Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2022-05-03

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, May 3
● Final57 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
650 head
324 vs last sale 974 119 vs year ago 769 · 15.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
301 head
26 vs last sale 275 100 vs year ago 401 · 24.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
255 head
137 vs last sale 118 27 vs year ago 282 · 9.6%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on steers and steady undertones were noticed on heifers. A heavy offering of replacement heifers were seen today. These offerings were met with mostly good to very good demand. Quality was mostly very attractive on all replacement quality heifers. Feeder cattle were mostly average in quality this week. Market activity was active with both ranchers and order buyers actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 lower on all classes this week. The majority of cows destined for slaughter are lower quality cows or cows not suitable to feed. Feeding cow demand was mostly good again this week as packers and independent feeders both competed over offerings. Feeding cows sold steady to weak. Heavy cow and bull receipts have been seen over the last month or so as a series of spring snow storms have killed a large number of calves. This has drove up the number of cows for offer. The cutter cow cutout has seen pressure over the last few weeks as heavy supplies have forced the cutout lower. The cutter cow cutout closed today at 221.69. Prior to the snow storms the cutout was hovering between 227.00 and 229.00. Weigh up conditions were average this week for both cows and bulls. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly very good demand. Several buyers were very active in bidding on these offerings and pushed prices higher as they attempted to fill loads. Many cows had lost calves in the recent storms and were very attractive in quality. These offerings sold mostly 8.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $154.48/cwt on 473 head.
Average price
$154.48
473 head · 725 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,120
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$186
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$7.10/cwt at this weight
vs the market
6.13
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1735155.071,139433
Medium and Large 2475149.007086thin
Medium and Large 1-2644147.9795334
One grade step is worth $7.10/cwt here — about $186 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 sale473 hd
154.48
MT average3 barns · 1,978 hd
160.61
−6.13
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
BullsAverage1,71697.131,66739
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,46881.081,19012
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,40579.051,111132
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,20768.7283083

Every lot, as filed

57 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
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,10996.01/cwt92.50–110.501,0657
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,14992.66/cwt80.00–113.001,065110
HeifersMedium and Large 1471176.70/cwt176.50–177.0083233
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement681157.39/cwt154.50–161.001,07255
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Replacement618151.00/cwt151.00–151.009334
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement785155.22/cwt150.75–158.001,218221
HeifersMedium and Large 2580141.00/cwt141.00–141.008183
HeifersMedium and Large 1642159.24/cwt157.00–159.501,0229
HeifersMedium and Large 1799136.75/cwt136.75–136.751,09337
SteersMedium and Large 1-2718150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,0773
SteersMedium and Large 1-2578168.50/cwt168.50–168.509744
SteersMedium and Large 1517210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,08650
HeifersMedium and Large 2370157.00/cwt157.00–157.005813
HeifersMedium and Large 1681153.08/cwt151.00–155.001,04243
SteersMedium and Large 1-2433195.00/cwt195.00–195.008445
SteersMedium and Large 1729158.00/cwt158.00–158.001,15210
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2785134.00/cwt134.00–134.001,0529
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement727158.00/cwt158.00–158.001,14917
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement810144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,16618
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2399172.00/cwt172.00–172.006864
SteersMedium and Large 1-2765150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,1489
SteersMedium and Large 1-2619169.83/cwt169.50–170.501,0516
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2633149.00/cwt149.00–149.0094317
BullsLarge 11,250106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,3251
BullsLarge 11,180114.00/cwt114.00–114.001,3451
BullsMedium and Large 1-2789128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,0104
BullsMedium and Large 1930128.12/cwt127.00–130.001,19213
BullsMedium and Large 1885128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,1331
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,57581.50/cwt81.00–82.001,2842
CowsBoner 80-85%1,44280.58/cwt77.00–81.001,16231
Bulls1,72697.71/cwt94.50–101.001,68615
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40881.11/cwt78.50–83.501,14270
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,45085.00/cwt85.00–85.001,2331
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,09373.50/cwt73.50–73.508032
CowsLean 85-90%1,08159.62/cwt54.00–62.506444
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight95554.00/cwt54.00–54.005161
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17476.46/cwt76.00–78.508986
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,48080.00/cwt78.50–81.001,1845
Bulls2,041105.37/cwt103.00–107.502,1516
CowsLean 85-90%1,21576.82/cwt74.00–77.5093313
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight98575.50/cwt75.50–75.507441
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,41382.00/cwt82.00–82.001,1595
CowsBoner 80-85%1,36369.84/cwt69.25–74.0095217
CowsBoner 80-85%1,49084.50/cwt84.50–84.501,2591
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,34075.19/cwt74.50–76.001,00812
CowsLean 85-90%1,24666.42/cwt63.00–73.5082853
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight95270.49/cwt67.50–72.006713
Bulls1,53080.00/cwt80.00–80.001,2241
BullsNatural1,850104.00/cwt104.00–104.001,9243
BullsNatural1,67695.67/cwt95.00–100.001,6039
BullsLight Weight1,39077.00/cwt77.00–77.001,0701
BullsReturn to Feed1,28384.00/cwt84.00–84.001,0782
BullsReturn to Feed1,33896.01/cwt95.00–97.001,2852
Stock CowsLarge 1990113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,1192
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,25675.39/cwt75.00–78.009477
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,13580.00/cwt80.00–80.009081
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1982114.99/cwt102.00–124.501,12998

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.