Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2021-05-18

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, May 18
● Final49 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
329 head
481 vs last sale 810 418 vs year ago 747 · 56.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
371 head
8 vs last sale 379 181 vs year ago 190 · +95.3%
Replacement Cattle receipts
282 head
128 vs last sale 410 344 vs year ago 626 · 55.0%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Steers and heifers were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on like quality offerings. quality this week was mostly plain to average and lower than last week. A few ranchers were present this week biding against order buyers over offerings. More rain and cooler weather is forecasted for the weekend. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows and bulls comprised the majority of the sale this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand and offerings. Packers continue to purchase cows to feed and send to immediate harvest. Weigh up conditions continue to improve as green grass and warm weather has cows slicked off and emptied out making cows very attractive to buyers. Weigh up conditions did deteriorate as the sale pushed into the afternoon and warm temperatures caused cows to tank up with water. Both feeding and slaughter cows sold fully steady. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady as well. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Quality this week was average and several buyers were in the market for these type offerings. Demand for cow-calf pairs is light as many ranchers continue to show concern over both drought conditions and higher feed prices.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $132.97/cwt on 84 head.
Average price
$132.97
84 head · 654 lb average
Value per head Derived
$870
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$100
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$39.40/cwt at this weight
vs the market
11.45
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1661136.4090259
Medium and Large 1-2535133.1371215thin
Medium 1-2545128.006985thin
Large 11,03397.001,0025thin
One grade step is worth $39.40/cwt here — about −$100 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 sale84 hd
132.97
MT average3 barns · 1,568 hd
144.42
−11.45
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
BullsLow1,68687.981,48361
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,73067.251,1632thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,38964.77899158
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,18761.44729136

Every lot, as filed

49 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
Bulls1,56382.22/cwt72.00–84.501,28515
BullsReturn to Feed1,35385.93/cwt85.00–91.001,1637
BullsReturn to Feed1,25584.00/cwt84.00–84.001,0541
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,23869.06/cwt68.50–69.508556
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39861.63/cwt59.00–62.508627
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38965.02/cwt63.50–67.0090386
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,1371,500.00/cwt1,500.00–1,500.0017,0555
HeifersMedium and Large 1798121.00/cwt121.00–121.009668
HeifersMedium and Large 1213324.35/cwt300.00–390.006914
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2509135.00/cwt135.00–135.0068712
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-283780.00/cwt80.00–80.0067012
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,272919.17/cwt900.00–950.0011,69220
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3781,010.00/cwt1,010.00–1,010.0013,91810
SteersMedium and Large 1739141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,04210
SteersMedium and Large 1Full841124.00/cwt124.00–124.001,0434
HeifersMedium and Large 1565147.00/cwt147.00–147.0083119
HeifersMedium and Large 1808120.00/cwt120.00–120.009703
SteersMedium and Large 1670151.50/cwt151.50–151.501,0154
SteersMedium and Large 1632158.75/cwt157.00–160.001,00339
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed73571.00/cwt71.00–71.005221
SteersMedium and Large 1-2580153.50/cwt153.50–153.508906
BullsMedium and Large 1-2753110.00/cwt110.00–110.008283
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2639125.67/cwt124.00–129.008033
HeifersMedium and Large 1714132.00/cwt132.00–132.009425
HeifersMedium and Large 1663136.11/cwt135.00–136.5090224
HeifersMedium 1-2545128.00/cwt128.00–128.006985
SteersMedium and Large 1-2674133.00/cwt133.00–133.008964
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,11474.11/cwt63.00–89.0082658
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Fleshy1,06874.00/cwt74.00–74.007902
Stock CowsMedium and Large 195090.00/cwt70.00–103.00855144
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0651,135.00/cwt1,135.00–1,135.0012,0887
CowsLean 85-90%1,16658.73/cwt52.00–62.5068557
SteersMedium and Large 1563159.00/cwt159.00–159.008955
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,62064.50/cwt64.50–64.501,0451
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,84070.00/cwt70.00–70.001,2881
HeifersLarge 1Fleshy1,03397.00/cwt97.00–97.001,0025
SteersMedium 1-2392150.00/cwt150.00–150.005885
CowsBoner 80-85%1,37865.56/cwt63.00–67.7590340
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-290361.91/cwt61.00–64.005593
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight84062.00/cwt62.00–62.005211
Bulls1,69288.48/cwt84.00–93.001,49724
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45461.74/cwt56.50–63.0089819
CowsLean 85-90%1,15268.62/cwt68.00–69.507915
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight89256.62/cwt54.50–58.005053
Bulls2,00394.61/cwt93.00–96.501,89514
CowsLean 85-90%1,25162.59/cwt61.00–67.0078337
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,19466.16/cwt63.00–68.5079023
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,18157.18/cwt52.00–62.006758
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,25569.00/cwt69.00–69.008662

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.