Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2019-12-10
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-12-10

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was mostly moderate to good on light offerings. Steer calves weighing less than 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed, 450-549 lbs steers sold mostly 3.00-9.00 higher in a narrow comparison, 550-599 lbs steers sold 1.00-3.00 higher, steer calves weighing over 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves 450-549 lbs offered the best test this week, these offerings sold steady to 4.00 higher. All other heifer calves were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive and much higher quality than was seen last week. Demand for weaned calves continue to improve. Weaned calves were of much higher quality this week compared to last. Market activity was moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate for mostly heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold steady to 1.00 lower in a narrow comparison. The majority of cows were destined for feed this week as packers sent mostly lame or blemished cow to immediate harvest. Feeding cows sold unevenly steady on high quality feeding cows suitable to feed to feed to premium white. Thin feeding cows destined for short term feed sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 lower. Young age cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand this sale. Cows suitable to re-breed sold mostly 4.00-8.00 lower. Offerings were average to attractive, and young age cows were older overall this week as several long strings of 4 year old cows sold.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $161.76/cwt on 1,716 head.

Average price

$161.76

1,716 head · 537 lb average

Value per head Derived

$868

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$301

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2

$39.89/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+1.33

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	539	164.35	886	1,514
Medium 1	536	151.50	812	20
Medium and Large 1-2	542	150.56	817	117
Medium and Large 2	620	131.00	812	3thin
Medium 2	470	124.46	585	62

One grade step is worth $39.89/cwt here — about $301 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 sale1,716 hd

161.76

—

MT average5 barns · 5,520 hd

160.44

+1.33

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	1,847	70.47	1,302	15
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,574	68.70	1,081	8thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,408	58.46	823	6thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,137	42.73	486	44

Every lot, as filed

81 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	—	477	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	706	42
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	622	133.73/cwt	128.50–136.00	832	98
Heifers	Medium 1	—	474	122.50/cwt	122.50–122.50	581	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	582	130.48/cwt	128.50–137.00	759	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	440	146.46/cwt	135.00–149.00	644	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	430	159.85/cwt	153.00–168.00	687	204
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	489	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	697	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	378	146.32/cwt	145.00–150.00	553	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	932	138.25/cwt	138.25–138.25	1,288	13
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,507	64.02/cwt	63.00–64.50	965	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,614	71.50/cwt	71.50–71.50	1,154	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,268	55.00/cwt	55.00–55.00	697	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	554	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	776	44
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	511	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	782	62
Bulls	—	—	1,651	65.76/cwt	62.50–69.50	1,086	7
Bulls	—	—	2,019	74.59/cwt	73.00–76.50	1,506	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,136	35.36/cwt	31.00–38.50	402	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,388	54.50/cwt	52.50–56.00	756	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,428	62.43/cwt	61.00–65.00	892	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,135	43.42/cwt	39.00–45.00	493	34
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,147	68.31/cwt	58.00–84.00	784	140
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,219	61.61/cwt	56.00–74.00	751	28
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,252	55.95/cwt	51.50–64.00	700	126
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	412	191.53/cwt	180.00–194.00	789	61
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	602	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	879	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	489	160.41/cwt	154.00–164.00	784	14
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,181	775.00/cwt	775.00–775.00	9,153	19
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,376	59.40/cwt	53.00–67.50	817	92
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	956	82.57/cwt	65.00–89.00	789	81
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	473	175.69/cwt	172.00–181.00	831	284
Steers	Medium 1	—	536	151.50/cwt	151.50–151.50	812	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	705	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	973	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	689	144.50/cwt	144.50–144.50	996	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	633	155.27/cwt	154.00–156.00	983	71
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	575	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	805	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	383	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	651	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	973	132.83/cwt	132.50–133.50	1,292	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	321	199.93/cwt	190.00–202.50	642	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	567	155.29/cwt	152.50–157.50	880	74
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	366	189.26/cwt	186.50–199.00	693	104
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	528	160.45/cwt	155.00–168.00	847	169
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	882	136.56/cwt	135.00–138.50	1,204	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	530	150.04/cwt	142.00–151.00	795	104
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	797	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,044	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	612	130.18/cwt	125.00–133.75	797	140
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	518	142.34/cwt	137.00–145.00	737	117
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,067	121.75/cwt	121.50–122.00	1,299	6
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,042	127.89/cwt	127.50–128.00	1,333	9
Heifers	Medium 1	—	354	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	549	19
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,207	48.01/cwt	43.50–51.50	579	22
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,092	48.73/cwt	47.00–51.00	532	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,175	44.81/cwt	41.50–51.00	527	44
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,061	42.44/cwt	41.00–49.00	450	13
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,209	726.43/cwt	625.00–785.00	8,783	40
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	975	31.00/cwt	31.00–31.00	302	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Natural	—	356	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	580	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	515	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	778	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	784	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	949	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	484	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	731	17
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	375	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	548	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	431	151.63/cwt	148.00–161.00	654	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	519	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	703	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	628	153.32/cwt	145.00–155.50	963	308
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	487	169.47/cwt	165.00–172.00	825	34
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	664	145.16/cwt	142.00–146.00	964	57
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	403	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	729	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	379	182.79/cwt	182.50–183.00	693	16
Steers	Medium 2Unweaned	—	470	124.46/cwt	121.00–128.00	585	62
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	714	142.14/cwt	138.00–143.00	1,015	63
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	563	158.58/cwt	157.25–161.50	893	71
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	520	163.24/cwt	155.00–168.00	849	139
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	478	149.03/cwt	144.00–153.00	712	194
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	721	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	872	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	580	149.28/cwt	147.50–150.00	866	35
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	620	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	812	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	466	155.83/cwt	140.00–167.00	726	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	533	149.98/cwt	146.00–152.00	799	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	666	128.61/cwt	121.00–129.75	857	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	490	131.31/cwt	131.00–132.00	643	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	472	119.38/cwt	117.50–127.00	563	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	571	128.57/cwt	125.00–131.00	734	68

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 →