Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2020-09-15

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Sep 15
● Final57 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,420 head
376 vs last sale 1,044 470 vs year ago 950 · +49.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
381 head
158 vs last sale 223 204 vs year ago 177 · +115.3%
Replacement Cattle receipts
30 head
10 vs last sale 40 13 vs year ago 43 · 30.2%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago: Yearling steers over 750 lbs, and yearling heifers over 700 lbs sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher. Unweaned calves were not tested last sale thus no comparisons can be made. Demand for yearlings was mostly moderate to good while demand for calves was mostly light to moderate. Quality this week was average to attractive. Most feeders were coming out of dry country and were in light flesh. Buyer attendance was mostly good this sale with many buyers in the stands. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding buyers were very active this sale with sever additional buyers in the market purchasing cows for feed. Packers showed a desire to purchase at least a portion of the cow offerings and were willing to give more money in order to secure offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00 lower. Feeding bull demand was significantly lower this sale with fewer participants seen this week. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week. Cows started the day offering average weigh up conditions however warmer weather was seen in the afternoon and weigh up conditions deteriorated quickly as the sale progressed.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $134.22/cwt on 924 head.
Average price
$134.22
924 head · 830 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,114
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$138
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$11.03/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.70
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1829134.411,114868
Medium and Large 1-2825132.631,09448
Large 11,015123.381,2528thin
One grade step is worth $11.03/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 sale924 hd
134.22
MT average3 barns · 1,847 hd
133.53
+0.70
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
BullsLow1,69980.931,375135
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,50566.941,00754
CowsBoner 80-85%Very Low1,40064.2890099
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,21955.6267866

Every lot, as filed

57 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 1Unweaned518150.00/cwt150.00–150.007778
HeifersMedium and Large 1635135.08/cwt131.50–138.0085824
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-293575.00/cwt75.00–75.007011
HeifersMedium and Large 1770137.29/cwt135.00–138.751,057142
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned682138.00/cwt138.00–138.009413
HeifersMedium and Large 1823135.34/cwt133.50–135.751,114157
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned396152.00/cwt152.00–152.006024
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,08373.45/cwt69.00–78.007957
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2841133.45/cwt130.50–134.501,12222
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned456165.00/cwt165.00–165.007524
SteersMedium and Large 1837144.64/cwt143.75–145.251,21122
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned456144.07/cwt142.50–145.0065716
SteersMedium and Large 1-2739148.50/cwt148.50–148.501,0976
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2736134.00/cwt134.00–134.009864
SteersMedium and Large 1Natural874144.75/cwt144.75–144.751,26551
HeifersMedium and Large 1966128.96/cwt126.00–132.001,24690
HeifersMedium and Large 1916130.37/cwt128.00–132.001,19497
SteersMedium and Large 1791147.50/cwt147.50–147.501,1679
SteersMedium and Large 1593152.50/cwt152.50–152.5090416
Bulls1,63876.01/cwt71.00–78.501,24525
CowsBoner 80-85%1,55548.00/cwt48.00–48.007461
CowsLean 85-90%1,13350.11/cwt50.00–50.505685
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21956.83/cwt52.50–57.7569321
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,32259.41/cwt55.00–61.5078512
CowsBoner 80-85%1,36259.66/cwt56.00–60.0081315
BullsReturn to Feed1,46975.84/cwt71.00–78.001,1146
BullsLight Weight1,21075.00/cwt75.00–75.009081
CowsLean 85-90%1,26354.73/cwt51.50–58.5069132
Bulls1,79082.25/cwt78.00–84.501,47282
BullsReturn to Feed1,28281.48/cwt78.50–84.501,04514
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,47067.14/cwt65.50–68.5098733
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,58768.22/cwt67.75–70.501,08317
Bulls1,96087.06/cwt85.50–89.001,7067
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45667.49/cwt67.00–68.509837
HeifersMedium and Large 1867133.68/cwt130.00–135.751,159170
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,41964.92/cwt60.00–65.7592115
CowsBoner 80-85%1,29965.35/cwt60.50–66.0084916
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,09759.43/cwt59.00–59.506528
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,51365.00/cwt65.00–65.009832
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,46466.43/cwt65.25–67.5097335
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,17565.00/cwt65.00–65.007641
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned443165.00/cwt165.00–165.007316
HeifersMedium and Large 1745139.04/cwt138.00–139.501,036118
SteersMedium and Large 1-2878132.00/cwt132.00–132.001,15910
SteersMedium and Large 1Natural757152.25/cwt152.25–152.251,15325
BullsLarge 11,042102.50/cwt102.50–102.501,0685
SteersMedium and Large 1904138.81/cwt136.50–139.751,25528
HeifersMedium and Large 1Full969123.59/cwt123.00–124.001,19815
HeifersMedium and Large 1Full885129.50/cwt128.00–129.751,14635
SteersMedium 1648153.00/cwt153.00–153.0099112
Bred HeifersMedium 1731935.00/cwt935.00–935.006,8358
SteersMedium 1Natural661154.00/cwt154.00–154.001,01810
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2793134.00/cwt134.00–134.001,06312
SteersMedium and Large 1-2770144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,1093
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2864128.65/cwt128.50–129.001,11210
BullsLarge 1Unweaned431138.00/cwt138.00–138.005954
HeifersLarge 11,015123.38/cwt122.25–124.501,2528

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.