Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2021-03-23
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-03-23

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Steers and heifers were all too lightly tested this week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on all offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and significantly lower in quality than last weeks mostly very attractive offering. Light offerings limited demand this week as fewer buyers were on hand bidding on offerings and some buyers were reluctant to start loads due to limited supplies. Market activity was slow to moderate this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand this week. Feeding and packer buyers both showed good demand as they competed over limited offerings. Packers purchased most cows to return to feed this week. Slaughter cow demand was mostly good as packers competed with feeding buyers over lower quality or older offerings. Slaughter and feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher in a very narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Two year old to young age cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Stronger demand was seen for these offerings this week as rebreed buyers were searching for cows that lost calves.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $148.37/cwt on 182 head.

Average price

$148.37

182 head · 565 lb average

Value per head Derived

$838

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$26

per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 1

$0.64/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+3.20

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	545	149.00	812	3thin
Medium and Large 1	565	148.36	838	179

One grade step is worth $0.64/cwt here — about −$26 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 sale182 hd

148.37

—

MT average3 barns · 560 hd

145.18

+3.20

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	1,487	76.99	1,145	17
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,321	63.22	835	58
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,183	60.78	719	59

Every lot, as filed

42 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
Bulls	—	—	1,571	77.86/cwt	64.00–81.50	1,223	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,395	59.00/cwt	59.00–59.00	823	1
Bulls	—	—	1,544	82.92/cwt	82.00–83.50	1,280	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,150	63.17/cwt	61.50–65.00	726	14
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,287	64.46/cwt	61.00–72.00	830	3
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,125	78.00/cwt	78.00–78.00	878	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	483	166.03/cwt	165.00–167.25	802	43
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	668	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	875	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	975	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	1,102	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	838	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	955	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	673	126.82/cwt	126.00–129.00	853	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	487	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	891	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	517	153.99/cwt	147.00–156.00	796	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	626	157.14/cwt	155.50–159.00	984	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	725	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	1,001	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	456	164.00/cwt	164.00–164.00	748	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	579	142.85/cwt	138.00–146.00	827	52
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	539	171.16/cwt	170.00–181.00	923	27
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	429	165.73/cwt	165.50–166.00	711	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	594	161.47/cwt	160.00–167.50	959	14
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	764	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	978	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	545	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	812	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	693	150.50/cwt	150.50–150.50	1,043	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	772	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	965	16
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,128	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	733	20
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,398	1,110.00/cwt	1,110.00–1,110.00	15,518	65
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	613	136.98/cwt	133.50–140.00	840	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	745	124.50/cwt	124.50–124.50	928	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	391	185.76/cwt	184.00–189.50	726	24
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	511	164.00/cwt	164.00–164.00	838	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	928	52.88/cwt	51.00–54.50	491	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,264	63.12/cwt	59.50–63.25	798	27
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,335	64.16/cwt	63.50–65.50	857	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,465	880.66/cwt	875.00–885.00	12,902	14
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	998	90.39/cwt	83.00–105.00	902	56
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	995	84.70/cwt	75.50–100.00	843	20
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,109	58.54/cwt	51.50–60.00	649	9
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,314	63.10/cwt	62.00–64.50	829	50
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,330	67.32/cwt	67.00–67.50	895	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,555	58.50/cwt	58.50–58.50	910	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,144	53.83/cwt	49.50–56.00	616	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	890	42.00/cwt	42.00–42.00	374	1

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 →