Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2023-03-21
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-03-21

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeder heifers sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Quality this sale was mixed from plain to very attractive. Demand was mostly good to very good today for moderate offerings. A large crowd of ranchers was on hand for todays annual trailhead replacement heifer special. Several ranchers reported they planned to sort and feed the bottom end of the heifers and breed the front end. Market activity was mostly active to very active this week as a very large crowd was on hand actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows were all too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Major packers and local packers continue to be very aggressive as they fight over limited offerings. Packers purchased a few attractive offerings to feed this week. No feeding cows were seen last week so no comparisons can be made. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Cow quality was average to attractive this sale. Bull quality was mixed. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to attractive to buyers this sale. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher, with sharply higher sales seen on very attractive offerings. Several buyers looking for young cows that lost calves were very active this week. Demand for young open cows was good to very good.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $210.67/cwt on 915 head.

Average price

$210.67

915 head · 625 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,317

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$260

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

$3.24/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.27

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	498	213.80	1,066	32
Medium and Large 1	630	210.56	1,326	883

One grade step is worth $3.24/cwt here — about −$260 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 sale915 hd

210.67

—

MT average3 barns · 1,179 hd

210.40

+0.27

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	1,868	115.17	2,151	7thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,490	96.37	1,436	4thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,358	93.42	1,268	24
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,187	86.96	1,033	25

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)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,359	$2,100	10
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,465	$2,100	5
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,158	$1,950	9
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,146	$1,050	4thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	914	$1,750	4thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,352	$1,875	3thin

Every lot, as filed

58 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
Bulls	—	—	1,795	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,903	1
Bulls	—	—	2,030	125.74/cwt	125.50–126.00	2,553	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,158	1,950.00/head	1,950.00–1,950.00	1,950	9
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,146	1,050.00/head	1,050.00–1,050.00	1,050	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,025	95.00/cwt	95.00–95.00	974	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,061	109.02/cwt	86.00–125.00	1,157	20
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	909	131.35/cwt	114.00–142.00	1,194	5
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	770	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	924	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	931	147.99/cwt	120.00–166.00	1,378	36
Bred Heifers	Medium 1	—	914	1,750.00/head	1,750.00–1,750.00	1,750	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,359	2,100.00/head	2,100.00–2,100.00	2,100	10
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,465	2,100.00/head	2,100.00–2,100.00	2,100	5
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,352	1,875.00/head	1,875.00–1,875.00	1,875	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	655	210.72/cwt	210.50–212.00	1,380	68
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	565	215.54/cwt	206.00–219.50	1,218	58
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	771	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	1,380	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	426	222.72/cwt	215.00–227.50	949	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	700	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	1,190	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	563	200.93/cwt	200.00–205.50	1,131	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	531	213.73/cwt	212.50–214.50	1,135	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	519	226.44/cwt	215.00–228.50	1,175	41
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	787	1,450.64/head	1,400.00–1,500.00	1,451	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	846	1,450.00/head	1,450.00–1,450.00	1,450	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	632	213.71/cwt	205.00–217.50	1,351	380
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	576	218.58/cwt	209.00–228.00	1,259	111
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	662	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,258	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	636	223.02/cwt	220.50–226.50	1,418	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	564	246.00/cwt	246.00–246.00	1,387	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	678	196.79/cwt	189.00–205.00	1,334	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	550	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,210	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	495	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,163	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	522	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,383	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	726	183.34/cwt	178.00–186.00	1,331	44
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	527	244.58/cwt	243.00–252.00	1,289	11
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	443	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	1,008	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	790	185.50/cwt	185.50–185.50	1,465	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	737	198.61/cwt	190.00–200.50	1,464	52
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	457	257.83/cwt	252.00–272.50	1,178	7
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	489	225.50/cwt	225.00–226.00	1,103	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	469	219.72/cwt	217.50–222.00	1,030	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	428	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,006	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	868	165.99/cwt	164.00–167.00	1,441	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	618	203.88/cwt	202.50–206.00	1,260	67
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	836	168.62/cwt	168.00–169.00	1,410	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	382	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	928	3
Bulls	—	—	1,805	112.18/cwt	111.00–115.00	2,025	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,307	94.13/cwt	93.50–96.00	1,230	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,315	86.50/cwt	86.50–86.50	1,137	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	900	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	765	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,416	89.98/cwt	88.50–92.00	1,274	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,105	70.00/cwt	70.00–70.00	774	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,235	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	1,198	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,421	98.95/cwt	97.00–101.50	1,406	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,295	85.50/cwt	85.50–85.50	1,107	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,490	96.37/cwt	96.00–97.00	1,436	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,215	82.70/cwt	80.00–85.50	1,005	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,191	91.39/cwt	86.00–93.50	1,088	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,178	89.00/cwt	89.00–89.00	1,048	3

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 →