Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2019-10-15
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-10-15

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: The best test for feeder steers was for 500-549 lbs steers which sold mostly mostly 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. All other weights of steer calves and yearlings were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifer calves were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers 800-899 lbs sold mostly 3.00 to 5.00 higher, other weights not well tested. Quality this week was average to attractive on both yearlings and calves. Demand for yearlings was mostly good, while demand for calves was mostly moderate to good. Buyers showed the best demand for calves which had two rounds of preconditioning shots. Calves with only one round of shots sold at a 9.00-12.00 discount to cattle of the same quality. All cattle were fresh off the cow and showing mostly moderate flesh. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packers opted to send most of the offerings this week to feed. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to weak on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold 2.00-3.00 higher as demand from feeding buyers pushed these offerings higher. The yield of slaughter cows was significantly lower this week compared to last week. Cows were mostly in light flesh with many in very light flesh and carrying wet bags. The majority of cows are destined for feed in the corn belt as many farmers have excess corn stalks, unharvested corn, and silage to use. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed. Demand for re-breeding cows was mostly light to moderate this sale. Too few comparable sales were seen to make an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $156.84/cwt on 812 head.

Average price

$156.84

812 head · 546 lb average

Value per head Derived

$856

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$259

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$30.42/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+4.89

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	546	158.09	863	722
Medium and Large 1-2	482	153.00	737	66
Medium and Large 2	461	133.00	613	9thin
Large 1	879	127.67	1,122	15thin

One grade step is worth $30.42/cwt here — about −$259 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 sale812 hd

156.84

—

MT average5 barns · 2,397 hd

151.95

+4.89

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	—	Average	1,895	75.16	1,424	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,662	71.74	1,192	20
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,485	67.34	1,000	19
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,162	50.83	590	93

Every lot, as filed

64 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
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	993	123.50/cwt	123.50–123.50	1,226	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	773	142.35/cwt	141.50–142.50	1,100	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	435	163.74/cwt	161.00–174.00	712	45
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,025	70.65/cwt	63.50–77.50	724	41
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	461	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	613	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	583	142.65/cwt	140.00–145.00	832	19
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,044	73.71/cwt	67.00–80.50	770	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,324	63.93/cwt	58.00–73.00	846	84
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,284	59.65/cwt	58.00–71.50	766	197
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	416	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	587	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	438	155.66/cwt	153.50–167.50	682	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	854	140.25/cwt	140.25–140.25	1,198	37
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,086	59.50/cwt	59.50–59.50	646	11
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,036	61.28/cwt	60.00–61.50	635	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,243	57.68/cwt	56.00–59.00	717	40
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,199	55.18/cwt	46.00–57.50	662	120
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	953	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,210	5
Heifers	Medium 1	—	741	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	1,034	11
Heifers	Medium 1	—	769	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,077	9
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,056	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,320	12
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,037	125.28/cwt	124.00–126.00	1,299	11
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,106	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,172	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,103	62.33/cwt	61.00–67.00	687	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	821	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	1,145	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	454	155.99/cwt	155.00–158.50	708	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	320	168.01/cwt	165.00–175.50	538	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	523	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	753	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	960	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,277	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	534	155.98/cwt	153.00–162.50	833	204
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	471	160.72/cwt	157.00–164.00	757	137
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	567	153.55/cwt	148.50–158.00	871	87
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	371	179.70/cwt	173.00–184.75	667	65
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	458	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	609	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	320	141.50/cwt	141.50–141.50	453	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	410	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	496	4
Steers	Large 1Fleshy	—	1,101	109.50/cwt	109.50–109.50	1,206	4
Steers	Large 1	—	361	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	556	4
Steers	Large 1	—	1,048	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	1,289	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	979	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,302	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	829	143.50/cwt	143.50–143.50	1,190	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	891	142.21/cwt	142.00–142.25	1,267	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	958	139.75/cwt	139.75–139.75	1,339	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	300	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	549	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	607	152.65/cwt	152.50–153.00	927	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	659	146.56/cwt	142.00–147.25	966	46
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	811	141.20/cwt	140.50–142.75	1,145	61
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	342	148.35/cwt	147.50–149.00	507	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	528	136.99/cwt	132.00–139.50	723	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	563	134.48/cwt	131.50–135.75	757	44
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	421	141.78/cwt	137.00–146.50	597	122
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	495	137.08/cwt	136.00–137.75	679	203
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	527	166.50/cwt	166.50–166.50	877	51
Bulls	—Heavy Weight	—	2,465	77.50/cwt	77.50–77.50	1,910	1
Bulls	—	—	2,200	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	1,870	1
Bulls	—	—	1,897	77.32/cwt	75.00–81.50	1,467	7
Bulls	—	—	1,821	72.88/cwt	67.00–76.00	1,327	12
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,142	49.11/cwt	40.00–49.75	561	47
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,490	55.00/cwt	55.00–55.00	820	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,495	69.08/cwt	68.50–69.50	1,033	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,482	67.73/cwt	62.50–69.50	1,004	14
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,732	74.02/cwt	73.50–74.50	1,282	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,638	70.98/cwt	70.50–73.00	1,163	15
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,178	52.37/cwt	50.25–60.00	617	45
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,340	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	831	1

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 →