Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2019-08-27
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-08-27

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (8-6-2019): Feeder steers and heifers were all too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was moderate to good with nearly all offerings coming off grass. Yearlings were in light flesh with a few offerings pushing light to moderate flesh. Quality was average to attractive. Buyers were able to piece together loads as offerings were mostly comprised of mostly small to moderate size packages. Limited load lots were seen this week. Market activity was moderate to active this week. Slaughter cows sold on good to very good demand. Feeder buyers were the driving force in the market this week as cow supplies in the corn belt are tight and buyers are looking west for high quality cows at a competitive price. Packer buyers were forced to be competitive for cows as feeder buyers showed strong demand for all cows on offer regardless of age. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher; feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold on lighter demand this week. Bull quality was lower than last sale as mostly lame, blemished or bulls that have been out breeding were on offer this week. Bulls on average were yielding 1-2% lower than last sale. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-3.00 lower. Packers opted to feed a good portion of the bulls under 1800 lbs as long as they were thin, sound and unblemished. Young age cows suitable to re-breed sold on moderate to good demand. These offerings sold with higher undertones compared to last sale.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $130.69/cwt on 613 head.

Average price

$130.69

613 head · 839 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,096

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$238

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$18.61/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+1.10

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	708	135.85	962	65
Medium 1-2	599	135.00	809	13thin
Medium and Large 1	861	130.48	1,124	473
Medium and Large 1-2	802	128.81	1,033	47
Large 1	1,023	117.24	1,199	15thin

One grade step is worth $18.61/cwt here — about −$238 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 0–100 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 0–100 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale613 hd

130.69

—

MT average2 barns · 699 hd

129.59

+1.10

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt

Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	High	1,780	82.64	1,471	103
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,484	71.50	1,061	5thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,429	66.38	949	19
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,184	59.60	706	27

Every lot, as filed

51 lots · USDA AMS · Miles City Livestock Commission Auction - Miles City, MT

Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	794	137.05/cwt	136.00–137.50	1,088	10
Bulls	—	—	1,975	88.65/cwt	86.50–91.75	1,751	17
Bulls	—	—	1,608	75.50/cwt	65.00–80.00	1,214	22
Bulls	—	—	1,776	83.36/cwt	79.00–86.50	1,480	62
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,096	96.00/cwt	96.00–96.00	1,052	10
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,475	68.43/cwt	68.00–69.25	1,009	7
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,484	71.50/cwt	71.50–71.50	1,061	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,357	65.87/cwt	61.00–71.00	894	33
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,426	69.73/cwt	68.00–71.50	994	28
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,025	94.15/cwt	91.00–100.00	965	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,127	77.40/cwt	72.00–89.00	872	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	752	133.50/cwt	133.50–133.50	1,004	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	823	139.78/cwt	137.75–140.75	1,150	47
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	781	140.98/cwt	140.25–142.50	1,101	114
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,337	71.49/cwt	67.50–72.50	956	42
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,159	57.62/cwt	56.00–59.50	668	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,023	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	870	3
Steers	Medium 1	—	679	143.62/cwt	143.50–144.50	975	25
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	716	147.51/cwt	143.25–149.25	1,056	128
Steers	Medium 1	—	590	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	891	5
Steers	Medium 1	—	620	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	893	10
Steers	Large 1	—	1,089	121.50/cwt	121.50–121.50	1,323	13
Steers	Large 1	—	1,034	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	1,318	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	916	128.09/cwt	125.50–130.00	1,173	87
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	964	127.91/cwt	126.00–130.75	1,233	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	492	154.50/cwt	154.50–154.50	760	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	519	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	703	10
Bulls	—Natural	—	2,120	88.00/cwt	88.00–88.00	1,866	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	960	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	605	1
Heifers	Medium 1	—	691	136.88/cwt	135.50–138.00	946	47
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,222	59.67/cwt	55.00–64.50	729	16
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,165	65.50/cwt	65.50–65.50	763	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,380	60.98/cwt	58.00–63.00	842	7
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,433	71.08/cwt	70.00–75.50	1,019	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,127	52.80/cwt	52.00–53.00	595	5
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,023	117.24/cwt	116.25–118.75	1,199	15
Heifers	Medium 1	—	744	133.70/cwt	133.25–134.50	995	15
Heifers	Medium 1	—	793	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	1,035	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	799	131.50/cwt	131.50–131.50	1,051	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	824	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,096	5
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	599	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	809	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	713	132.54/cwt	132.00–133.00	945	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	898	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	1,136	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	816	127.03/cwt	125.00–130.50	1,037	23
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	989	121.07/cwt	120.25–126.00	1,197	54
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	865	131.44/cwt	127.00–134.00	1,137	223
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	767	135.14/cwt	132.50–136.75	1,037	94
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	981	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	1,187	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	851	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	1,187	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	666	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	999	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	904	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	1,220	27

How this sale compares

Montana weighted averages

One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every Montana auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →