Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-08-25
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-08-25

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale(8-11-20): Feeder steers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested either this week or last, however higher undertones were noticed on heifer weighing less than 750 lbs and heifers over over 750 lbs sold with lower undertones. Quality this week was mostly average and offered in small packages. Demand was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Dry conditions continue to be noticed across much of the eastern portions of the state. The majority of yearlings on offer this sale were in very light to light flesh. Very warm weather was seen across the state over the last couple days and all cattle were pushing heavy fill as a result. Market activity this week was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for light offerings. Packers showed lighter demand for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold 3.00-5.00 lower on lean cows boning and breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady to lower undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold 1.00-3.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. Feeding bull buyers purchased a large portion of the bull offering this week. Feeding bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower. Young age cows sold with lower undertones in a narrow comparison. Young age cow quality this week was mostly average to attractive.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $134.45/cwt on 280 head.

Average price

$134.45

280 head · 799 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,075

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$303

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$19.68/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.58

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	636	137.18	872	42
Medium and Large 1	825	134.77	1,112	222
Medium and Large 1-2	847	124.19	1,051	13thin
Large 1	1,000	117.50	1,175	3thin

One grade step is worth $19.68/cwt here — about −$303 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 sale280 hd

134.45

—

MT average2 barns · 443 hd

135.03

−0.58

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	—	Low	1,842	86.84	1,600	71
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,575	66.67	1,050	12
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,433	60.94	873	8thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,237	55.18	682	64

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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,080	42.79/cwt	39.50–46.50	462	2
Heifers	Medium 1	—	610	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	851	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	715	144.25/cwt	138.75–145.00	1,031	60
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,193	73.14/cwt	71.50–76.00	873	22
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,083	97.50/cwt	97.50–97.50	1,056	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	778	136.44/cwt	134.50–137.25	1,062	31
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	848	136.25/cwt	136.25–136.25	1,155	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	772	142.97/cwt	142.50–143.50	1,104	15
Steers	Small and Medium 2-3	—	424	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	254	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	831	134.50/cwt	134.00–135.00	1,118	49
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	923	127.28/cwt	125.00–128.25	1,175	54
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,435	58.68/cwt	55.00–60.50	842	3
Bulls	—Natural	—	1,795	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	1,472	1
Bulls	—	—	1,714	76.21/cwt	71.00–80.50	1,306	7
Bulls	—	—	1,790	86.32/cwt	83.00–90.00	1,545	35
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,575	66.67/cwt	66.00–66.75	1,050	12
Bulls	—Natural	—	1,924	89.10/cwt	87.00–90.00	1,714	13
Bulls	—Natural	—	2,030	96.00/cwt	96.00–96.00	1,949	1
Bulls	—	—	1,952	91.05/cwt	89.00–93.50	1,777	14
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,230	54.79/cwt	51.50–59.00	674	55
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	786	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	1,096	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	676	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	980	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,340	67.00/cwt	67.00–67.00	898	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,649	65.76/cwt	63.50–67.00	1,084	12
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,334	61.81/cwt	60.00–63.00	825	7
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,431	62.29/cwt	62.00–63.50	891	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	915	133.93/cwt	133.50–134.50	1,225	29
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	404	160.50/cwt	160.50–160.50	648	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	740	144.50/cwt	144.50–144.50	1,069	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	772	128.06/cwt	125.00–131.00	989	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	980	122.50/cwt	122.50–122.50	1,201	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	966	118.00/cwt	118.00–118.00	1,140	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	783	75.50/cwt	75.50–75.50	591	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,279	67.35/cwt	62.50–73.00	861	4
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,000	117.50/cwt	117.50–117.50	1,175	3
Heifers	Medium 1	—	674	133.76/cwt	133.50–134.00	902	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	654	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	968	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	988	124.50/cwt	124.50–124.50	1,230	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	894	128.75/cwt	128.75–128.75	1,151	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	864	135.36/cwt	135.00–136.00	1,170	11

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 →