Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-08-27
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-08-27

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last reported sale (8/06/24): Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. CME feeder cattle positions have continued to sell off since late July but have rebounded slightly this past week. However, traders remain on edge and are buying feeders lower. Feeder cattle were mostly off grass this week and most were in very light flesh. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive. Heifer quality was much more attractive than steer quality today as several consignments of tested open replacement heifers were seen. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light offerings. Packers showed need for cows both to feed and for immediate harvest. Cow quality was mostly average this week. Feeding cows demand remains stronger than slaughter cow demand. Most sound cows were purchased to feed this week. Seasonally lower yields were noticed as cows with freshly weaned calves and cows out of dry country were seen. While prices for all cows were lower than the beginning of the month, but so were yields which made cows very similar in price on a dressed basis. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-5.00 lower than the last reported sale at the beginning of the month. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold 3.00-4.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average today, with most cows were pushing moderate to heavy amounts of fill. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality was mostly average today.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $271.89/cwt on 68 head. That ranks 1 of 16 comparable sales and sits −168.54 against this barn's trailing median of $440.43.

Average price

$271.89

68 head · 517 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,407

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$124

per head · Medium 1-2 over Medium 1

$6.36/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+7.78

vs MT average

+30.01 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1-2	513	272.36	1,398	63
Medium 1	572	266.00	1,522	5thin

One grade step is worth $6.36/cwt here — about −$124 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 600–700 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 sale68 hd

271.89

—

MT average2 barns · 84 hd

264.12

+7.78

National average160 barns · 7,566 hd

241.88

+30.01

This barn, trailing median16 sales

440.43

−168.54

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	1,686	154.01	2,596	59
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,579	142.60	2,251	4thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,416	137.00	1,939	22
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,166	122.78	1,432	70

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
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,995	$3,000	1thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,488	$2,675	20
Cow-Calf Pairs	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,488	$2,495	8

Every lot, as filed

56 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 1	600–650	619	259.24/cwt	257.00–260.00	1,605	16
Heifers	Medium 1	550–600	572	266.00/cwt	266.00–266.00	1,522	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	682	256.83/cwt	254.50–259.50	1,752	21
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,995	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	413	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,074	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,013	205.01/cwt	204.00–206.00	2,077	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,488	2,495.31/head	2,425.00–2,650.00	2,495	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	735	245.48/cwt	243.00–248.00	1,804	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	326	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	1,060	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	820	225.47/cwt	224.50–226.00	1,849	45
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	688	248.77/cwt	248.75–249.00	1,712	45
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	816	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,983	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	909	217.43/cwt	215.00–219.50	1,976	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	760	248.58/cwt	248.50–249.50	1,889	62
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	1000–1050	1,040	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	1,950	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	790	226.96/cwt	226.00–228.00	1,793	29
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	955	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	1,633	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,488	2,675.00/head	2,675.00–2,675.00	2,675	20
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	313	339.50/cwt	339.50–339.50	1,063	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,033	194.50/cwt	194.50–194.50	2,009	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	723	239.88/cwt	239.00–244.00	1,734	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	890	233.50/cwt	233.50–233.50	2,078	26
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,003	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,053	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,164	126.54/cwt	126.50–127.00	1,473	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,443	138.73/cwt	135.00–142.50	2,002	16
Bulls	—	—	1,593	145.60/cwt	135.00–151.00	2,319	22
Bulls	—	—	1,931	171.36/cwt	169.00–176.00	3,309	7
Bulls	—	—	1,780	158.71/cwt	152.00–168.00	2,825	25
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,170	129.31/cwt	124.50–136.00	1,513	15
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,613	142.96/cwt	141.50–145.00	2,306	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,475	141.50/cwt	141.50–141.50	2,087	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,350	139.89/cwt	138.00–141.50	1,889	2
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,282	140.60/cwt	132.50–148.00	1,802	3
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,340	150.50/cwt	150.50–150.50	2,017	1
Steers	Large 1	900–950	927	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	2,086	3
Steers	Large 1	1150–1200	1,198	185.50/cwt	185.50–185.50	2,222	9
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,210	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	1,742	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,162	115.32/cwt	110.00–119.00	1,340	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,185	122.10/cwt	106.00–123.00	1,447	34
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,339	128.64/cwt	128.00–130.00	1,722	4
Steers	Medium 1-2	550–600	573	287.00/cwt	287.00–287.00	1,645	7
Steers	Medium 1-2	600–650	605	282.00/cwt	282.00–282.00	1,706	4
Heifers	Medium 2	450–500	498	255.50/cwt	255.50–255.50	1,272	8
Heifers	Medium 1-2	550–600	574	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	1,475	4
Bulls	Large 1	1100–1150	1,140	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	2,098	1
Bulls	Large 1	1200–1250	1,205	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	2,229	1
Steers	Medium 1	600–650	612	293.50/cwt	293.50–293.50	1,796	99
Heifers	Medium 1-2	400–450	421	274.00/cwt	274.00–274.00	1,154	8
Steers	Medium 1-2	450–500	476	301.00/cwt	301.00–301.00	1,433	7
Heifers	Medium 1-2	500–550	509	273.40/cwt	272.00–274.00	1,392	59
Heifers	Medium 1-2	650–700	696	240.50/cwt	240.50–240.50	1,674	5
Heifers	Medium 1-2	450–500	465	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,256	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	759	238.17/cwt	238.00–239.00	1,808	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,010	147.50/cwt	147.50–147.50	1,490	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	1050–1100	1,050	188.00/cwt	188.00–188.00	1,974	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	723	229.00/cwt	229.00–229.00	1,656	3

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 →