Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-12-01
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-12-01

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Unweaned steer calves sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher. Heifers under 550 lbs sold mostly 6.00-12.00 higher, heifers over 550 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was average to very attractive and much more attractive than last weeks light run. Many sets of calves were purchased to run on grass this coming summer and these offerings sold with the best demand. Demand for weaned calves was mostly good this week. Market activity was mostly active with bidders quickly bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packers showed light demand for all cows not suitable to feed. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 lower on all classes. Feeding cows sold weak on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white and mostly 1.00 lower on short term feeding cows. Cow quality this week was average with many thin cows seen again this week. Slaughter bulls sold with steady to lower undertones. Packers showed light demand for bulls this week and offerings that were not suitable to feed sold lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold unevenly steady. Demand remains mostly good for young cows. Many cows continue to sell light and in thin flesh.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $153.36/cwt on 784 head.

Average price

$153.36

784 head · 497 lb average

Value per head Derived

$763

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$413

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$36.36/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+8.28

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	499	154.36	770	692
Medium and Large 1-2	469	147.23	691	86
Medium and Large 2	417	134.00	559	3thin
Large 1	1,003	118.00	1,184	3thin

One grade step is worth $36.36/cwt here — about −$413 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 sale784 hd

153.36

—

MT average3 barns · 1,210 hd

145.08

+8.28

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	1,800	71.38	1,285	26
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,522	61.10	930	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,315	51.29	675	72
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,127	42.66	481	266

Every lot, as filed

70 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
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	936	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	1,193	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	327	202.50/cwt	202.50–202.50	662	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	685	145.90/cwt	144.00–146.00	999	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	303	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	568	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	446	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	678	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	363	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	599	27
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	668	133.50/cwt	133.50–133.50	892	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	432	158.19/cwt	156.50–160.50	683	83
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	329	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	617	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	828	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	1,081	39
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	505	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	768	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	814	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,140	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	558	138.21/cwt	135.00–140.00	771	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	411	198.16/cwt	188.00–206.00	814	80
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	476	188.70/cwt	178.00–191.00	898	76
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	413	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	739	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	404	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	848	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	484	152.76/cwt	149.50–159.00	739	36
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	522	171.04/cwt	159.00–177.50	893	173
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	463	155.60/cwt	153.50–159.50	720	58
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	565	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	802	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	519	153.43/cwt	147.00–156.00	796	87
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	895	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,190	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	390	204.60/cwt	195.00–211.00	798	37
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	530	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	848	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	724	141.50/cwt	141.50–141.50	1,024	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	593	147.75/cwt	147.00–150.00	876	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	377	165.75/cwt	164.00–168.00	625	39
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	613	151.50/cwt	146.00–154.50	929	58
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,304	46.30/cwt	44.00–47.50	604	17
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,360	47.00/cwt	47.00–47.00	639	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	840	27.50/cwt	27.50–27.50	231	1
Bulls	—	—	1,853	65.36/cwt	54.00–74.00	1,211	7
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,662	70.81/cwt	64.00–74.00	1,177	12
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,984	78.38/cwt	77.50–80.50	1,555	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,129	59.00/cwt	59.00–59.00	666	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,430	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	887	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,524	62.18/cwt	58.50–64.50	948	14
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,328	53.34/cwt	49.00–59.50	708	47
Cows	Boner 80-85%Light Weight	—	958	43.00/cwt	43.00–43.00	412	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,350	51.00/cwt	51.00–51.00	689	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	934	80.26/cwt	50.00–91.00	750	103
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	1,003	118.00/cwt	118.00–118.00	1,184	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,490	46.00/cwt	46.00–46.00	685	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,176	49.82/cwt	46.50–56.00	586	22
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,033	34.02/cwt	25.00–36.00	351	42
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,143	41.97/cwt	38.50–46.00	480	44
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	417	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	559	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	469	167.24/cwt	167.00–167.50	784	102
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,150	43.19/cwt	38.00–46.00	497	130
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,165	47.35/cwt	46.50–51.00	552	13
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,055	800.00/cwt	800.00–800.00	8,440	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,000	66.71/cwt	50.00–88.00	667	95
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	425	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	774	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	477	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	687	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	958	37.99/cwt	36.50–41.00	364	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	962	44.39/cwt	42.00–47.00	427	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	348	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	546	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	438	150.72/cwt	148.00–151.00	660	35
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	900	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	1,017	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	982	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	1,100	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	509	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	814	16
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,055	650.00/cwt	650.00–650.00	6,858	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	304	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	483	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	491	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	899	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	688	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	1,046	74
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	504	178.35/cwt	166.00–179.50	899	62
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	532	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	718	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	389	189.16/cwt	186.00–190.00	736	44
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	433	154.14/cwt	151.00–163.00	667	120

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 →