Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2023-05-02

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, May 2
● Final48 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
222 head
1,479 vs last sale 1,701 428 vs year ago 650 · 65.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
177 head
102 vs last sale 75 124 vs year ago 301 · 41.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
189 head
49 vs last sale 140 66 vs year ago 255 · 25.9%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested this week and last week to develop any market trend. Quality this sale was mostly plain to average, with a limited offering of attractive cattle. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Cattle were offered in mostly small packages or as singles forcing buyers to piece together loads. CME feeder cattle contract prices were lower today as most nearby contracts traded 3.75-3.925 lower. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows were lightly tested last week so all comparisons are narrow. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend, boning and lean cows sold mostly 2.00 lower. Heavier cow supplies are being seen across much of the upper plains as some regions of the county have started to brand calves and cull cows. This has allowed for supplies to ease slightly and prices to slip lower. Feeding cows sold on mostly good demand as packers prepare for lighter supplies during the summer months. Feeding cows sold with lower undertones in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold on moderate to good demand this sale. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady to lower undertones were noticed. Cow and bull quality was mostly average this week. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week. Young age cows comprised a large portion of the sale again this week as ranchers continue to sell off cows which lost calves. Young age cows sold mostly steady to firm.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $253.45/cwt on 105 head.
Average price
$253.45
105 head · 619 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,568
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$582
per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 1
$36.15/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+9.74
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1355287.501,0213thin
Medium and Large 1-2523262.601,37310thin
Medium and Large 1638251.351,60392
One grade step is worth $36.15/cwt here — about −$582 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 sale105 hd
253.45
MT average3 barns · 1,725 hd
243.71
+9.74
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
BullsHigh1,780112.071,99547
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,68097.681,6413thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,39192.471,28635
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,16886.421,00947

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 Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,035$2,00115

Every lot, as filed

48 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
CowsLean 85-90%1,19287.82/cwt84.50–91.501,04720
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,71599.00/cwt99.00–99.001,6981
CowsBoner 80-85%1,36583.66/cwt81.00–85.001,1423
CowsBoner 80-85%1,31088.98/cwt86.50–91.501,1662
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight76560.00/cwt60.00–60.004591
CowsLean 85-90%1,11179.86/cwt72.00–84.5088714
Bulls2,378123.50/cwt123.50–123.502,9372
Bulls1,684101.98/cwt85.00–111.001,71715
Bulls1,987125.72/cwt123.00–128.502,4987
Bulls1,858117.09/cwt112.00–121.002,17617
BullsLight Weight1,23397.26/cwt87.00–107.001,1992
BullsReturn to Feed1,378107.83/cwt107.00–109.001,4863
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1923173.69/cwt133.00–188.001,60397
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,068105.65/cwt103.00–108.001,1282
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,045124.03/cwt102.50–152.001,29628
Stock CowsMedium 1733162.54/cwt160.00–165.001,1912
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,16494.93/cwt91.50–100.001,1054
Stock CowsLarge 1962150.71/cwt148.00–151.001,45020
Bred HeifersMedium 19911,935.00/head1,935.00–1,935.001,9359
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,1002,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1006
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy583246.00/cwt246.00–246.001,4349
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2573219.03/cwt200.00–226.001,2558
HeifersMedium 1405230.00/cwt230.00–230.009326
HeifersMedium and Large 185200.00/head200.00–200.002001
HeifersMedium 1-2341225.00/cwt225.00–225.007674
HeifersMedium and Large 1645225.56/cwt224.00–226.001,4559
SteersMedium 1355287.50/cwt287.50–287.501,0213
SteersMedium and Large 1674247.35/cwt237.00–254.001,66754
SteersMedium and Large 1573275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,57616
SteersMedium and Large 1508276.00/cwt276.00–276.001,4022
SteersMedium and Large 1759211.00/cwt211.00–211.001,6014
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy543251.00/cwt251.00–251.001,3637
SteersMedium and Large 1-2543249.00/cwt249.00–249.001,3523
SteersMedium and Large 1-2648242.00/cwt242.00–242.001,5682
SteersMedium and Large 1-2461279.00/cwt279.00–279.001,2865
HeifersMedium and Large 1547258.50/cwt258.50–258.501,41425
HeifersMedium and Large 1773197.50/cwt197.50–197.501,52715
BullsMedium and Large 1100350.00/head350.00–350.003501
BullsMedium and Large 1969175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,6966
BullsMedium and Large 1573245.52/cwt237.50–252.001,4079
BullsMedium and Large 1725192.43/cwt189.00–196.001,3954
CowsLean 85-90%1,17893.99/cwt93.50–94.501,1072
Bulls1,570102.00/cwt102.00–102.001,6011
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39794.15/cwt90.50–97.501,31516
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,35986.14/cwt86.00–86.501,1717
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,44399.75/cwt99.75–99.751,4397
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,66397.02/cwt95.50–98.501,6132
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,23693.95/cwt93.50–94.501,16110

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.