Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2020-03-17

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Mar 17
● Final40 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
911 head
473 vs last sale 1,384 911 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
30 head
105 vs last sale 135 30 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
79 head
136 vs last sale 215 79 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Steer calves were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Feeder heifers sold steady to 3.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Demand for feeder cattle was moderate to good this sale. CME positions traded sharply higher pushed by sharply higher boxed beef sales over the last week. Several sets of replacement quality heifers sold today as Miles city Livestock Commission held their annual Trailhead replacement heifer special. Demand for replacement quality heifers was mostly good to very good. Market activity was mostly active as many bidders and buyers were on hand creating a very active market. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. All middle age and older cows were destined for immediate harvest as packers showed mostly good demand for all cows on offer. Lean cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 higher, all other classes of slaughter cows were too lightly tested to trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Feeding cows were not tested this week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $150.33/cwt on 525 head.
Average price
$150.33
525 head · 604 lb average
Value per head Derived
$908
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$87
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$8.16/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+6.16
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1605150.60911508
Medium and Large 1-2579142.4482417thin
One grade step is worth $8.16/cwt here — about $87 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 sale525 hd
150.33
MT average3 barns · 1,320 hd
144.17
+6.16
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
BullsAverage1,81080.411,4563thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,53566.001,0131thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,71056.509661thin
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,17053.6362722

Every lot, as filed

40 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
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,2911,000.00/cwt1,000.00–1,000.0012,9107
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Replacement685134.50/cwt134.50–134.509217
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Replacement731127.00/cwt127.00–127.009284
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement682143.90/cwt139.00–144.50981138
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement614156.33/cwt145.50–160.5096078
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement702143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,00451
HeifersMedium and Large 1481161.00/cwt161.00–161.0077441
HeifersMedium and Large 1421166.57/cwt160.00–167.5070140
HeifersMedium and Large 1632140.75/cwt139.00–144.0089039
HeifersMedium and Large 1513160.03/cwt154.00–164.0082133
HeifersMedium and Large 1706124.50/cwt124.50–124.508794
CowsLean 85-90%1,13552.70/cwt47.50–56.5059815
SteersMedium and Large 1664148.50/cwt148.50–148.509869
SteersMedium and Large 1-2494165.00/cwt165.00–165.008158
SteersMedium and Large 1-2659142.00/cwt142.00–142.009365
SteersMedium and Large 1428186.00/cwt186.00–186.0079642
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2353162.00/cwt162.00–162.005726
HeifersMedium and Large 1580149.58/cwt147.00–156.5086879
SteersMedium and Large 1-2502163.00/cwt163.00–163.008183
SteersMedium and Large 1-2422165.00/cwt165.00–165.006963
SteersMedium and Large 1532186.50/cwt186.50–186.50992125
SteersMedium and Large 1573156.42/cwt155.00–160.0089670
SteersMedium and Large 1286190.00/cwt190.00–190.005434
SteersMedium and Large 1623155.54/cwt150.00–158.5096922
Bred CowsSmall and Medium 2-3655375.00/cwt375.00–375.002,45615
Bred CowsSmall and Medium 2-3831550.00/cwt550.00–550.004,57111
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2001,475.00/cwt1,475.00–1,475.0017,7007
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,0661,485.00/cwt1,485.00–1,485.0015,8304
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2561,450.00/cwt1,450.00–1,450.0018,21211
SteersMedium and Large 1786131.01/cwt129.50–131.501,0308
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,14763.05/cwt60.50–68.007236
Stock CowsMedium and Large 196086.06/cwt83.50–90.008265
CowsLean 85-90%1,29959.89/cwt58.00–63.507785
CowsLean 85-90%1,10545.00/cwt45.00–45.004972
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,71056.50/cwt56.50–56.509661
CowsBoner 80-85%1,53566.00/cwt66.00–66.001,0131
Bulls1,86883.61/cwt79.50–86.501,5622
Bulls1,69574.00/cwt74.00–74.001,2541
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Full499157.50/cwt157.50–157.507865
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fancy550162.00/cwt162.00–162.008915

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.