Cattle Market Pulse

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

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, September 16, 2026

1,169 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $449.84/cwt -20.16 vs last sale · ≈ $2,186/hd at 486 lb · 63 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $403.72/cwt ≈ $1,954/hd at 484 lb · 50 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $317.96/cwt ≈ $3,106/hd at 977 lb · 45 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,169 576 1,140
Feeder cattle 610 122 836
Slaughter cattle 428 421 180
Replacement cattle 131 33 124

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale (9-9-26): Feeder steer and heifer calves were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on all offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Most calf offerings were in small packages or as singles, while most yearling offerings were in small to moderate size package. Demand was mostly moderate to good for both yearlings and calves. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate offerings. Breaking cows sold steady to 1.00 higher, while boning and lean cows sold 3.00 to 8.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold 4.00 to 7.00 lower. Feeding cow quality was mostly plain to average this week. Feeding cows overall sold steady to 4.00 lower. Young age offerings were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however a higher undertone was noted. Demand was mostly good. Quality was mostly plain to average.

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
417 417 13 490.00 $490.00 $2,043 —
470–490 486 63 425.00–465.00 $449.84 $2,186 —
509 509 5 425.00 $425.00 $2,163 —
560 560 1 393.00 $393.00 $2,201 —
603–634 622 16 375.00–384.00 $377.34 $2,347 —
773–780 776 7 352.50–355.00 $353.93 $2,746 —
802–818 813 6 353.00–359.00 $355.31 $2,889 —
950–978 977 45 317.00–318.00 $317.96 $3,106 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328 328 2 505.00 $505.00 $1,656 —
360–375 368 2 485.00–490.00 $487.55 $1,794 —
413 413 13 470.00 $470.00 $1,941 —
535 535 1 385.00 $385.00 $2,060 —
565 565 1 365.00 $365.00 $2,062 —
620–625 623 4 365.00–367.50 $366.26 $2,282 —
695 695 2 370.00 $370.00 $2,572 —
710–730 720 2 330.00–342.50 $336.34 $2,422 —
771 771 4 347.50 $347.50 $2,679 —
820–840 833 3 330.00 $330.00 $2,749 —
875 875 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,800 —
940 940 1 312.50 $312.50 $2,938 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1027 1027 3 289.00 $289.00 $2,968 —
1052 1052 3 272.50 $272.50 $2,867 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 540.00 $540.00 $1,431 —
355–395 362 10 445.00–465.00 $453.87 $1,643 —
400–415 408 4 450.00–465.00 $458.73 $1,872 —
455–496 484 50 395.00–415.00 $403.72 $1,954 —
510–538 528 6 350.00–370.00 $359.20 $1,897 —
552–590 567 5 348.00–362.50 $357.92 $2,029 —
683–693 689 8 341.00–342.50 $341.94 $2,356 —
725–748 737 4 347.00–355.00 $350.94 $2,586 —
820–823 822 5 335.00–345.00 $336.99 $2,770 +2.99
890 890 1 317.50 $317.50 $2,826 -9.50
900–948 920 12 304.00–313.00 $307.25 $2,827 —
959–986 971 37 293.00–305.00 $300.79 $2,921 +16.79
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1043 1029 34 282.00–296.00 $292.14 $3,006 —
1098 1098 18 287.00–290.00 $289.00 $3,173 —
1118–1119 1119 19 288.50 $288.50 $3,228 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 410.00 $410.00 $984 —
275–290 283 2 415.00–420.00 $417.43 $1,181 —
315–348 340 4 440.00–445.00 $441.16 $1,500 —
393 393 9 432.00 $432.00 $1,698 —
410–441 422 24 420.00–430.00 $424.10 $1,790 —
554–580 558 7 325.00–331.00 $330.11 $1,842 —
810–833 830 8 319.00–326.00 $321.00 $2,664 —
895 895 1 290.00 $290.00 $2,596 —
910 910 1 280.00 $280.00 $2,548 -18.99
950–975 964 4 260.00–285.00 $270.57 $2,608 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1040 1033 3 274.00–275.00 $274.33 $2,834 —
1095 1095 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,956 —
1109 1109 4 272.00 $272.00 $3,016 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415–425 420 2 485.00–495.00 $489.94 $2,058 —
452 452 18 447.50 $447.50 $2,023 —
508–523 516 15 395.00–417.00 $404.11 $2,085 —
565–570 568 2 370.00–377.50 $373.77 $2,123 —
675–685 678 3 345.00–360.00 $350.05 $2,373 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1166 1165 8 232.00–235.00 $234.63 $2,733 —
1213–1218 1218 23 226.00–230.00 $226.35 $2,757 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 1 490.00 $490.00 $1,568 —
360 360 1 420.00 $420.00 $1,512 —
465–468 468 9 400.00–440.00 $435.58 $2,039 +0.58
653–665 659 6 322.50–332.50 $327.55 $2,159 —
702–705 703 4 310.00–322.50 $319.36 $2,245 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1275 1275 80-85% 1 166.00 $166.00 $2,116 —
1234–1431 1322 80-85% 66 150.00–162.50 $152.88 $2,021 -16.70
1250–1453 1346 80-85% 23 144.00–148.00 $146.54 $1,972 +27.54
1348 1348 80-85% 2 153.00 $153.00 $2,062 +34.00
1235–1448 1351 80-85% 69 137.00–149.00 $141.20 $1,908 -5.39
1298–1440 1354 80-85% 23 132.00–137.00 $134.71 $1,824 -11.88
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000 1000 85-90% 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,650 —
910–1080 1020 85-90% 3 152.00–155.00 $153.94 $1,570 —
970–1223 1079 85-90% 11 111.00–117.50 $113.21 $1,222 —
910–1310 1127 85-90% 9 119.00–127.50 $123.65 $1,394 -18.15
807–1220 1132 85-90% 20 137.50–146.00 $142.54 $1,614 +0.74
805–1270 1153 85-90% 37 130.00–142.50 $135.49 $1,562 +3.74
1145–1195 1159 85-90% 7 146.00–150.00 $148.99 $1,727 +17.24
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1463–1510 1476 75-80% 7 131.00–137.00 $134.13 $1,980 —
1460–1543 1505 75-80% 22 148.00–157.00 $154.35 $2,323 -6.53
1425–1735 1549 75-80% 9 143.00–146.00 $144.90 $2,245 -15.98
1463–1675 1569 75-80% 10 135.00–146.00 $142.71 $2,239 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–1230 1197 8 205.00–215.00 $211.21 $2,528 —
1230–1660 1401 5 164.00–167.50 $165.23 $2,315 —
1307–1780 1425 4 188.00–195.00 $192.81 $2,748 —
1320–2095 1684 24 169.00–180.00 $173.88 $2,928 —
1330–2165 1884 10 181.00–188.00 $184.41 $3,474 —
1785–2320 1989 15 170.00–177.00 $173.58 $3,453 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
868–1271 1127 (<2 yrs)Open 27 250.00–261.00 $256.83 $2,894
1055–1198 1144 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 222.50–235.00 $230.35 $2,635
1005–1340 1215 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 10 195.00–212.50 $202.38 $2,459
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
910–1120 985 (<2 yrs)Open 17 222.50–245.00 $234.20 $2,307
977–1245 1061 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 200.00–210.00 $206.41 $2,190
1060–1176 1139 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 180.00–187.50 $184.77 $2,105

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
840–985 939 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 2,400.00–2,800.00 $2,553.13
1100–1140 1120 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,700.00–2,900.00 $2,801.79
905–1455 1236 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9 2,700.00–2,900.00 $2,788.27
1375–1520 1419 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 14 2,100.00–2,325.00 $2,191.65
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
962–1280 1015 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 12 3,200.00–3,250.00 $3,210.51

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1463 1463 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 3,800.00 $3,800.00 —

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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.