Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2020-05-12

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, May 12
● Final48 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
456 head
129 vs last sale 585 99 vs year ago 357 · +27.7%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
168 head
2 vs last sale 170 22 vs year ago 190 · 11.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
339 head
102 vs last sale 237 769 vs year ago 1,108 · 69.4%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Quality this week was mostly average. Feeders were mostly offered in small to medium size packages, with no load lots seen this sale. Demand was moderate for light grass cattle demand improved this sale as more participants were seen. Market activity this week was moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers were aggressive as they bought cows to feed and to send to immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher on all classes. Cow quality this week was mostly average to attractive and most cows offered buyers a weigh up in their favor. Green grass has emptied many cows and has yielding conditions a solid 1-2 percent higher overall compared to last week. Packers were aggressive in buying feeding cows this week as well. Packers purchased older cows for short term feed to harvest during the Memorial day holiday, as well as high quality cows to feed to premium white to meet late summer demand. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 4.00-6.00 higher on a higher yielding offering compared to last week. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold on mostly moderate demand. These offerings sold steady to firm. Quality was average.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $131.26/cwt on 163 head.
Average price
$131.26
163 head · 629 lb average
Value per head Derived
$826
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$138
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$16.28/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+6.56
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1633133.46845141
Medium and Large 1-2604117.1870722
One grade step is worth $16.28/cwt here — about $138 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 sale163 hd
131.26
MT average3 barns · 570 hd
124.71
+6.56
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
BullsAverage1,66581.791,36230
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,55361.2295121
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,46660.7889134
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,20156.3267654

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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
SteersLarge 1656137.00/cwt137.00–137.008997
HeifersMedium and Large 1875101.50/cwt101.50–101.508883
HeifersMedium and Large 1500144.00/cwt144.00–144.007207
HeifersMedium and Large 1653130.60/cwt125.00–133.7585336
HeifersMedium and Large 1582140.00/cwt140.00–140.0081540
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2567135.00/cwt135.00–135.007655
SteersMedium and Large 1587157.50/cwt157.50–157.5092523
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,65856.37/cwt54.50–58.009352
HeifersMedium and Large 1486147.00/cwt147.00–147.007148
HeifersMedium and Large 1758116.75/cwt116.75–116.7588520
HeifersMedium and Large 1635137.80/cwt132.50–142.0087525
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2525132.50/cwt132.50–132.506964
HeifersMedium and Large 1738124.00/cwt124.00–124.009152
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,54261.73/cwt59.00–63.0095219
CowsLean 85-90%1,20040.00/cwt40.00–40.004801
CowsLean 85-90%1,14064.33/cwt62.50–66.007332
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45956.06/cwt54.00–57.008187
CowsBoner 80-85%1,55259.98/cwt59.00–61.5093111
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40963.40/cwt62.00–65.5089316
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3191,331.59/cwt1,300.00–1,400.0017,56413
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,464935.00/cwt935.00–935.0013,68812
BullsLight Weight1,26075.00/cwt75.00–75.009451
BullsLight Weight1,24071.28/cwt67.00–76.008842
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight91047.50/cwt47.50–47.504322
SteersMedium and Large 1-2675139.00/cwt139.00–139.009384
SteersMedium and Large 1-2547152.62/cwt152.50–153.008354
SteersMedium and Large 1-2882115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,0143
SteersMedium and Large 1682146.75/cwt146.75–146.751,00132
SteersMedium and Large 1713140.00/cwt140.00–140.0099824
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 11,0331,800.00/cwt1,800.00–1,800.0018,5949
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,2801,723.75/cwt1,650.00–1,750.0022,06434
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,1281,800.00/cwt1,800.00–1,800.0020,30416
SteersMedium and Large 1640148.00/cwt148.00–148.0094719
SteersMedium and Large 1-2645140.50/cwt140.50–140.5090616
SteersMedium and Large 1516176.95/cwt175.00–179.5091318
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,36058.20/cwt56.00–61.0079217
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,07285.49/cwt75.00–100.0091678
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,15667.96/cwt61.00–85.5078683
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,32661.94/cwt57.00–65.0082139
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,534975.00/cwt975.00–975.0014,9577
CowsLean 85-90%1,18854.93/cwt51.00–57.5065328
CowsLean 85-90%1,25259.02/cwt57.50–61.5073921
BullsLarge 11,34083.50/cwt83.50–83.501,1191
Bulls1,76183.87/cwt82.00–89.001,47713
Bulls1,57178.45/cwt74.50–81.501,23211
Bulls2,01094.28/cwt90.00–98.501,8953
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy594107.00/cwt107.00–107.006367
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy698104.00/cwt104.00–104.007266

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.