Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-04-07
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-04-07

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: The best test for steers was for 750-799 lbs which sold mostly 2.00 lower. All other weights of steers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Feeder heifers were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Replacement quality heifers sold on moderate to good demand. Replacement heifers made up much of the heifer market. Quality this week outside of load lots was mostly plain to average. Load lots were of mostly attractive quality. Market activity this week was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand and light offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 6.00-8.00 lower on boning and lean cows, breaking cows were mostly purchased to feed so no trend is available. Demand for feeding cows was light this week and significantly lighter than last week. Feeding cows sold mostly 10.00-13.00 lower than last week. Packer buyers which were the contending bidders on most sets of feeding cows last week showed very light demand for all cows on offer. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. Quality this week outside of the one load lot of cows was mostly plain to average. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold mostly 2.00-5.00 lower. Quality was average to attractive. Demand for these offerings was mostly moderate as feeder demand continues to keep this market mostly stabilized. Feeders are switching to 2 year old heiferettes as these cattle are lower risk due to low purchase cost compared to yearlings.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $131.52/cwt on 220 head.

Average price

$131.52

220 head · 742 lb average

Value per head Derived

$976

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$282

per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium 2

$29.86/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−3.23

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	564	144.86	818	28
Medium and Large 1	776	129.97	1,009	187
Medium 2	466	115.00	536	5thin

One grade step is worth $29.86/cwt here — about $282 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 sale220 hd

131.52

—

MT average3 barns · 1,497 hd

134.76

−3.23

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	68.22	1,152	29
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,520	54.50	828	1thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,530	47.82	732	9thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,170	42.92	502	20

Every lot, as filed

48 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 2	—	466	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	536	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	930	113.45/cwt	111.50–113.50	1,055	41
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	487	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	813	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	670	142.34/cwt	142.00–142.50	954	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	787	130.26/cwt	121.00–131.00	1,025	68
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	80	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	100	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	405	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	571	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	360	165.50/cwt	165.50–165.50	596	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	588	145.39/cwt	144.50–148.00	855	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	514	154.50/cwt	154.50–154.50	794	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	644	130.90/cwt	130.50–131.00	843	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	797	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	932	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	433	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	697	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,334	48.73/cwt	45.50–52.50	650	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	926	84.91/cwt	70.00–99.00	786	32
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,164	61.71/cwt	52.00–83.00	718	26
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	970	44.00/cwt	44.00–44.00	427	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	745	89.00/cwt	89.00–89.00	663	1
Bulls	—	—	2,088	81.82/cwt	80.50–83.00	1,708	2
Bulls	—	—	1,921	76.45/cwt	68.00–79.50	1,469	8
Bulls	—	—	1,618	65.13/cwt	62.00–69.00	1,054	16
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,175	53.65/cwt	50.00–60.00	630	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	955	42.00/cwt	42.00–42.00	401	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,580	55.50/cwt	55.50–55.50	877	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,383	50.48/cwt	50.00–51.00	698	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,571	45.65/cwt	43.00–49.50	717	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,520	54.50/cwt	54.50–54.50	828	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,175	34.54/cwt	31.00–37.50	406	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,293	48.02/cwt	47.50–48.50	621	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,158	43.09/cwt	41.00–47.00	499	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	604	150.65/cwt	144.50–156.00	910	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	815	113.50/cwt	113.50–113.50	925	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,503	55.27/cwt	50.00–56.00	831	56
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	977	96.25/cwt	89.50–103.00	940	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	436	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	597	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	629	124.06/cwt	122.00–125.50	780	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	462	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	624	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	929	94.00/cwt	94.00–94.00	873	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	766	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	804	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	571	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	885	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	723	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	925	59
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	779	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	950	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	464	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	664	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	360	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	540	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	763	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	801	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	100	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	175	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	800	92.00/cwt	92.00–92.00	736	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	150	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	563	1

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 →