Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-10-27
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-10-27

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Unweaned steer calves under 400 lbs sold weak, 400-549 lbs sold 10.00-15.00 higher; 550-599 lbs steers sold fully steady, steers over 600 lbs were too lightly tested to trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Unweaned heifer calves 400-599 lbs sold mostly 3.00-7.00 higher; heifers over 600 lbs were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive and significantly higher than last week. Calves were mostly offered in moderate to large size packages. CME positions saw sharp increases over the last few days. The October closed at 134.30, November closed at 132.30 and January closed at 128.425. The stands were full this week and buyers were much more active. Market activity was very active as a result. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packers sent a larger portion of the offering to slaughter this week. Many cows continue to be very light weight and thin as dry conditions followed by extreme cold has further stressed cows and deteriorated flesh scores. Packers were very selective of the cows they shipped to feed lots as a result. Slaughter cows sold steady to firm. Feeding cows sold fully steady. Weigh up conditions were mostly average this week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. 2-3 year olds suitable to feed or re-breed sold steady to weak. Quality was plain to average this week.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $159.51/cwt on 1,871 head.

Average price

$159.51

1,871 head · 503 lb average

Value per head Derived

$802

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$7

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$19.21/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+6.26

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	503	159.81	805	1,783
Medium and Large 1-2	456	157.42	719	67
Large 1	577	140.59	811	21

One grade step is worth $19.21/cwt here — about −$7 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 sale1,871 hd

159.51

—

MT average5 barns · 4,128 hd

153.25

+6.26

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	—	Average	1,726	74.34	1,283	16
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,500	64.53	968	13
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,374	59.07	812	60
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,133	50.21	569	524

Every lot, as filed

60 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 and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	519	146.94/cwt	142.00–151.00	763	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	301	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	424	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,300	53.50/cwt	53.50–53.50	696	3
Bulls	—	—	2,010	80.50/cwt	80.50–80.50	1,618	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,163	55.00/cwt	51.00–61.50	640	187
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,734	78.06/cwt	75.00–83.00	1,354	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,184	51.86/cwt	49.00–55.00	614	50
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,367	57.96/cwt	56.50–62.50	792	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	584	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	818	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	457	139.59/cwt	139.00–140.00	638	24
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	480	156.50/cwt	154.00–158.50	751	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	848	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	975	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	516	158.00/cwt	153.00–160.00	815	176
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	672	123.57/cwt	123.00–124.00	830	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	328	171.48/cwt	155.00–183.00	562	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	982	104.10/cwt	100.00–105.00	1,022	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	385	190.56/cwt	182.50–198.00	734	123
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	374	141.36/cwt	140.00–150.00	529	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	547	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	662	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	316	149.82/cwt	144.00–151.00	473	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	858	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	978	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	384	155.08/cwt	152.00–160.00	596	115
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	413	154.73/cwt	147.00–158.00	639	114
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	581	121.30/cwt	121.00–122.00	705	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	630	140.25/cwt	134.00–142.50	884	88
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	517	138.39/cwt	135.00–140.00	715	127
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	424	176.32/cwt	164.00–183.50	748	222
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	598	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	765	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1Natural	—	459	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	822	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	363	176.63/cwt	175.00–179.00	641	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	335	204.30/cwt	202.50–207.00	684	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	389	168.00/cwt	168.00–168.00	654	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	512	141.50/cwt	141.50–141.50	724	46
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	675	133.16/cwt	128.00–134.50	899	38
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	481	162.09/cwt	155.50–166.00	780	604
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	570	144.69/cwt	139.50–149.50	825	466
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	450	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	779	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	832	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,073	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	467	147.28/cwt	140.00–152.00	688	406
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	551	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	760	18
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	810	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	486	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,017	64.85/cwt	58.00–75.00	660	14
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	936	80.48/cwt	66.50–86.00	753	49
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	590	136.23/cwt	134.00–137.00	804	15
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	545	151.50/cwt	151.50–151.50	826	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,486	65.31/cwt	64.00–69.00	971	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,379	64.07/cwt	63.00–65.00	884	17
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,112	64.50/cwt	64.50–64.50	717	9
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,367	64.50/cwt	64.50–64.50	882	10
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,580	60.21/cwt	57.00–63.50	951	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,094	49.02/cwt	45.00–51.00	536	90
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,500	50.50/cwt	50.50–50.50	758	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	950	43.69/cwt	41.50–47.00	415	7
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,995	74.75/cwt	74.75–74.75	1,491	1
Bulls	—	—	1,640	69.68/cwt	63.00–74.50	1,143	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,125	46.20/cwt	44.00–49.00	520	132
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,375	43.00/cwt	43.00–43.00	591	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	935	40.33/cwt	31.00–43.00	377	11
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,139	41.84/cwt	33.00–44.50	477	38
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,368	49.28/cwt	46.50–50.00	674	6

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 →