Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2023-02-14
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-02-14

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on steers and steady to weak undertones were noticed on heifers. Demand was mostly moderate to good today for light offerings. Demand for cattle suitable to run on grass remains good. Limited offerings weighed on the market slightly as some buyers were unwilling to start loads without knowing if they could finish. Quality this week was average to attractive. Most offerings were weaned 60-90 days or more. Market activity was mostly moderate to active today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. A heavy offering of fat cows were seen today as several ranchers sold fed cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher on breaking and boning cows, lean cows sold 5.00-8.00 higher. Several sets of very thin cows were seen this week and these offerings were met with mostly very good demand. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Cow quality was average to attractive this sale. Weigh up conditions were mostly average. Slaughter bulls sold 3.00-5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $196.19/cwt on 162 head.

Average price

$196.19

162 head · 582 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,142

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$106

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

$4.39/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.64

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	518	200.50	1,039	3thin
Medium and Large 1	584	196.11	1,144	159

One grade step is worth $4.39/cwt here — about −$106 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 sale162 hd

196.19

—

MT average3 barns · 1,483 hd

196.83

−0.64

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	1,734	110.19	1,911	11
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	Low	1,626	89.07	1,448	120
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,550	87.47	1,356	40
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,299	86.85	1,128	25
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,138	78.76	896	67

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age

Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,567	$1,285	7

Every lot, as filed

36 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
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	478	243.71/cwt	240.00–245.00	1,165	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	680	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	1,251	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	567	222.86/cwt	217.00–227.50	1,264	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	732	195.82/cwt	188.00–196.00	1,433	67
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,567	1,285.00/head	1,285.00–1,285.00	1,285	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,081	77.00/cwt	77.00–77.00	832	10
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,191	81.09/cwt	80.00–83.00	966	12
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,250	92.00/cwt	92.00–92.00	1,150	1
Bulls	—	—	1,711	110.22/cwt	108.00–113.00	1,886	8
Bulls	—	—	2,068	119.14/cwt	115.00–123.50	2,464	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	928	76.74/cwt	75.00–80.00	712	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,214	87.75/cwt	87.75–87.75	1,065	14
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,420	90.00/cwt	90.00–90.00	1,278	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,218	83.26/cwt	79.00–87.00	1,014	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,129	75.75/cwt	69.00–78.00	855	43
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	—	1,410	84.50/cwt	84.50–84.50	1,191	12
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	—	1,649	89.55/cwt	87.25–90.75	1,477	107
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	—	1,770	92.00/cwt	92.00–92.00	1,628	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,156	87.00/cwt	87.00–87.00	1,006	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,379	83.86/cwt	82.00–86.50	1,156	8
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,660	83.50/cwt	83.50–83.50	1,386	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,480	90.59/cwt	87.50–95.50	1,341	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,620	88.25/cwt	88.25–88.25	1,430	22
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,455	86.49/cwt	85.50–87.50	1,258	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	584	194.46/cwt	192.50–196.00	1,136	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	580	198.00/cwt	198.00–198.00	1,148	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	585	192.14/cwt	188.00–205.00	1,124	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	346	242.50/cwt	242.50–242.50	839	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	850	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,318	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	603	209.77/cwt	209.00–210.00	1,265	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	658	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	1,211	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	603	193.65/cwt	188.50–199.50	1,168	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	518	200.50/cwt	200.50–200.50	1,039	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	484	211.25/cwt	206.00–212.00	1,022	49
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	667	183.89/cwt	183.50–184.50	1,227	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	597	189.50/cwt	189.50–189.50	1,131	5

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 →