heavy 9-weight M&L 1 heifers$301.23/cwt-14.77 vs last sale · ≈ $2,925/hd at 971 lb · 47 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers$315.50/cwt-2.03 vs last sale · ≈ $2,891/hd at 916 lb · 39 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers$321.23/cwt≈ $2,856/hd at 889 lb · 38 head
Billings, MT 9-weight heifers sold at $308/cwt. MT 9-weight heifers are down $11 from their early August peak of $315.
What this means — computed from this report and its neighbors
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,067
697
876
Feeder cattle
604
173
584
Slaughter cattle
404
445
264
Replacement cattle
59
79
28
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week (7-29-26): Feeder steers were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on all offerings under 950 lbs. Heifers over 950 lbs sold with lower undertones. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Most offerings were in small packages to moderate size packages or as singles. Demand was mostly good to very good for yearlings and light to moderate for calves. Demand for calves suffered as hot days continue to be in the forecast for the coming days and limited offerings made building loads difficult. CME positions traded with heavy losses today, however buyers seemed unfazed as they continue to show strong demand for cattle coming off grass. Market activity was active, despite a small buyer pool noticed. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Demand for feeding cows was moderate this week. Cow quality was mostly plain to average this week and limited demand. Many cows were out of dry country this sale and were thin or plain as a result. Quality selection made it difficult for buyers to build and fill loads. Canadian buyers were back in the market this week as they purchased cows to ship north to feed. Feeding cows sold generally steady on a lower quality offering. Weigh up conditions were also below average as many full cows were noticed this week. Slaughter cow demand was slightly stronger this week as packers all showed need for cows for immediate harvest. The spread between feeding cows and slaughter cows was as tight this sale as it has been in well over a year. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to firm on a lower yielding offering. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower on a poorer yielding offering. Many blemished bulls were seen this week as most offerings come out of breeding pastures. Feeding bull demand was moderate this sale. Feeding bulls sold mostly 5.00 lower on a poorer quality offering. 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. Young cow quality this week was mostly plain, and many were purchased to feed.
▼ Feeder heifers: Heifers over 950 lbs sold with lower undertones
→ Feeder steers: Feeder steers were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend
▼ Slaughter bulls: Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower on a poorer yielding offering
▲ Slaughter cows: Slaughter cow demand was slightly stronger this week as packers all showed need for cows for immediate harvest
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.
Cattle Market
Compared to last week (7-29-26): Feeder steers were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on all offerings under 950 lbs. Heifers over 950 lbs sold with lower undertones. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Most offerings were in small packages to moderate size packages or as singles. Demand was mostly good to very good for yearlings and light to moderate for calves. Demand for calves suffered as hot days continue to be in the forecast for the coming days and limited offerings made building loads difficult. CME positions traded with heavy losses today, however buyers seemed unfazed as they continue to show strong demand for cattle coming off grass. Market activity was active, despite a small buyer pool noticed. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Demand for feeding cows was moderate this week. Cow quality was mostly plain to average this week and limited demand. Many cows were out of dry country this sale and were thin or plain as a result. Quality selection made it difficult for buyers to build and fill loads. Canadian buyers were back in the market this week as they purchased cows to ship north to feed. Feeding cows sold generally steady on a lower quality offering. Weigh up conditions were also below average as many full cows were noticed this week. Slaughter cow demand was slightly stronger this week as packers all showed need for cows for immediate harvest. The spread between feeding cows and slaughter cows was as tight this sale as it has been in well over a year. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to firm on a lower yielding offering. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower on a poorer yielding offering. Many blemished bulls were seen this week as most offerings come out of breeding pastures. Feeding bull demand was moderate this sale. Feeding bulls sold mostly 5.00 lower on a poorer quality offering. 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. Young cow quality this week was mostly plain, and many were purchased to feed.