363 46
Slaughter cattle 363 569 162
Replacement cattle 829 202 58

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Demand was good for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Most cattle were offered in small group or as singles. Market activity was mostly active today, with buyers both ringside and over the internet rapidly bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand today for light offerings. Cow quality this sale was mostly average to attractive. Demand for slaughter cows was good as packers only purchased cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher on all classes. Demand for high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white was mostly good to very good. These offerings sold mostly 1.00-4.00 higher. Thin, short term feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher. Many low yielding, slightly lame, or slightly blemished cows were purchased for this purpose again this week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-7.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Demand for slaughter bulls was mostly good this sale. More slaughter bull buyers were on hand for todays sale. Bull quality was average today. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average today with many offerings pushing moderate amounts of fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady in a narrow comparison. Demand from rebreed buyers remains good to very good. Quality this week was average to attractive. A moderate to heavy offering of bred cows were seen this sale. Over 800 head of bred cows and heifers were on offer today. Quality was mostly plain to average with a limited offering of attractive cattle seen. Demand was mostly moderate to good for bred 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
519–521 520 11 362.50–365.00 $363.87 $1,892 +5.87
627 627 8 314.00 $314.00 $1,969 -2.82
808–845 820 3 262.00–264.00 $263.31 $2,159 +3.31
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
387 387 3 420.00 $420.00 $1,625 —
480–483 482 4 350.00–352.50 $351.25 $1,693 —
695 695 3 289.00 $289.00 $2,009 -1.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 3 465.00 $465.00 $1,511 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625 625 1 305.00 $305.00 $1,906 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–360 358 4 355.00–365.00 $360.03 $1,289 —
400 400 2 345.00 $345.00 $1,380 —
455 455 2 305.00 $305.00 $1,388 -10.00
510–540 526 7 300.00–312.50 $308.25 $1,621 —
630–648 645 6 267.00–280.00 $269.12 $1,736 -14.88
665–668 667 4 253.00–254.00 $253.50 $1,691 —
740 740 4 240.00 $240.00 $1,776 —
817 817 3 222.00 $222.00 $1,814 -14.00
873 873 2 231.00 $231.00 $2,017 —
925–938 932 4 210.00–220.00 $215.03 $2,004 —
1045 1045 1 210.00 $210.00 $2,194 ±0.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,512 +12.50
466 466 4 346.00 $346.00 $1,612 —
538 538 6 320.00 $320.00 $1,722 —
588 588 6 302.00 $302.00 $1,776 -6.65
600 600 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,740 -2.00
805 805 1 241.00 $241.00 $1,940 —
1023 1023 13 221.00 $221.00 $2,261 —
1142 1142 6 209.50 $209.50 $2,392 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
461 461 4 272.50 $272.50 $1,256 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
682 682 3 255.00 $255.00 $1,739 +6.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
688 688 2 259.00 $259.00 $1,782 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
623 623 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,526 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
748 748 2 209.00 $209.00 $1,563 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005 1005 1 219.00 $219.00 $2,201 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1302–1670 1369 80-85% 11 113.00–121.50 $120.40 $1,648 -7.00
1330–1510 1403 80-85% 4 91.00–111.00 $103.37 $1,450 -10.35
1258–1675 1423 80-85% 50 121.00–133.00 $127.04 $1,808 +13.32
1290–1665 1433 80-85% 7 108.00–117.00 $114.48 $1,640 +12.12
1395–1505 1460 80-85% 3 133.00–135.25 $133.77 $1,953 —
1290–1540 1466 80-85% 32 134.00–139.75 $136.57 $2,002 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
740–955 831 85-90% 5 91.00–100.00 $93.34 $776 +0.34
930 930 85-90% 1 113.00 $113.00 $1,051 +25.50
935–990 963 85-90% 2 77.50–85.00 $81.36 $783 —
1000–1285 1113 85-90% 12 90.00–104.00 $97.98 $1,091 +9.98
965–1275 1127 85-90% 24 99.00–117.00 $107.36 $1,210 +19.36
1097–1245 1156 85-90% 10 130.00–133.50 $131.01 $1,514 +10.59
1035–1295 1184 85-90% 5 109.00–122.00 $116.69 $1,382 -3.73
1075–1230 1197 85-90% 23 120.00–129.00 $121.98 $1,460 +21.08
1215 1215 85-90% 1 86.00 $86.00 $1,045 -43.08
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1330–1965 1446 75-80% 47 124.00–132.00 $126.24 $1,825 —
1345–1760 1549 75-80% 7 127.00–134.00 $131.57 $2,038 +0.57
1630–2015 1765 75-80% 7 137.50–142.00 $139.29 $2,458 —
2015 2015 75-80% 1 145.00 $145.00 $2,922 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1280 1280 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,728 —
1326 1326 5 145.00 $145.00 $1,923 —
1593–1698 1646 4 131.00–134.00 $132.45 $2,180 —
1750–2115 1893 7 145.00–155.00 $148.72 $2,815 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1890 1890 1 161.00 $161.00 $3,043 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775–1232 1001 (<2 yrs)Open 40 143.00–212.50 $183.35 $1,835
1057–1445 1224 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 17 132.00–174.00 $140.85 $1,724
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
814 814 (<2 yrs)Open 6 202.00 $202.00 $1,644
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
925–1080 1003 (<2 yrs)Open 4 147.50–190.00 $167.11 $1,676
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795 795 (<2 yrs)Open 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,034

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1090 1090 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,200.00 $2,200.00
1110 1110 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 2,700.00 $2,700.00
1180 1180 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 32 2,850.00 $2,850.00
1150–1355 1194 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 10 2,700.00–2,750.00 $2,728.20
1179–1293 thin fleshed 1216 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 34 1,900.00 $1,900.00
1261 1261 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 2,425.00 $2,425.00
1313 thin fleshed 1313 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1382–1440 1389 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,900.00–2,050.00 $2,030.57
1356–1493 1390 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 2,000.00–2,050.00 $2,036.58
1401 1401 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 2,925.00 $2,925.00
1249–1533 1403 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 94 2,075.00–2,485.00 $2,288.53
1288–1735 1466 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 92 2,000.00–2,375.00 $2,163.89
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1059 thin fleshed 1059 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 11 1,450.00 $1,450.00
1020–1313 1152 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,300.00–2,450.00 $2,363.92
1163–1223 1211 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 1,500.00–1,775.00 $1,722.18
1085–1408 1219 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 30 2,400.00–2,675.00 $2,505.66
1170–1350 1230 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,700.00–2,200.00 $1,882.93
1287 1287 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1306–1460 1328 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 1,850.00–2,050.00 $1,878.70
1289–1520 1356 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 19 1,800.00–1,950.00 $1,904.78
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
958 958 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 2,150.00 $2,150.00
967 967 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 2,700.00 $2,700.00
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
904–935 924 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 11 1,100.00–1,350.00 $1,188.97
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1471–1537 1496 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 2,375.00–2,675.00 $2,490.60
Small 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
661 661 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 775.00 $775.00
770 770 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 800.00 $800.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
941–965 952 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 73 2,825.00–2,975.00 $2,908.32
1208 1208 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 3,000.00 $3,000.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
857–955 865 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 13 1,400.00–1,850.00 $1,811.76
873 873 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 38 2,535.00 $2,535.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
867 867 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,700.00 $1,700.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1023 1023 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 2,250.00 $2,250.00

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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.