Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2024-05-21

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, May 21
● Final46 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
109 head
200 vs last sale 309 69 vs year ago 178 · 38.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
481 head
99 vs last sale 580 147 vs year ago 334 · +44.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
234 head
240 vs last sale 474 5 vs year ago 239 · 2.1%
View

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 any market trend. Demand was mostly good for light offerings. Feeder cattle quality was mostly plain to average. One small set of attractive, replacement quality heifers was seen today and demand was mostly good to very good. Boxed beef values surged throughout the week last week, and have continued to inch higher this week. Choice closed today at 313.02 and select at 300.87, that's 8.63 and 7.05 higher on choice and select respectfully, compared to last Tuesdays close. This has continued to support to CME live cattle and feeder cattle contracts. CME positions pushed sharply higher again today with most contracts showing triple digit gains. Market activity was mostly active this week despite light offerings. Bidding was active both ringside as well as on the internet for todays sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was good again this week as packer buyers showed good demand for cow for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00 to 3.00 higher on breaking and boning cows; lean cows sold 2.00-4.00 higher. Demand for feeding cows was very good today. Packers and private buyers both showed very good demand for cows as tight supplies and high demand continue to be seen. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Cow quality was mostly average to very attractive this week. Slaughter bulls sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average today with most cows emptied out from being out grazing. Weigh conditions this sale were even better than last week. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Quality this week was average to attractive. Demand for these offerings was good to very good.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $293.67/cwt on 12 head. That ranks 1 of 16 comparable sales and sits 146.77 against this barn's trailing median of $440.43.
Average price
$293.67
12 head · 539 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,584
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$99
per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$19.00/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+3.49
vs MT average
+17.21 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1516300.001,5488thin
Medium and Large 1-2586281.001,6474thin
One grade step is worth $19.00/cwt here — about −$99 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
482434386338median 440.4312/1601/2702/2404/0705/12
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 sale12 hd
293.67
MT average3 barns · 497 hd
290.18
+3.49
National average163 barns · 12,702 hd
276.46
+17.21
This barn, trailing median16 sales
440.43
−146.77
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
BullsLow1,673150.382,51630
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,554142.982,22215
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,352138.851,877208
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,175134.191,576185

Every lot, as filed

46 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
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,128150.33/cwt138.00–158.001,69631
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,097143.31/cwt135.00–146.001,5726
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,133157.50/cwt140.00–198.001,78463
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,197145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,7363
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2932181.40/cwt164.00–195.001,6916
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed778207.50/cwt207.50–207.501,6142
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1991200.46/cwt146.00–246.001,98798
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600586281.00/cwt281.00–281.001,6474
HeifersLarge 1650–700673250.50/cwt250.50–250.501,6862
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650–700696246.00/cwt246.00–246.001,71221
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement800–850815241.00/cwt241.00–241.001,96429
BullsMedium and Large 1750–800760240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,8241
BullsLarge 11150–12001,170177.00/cwt177.00–177.002,0711
SteersMedium and Large 1500–550549348.00/cwt348.00–348.001,9114
HeifersMedium and Large 150–10080475.00/head475.00–475.004751
HeifersMedium 1500–550516300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,5488
SteersMedium and Large 1450–500480355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,7043
BullsMedium and Large 1600–650623264.00/cwt264.00–264.001,6452
BullsMedium and Large 1700–750735255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,8742
BullsMedium and Large 150–10085375.00/head375.00–375.003754
BullsLarge 11100–11501,105186.00/cwt186.00–186.002,0551
BullsMedium and Large 1800–850810232.02/cwt231.00–235.001,8794
BullsMedium and Large 1400–450442342.50/cwt342.50–342.501,5143
BullsReturn to Feed1,300135.93/cwt127.50–142.001,7673
BullsLight Weight1,255145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,8201
BullsLight Weight1,330141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,8751
BullsReturn to Feed1,345146.75/cwt142.00–152.001,9746
BullsHeavy Weight2,505151.00/cwt151.00–151.003,7831
CowsLean 85-90%1,147108.26/cwt99.00–117.001,2425
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,353143.47/cwt142.00–147.001,94118
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,340126.93/cwt120.00–129.001,7018
CowsBoner 80-85%1,456128.62/cwt121.00–132.001,8734
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,195110.00/cwt110.00–110.001,3151
CowsBoner 80-85%1,423142.33/cwt141.00–146.002,02540
Bulls1,480127.50/cwt127.50–127.501,8871
Bulls1,651148.46/cwt143.00–156.002,4517
CowsLean 85-90%1,190136.61/cwt136.00–139.001,62618
CowsBoner 80-85%1,357137.91/cwt134.00–142.001,87141
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight90595.01/cwt94.00–97.008604
CowsLean 85-90%1,168132.34/cwt130.00–135.001,5465
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,317138.35/cwt131.50–142.001,82297
Bulls2,010161.94/cwt157.00–169.003,25510
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,167139.20/cwt136.00–142.501,62497
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,206130.37/cwt127.00–135.001,57255
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,583145.08/cwt143.00–147.002,2979
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,511139.83/cwt139.00–141.002,1136

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.