Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, July 29, 2026

509 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $330.00/cwt ≈ $3,036/hd at 920 lb · 15 head
light 9-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $312.01/cwt ≈ $2,877/hd at 922 lb · 10 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 steers $523.41/cwt ≈ $1,973/hd at 377 lb · 10 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 509 746 0
Feeder cattle 158 112 0
Slaughter cattle 250 444 0
Replacement cattle 101 190 0

Compared to last sale (7-01-26): Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mixed from plain to average, with lots of variation noticed. Most offerings were in small packages or as singles, making it difficult for buyers to piece together loads. Demand was mostly moderate to good, despite light offerings. CME positions saw a slight rebound this week, following last weeks sharply lower movement. All contracts saw modest gains of over 1.50 on nearby contracts with November and later feeder contracts all pushing over 3.00 higher. Market activity was moderate to active with a small crowd of feeder buyers on hand. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand. The last test at Public auction yards was nearly one month ago; No market comparisons can be made as a result. Demand for feeding cows was moderate this week. Canadian buyers were back in the market this week as they purchased cows to ship north to feed. American packers actively tried to buy feeding cows lower as they bid lower on all classes of feeding cows. Cow quality was mostly plain to average this week and feeding cow selection was limited. Weigh up conditions were also average to below average as many cows and bulls were coming off grass very full. Some cow out of drought areas were coming off grass thin and full both as they filled up on hay once in the yards. Slaughter cow demand was mostly moderate to good this week. Demand for slaughter cows was stronger this week as southern packers showed good demand for cows for immediate harvest. The last test was both too light and to long ago to develop any market trend. Demand for slaughter bulls was mostly moderate. The last test was almost a month ago making comparisons difficult, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Many bulls were coming off grass and have been out breeding cows. Yielding conditions were significantly lower than earlier in the month as a result. Young age cows were all too lightly tested to develop any market comparison. Quality was mostly plain to average. Many young cows were fleshy coming off grass, especially if they have not calved.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 unweaned 310 1 560.00 $560.00 $1,736
365–388 unweaned 377 10 512.50–535.00 $523.41 $1,973
400 unweaned 400 1 500.00 $500.00 $2,000
715 715 2 380.00 $380.00 $2,717
825 825 1 355.00 $355.00 $2,929
855 855 1 345.00 $345.00 $2,950
920 920 15 330.00 $330.00 $3,036
1047 1047 6 310.00 $310.00 $3,246 -2.61
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725 725 1 370.00 $370.00 $2,682 -17.97
755 755 1 350.00 $350.00 $2,642 -21.00
973 973 3 323.00 $323.00 $3,143
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205 1205 2 262.50 $262.50 $3,163
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
698 698 2 380.00 $380.00 $2,652

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 unweaned 305 2 475.00–480.00 $477.50 $1,456
365 unweaned 365 1 445.00 $445.00 $1,624
862–869 866 8 327.50–330.00 $328.43 $2,844
986 986 5 290.00 $290.00 $2,859
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
780 780 1 315.00 $315.00 $2,457 -22.55
875–885 881 5 321.00–325.00 $322.59 $2,842
918–923 922 10 300.00–315.00 $312.01 $2,877
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1062 1062 6 278.00 $278.00 $2,952
1170 1170 2 251.00 $251.00 $2,937
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
770 770 4 290.00 $290.00 $2,233

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
302 unweaned 302 3 510.00 $510.00 $1,540
425 unweaned 425 1 485.00 $485.00 $2,061
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1140 1140 1 257.50 $257.50 $2,936
1155 1155 1 260.00 $260.00 $3,003
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
710 710 2 285.00 $285.00 $2,024
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835 835 1 302.00 $302.00 $2,522 -28.00

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Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1323–1490 1396 80-85% 15 150.00–164.00 $157.44 $2,198 -23.29
1300–1545 1414 80-85% 4 182.00–188.00 $184.86 $2,614 +34.86
1325–1530 1429 80-85% 7 135.00–148.00 $142.74 $2,040 -16.26
1270–1610 1437 80-85% 14 153.00–169.00 $163.72 $2,353 +4.72
1240–1610 1457 80-85% 47 171.00–180.00 $176.66 $2,574
1400–1598 1472 80-85% 6 165.00–171.00 $168.69 $2,483
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1405–1637 1545 75-80% 25 168.00–179.00 $173.85 $2,686
1500–1630 1565 75-80% 2 161.00–165.00 $162.92 $2,550 -25.58
1617 1617 75-80% 3 179.00 $179.00 $2,894 +14.00
1555–1800 1639 75-80% 5 169.00–171.00 $169.73 $2,782 +4.73
1445–1995 1709 75-80% 4 154.00–165.50 $161.31 $2,757
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
880 880 85-90% 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,276
1020 1020 85-90% 2 160.00 $160.00 $1,632
1075 1075 85-90% 1 183.00 $183.00 $1,967 +17.00
1010–1235 1126 85-90% 13 125.00–145.00 $137.61 $1,549
925–1290 1165 85-90% 5 149.00–155.00 $151.70 $1,767 -15.16
1140–1233 1223 85-90% 10 152.50–163.00 $159.09 $1,946 -19.49
1120–1395 1240 85-90% 3 174.00–179.00 $177.08 $2,196 -1.50

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1480–1630 1519 4 160.00–180.00 $171.15 $2,600 -37.41
1565 1565 2 195.00 $195.00 $3,052
1345–1855 1636 6 187.00–197.00 $191.01 $3,125
1715–2040 1840 10 200.00–211.00 $204.63 $3,765 +6.19
1565–2345 1998 28 200.00–211.00 $206.63 $4,128 -6.93
1830–2300 2046 7 213.00–238.00 $225.93 $4,623 +1.79

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1135–1150 1143 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 215.00 $215.00 $2,457
1185–1193 1190 (<2 yrs)Open 3 222.50–237.50 $232.52 $2,767
1200–1375 1303 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 180.00–190.00 $183.76 $2,394
1308–1483 1396 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 179.50–188.00 $183.48 $2,561
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
970–1130 1028 (<2 yrs)Open 3 215.00–240.00 $227.70 $2,341
1060–1270 1143 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 181.00–210.00 $193.16 $2,208
1300 1300 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 180.00 $180.00 $2,340

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1235 1235 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1430 1430 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00
1450–1463 1457 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,850.00–2,900.00 $2,874.89
1570 1570 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,750.00 $2,750.00

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
940 940 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 2,850.00 $2,850.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1155 1155 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,700.00 $2,700.00

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1764 1764 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 16 4,500.00 $4,500.00
2008 2008 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 4,800.00 $4,800.00

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160 1160 80-85% 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,798

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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.