Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-01-28
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-01-28

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Steer calves weighing less than 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower in a narrow comparison; 450-799 lbs steers sold mostly 4.00-7.00 lower, 800-850 lbs steers sold 10.00 lower. Feeder heifers weighing less than 450 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed. 450-599 lbs heifers sold steady to 5.00 lower, 600-699 lbs heifers sold mostly 5.00-10.00 lower. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Several load lots of backgrounded calves were on offer this week and these offerings were met with mostly moderate demand. Demand overall was light to moderate and significantly lighter than last week. CME positions have fallen off significantly over the last couple weeks and calf prices reflected lower board positions this sale. Mild winter weather has also caused calves to flesh up over the last few weeks. Most calves were in moderate flesh this week with some backgrounded calves in moderate plus flesh. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand and offerings. Packers continue to show good demand for cows to both feed and slaughter. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to weak. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Cow quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Many feeding buyers were on hand this week bidding on cows which helped create an active market. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to re-breed sold 2.00-5.00 lower on lighter demand from all buyers and fewer market participants this week.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $166.91/cwt on 1,292 head.

Average price

$166.91

1,292 head · 572 lb average

Value per head Derived

$954

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$168

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1

$2.09/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.39

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	583	167.09	975	1,093
Medium and Large 1-2	509	165.93	845	191
Medium 1	489	165.00	807	8thin

One grade step is worth $2.09/cwt here — about $168 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 sale1,292 hd

166.91

—

MT average4 barns · 2,423 hd

166.52

+0.39

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	1,688	76.47	1,291	20
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,638	64.49	1,057	12
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,477	56.92	841	18
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,152	52.85	609	81

Every lot, as filed

70 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	—	774	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	1,091	5
Steers	Medium 1	—	489	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	807	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	478	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	688	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	683	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	854	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	373	199.00/cwt	199.00–199.00	742	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1NHTC	—	538	177.50/cwt	177.50–177.50	955	68
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	443	156.09/cwt	155.00–156.50	691	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1Natural	—	521	181.50/cwt	181.50–181.50	946	121
Steers	Medium and Large 1Natural	—	485	192.50/cwt	192.50–192.50	934	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	626	158.53/cwt	153.00–161.75	992	267
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	576	165.27/cwt	157.50–172.00	952	165
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	679	143.27/cwt	142.00–147.00	973	118
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	835	132.98/cwt	128.00–138.50	1,110	74
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	539	171.82/cwt	167.50–176.00	926	71
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	588	156.50/cwt	156.50–156.50	920	96
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	367	217.93/cwt	205.00–224.00	800	42
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	469	187.22/cwt	187.00–187.50	878	35
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	733	144.42/cwt	143.00–145.00	1,059	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	318	221.20/cwt	212.50–225.00	703	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1NHTC	—	437	197.50/cwt	197.50–197.50	863	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	633	134.45/cwt	130.00–138.00	851	142
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	391	166.26/cwt	162.00–173.00	650	122
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	472	158.12/cwt	158.00–160.00	746	96
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	521	155.20/cwt	150.00–161.00	809	69
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	828	131.75/cwt	131.75–131.75	1,091	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	413	164.10/cwt	163.00–165.00	678	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	654	130.21/cwt	130.00–130.50	852	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	430	187.86/cwt	184.50–202.50	808	66
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	788	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	1,044	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	975	129.49/cwt	129.00–130.00	1,263	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	689	126.72/cwt	126.50–128.00	873	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	577	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	785	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	556	159.70/cwt	159.00–161.50	888	50
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,026	125.08/cwt	123.00–125.50	1,283	6
Heifers	Large 1	—	634	131.37/cwt	130.00–133.50	833	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	989	53.09/cwt	50.00–55.00	525	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	945	56.72/cwt	56.00–57.50	536	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,151	49.95/cwt	42.00–53.50	575	37
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,173	55.22/cwt	54.00–56.50	648	26
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,225	58.82/cwt	58.75–59.00	721	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,145	30.00/cwt	30.00–30.00	344	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,620	64.13/cwt	63.50–65.50	1,039	11
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,840	68.50/cwt	68.50–68.50	1,260	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,512	58.76/cwt	57.00–59.50	888	9
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,466	48.92/cwt	44.50–53.00	717	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,414	62.80/cwt	61.00–64.50	888	4
Bulls	—	—	1,933	85.80/cwt	84.50–87.00	1,659	2
Bulls	—	—	1,742	79.69/cwt	77.00–81.50	1,388	8
Bulls	—	—	1,595	72.03/cwt	67.00–76.00	1,149	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	561	153.01/cwt	147.00–155.00	858	267
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	595	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	797	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	454	153.60/cwt	152.00–154.00	697	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	631	130.18/cwt	130.00–132.00	821	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	398	157.50/cwt	157.50–157.50	627	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	540	148.72/cwt	148.50–149.00	803	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	242	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	426	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1NHTC	—	503	159.50/cwt	159.50–159.50	802	81
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	560	155.89/cwt	143.00–159.00	873	37
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	685	137.86/cwt	135.00–138.25	944	90
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,196	52.60/cwt	51.50–55.00	629	32
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,308	53.34/cwt	45.50–54.00	698	13
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,046	70.99/cwt	63.00–89.00	743	147
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,381	63.19/cwt	54.75–67.50	873	189
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,343	60.76/cwt	53.00–64.00	816	104
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	539	162.45/cwt	162.00–162.75	876	85
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	316	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	547	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	431	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	793	35
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	320	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	595	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	452	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	773	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	643	134.71/cwt	130.00–144.00	866	6

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 →