Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2023-10-24
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-10-24

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 500 lbs sold sharply lower, with most sales 25.00-35.00 lower, steers over 500 lbs sold mostly 15.00-20.00 lower. Yearling heifers sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold sharply lower with most sales 20.00-30.00 lower, heifers over 500 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Quality was mostly average this week with a limited offering of attractive calves seen. No load lots were seen again this week as most calves continue to be offered in small packages. A winter storm is poised to hit tomorrow through the end of the week and several buyers were out of the market as a result. This, coupled with a sharply lower board positions had many buyers sitting on their hands this week. CME positions closed near steady today. The Nearby October closed at 239.425, 9.375 lower than last Tuesday, while the November closed at 235.425, 15.025 lower than last Tuesdays close. This is all in response to Fridays cattle on feed report which showed on feed and placements higher than anticipated in the pre report estimates. Several sets of calves offered buyers two rounds of vaccinations; these offerings sold with the best demand as weather has many buyers concerned over calves health. Most calves continue to be light weight and in light flesh. This also hindered demand as many are concerned with calves health going into a snowstorm and with sharply colder temperatures forecasted. Market activity was mostly moderate today and not as active as last week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and moderate to heavy offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was lighter again this week as all packers showed lighter demand for cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly 4.00-5.00 lower on boning cows lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white sold 3.00-5.00 lower however quality was not as attractive this week as last. Thin feeding or turn out cows sold steady to 3.00 lower. Cow quality was mostly plain to average this week with many sets of very thin low dressing or very low dressing cows seen. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week. Young age cows sold mostly 15.00 lower. Demand was significantly lighter from feeding cow buyers which allowed prices to slide lower.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $299.01/cwt on 1,386 head.

Average price

$299.01

1,386 head · 454 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,356

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$221

per head · Large 1 over Medium 1-2

$73.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+3.70

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Large 1	427	315.00	1,345	20
Medium and Large 1	479	300.26	1,437	820
Medium and Large 1-2	417	298.58	1,244	489
Medium 1	491	288.86	1,419	14thin
Medium and Large 2	375	278.56	1,046	40
Medium 1-2	647	242.00	1,566	3thin

One grade step is worth $73.00/cwt here — about −$221 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 sale1,386 hd

299.01

—

MT average5 barns · 4,701 hd

295.31

+3.70

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	—	Average	1,751	104.78	1,835	13
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,663	108.53	1,805	3thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,381	88.12	1,217	67
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,140	81.47	929	382

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	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,402	$1,275	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,254	$1,200	7
Bred Heifers	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	803	$1,985	12

Every lot, as filed

80 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
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	317	266.19/cwt	253.00–285.00	844	77
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	649	240.50/cwt	240.50–240.50	1,561	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	465	252.80/cwt	249.00–257.00	1,176	36
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	839	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	1,879	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	378	264.80/cwt	255.00–272.00	1,001	58
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	319	277.50/cwt	277.50–277.50	885	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	529	255.97/cwt	244.00–268.00	1,354	118
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	527	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,291	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	429	277.74/cwt	270.00–286.00	1,192	88
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	560	242.44/cwt	236.00–244.00	1,358	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	235	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	611	6
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	321	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,091	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	410	328.28/cwt	317.50–335.00	1,346	109
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	438	252.39/cwt	247.00–261.50	1,105	41
Steers	Medium 1	—	619	250.50/cwt	250.50–250.50	1,551	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	573	264.08/cwt	260.75–277.00	1,513	140
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	729	238.00/cwt	238.00–238.00	1,735	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	481	277.59/cwt	261.00–285.00	1,335	103
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	369	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	969	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	374	297.42/cwt	272.50–310.00	1,112	98
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	388	308.33/cwt	290.00–316.00	1,196	102
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	331	363.69/cwt	350.00–377.50	1,204	92
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	513	282.71/cwt	276.50–288.00	1,450	193
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	274	317.50/cwt	317.50–317.50	870	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	339	317.42/cwt	282.50–335.00	1,076	106
Steers	Medium 1-2	—	647	242.00/cwt	242.00–242.00	1,566	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	384	339.48/cwt	330.00–367.50	1,304	90
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	469	300.96/cwt	284.00–313.00	1,412	126
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	436	298.27/cwt	270.00–313.00	1,300	123
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	317	292.50/cwt	292.50–292.50	927	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	668	234.00/cwt	234.00–234.00	1,563	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	529	270.49/cwt	260.00–273.00	1,431	39
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	626	244.86/cwt	240.00–253.00	1,533	54
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	427	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,345	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	500	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,350	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	490	277.00/cwt	277.00–277.00	1,357	33
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	760	235.46/cwt	230.50–236.50	1,789	126
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	715	238.99/cwt	237.00–241.00	1,709	30
Heifers	Medium 1	—	631	242.67/cwt	242.00–243.00	1,531	15
Heifers	Medium 1	—	691	237.88/cwt	236.00–239.00	1,644	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,398	94.60/cwt	93.00–98.00	1,323	25
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,370	85.13/cwt	77.00–91.00	1,166	40
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,068	68.29/cwt	62.00–71.00	729	24
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,600	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	1,552	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,420	72.00/cwt	72.00–72.00	1,022	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,149	78.84/cwt	72.00–83.00	906	28
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,695	114.29/cwt	112.50–116.00	1,937	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	950	72.02/cwt	71.00–73.00	684	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	969	56.13/cwt	54.00–62.50	544	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,340	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	831	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,240	97.47/cwt	97.00–98.00	1,209	39
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,143	88.24/cwt	85.00–94.00	1,009	64
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,232	86.19/cwt	85.00–90.00	1,062	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,122	65.32/cwt	62.00–72.50	733	32
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,134	81.26/cwt	74.00–86.00	921	184
Bulls	—	—	1,833	108.26/cwt	106.50–110.00	1,984	5
Bulls	—	—	1,661	99.78/cwt	92.00–104.00	1,657	4
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,685	102.00/cwt	102.00–102.00	1,719	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,757	106.57/cwt	105.00–109.50	1,872	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	795	142.77/cwt	132.50–152.00	1,135	18
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	921	107.06/cwt	105.00–123.00	986	31
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	758	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,061	2
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	803	1,985.00/head	1,985.00–1,985.00	1,985	12
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,007	98.50/cwt	91.00–102.50	992	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,014	117.28/cwt	105.00–122.50	1,189	67
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,385	94.00/cwt	94.00–94.00	1,302	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	895	127.04/cwt	105.00–135.00	1,137	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	909	152.18/cwt	143.50–163.00	1,383	95
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,402	1,275.00/head	1,275.00–1,275.00	1,275	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,254	1,200.00/head	1,200.00–1,200.00	1,200	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	663	242.00/cwt	242.00–242.00	1,604	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	858	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	1,952	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	806	233.29/cwt	228.00–234.50	1,880	50
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	314	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	856	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	475	262.93/cwt	257.50–275.00	1,249	77
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	905	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	1,846	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	647	246.00/cwt	246.00–246.00	1,592	27
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	592	242.20/cwt	238.00–242.50	1,434	73
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	674	240.59/cwt	240.00–241.00	1,622	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	292	252.96/cwt	252.50–253.00	739	41

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 →