Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2023-11-14
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-11-14

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold sharply lower with most sales 15.00-25.00 lower, steers over 450 lbs sold unevenly steady with front end calves selling higher and plain to average quality calves selling lower. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 10.00 lower. Heifers over 450 lbs sold unevenly steady, with front end calves selling higher and plain to average quality calves selling lower. Quality was mostly attractive to very attractive this week and offered buyers some of the best quality of the fall for this auction. Many load lots were seen this week and demand was mostly good to very good for all cattle offered in load lot quantity. Calves suitable to go to grass sold on moderate demand this week, significantly lighter demand than has been seen in recent weeks. Fewer takers were seen for grass calves as some buyers took a week off from buying following sharply lower CME contract prices. Calves with two rounds of vaccinations sold with very good demand, especially for heifers and light weight steers. Very high quality calves sold on good demand regardless of vaccination status. CME positions traded with triple digit gains today on all contracts except the nearby November. The Nearby November closed at 230.05, 2.175 lower than last Tuesday, while the January closed at 229.00, 1.825 lower than last Tuesdays close. Market activity was mostly active today with a large buyer pool on hand of both ranchers and order buyers. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and heavy offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly light this week as all packers showed lighter demand for cows for immediate harvest. Heavy supplies of cows across the Northern tier of the country are being seen as many cows are testing open. Breaking slaughter cows were not well compared this week as most were purchased to feed. Boning cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Lean cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower on a lower yielding offering. A large portion of the cow offering was purchased to feed this week. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly 5.00-6.00 lower. Thin feeding or turn out cows sold steady to firm and got higher as the sale progressed as many buyers were looking for this class of cows to feed. Many thin low dressing or very low dressing cows seen this week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on a poorer quality offering. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week. Young age cows sold fully steady. Quality this week was average to attractive.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $305.54/cwt on 1,952 head.

Average price

$305.54

1,952 head · 475 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,451

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$817

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2

$153.81/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+18.72

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	477	311.32	1,484	1,705
Medium 1	477	299.00	1,426	15thin
Medium and Large 1-2	460	297.83	1,369	149
Large 1	491	275.00	1,350	8thin
Medium and Large 2	476	274.00	1,304	16thin
Medium 1-2	653	237.00	1,548	11thin
Medium 2	423	157.51	667	48

One grade step is worth $153.81/cwt here — about $817 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 sale1,952 hd

305.54

—

MT average5 barns · 6,303 hd

286.82

+18.72

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	1,642	103.59	1,701	35
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,665	94.56	1,574	9thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,417	83.48	1,183	62
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,130	75.83	857	606

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 (5-8 yrs)	1,340	$1,275	11
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,402	$1,210	20
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,196	$1,200	11

Every lot, as filed

87 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 1-2	—	870	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	1,749	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	383	257.02/cwt	252.00–279.00	984	50
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	452	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	1,153	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	288	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	907	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	477	259.90/cwt	252.00–269.00	1,240	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	327	303.23/cwt	280.00–320.00	992	112
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	381	306.00/cwt	306.00–306.00	1,166	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	449	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	1,060	17
Steers	Medium 1-2	—	653	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	1,548	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	421	300.57/cwt	293.00–304.00	1,265	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	479	307.69/cwt	297.50–316.00	1,474	221
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	564	235.33/cwt	221.00–256.00	1,327	42
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	418	281.57/cwt	276.00–293.00	1,177	216
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	552	292.00/cwt	292.00–292.00	1,612	78
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	328	365.47/cwt	358.00–382.50	1,199	87
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	508	321.00/cwt	321.00–321.00	1,631	56
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	374	358.68/cwt	342.50–365.00	1,341	198
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	578	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	1,069	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	323	273.24/cwt	272.00–274.00	883	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	338	342.90/cwt	335.00–357.50	1,159	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	522	297.13/cwt	284.00–312.00	1,551	408
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	476	274.00/cwt	274.00–274.00	1,304	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	620	254.11/cwt	251.00–273.50	1,575	56
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	462	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	1,502	86
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	387	340.94/cwt	340.50–343.00	1,319	32
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	435	311.38/cwt	302.00–347.50	1,355	319
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	521	275.52/cwt	271.00–284.00	1,435	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	287	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	1,076	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	624	243.22/cwt	239.00–245.00	1,518	14
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	477	299.00/cwt	299.00–299.00	1,426	15
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	491	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,350	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	489	285.01/cwt	281.00–292.00	1,394	17
Steers	Medium 2Unweaned	—	443	154.22/cwt	152.50–160.00	683	38
Steers	Medium 2Unweaned	—	348	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	592	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	377	325.75/cwt	319.00–327.50	1,228	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	573	277.94/cwt	262.00–284.00	1,593	164
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	579	254.00/cwt	251.00–255.00	1,471	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	895	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	1,835	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	409	307.00/cwt	307.00–307.00	1,256	67
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	994	196.50/cwt	196.50–196.50	1,953	31
Heifers	Medium 1	—	641	238.77/cwt	238.00–239.50	1,531	183
Heifers	Medium 1	—	575	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	1,363	22
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	337	327.50/cwt	327.50–327.50	1,104	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,211	85.36/cwt	80.00–91.00	1,034	139
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,500	75.64/cwt	69.00–82.00	1,135	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	935	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	570	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	905	51.58/cwt	50.00–52.50	467	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,460	87.00/cwt	87.00–87.00	1,270	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,414	88.46/cwt	85.00–95.50	1,251	28
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,593	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	1,545	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,495	98.00/cwt	98.00–98.00	1,465	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,083	55.38/cwt	45.00–58.00	600	43
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,133	68.25/cwt	60.00–79.00	773	104
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,685	93.86/cwt	93.50–96.00	1,582	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,097	77.98/cwt	68.00–86.00	855	300
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,020	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	816	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,236	61.89/cwt	54.00–65.00	765	14
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,401	79.09/cwt	74.00–84.50	1,108	27
Bulls	—	—	1,831	100.00/cwt	92.00–104.00	1,831	7
Bulls	—	—	1,779	105.11/cwt	103.00–109.00	1,870	6
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,533	106.95/cwt	106.00–112.50	1,640	15
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,570	98.67/cwt	91.00–103.50	1,549	7
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,340	1,275.00/head	1,275.00–1,275.00	1,275	11
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,402	1,210.00/head	1,210.00–1,210.00	1,210	20
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	887	165.23/cwt	132.50–181.00	1,466	51
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	960	136.04/cwt	91.00–154.00	1,306	151
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	807	150.10/cwt	136.00–154.00	1,211	5
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	915	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	1,098	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,424	95.50/cwt	95.50–95.50	1,360	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,196	1,200.00/head	1,200.00–1,200.00	1,200	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	315	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	945	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	581	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	1,293	27
Heifers	Large 1	—	938	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	1,698	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	820	208.51/cwt	206.00–211.00	1,710	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	520	281.00/cwt	281.00–281.00	1,461	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	372	313.00/cwt	313.00–313.00	1,164	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	392	263.00/cwt	263.00–263.00	1,031	39
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	447	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,095	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	290	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	957	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	525	265.46/cwt	257.00–276.00	1,394	126
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	776	201.05/cwt	200.00–206.50	1,560	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	717	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	1,556	23
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	537	268.00/cwt	268.00–268.00	1,439	55
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	529	238.43/cwt	224.00–249.00	1,261	12
Heifers	Medium 2Unweaned	—	396	135.96/cwt	135.00–137.50	538	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	481	280.75/cwt	263.00–288.00	1,350	285
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	343	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	900	12

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 →