Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2023-10-31
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-10-31

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold sharply higher, with most sales 25.00-35.00 higher, steers over 450 lbs sold mostly 12.00-15.00 higher. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 5.00 higher. 450-550 lbs heifers sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher, heifer calves over 550 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly average to very attractive this week and over all much more attractive than last weeks sale. The first full load lot of calves sold this week, and demand was very good. Multiple partial loads sold today and demand was good to very good on these offerings. More buyers were seen this week following last weeks winter storm which kept most buyers out of the market. Higher CME positions also helped improve demand as contract positions have rebounded slightly from last weeks lows. CME positions closed near steady today. The November contract closed at 237.70, 2.275 higher than last Tuesdays close. Several sets of calves offered buyers two rounds of vaccinations; these offerings continue to sell with the best demand. Market activity was mostly moderate to active today and significantly more active than last week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand and moderate to heavy offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was light to moderate this week. Demand for slaughter cows improved as the sale progressed. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on all offerings in a narrow comparison. Most cows continue to be purchased to feed as all both packers and private farmer feeders continue to buy cows to feed. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white sold 2.00-3.00 higher. Thin feeding or turn out cows sold mostly 1.00 to 3.00 higher. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive this week and significantly higher than last week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week, with good weigh up seen for buyers early in the day and poorer weigh up conditions seen later in the day. Young age cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Demand was moderate to good for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $291.48/cwt on 942 head.

Average price

$291.48

942 head · 531 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,547

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$104

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

$26.99/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+4.84

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	464	298.92	1,387	124
Medium and Large 1	540	291.42	1,575	773
Large 1	548	271.93	1,490	45

One grade step is worth $26.99/cwt here — about −$104 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 sale942 hd

291.48

—

MT average4 barns · 1,521 hd

286.63

+4.84

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Low	1,635	96.86	1,584	7thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,738	102.00	1,772	2thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,407	91.77	1,291	143
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,199	83.51	1,001	308

Every lot, as filed

67 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	—	520	242.00/cwt	242.00–242.00	1,258	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	369	298.01/cwt	290.00–318.00	1,100	64
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	—	535	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,418	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	331	322.95/cwt	317.50–332.00	1,069	28
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	546	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	1,294	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	473	277.03/cwt	266.00–286.00	1,310	70
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	580	240.43/cwt	235.00–245.00	1,394	36
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	676	221.00/cwt	221.00–221.00	1,494	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	433	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,429	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	529	274.55/cwt	272.00–275.00	1,452	27
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	612	257.42/cwt	251.00–260.00	1,575	125
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	482	315.79/cwt	306.00–331.00	1,522	95
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	664	247.50/cwt	247.50–247.50	1,643	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	647	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,520	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	631	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,533	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	578	256.00/cwt	256.00–256.00	1,480	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	693	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,608	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	314	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,115	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	475	302.00/cwt	302.00–302.00	1,435	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	566	279.47/cwt	260.00–287.00	1,582	326
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	447	321.00/cwt	321.00–321.00	1,435	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	516	298.97/cwt	284.00–313.50	1,543	153
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	498	266.00/cwt	266.00–266.00	1,325	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	388	319.75/cwt	312.50–338.00	1,241	27
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	586	255.43/cwt	254.00–260.00	1,497	32
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	367	391.50/cwt	380.00–410.00	1,437	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	425	357.19/cwt	332.50–383.00	1,518	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	869	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	1,781	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	435	267.19/cwt	263.00–277.50	1,162	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	523	265.92/cwt	254.00–273.00	1,391	231
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	366	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,318	27
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	420	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,386	81
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	501	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,202	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,670	103.50/cwt	103.50–103.50	1,728	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,435	82.37/cwt	77.00–88.00	1,182	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,805	100.50/cwt	100.50–100.50	1,814	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,505	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,595	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,380	96.89/cwt	92.00–103.25	1,337	57
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,417	89.54/cwt	83.50–94.00	1,269	62
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,166	65.93/cwt	52.00–69.50	769	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	906	72.92/cwt	71.50–75.00	661	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	920	67.00/cwt	67.00–67.00	616	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,222	90.30/cwt	85.00–95.50	1,103	133
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,298	85.50/cwt	85.50–85.50	1,110	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,137	73.23/cwt	69.50–84.50	833	41
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,540	103.00/cwt	103.00–103.00	1,586	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,206	78.51/cwt	72.00–86.00	947	90
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,480	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	1,628	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,210	98.99/cwt	97.50–100.00	1,198	16
Bulls	—	—	1,738	95.67/cwt	84.00–103.00	1,663	4
Bulls	—	—	1,560	105.68/cwt	105.00–106.50	1,649	2
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,375	84.00/cwt	84.00–84.00	1,155	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,023	123.48/cwt	94.00–151.00	1,263	92
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	998	104.00/cwt	104.00–104.00	1,038	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,119	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,175	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	835	107.50/cwt	107.50–107.50	898	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	922	135.89/cwt	131.00–148.00	1,253	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	907	155.47/cwt	120.00–162.50	1,410	102
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	485	253.68/cwt	253.00–255.00	1,230	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	274	229.67/cwt	222.50–242.50	629	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	305	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	885	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	560	261.00/cwt	261.00–261.00	1,462	54
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	482	259.91/cwt	253.50–264.00	1,253	10
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	383	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,092	4
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	572	237.52/cwt	228.00–239.50	1,359	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	420	284.18/cwt	277.00–295.00	1,194	192
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	372	277.64/cwt	272.50–287.50	1,033	9

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 →