Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2023-02-21

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Feb 21
● Final37 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
209 head
151 vs last sale 360 190 vs year ago 19 · +1,000.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
169 head
138 vs last sale 31 44 vs year ago 125 · +35.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
776 head
495 vs last sale 281 669 vs year ago 107 · +625.2%
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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 higher undertones were noticed on heifers. Demand was mostly good today for light offerings. Despite limited offerings buyers showed good demand for all offerings. Quality this week was mostly average. Market activity was mostly moderate to active today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Another offering of fed cows were seen again this week. Premium white cows sold generally steady. Fed cow offerings were pushing more fill this week compared to last. Breaking cows sold generally steady, boning and lean cows 3.00-4.00 higher. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to trend as most cows were purchased for immediate harvest. Cow quality was average to attractive this sale. Weigh up conditions were mixed this sale as a cold front and winter storm had many cows tanked up on feed and water. Slaughter bulls sold 1.00-3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, higher undertones were noticed. A heavy offering of bred cows was seen this sale. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive. 3rd trimester is from through the end of May. Several May calving cows were seen this sale and these offering sold at a discount to March calving cows.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $208.93/cwt on 158 head.
Average price
$208.93
158 head · 541 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,130
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$191
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$1.00/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+15.84
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1547209.001,142148
Medium and Large 1-2458208.0095210thin
One grade step is worth $1.00/cwt here — about $191 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 sale158 hd
208.93
MT average3 barns · 246 hd
193.09
+15.84
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
BullsLow1,668108.991,81812
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,64190.401,48349
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,43788.441,27126
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,54288.271,36124
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,14384.7596936

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 $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,027$1,910181
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,195$1,734153
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,361$1,56373
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,307$1,42692
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)929$1,2006
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,031$1,950147

Every lot, as filed

37 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
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Registered1,5701,550.00/head1,550.00–1,550.001,55016
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3161,440.57/head1,300.00–1,660.001,44186
Bred CowsMedium 1-29291,200.00/head1,200.00–1,200.001,2006
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1965103.17/cwt80.50–132.0099637
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1392,052.36/head2,025.00–2,100.002,05271
Bred CowsMedium 1-29551,817.94/head1,550.00–1,875.001,818110
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3021,566.05/head1,375.00–1,660.001,56657
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0671,984.91/head1,935.00–2,125.001,985106
Bred HeifersMedium 1-29371,860.00/head1,860.00–1,860.001,86041
Bulls1,47689.50/cwt89.50–89.501,3213
Bulls1,619113.46/cwt108.00–115.501,8376
Bulls1,958119.53/cwt117.00–124.002,3403
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,1771,210.14/head1,100.00–1,260.001,2106
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1936143.99/cwt137.00–146.001,34825
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1951,734.18/head1,650.00–1,850.001,734153
SteersMedium and Large 1593219.00/cwt219.00–219.001,2994
SteersMedium and Large 1525233.50/cwt233.50–233.501,22615
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2501201.00/cwt201.00–201.001,0075
HeifersMedium and Large 1400223.00/cwt223.00–223.008921
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement571198.50/cwt198.50–198.501,13340
HeifersMedium and Large 1522217.60/cwt217.50–219.001,13691
HeifersMedium and Large 1634185.43/cwt183.00–188.501,17616
SteersMedium and Large 1-2435222.50/cwt222.50–222.509682
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2414215.00/cwt215.00–215.008905
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,49290.50/cwt90.50–90.501,3505
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight92082.42/cwt79.50–85.507582
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight88062.00/cwt62.00–62.005461
CowsLean 85-90%1,16382.03/cwt77.25–84.5095415
CowsLean 85-90%1,26093.25/cwt93.00–93.501,1752
CowsLean 85-90%1,15587.94/cwt85.00–92.501,01616
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,67088.46/cwt88.00–93.001,47744
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,67182.51/cwt80.25–86.501,3795
CowsBoner 80-85%1,41383.67/cwt80.00–86.501,1826
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42988.84/cwt86.00–92.001,27013
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42095.00/cwt95.00–95.001,3492
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,381107.50/cwt107.50–107.501,4855
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,50889.79/cwt87.50–90.501,35419

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.