Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2021-08-03

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Aug 3
● Final49 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
289 head
108 vs last sale 397 289 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
333 head
6 vs last sale 327 333 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
277 head
206 vs last sale 71 277 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Steer quality this week was mostly plain, while heifer quality was average to very attractive. Ranchers continue to bring replacement heifers to market as the drought worsens. Most of these heifers sold to feed this week and as with the past few weeks the consigner has put up the cost to abort them. Demand for yearlings was mostly moderate to good this week. Market activity was active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings again this week. Packers saw their stiffest competition yet for cows as buyers looking for exposed weigh up cows helped support the market. Demand improved as the sale progressed and packers pushed to fill loads. Slaughter cows sold steady to firm, feeding cows sold generally steady. Feeding cow quality was not as attractive this week as the last few weeks and a bigger portion of the cows sold to slaughter or to return to the country to pregnancy test. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Bulls continue to come off pasture in thin condition as most have been out breeding cows. Yield and body condition scores continue to slide. Young age cows sold on mostly light demand and light offerings. This class of cows mostly sold to feeding buyers this week as demand from rebreed buyers was light.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $147.80/cwt on 197 head.
Average price
$147.80
197 head · 772 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,141
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$354
per head · Medium 1-2 over Medium and Large 1
$8.47/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+1.70
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1-2525155.5081612thin
Medium 1589154.009077thin
Medium and Large 1796147.031,171178
One grade step is worth $8.47/cwt here — about −$354 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 sale197 hd
147.80
MT average2 barns · 615 hd
146.09
+1.70
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
BullsLow1,76586.031,51897
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,74473.901,2895thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,41566.4294079
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,13962.61713112

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
HeifersMedium and Large 1886140.56/cwt139.00–141.001,24586
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,5001,530.98/cwt1,500.00–1,550.0022,96513
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,6881,582.00/cwt1,525.00–1,600.0026,70436
HeifersMedium and Large 1668156.47/cwt155.00–156.501,04552
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,17472.42/cwt70.00–81.0085014
SteersMedium and Large 1189375.00/cwt375.00–375.007095
HeifersMedium and Large 1815145.52/cwt141.00–148.001,18619
HeifersMedium and Large 1Full748144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,0773
SteersMedium and Large 1880149.00/cwt149.00–149.001,3114
SteersMedium and Large 1Full730158.50/cwt158.50–158.501,15713
HeifersMedium and Large 1726156.62/cwt153.00–157.501,13710
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,34067.65/cwt67.00–68.009073
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,15966.74/cwt62.50–71.507746
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,2901,525.00/cwt1,525.00–1,525.0019,6732
HeifersMedium and Large 1635156.50/cwt156.50–156.509946
HeifersMedium and Large 1Full993122.50/cwt122.50–122.501,2162
SteersMedium and Large 1783158.50/cwt158.50–158.501,2419
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,12059.12/cwt54.00–62.5066278
CowsLean 85-90%1,06759.11/cwt53.00–62.0063117
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,34965.26/cwt64.50–69.0088020
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17063.53/cwt62.00–66.5074329
CowsBoner 80-85%1,48367.52/cwt63.00–69.001,00127
BullsReturn to Feed1,44078.00/cwt78.00–78.001,1231
BullsLight Weight1,21577.00/cwt77.00–77.009361
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight96161.50/cwt61.50–61.505914
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,80570.50/cwt70.50–70.501,2731
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,36459.85/cwt58.50–63.008167
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39269.67/cwt69.50–70.0097020
CowsBoner 80-85%1,46658.25/cwt52.50–63.008544
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,15760.12/cwt56.00–63.0069622
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,71875.50/cwt75.50–75.501,2972
CowsLean 85-90%1,19264.36/cwt62.50–66.5076730
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,14573.01/cwt70.00–76.008366
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,74074.00/cwt73.50–74.501,2882
SteersMedium 1607172.00/cwt172.00–172.001,0443
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight90556.99/cwt53.00–58.505164
BullsLarge 11,18585.50/cwt85.50–85.501,0133
Bulls1,95793.24/cwt91.00–98.501,82518
Bulls1,49777.74/cwt64.00–81.501,16419
Bulls1,80886.81/cwt82.50–90.001,57058
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,14275.41/cwt72.50–79.5086115
CowsBoner 80-85%1,48573.50/cwt73.50–73.501,0911
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,22464.50/cwt64.50–64.5078910
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5951,400.00/cwt1,400.00–1,400.0022,33013
HeifersMedium 1589154.00/cwt154.00–154.009077
HeifersMedium 1-2525155.50/cwt155.50–155.5081612
SteersMedium and Large 1715169.00/cwt169.00–169.001,2083
SteersMedium 1682163.00/cwt163.00–163.001,1125
BullsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,01588.00/cwt88.00–88.008932

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.