Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2024-02-27

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Feb 27
● Final48 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
419 head
566 vs last sale 985 282 vs year ago 701 · 40.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
243 head
132 vs last sale 375 89 vs year ago 154 · +57.8%
Replacement Cattle receipts
105 head
505 vs last sale 610 67 vs year ago 38 · +176.3%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested last week to develop a full market trend, however generally steady undertones were noticed on both steers heifers. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and not as attractive as last week. Most cattle were long weaned from 45-100 days. Package sizes were mostly small this week. No load lots were seen. CME positions pushed higher all last week in anticipation of the cattle on feed report. The cattle on feed report showed on feed slightly higher than last January, placements 7% below last year and marketings slightly below last year. The March contract closed today at 253.00, 1.625 higher than last Tuesdays close. The April closed at 258.95 today, 3.60 higher than last Tuesdays close. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was good. Packers opted to send most of the cow offering to slaughter this week as supplies remain tight. Slaughter cows sold unevenly steady on all offerings. Packers opted to send cows they would usually feed to harvest this week causing slaughter cows to sell unevenly compared to the previous week. Very few feeding cows were seen this week. No feeding cow comparison is available. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mixed today. Another set of fed cows sold this week. These offerings were met with mostly good demand. Most fed cow offerings had moderate amounts of tag, however most offered buyers and overnight stand and favorable weigh conditions. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality was mostly average this week.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $269.83/cwt on 193 head.
Average price
$269.83
193 head · 559 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,508
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$336
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium 2-3
$104.44/cwt at this weight
vs the market
4.89
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2415299.441,2429thin
Medium and Large 1567279.221,584159
Medium and Large 2607201.001,2203thin
Medium 2571200.181,14318thin
Medium 2-3465195.009074thin
One grade step is worth $104.44/cwt here — about $336 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 sale193 hd
269.83
MT average3 barns · 2,674 hd
274.72
−4.89
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
BullsLow1,580124.451,96613
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,548113.631,75856
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,360109.231,48634
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,12697.151,094125

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 Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,553$1,9753thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,279$1,66137

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
SteersMedium and Large 1705267.00/cwt267.00–267.001,8821
HeifersMedium and Large 2607201.00/cwt201.00–201.001,2203
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2346310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,0734
HeifersMedium 2582200.21/cwt195.00–203.001,16515
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2470291.00/cwt291.00–291.001,3685
HeifersMedium 2-3465195.00/cwt195.00–195.009074
SteersMedium and Large 1-2400330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,3203
SteersMedium and Large 1-2590291.00/cwt291.00–291.001,71715
SteersMedium and Large 2688231.00/cwt231.00–231.001,5897
SteersMedium 2630230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,4494
SteersMedium and Large 1507333.67/cwt316.00–338.001,69251
SteersMedium and Large 1406352.00/cwt352.00–352.001,4296
SteersMedium and Large 1-2455322.46/cwt321.50–325.001,46712
SteersMedium and Large 1-2543311.72/cwt305.00–315.001,6939
SteersMedium 1-2398280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,1144
SteersMedium and Large 1-2763238.28/cwt235.00–245.001,8183
SteersMedium and Large 1-2623288.00/cwt288.00–288.001,7942
SteersMedium and Large 2510310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,5813
HeifersMedium 2517200.00/cwt200.00–200.001,0343
HeifersMedium and Large 1565281.69/cwt281.25–282.751,59268
HeifersMedium and Large 1607268.50/cwt268.50–268.501,63047
HeifersMedium and Large 1528286.84/cwt285.00–288.501,51544
BullsMedium and Large 1600252.50/cwt252.50–252.501,5151
BullsMedium and Large 1650232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,5111
CowsBoner 80-85%1,465115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,6851
CowsLean 85-90%1,12393.69/cwt89.00–102.001,05277
CowsLean 85-90%1,089112.67/cwt112.00–114.001,2278
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37598.00/cwt98.00–98.001,3482
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight96578.00/cwt78.00–78.007532
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight94991.41/cwt86.00–97.008679
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,561108.56/cwt102.00–112.001,6958
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,545114.42/cwt112.50–115.001,76847
CowsLean 85-90%1,211105.15/cwt103.00–110.001,27329
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,560117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,8251
CowsBoner 80-85%1,356109.77/cwt107.00–112.001,48831
Bulls1,488112.27/cwt106.00–118.001,6712
Bulls1,909140.37/cwt137.50–143.502,6804
Bulls1,735131.53/cwt131.00–132.002,2822
BullsReturn to Feed1,370117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,6031
BullsReturn to Feed1,255131.00/cwt131.00–131.001,6441
BullsLight Weight1,278106.92/cwt100.00–114.001,3663
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,091131.38/cwt109.50–140.501,43345
Stock CowsMedium 1640204.00/cwt204.00–204.001,3062
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1990178.91/cwt165.00–185.001,77111
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,194100.00/cwt100.00–100.001,1944
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,5531,975.00/head1,975.00–1,975.001,9753
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3231,860.00/head1,860.00–1,860.001,86021
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2221,400.00/head1,400.00–1,400.001,40016

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.