Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2019-11-12
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-11-12

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend, however good demand was seen for all yearlings on offer. Steer calves 400-499 lbs sold mostly 4.00 to 8.00 higher; 500-599 lbs sold mostly 1.00 -3.00 higher; 600-649 lbs steers sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher; other weights were too lightly tested to trend. Heifer calves all sold unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 3.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive and was higher overall compared to last week. Many calves on offer had two rounds of vaccinations this week allowing buyers to put together loads of fully preconditioned calves. Calves with two rounds of vaccinations continue to sell with a strong 8.00-10.00 premium over non vaccinated or calves with only one round of preconditioning shots. Calves weaned over 45 days sold with good demand this week and offered slight premiums compared to calves at the same weight. Demand this week was mostly good for heavy offerings. Market activity was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packers opted to feed the majority of the offering this week. Most cows destined for slaughter were blemished and lower yielding this week compared to last. Slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Feeding cows sold on mostly good demand this week. Packers along with farmer feeders were very active in purchasing thin cows to feed for the holiday lull, to turn out on fields, or to feed silage. All classes of slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows on sold mostly good demand again this week. All offerings sold steady to firm compared to last week.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $164.02/cwt on 2,014 head.

Average price

$164.02

2,014 head · 547 lb average

Value per head Derived

$897

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$580

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$38.08/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+5.02

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	460	172.08	792	25
Medium and Large 1	546	164.94	900	1,837
Medium and Large 1-2	564	152.03	858	148
Large 1	1,024	134.00	1,372	4thin

One grade step is worth $38.08/cwt here — about −$580 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 sale2,014 hd

164.02

—

MT average5 barns · 6,439 hd

159.00

+5.02

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	—	Low	1,780	69.33	1,234	27
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,730	68.10	1,178	5thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,448	64.16	929	6thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,137	42.75	486	54

Every lot, as filed

68 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 1-2Unweaned	—	480	163.68/cwt	156.00–166.00	786	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	585	148.30/cwt	144.00–152.00	868	117
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,317	775.00/cwt	775.00–775.00	10,207	21
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,299	56.03/cwt	49.00–68.00	728	180
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	733	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	924	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	420	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	727	8
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,045	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	1,264	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	662	133.75/cwt	130.50–135.00	885	21
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,238	61.21/cwt	54.50–67.00	758	58
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,173	49.18/cwt	44.50–54.00	577	88
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,212	52.46/cwt	48.00–53.50	636	32
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,022	54.57/cwt	53.00–58.00	558	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	530	165.62/cwt	158.50–169.00	878	488
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	330	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	677	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	385	188.00/cwt	188.00–188.00	724	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	446	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	776	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	423	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	706	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	433	191.54/cwt	184.00–196.50	829	185
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	619	153.01/cwt	146.50–156.00	947	328
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	579	155.80/cwt	150.50–160.50	902	409
Steers	Large 1	—	1,024	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,372	4
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	423	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	783	6
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	472	168.00/cwt	168.00–168.00	793	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	906	146.10/cwt	141.00–148.25	1,324	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	496	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	843	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	568	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	914	76
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	270	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	614	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,096	49.98/cwt	46.00–55.50	548	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	720	146.34/cwt	143.00–150.00	1,054	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	674	145.11/cwt	143.50–148.00	978	40
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	379	195.33/cwt	194.00–199.00	740	58
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	478	175.49/cwt	168.00–181.00	839	180
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	320	206.90/cwt	206.00–212.50	662	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,306	59.23/cwt	54.00–69.00	774	127
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,637	66.47/cwt	65.00–67.50	1,088	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,870	70.55/cwt	70.00–71.00	1,319	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,436	64.59/cwt	64.50–65.00	928	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,510	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	936	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	968	35.00/cwt	35.00–35.00	339	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,166	43.77/cwt	40.00–47.00	510	34
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,128	39.17/cwt	36.00–40.00	442	11
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,183	50.17/cwt	50.00–50.50	594	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	971	42.27/cwt	41.00–46.00	410	4
Bulls	—	—	1,680	66.94/cwt	61.00–72.00	1,125	17
Bulls	—	—	1,949	73.38/cwt	72.50–76.50	1,430	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	576	138.39/cwt	135.00–142.25	797	246
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	530	147.12/cwt	143.50–150.50	780	176
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	476	152.54/cwt	147.00–158.00	726	148
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	484	146.13/cwt	145.00–151.00	707	23
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	582	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	762	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	889	128.86/cwt	128.00–131.00	1,146	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	813	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	1,098	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Natural	—	484	158.00/cwt	157.75–159.50	765	116
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	373	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	645	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	870	135.19/cwt	134.00–136.00	1,176	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	632	147.50/cwt	147.50–147.50	932	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,050	81.00/cwt	81.00–81.00	851	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	431	157.71/cwt	155.50–160.00	680	60
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	375	166.15/cwt	161.00–170.00	623	43
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	609	133.88/cwt	133.00–134.00	815	41
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	341	172.81/cwt	165.00–174.00	589	40
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	921	133.25/cwt	133.25–133.25	1,227	5
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	503	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	714	27
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	392	164.00/cwt	164.00–164.00	643	9
Heifers	Medium 1	—	702	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	962	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	515	136.95/cwt	135.00–142.00	705	38
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,116	66.86/cwt	63.50–77.00	746	20
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	977	82.83/cwt	74.50–92.00	809	106

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 →