Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2020-03-03

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Mar 3
● Final45 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
848 head
341 vs last sale 507 848 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
90 head
50 vs last sale 140 90 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
115 head
29 vs last sale 144 115 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Steer and heifer calves were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on all feeders on offer. Quality this week was average to attractive. The majority of cattle on offer were in light to moderate flesh and purchased to go into grass programs. Cattle suitable to run on grass or develop into yearlings sold on mostly good demand. Feedlot ready cattle sold on mostly light to moderate demand, however demand was noticeably better than last week. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packer buyers purchased the majority of the cow offering for immediate harvest this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. A limited selection of cows returned to feed this week as feeding buyers purchased mostly fleshy cows that were previously on feed to return to feed. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady to lower undertones were noticed. Pressure from lower fed cattle markets continue to pressure feeding cow demand.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $161.60/cwt on 445 head.
Average price
$161.60
445 head · 629 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,017
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$102
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 1
$1.77/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.15
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2561163.339179thin
Medium and Large 1631161.571,019436
One grade step is worth $1.77/cwt here — about −$102 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 sale445 hd
161.60
MT average3 barns · 1,150 hd
161.45
+0.15
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
BullsLow1,77379.261,4068thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,54161.8795313
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,42158.7183414
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,18554.4864633

Every lot, as filed

45 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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
SteersMedium and Large 1689152.00/cwt152.00–152.001,047147
HeifersMedium and Large 1412176.96/cwt175.00–179.0072914
HeifersMedium and Large 1532161.95/cwt159.00–164.0086223
HeifersMedium and Large 1624144.19/cwt137.00–149.0090036
HeifersMedium and Large 1658135.40/cwt133.00–137.008915
SteersMedium and Large 1436195.00/cwt195.00–195.008509
SteersMedium and Large 1581174.00/cwt174.00–174.001,01111
CowsBoner 80-85%1,39158.87/cwt57.00–61.0081912
HeifersMedium and Large 1579156.23/cwt149.00–159.5090554
HeifersMedium and Large 1475171.23/cwt164.50–176.0081370
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2598147.00/cwt147.00–147.008793
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2476164.00/cwt164.00–164.007814
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2393173.50/cwt173.50–173.5068212
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,54762.34/cwt61.00–63.0096411
CowsLean 85-90%1,12045.00/cwt45.00–45.005041
CowsLean 85-90%1,16952.07/cwt47.00–55.5060915
CowsLean 85-90%1,24558.21/cwt56.50–61.5072515
CowsBoner 80-85%1,55063.00/cwt63.00–63.009771
CowsBoner 80-85%1,64552.50/cwt52.50–52.508641
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed93151.77/cwt49.50–56.004827
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,05152.00/cwt49.00–59.0054726
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight88849.39/cwt44.50–53.504392
SteersMedium and Large 1618162.14/cwt159.00–168.001,002105
SteersMedium and Large 1516189.40/cwt181.00–190.0097745
SteersMedium and Large 1750143.25/cwt143.25–143.251,07431
SteersMedium and Large 1469188.88/cwt188.00–195.0088623
SteersMedium and Large 1719147.00/cwt147.00–147.001,05719
Stock CowsMedium and Large 191087.00/cwt87.00–87.007922
Stock CowsMedium and Large 198397.44/cwt88.00–103.0095824
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,18660.48/cwt60.00–62.5071721
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,55260.21/cwt59.75–62.5093412
SteersMedium and Large 1-2536166.00/cwt166.00–166.008905
SteersMedium and Large 1-2593160.00/cwt160.00–160.009494
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-277097.00/cwt97.00–97.007471
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,50559.31/cwt58.00–60.508932
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy578164.25/cwt164.25–164.2594920
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy731136.50/cwt136.50–136.509984
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy765135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,0334
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy489175.00/cwt175.00–175.0085611
SteersMedium and Large 1Full657144.00/cwt144.00–144.009467
BullsMedium and Large 1520163.00/cwt163.00–163.008481
BullsMedium and Large 1711137.58/cwt135.50–139.0097810
BullsMedium and Large 1583161.00/cwt161.00–161.0093923
Bulls2,19274.83/cwt74.00–77.001,6403
Bulls1,52281.92/cwt81.50–83.001,2475

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.