Market report for Thursday, December 18, 2025
Data sourced from USDA AMS
View USDA PDF VersionCompared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Yearling quality was mostly plain this week. Steer calves under 550 lbs sold 15.00-20.00 higher, steers 550-649 lbs sold 5.00-15.00 higher, steer calves over 650 lbs were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold steady to 10.00 higher in a narrow comparison; Heifers 550-649 lbs sold generally steady; Heifers over 650 lbs were not well tested. Demand for light weight cattle suitable to develop into yearlings remains good to very good. Cattle too heavy to go to grass sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Buyers were willing to take heavier cattle to grass this week as this is the last chance to buy feeder cattle in Billings for 2025. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive, with lots of variation noticed. Light weight calf quality was not as attractive this week as last week. Large packages of calves sold on mostly good to very good demand with small packages selling on moderate to good demand. Many small packages of calves were seen this week as buyers cleaned up offerings for the year. Several ranchers were in the stands buying grass cattle again this week. Market activity was active with a moderate to large crowd on hand. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cows sold on good demand with several buyers in the stands actively bidding on all classes of cows to feed. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher on a very attractive offering. Breaking slaughter cows were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Boning and lean cows sold sharply lower with fewer packer buyers in the stands this week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly very good demand on a very attractive offering. One feature consignment offered 200 fancy 2 coming 3 year old cows all off one ranch. Young offerings sold steady to 15.00 higher.
| This week | Last reported sale | Last year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total receipts | 2741 | 3115 | 2401 |
| Feeder cattle | 1320 | 2774 | 1545 |
| Slaughter cattle | 732 | 192 | 574 |
| Replacement cattle | 689 | 149 | 282 |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 250-265 | 258 | 700.00-705.00 | $702.43 | -- |
| 8 | 305-347 | 333 | 600.00-650.00 | $617.99 | -- |
| 9 | 398 |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 238 | 238 | 580.00 | $580.00 | -- |
| 12 | 324 | 324 | 517.50 | $517.50 | -- |
| 1 | 340 |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 679 | 679 | 336.00 | $336.00 | -- |
| 6 | 1379 | 1379 | 194.00 | $194.00 | -- |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1505 | 1505 | 190.50 | $190.50 | High Dressing |
| 6 | 1450-1663 | 1553 | 148.00-158.50 | $154.90 | Low Dressing |
| 15 | 1555-1590 |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1395-1635 | 1558 | 162.00-170.00 | $166.36 | Low Dressing |
| 4 | 1522-1800 | 1592 | 172.00 | $172.00 | Average Dressing |
| 20 | 1546-2235 |
| Head | Age | Stage | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Aged (>8 yrs) | Stage: 2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) | 2225.00-2275.00 | $2241.50 | Broken Mouth |
| 13 | Young (2-4 yrs) | Stage: 1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) | 3150.00 | $3150.00 | -- |
| 7 |
Slaughter Cows
| 398 |
| 592.50 |
| $592.50 |
| -- |
| 7 | 415-435 | 421 | 572.50-581.00 | $578.49 | -- |
| 89 | 450-475 | 463 | 535.00-557.00 | $544.32 | -- |
| 11 | 482 | 482 | 510.00 | $510.00 | Unweaned |
| 37 | 505-540 | 511 | 470.00-511.00 | $482.66 | -- |
| 24 | 565 | 565 | 470.00 | $470.00 | Unweaned |
| 77 | 550-596 | 573 | 442.50-471.00 | $456.06 | -- |
| 78 | 607-646 | 636 | 412.00-434.00 | $420.55 | -- |
| 3 | 695 | 695 | 375.00 | $375.00 | -- |
| 10 | 704 | 704 | 353.00 | $353.00 | Full |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 348 | 348 | 500.00 | $500.00 | -- |
| 11 | 440-448 | 443 | 500.00-535.00 | $511.93 | -- |
| 6 | 465 | 465 | 490.00 | $490.00 | Unweaned |
| 1 | 490 | 490 | 480.00 | $480.00 | -- |
| 12 | 521-540 | 523 | 440.00-457.50 | $443.60 | -- |
| 1 | 565 | 565 | 427.50 | $427.50 | -- |
| 2 | 620 | 620 | 395.00 | $395.00 | -- |
| 7 | 666 | 666 | 344.00 | $344.00 | -- |
| 7 | 753-799 | 779 | 343.00-345.00 | $343.83 | -- |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 285 | 285 | 500.00 | $500.00 | -- |
| 3 | 368 | 368 | 460.00 | $460.00 | -- |
| 2 | 410 | 410 | 510.00 | $510.00 | -- |
| 6 | 466 | 466 | 390.00 | $390.00 | -- |
| 5 | 805 | 805 | 305.00 | $305.00 | -- |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 465 | 465 | 495.00 | $495.00 | Unweaned |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 398 | 398 | 410.00 | $410.00 | -- |
| 340 |
| 530.00 |
| $530.00 |
| Unweaned |
| 32 | 360-397 | 375 | 489.00-495.00 | $492.42 | -- |
| 29 | 400-429 | 427 | 467.50-475.00 | $467.93 | -- |
| 25 | 465-489 | 475 | 420.00-444.00 | $435.96 | Unweaned |
| 38 | 450-498 | 477 | 432.50-450.00 | $443.86 | -- |
| 18 | 500-509 | 509 | 411.00-432.50 | $431.33 | Unweaned |
| 56 | 503-545 | 528 | 397.50-432.50 | $412.99 | -- |
| 66 | 557-593 | 563 | 362.00-395.00 | $380.57 | -- |
| 32 | 605-643 | 625 | 350.00-361.00 | $354.95 | -- |
| 41 | 619-645 | 642 | 352.00-352.50 | $352.06 | Unweaned |
| 16 | 657-677 | 665 | 346.00-355.00 | $351.84 | -- |
| 1 | 700 | 700 | 340.00 | $340.00 | -- |
| 15 | 755 | 755 | 329.00 | $329.00 | -- |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 302-340 | 324 | 480.00 | $480.00 | -- |
| 9 | 371-385 | 376 | 470.00 | $470.00 | -- |
| 5 | 395 | 395 | 420.00 | $420.00 | Unweaned |
| 41 | 400-445 | 418 | 402.50-440.00 | $413.77 | -- |
| 4 | 445 | 445 | 440.00 | $440.00 | Unweaned |
| 18 | 455-485 | 473 | 415.00-435.00 | $427.00 | -- |
| 33 | 503-545 | 522 | 365.00-387.50 | $378.63 | -- |
| 37 | 555-599 | 582 | 340.00-360.00 | $353.44 | -- |
| 8 | 620-640 | 633 | 341.00-349.00 | $343.75 | -- |
| 10 | 650-687 | 670 | 319.00-330.00 | $326.02 | -- |
| 7 | 700-735 | 730 | 307.00-309.00 | $308.73 | -- |
| 3 | 793 | 793 | 295.00 | $295.00 | -- |
| 2 | 800 | 800 | 280.00 | $280.00 | -- |
| 5 | 878 | 878 | 295.50 | $295.50 | -- |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 200 | 200 | 420.00 | $420.00 | -- |
| 3 | 233 | 233 | 400.00 | $400.00 | Unweaned |
| 2 | 288 | 288 | 445.00 | $445.00 | -- |
| 1 | 305 | 305 | 400.00 | $400.00 | -- |
| 3 | 438 | 438 | 397.50 | $397.50 | -- |
| 4 | 480 | 480 | 360.00 | $360.00 | -- |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 374-398 | 384 | 345.00-360.00 | $353.34 | -- |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 584 | 584 | 340.00 | $340.00 | -- |
| 4 | 1250-1253 | 1252 | 217.00-232.50 | $220.87 | -- |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 370 | 370 | 540.00 | $540.00 | Unweaned |
| 14 | 408-441 | 432 | 460.00-500.00 | $489.20 | -- |
| 5 | 439 | 439 | 450.00 | $450.00 | Unweaned |
| 3 | 465-468 | 467 | 430.00-435.00 | $431.66 | -- |
| 28 | 649 | 649 | 343.00 | $343.00 | -- |
| 2 | 788 | 788 | 290.00 | $290.00 | -- |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 457 | 457 | 405.00 | $405.00 | -- |
| 5 | 516-525 | 518 | 380.00-385.00 | $383.99 | -- |
| 2 | 640 | 640 | 325.00 | $325.00 | -- |
| 3 | 952 | 952 | 287.50 | $287.50 | -- |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 515-546 | 533 | 340.00-395.00 | $362.79 | -- |
| 2 | 733 | 733 | 275.00 | $275.00 | -- |
| 1558 |
| 169.00-174.00 |
| $170.21 |
| High Dressing |
| 3 | 1563 | 1563 | 170.50 | $170.50 | High Dressing |
| 40 | 1441-1910 | 1566 | 155.00-171.00 | $165.83 | Average Dressing |
| 5 | 1560-1895 | 1714 | 159.00-165.50 | $162.40 | Average Dressing |
| 1 | 1915 | 1915 | 147.00 | $147.00 | Low Dressing |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 1266 | 1266 | 169.00 | $169.00 | High Dressing |
| 9 | 1290-1388 | 1328 | 95.00-117.00 | $108.50 | Low Dressing |
| 116 | 1135-1710 | 1348 | 156.00-170.00 | $163.23 | Average Dressing |
| 62 | 1215-1565 | 1368 | 126.00-157.50 | $149.88 | Low Dressing |
| 3 | 1325-1423 | 1390 | 122.00-140.50 | $134.62 | Average Dressing |
| 3 | 1330-1725 | 1462 | 80.00-102.50 | $88.85 | Very Low Dressing |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 893 | 893 | 55.00 | $55.00 | Very Low Dressing |
| 66 | 1015-1265 | 1141 | 87.50-117.50 | $110.03 | Low Dressing |
| 1 | 1165 | 1165 | 122.50 | $122.50 | Average Dressing |
| 112 | 1159-1238 | 1170 | 165.75-169.00 | $166.14 | High Dressing |
| 20 | 1010-1282 | 1186 | 55.00-87.50 | $80.93 | Very Low Dressing |
| 69 | 1050-1288 | 1192 | 150.00-165.00 | $160.13 | Average Dressing |
| 15 | 1075-1275 | 1195 | 115.00-149.00 | $138.93 | Low Dressing |
| 1736 |
| 131.00-172.00 |
| $146.96 |
| Low Dressing |
| 22 | 1730-2480 | 1898 | 172.00-181.00 | $176.06 | Average Dressing |
| Head | Wt Range | Avg Wt | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1515 | 1515 | 177.00 | $177.00 | Average Dressing |
| Young (2-4 yrs) |
| Stage: 2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) |
| 3300.00-3350.00 |
| $3315.63 |
| -- |
| 6 | Young (2-4 yrs) | Stage: 2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) | 1100.00 | $1100.00 | -- |
| 4 | Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs) | Stage: 2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) | 2400.00 | $2400.00 | -- |
| 11 | Middle Aged (5-8 yrs) | Stage: 1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) | 2900.00-3100.00 | $3048.98 | -- |
| Head | Age | Stage | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (<2 yrs) | Stage: Open | 260.00 | $260.00 | -- |
| Head | Age | Stage | Price Range | Avg Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Young (2-4 yrs) | Stage: Open | 177.50-245.00 | $198.05 | -- |
| 105 | Young (2-4 yrs) | Stage: Open | 172.00-322.50 | $257.43 | -- |
| 209 | (<2 yrs) | Stage: Open | 359.00 | $359.00 | Fancy |
| 3 | Young (2-4 yrs) | Stage: Open | 161.00-197.50 | $173.96 | Fleshy |
| 2 | (<2 yrs) | Stage: Open | 190.00-200.00 | $194.84 | Thin Fleshed |
| 28 | (<2 yrs) | Stage: Open | 222.50-278.00 | $252.20 | -- |
| 174 | (<2 yrs) | Stage: Open | 240.00-337.50 | $297.09 | -- |
| 2 | Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs) | Stage: Open | 170.00 | $170.00 | -- |
