Cattle Market Pulse

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

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, October 7, 2026

1,978 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 heifers $423.93/cwt +0.09 vs last sale · ≈ $1,954/hd at 461 lb · 30 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $464.19/cwt -1.55 vs last sale · ≈ $2,270/hd at 489 lb · 25 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $366.00/cwt -7.00 vs last sale · ≈ $2,654/hd at 725 lb · 24 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,978 955 1,342
Feeder cattle 603 468 479
Slaughter cattle 1,010 365 595
Replacement cattle 365 122 268

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week (9-30-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested in any weight category to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average with most offerings seen in small packages or as singles. Many cut back cattle off summer videos were seen this week. Demand was moderate to good. CME feeder cattle positions showed strong gains earlier in the week and buyers continue to show good demand for all offerings. Market activity was mostly active today, with a small crowd of feeder buyers noticed. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for heavy offerings. Demand for feeding cows was significantly stronger this week as more buyers were in the market bidding on cows to feed. American packers showed stronger demand for feeding cows this week. Cow quality was noticeably better this week as several long strings of attractive cows off reputation ranches were seen. Additional private farmer feeders were in the market this week and they showed good demand for thin or slightly blemished cows to feed. Feeding cows sold steady to 5.00 higher. Slaughter cows were of mostly poor quality this week as feeding buyers purchased many blemished cows away from packer buyers this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 lower on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold 1.00-3.00 lower on on a poorer quality, poorer yielding offering. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average today. Fall rains have greened pastures and range over the past few weeks; many cows were tanked up coming off green grass as a result. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady on a higher yielding offering. Many bulls have increased in yield in recent weeks as green pastures have allowed bulls to flesh up following breeding season. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on good to very good demand today with several more buyers purchasing this class of cow this week. Young age offerings sold mostly 10.00-20.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was very attractive overall.

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
235 unweaned 235 1 700.00 $700.00 $1,645 —
278 unweaned 278 7 615.00 $615.00 $1,710 +10.00
373–375 unweaned 374 4 550.00–555.00 $552.51 $2,066 +40.63
400 unweaned 400 2 527.50 $527.50 $2,110 —
485–496 unweaned 489 25 462.50–465.00 $464.19 $2,270 -1.55
550 unweaned 550 8 417.00 $417.00 $2,294 +2.55
609 609 5 377.00 $377.00 $2,296 —
725 unweaned 725 24 366.00 $366.00 $2,654 -7.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–285 unweaned 275 5 545.00–605.00 $594.09 $1,634 —
395 unweaned 395 6 520.00 $520.00 $2,054 +22.50
408–416 unweaned 413 7 472.00–492.50 $483.81 $1,998 —
483–488 unweaned 486 8 447.50–450.00 $449.07 $2,182 -7.93
502–549 unweaned 513 17 421.00–435.00 $431.48 $2,213 —
560–587 unweaned 570 14 350.00–387.50 $379.78 $2,165 —
660–662 unweaned 662 9 351.00–360.00 $358.00 $2,370 —
705 unweaned 705 10 350.00 $350.00 $2,468 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338–348 unweaned 342 7 450.00–507.50 $482.45 $1,650 —
386 unweaned 386 8 440.00 $440.00 $1,698 —
408 unweaned 408 3 412.50 $412.50 $1,683 —
461–495 unweaned 477 8 345.00–427.50 $382.76 $1,826 —
601 unweaned 601 7 341.00 $341.00 $2,049 —
712–721 718 9 332.00–335.00 $334.01 $2,398 —
763 763 2 334.00 $334.00 $2,548 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403 unweaned 403 2 515.00 $515.00 $2,075 —
642 642 3 355.00 $355.00 $2,279 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
326 unweaned 326 9 517.50 $517.50 $1,687 —
461–462 unweaned 461 30 421.00–425.00 $423.93 $1,954 +0.09
500–545 unweaned 520 10 380.00–415.00 $401.43 $2,087 +4.23
550 unweaned 550 7 390.00 $390.00 $2,145 —
610–638 unweaned 634 9 360.00–377.50 $364.16 $2,309 +6.24
691 unweaned 691 15 340.00 $340.00 $2,349 —
841–846 844 11 317.00–320.00 $318.09 $2,685 +2.73
856–872 859 18 320.00–321.00 $320.17 $2,750 —
934 934 14 307.00 $307.00 $2,867 +3.53
984 984 10 298.50 $298.50 $2,937 +1.73
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
346 unweaned 346 5 470.00 $470.00 $1,626 —
407 unweaned 407 3 455.00 $455.00 $1,852 —
453–493 unweaned 478 7 380.00–410.00 $402.88 $1,926 -7.12
594 unweaned 594 4 365.00 $365.00 $2,168 —
619 unweaned 619 6 347.50 $347.50 $2,151 —
873 873 2 301.00 $301.00 $2,628 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 unweaned 325 6 415.00 $415.00 $1,349 —
365 unweaned 365 2 395.00 $395.00 $1,442 —
417 unweaned 417 3 340.00 $340.00 $1,418 —
480 unweaned 480 2 355.00 $355.00 $1,704 —
853 853 4 282.50 $282.50 $2,410 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1201 1201 7 245.00 $245.00 $2,942 —
1250 1250 1 235.00 $235.00 $2,938 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
584 584 6 350.00 $350.00 $2,044 —

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1090 1090 4 281.00 $281.00 $3,063 —
1216 1216 5 221.00 $221.00 $2,687 -15.23
1273–1290 1276 11 217.50–226.00 $224.44 $2,864 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115 1115 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,788 —
1176 1176 4 242.50 $242.50 $2,852 —
1230 1230 3 205.00 $205.00 $2,522 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
539 unweaned 539 5 415.00 $415.00 $2,237 —
1028 1028 3 280.00 $280.00 $2,878 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
878 878 4 280.00 $280.00 $2,458 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
695 unweaned 695 3 325.00 $325.00 $2,259 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
988 988 80-85% 2 117.50 $117.50 $1,161 —
1270 1270 80-85% 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,664 —
1260–1522 1368 80-85% 60 104.00–117.00 $112.98 $1,546 -22.62
1270–1580 1375 80-85% 43 119.00–143.00 $131.89 $1,813 -3.71
1230–1545 1389 80-85% 241 141.00–151.50 $147.31 $2,046 +13.89
1255–1530 1389 80-85% 31 151.00–157.00 $152.16 $2,114 +18.74
1265–1720 1434 80-85% 16 117.00–126.00 $120.58 $1,729 -31.96
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
727–995 794 85-90% 4 100.00–107.50 $105.15 $835 —
950 950 85-90% 1 80.00 $80.00 $760 —
955 955 85-90% 1 117.00 $117.00 $1,117 —
1005–1090 1038 85-90% 3 87.50–97.50 $91.81 $953 —
960–1263 1166 85-90% 7 118.00–125.00 $120.03 $1,400 +9.90
1028–1305 1170 85-90% 60 100.00–117.00 $109.04 $1,276 -1.09
965–1255 1176 85-90% 14 147.50–157.50 $151.64 $1,783 +41.51
1060–1294 1179 85-90% 136 114.00–135.00 $127.36 $1,502 +17.23
1115–1350 1212 85-90% 85 136.00–147.00 $142.49 $1,727 +4.59
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1430–1585 1516 75-80% 6 149.00–151.00 $150.35 $2,279 —
1471–1720 1571 75-80% 12 128.00–137.00 $130.90 $2,056 -12.50
1458–1675 1584 75-80% 68 133.00–146.00 $141.17 $2,236 -2.23
1205–1705 1595 75-80% 12 123.00–132.00 $127.38 $2,032 -16.02
1475–1880 1607 75-80% 23 110.00–126.00 $119.10 $1,914 -29.60

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1425–1483 1464 3 157.50–169.00 $165.27 $2,420 —
1505–1780 1576 10 158.00–171.00 $167.03 $2,632 —
1330–2015 1651 17 157.00–172.00 $166.50 $2,749 —
1475–1919 1839 17 174.00–182.00 $178.57 $3,284 —
1850 1850 1 185.50 $185.50 $3,432 —
1715–2170 1922 27 174.00–184.00 $178.15 $3,424 +0.63
1805–2230 2028 7 185.00–195.00 $187.35 $3,799 +3.02
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2240 2240 1 172.00 $172.00 $3,853 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
920–1216 1013 (<2 yrs)Open 118 242.50–330.50 $300.05 $3,040
980–1298 1153 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 71 170.00–282.50 $227.80 $2,627
1303–1428 1338 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 15 151.00–168.50 $160.17 $2,143
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
859–1180 1005 (<2 yrs)Open 20 187.50–275.00 $236.35 $2,375
915–1350 1106 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 18 151.00–250.00 $204.81 $2,265
810–1310 1143 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 155.00–195.00 $164.45 $1,880
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1208 1208 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 209.00 $209.00 $2,525
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
700 700 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,925
745 745 (<2 yrs)Open 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,788
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
773 773 (<2 yrs)Open 2 297.50 $297.50 $2,300

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1161 1161 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 3,000.00 $3,000.00
1296 1296 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,850.00 $1,850.00
1390–1393 1392 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 2,050.00–2,400.00 $2,260.18
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1060 1060 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 2,650.00 $2,650.00
1230 1230 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00
1236 1236 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 2,350.00 $2,350.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1013–1275 1132 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 2,450.00–2,750.00 $2,601.62 $29,450
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1445 1445 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 145.00 $145.00 $2,095

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1380 1380 80-85% 1 105.00 $105.00 $1,449 —

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Open Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
740–1284 1069 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 47 220.00–322.00 $264.40 $2,826 —
1333–1555 1365 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 7 180.00–209.00 $204.28 $2,788 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
885–1215 1018 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 4 182.50–255.00 $223.73 $2,278 —

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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.