Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-05-07
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-05-07

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good for light offerings. Several inches of rain fell across Eastern Montana over the last few days which kept receipts light today. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Heifer quality was better than steer quality this week. CME positions pushed higher today with most contracts showing triple digit gains by closing bell. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was stronger this week as packers showed good demand for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on all offerings. Demand for feeding cows was good today however fewer buyers were in the seats as offerings were light. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to weak on a lower quality offering. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average today with most cows emptied out from being out grazing. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Demand for these offerings was good to very good. Quality this week was mostly average.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $278.43/cwt on 66 head. That ranks 1 of 16 comparable sales and sits −162.01 against this barn's trailing median of $440.43.

Average price

$278.43

66 head · 552 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,538

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$186

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

$16.11/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−5.08

vs MT average

+10.84 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	558	281.11	1,570	55
Medium and Large 2	522	265.00	1,383	11thin

One grade step is worth $16.11/cwt here — about $186 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

16 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $468.13, low $352.48, median $440.43 across 16 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale66 hd

278.43

—

MT average3 barns · 366 hd

283.51

−5.08

National average178 barns · 10,823 hd

267.59

+10.84

This barn, trailing median16 sales

440.43

−162.01

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	—	High	1,824	145.28	2,650	8thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,565	138.57	2,169	3thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,424	132.25	1,883	23
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,154	126.16	1,456	43

Every lot, as filed

40 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
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	713	226.00/cwt	226.00–226.00	1,611	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	838	221.97/cwt	220.00–227.00	1,860	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	719	253.50/cwt	253.50–253.50	1,823	59
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	670	243.50/cwt	243.50–243.50	1,631	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	500–550	522	265.00/cwt	254.00–271.50	1,383	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	543	291.50/cwt	291.50–291.50	1,583	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	563	319.10/cwt	315.00–320.00	1,797	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	813	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	2,033	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	364	322.50/cwt	322.50–322.50	1,174	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	559	280.72/cwt	279.50–281.50	1,569	53
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	671	289.50/cwt	289.50–289.50	1,943	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	725	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,776	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	632	266.04/cwt	259.00–269.00	1,681	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	493	306.50/cwt	306.50–306.50	1,511	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	403	302.00/cwt	302.00–302.00	1,217	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	650	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,755	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	674	251.00/cwt	251.00–251.00	1,692	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	508	332.00/cwt	332.00–332.00	1,687	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	750	206.00/cwt	206.00–206.00	1,545	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	924	191.19/cwt	172.00–201.00	1,767	13
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,014	168.18/cwt	136.00–180.00	1,705	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	947	138.02/cwt	136.00–140.00	1,307	3
Bulls	—	—	1,863	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	2,906	2
Bulls	—	—	1,625	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	2,048	1
Bulls	—	—	1,848	144.84/cwt	142.00–147.00	2,677	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,457	119.07/cwt	117.00–120.50	1,735	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,143	126.83/cwt	124.00–131.00	1,450	13
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,380	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,753	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,525	136.10/cwt	135.00–137.00	2,076	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,404	132.39/cwt	126.00–136.00	1,859	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,550	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	2,139	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,330	119.55/cwt	115.00–124.00	1,590	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	965	90.00/cwt	90.00–90.00	869	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,146	125.54/cwt	122.50–130.00	1,439	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	920	105.73/cwt	102.00–109.00	973	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,188	109.05/cwt	104.00–114.00	1,296	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,439	139.14/cwt	138.00–140.50	2,002	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,220	135.81/cwt	135.50–136.00	1,657	14
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,117	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	1,307	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,645	143.50/cwt	143.50–143.50	2,361	1

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 →