Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2021-10-26
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-10-26

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was moderate on an average to attractive quality offering. Steer calves under 400 lbs sold uneven in a narrow comparison. 400-599 lbs steers sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher. Steers over 600 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, lower undertones were noticed. Heifer calves under 400 lbs sold sharply lower, with most sales 10.00-20.00 lower, 400 lbs and heavier sold mostly steady to 6.00 lower. Quality this week was average to attractive on a lighter offering than was seen last week. Demand for cattle was stronger to start the sale as most offerings traded higher than last week. Price spreads remained very large as calves with 2 rounds of vaccinations sold with the best demand. Rain in the upper plains and corn belt also put some pressure on the market as some buyers were not willing to take calves due to weather. Transportation continues to be a huge burden on the market as buyers remain strapped for trucks and most will not buy calves without wheels to put under them. Buyers continued the same buying pattern as last week. Mostly buying front end calves, especially ones with two rounds of vaccinations and passed or discounted average quality calves or calves with only spring shots. Heavy discounts continue to be seen on plain or average quality cattle. Market activity this week was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised a large portion of the sale as over 2600 cows were on offer. Demand for cows was mostly moderate despite very heavy offerings. Feeding buyers led the market this week as buyers pushed offerings higher. Very thin offerings were in very good demand as these offerings offered lots of compensatory gain. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold steady to firm on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Many sets of cows were purchased to turn out on corn stalks or put on a holding ration until the market improves. The majority of cows this week were purchased to feed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend. Feeding bull prices were generally steady this week. Most bulls sold as feeding bulls this week as both packers and feeding bull buyers both purchased bulls for this purpose. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Demand for 2 year old heifers was mostly good this week as buyers showed optimism in the feeding market. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive and slightly higher than last week.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $183.22/cwt on 1,088 head.

Average price

$183.22

1,088 head · 450 lb average

Value per head Derived

$824

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$185

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

$17.06/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+13.44

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	457	184.48	843	998
Medium 1-2	267	178.00	475	15thin
Medium and Large 1-2	393	167.43	658	75

One grade step is worth $17.06/cwt here — about $185 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 sale1,088 hd

183.22

—

MT average4 barns · 6,341 hd

169.77

+13.44

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	1,628	75.75	1,234	44
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,693	67.50	1,143	2thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,392	59.36	826	118
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,128	46.61	526	719

Every lot, as filed

68 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 1Unweaned	—	513	152.18/cwt	142.00–156.00	781	97
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	371	160.32/cwt	159.25–165.00	595	108
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,004	136.75/cwt	136.75–136.75	1,373	4
Heifers	Large 1	—	862	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	1,164	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	882	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,235	11
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,493	1,005.00/cwt	1,005.00–1,005.00	15,005	20
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	903	1,150.00/cwt	1,150.00–1,150.00	10,385	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	891	78.00/cwt	78.00–78.00	695	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,017	45.00/cwt	45.00–45.00	458	27
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,196	71.00/cwt	71.00–71.00	849	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	904	102.49/cwt	78.00–119.00	927	165
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	976	79.49/cwt	56.50–95.50	776	184
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,330	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	825	15
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,248	56.50/cwt	56.50–56.50	705	10
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	906	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,169	10
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	888	50.00/cwt	50.00–50.00	444	4
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,661	78.28/cwt	75.00–83.00	1,300	18
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,530	73.32/cwt	72.00–74.50	1,122	7
Bulls	—	—	1,627	71.60/cwt	63.00–73.50	1,165	10
Bulls	—	—	1,641	77.21/cwt	75.00–83.50	1,267	9
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,410	66.53/cwt	66.00–67.00	938	31
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,693	67.50/cwt	67.50–67.50	1,143	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,341	55.50/cwt	55.50–55.50	744	16
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,126	35.64/cwt	31.00–39.50	401	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,196	48.51/cwt	47.00–50.50	580	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,107	43.76/cwt	39.00–46.00	484	66
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,148	51.68/cwt	48.00–58.00	593	259
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	923	47.00/cwt	47.00–47.00	434	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,360	50.35/cwt	43.00–53.00	685	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,238	60.29/cwt	59.00–61.00	746	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	956	31.31/cwt	26.00–35.50	299	11
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,153	45.79/cwt	41.00–48.50	528	243
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	314	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	631	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	393	156.93/cwt	155.00–160.00	617	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	293	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	469	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	422	163.04/cwt	162.00–164.00	688	41
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	322	157.74/cwt	151.00–160.00	508	23
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	318	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	512	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	257	194.00/cwt	194.00–194.00	499	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	555	140.93/cwt	131.00–145.00	782	51
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	345	153.85/cwt	152.00–160.00	531	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	477	156.07/cwt	146.00–162.50	744	154
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	519	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	789	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	377	182.50/cwt	182.50–182.50	688	12
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	385	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	558	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	314	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	542	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	459	151.96/cwt	140.00–161.00	697	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	257	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	488	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	424	195.18/cwt	184.00–201.00	828	140
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	317	210.95/cwt	193.00–220.00	669	140
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	455	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	651	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	516	172.70/cwt	155.50–188.50	891	245
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	371	197.27/cwt	190.00–205.00	732	89
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	561	165.28/cwt	154.00–172.50	927	175
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	416	161.11/cwt	155.50–165.00	670	23
Steers	Medium 1-2Unweaned	—	267	178.00/cwt	178.00–178.00	475	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	611	159.95/cwt	152.00–163.75	977	32
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	258	204.48/cwt	202.50–205.00	528	38
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	470	183.98/cwt	166.00–196.00	865	139
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	428	157.41/cwt	155.50–164.00	674	61
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	333	164.16/cwt	160.00–174.00	547	61
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	778	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	1,113	6
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,058	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,418	23
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	528	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	700	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	389	150.34/cwt	142.50–152.50	585	23
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,041	39.82/cwt	37.50–42.00	415	106
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,402	52.36/cwt	43.00–55.50	734	25
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,396	61.07/cwt	56.00–64.00	853	40

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 →