Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2024-09-10

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Sep 10
● Final58 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,141 head
566 vs last sale 575 296 vs year ago 1,437 · 20.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
223 head
63 vs last sale 160 5 vs year ago 228 · 2.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
10 head
77 vs last sale 87 38 vs year ago 48 · 79.2%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last reported sale (8/27/24): Feeder steers sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Heifers under 750 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher, 750-849 lbs heifers sold 5.00-10.00 higher, heifers over 850 lbs were too lightly tested last sale to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. CME feeder cattle positions improved over the last few days and buyers showed some optimism as they bid on cattle. Light weight yearlings sold on very good demand as most of these offerings were very green and in very light flesh. Quality this sale was mixed from plain to very attractive. Heifer quality was more attractive than steer quality as several sets of tested open replacements were seen. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was lighter this sale than last sale. Cow quality was mostly plain to average this week. Feeding cows demand remains stronger than slaughter cow demand. Most sound cows were purchased to feed this week. Yields continue to slip lower as dry conditions continue to push yields seasonally lower. Slaughter cows sold mostly 5.00-7.00 lower on all classes. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold on uneven demand. Demand was lighter to start the sale, however demand improved as the sale progressed and additional buyers started loads. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 5.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average today. Most cows were pushing moderate to heavy amounts of fill today. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cow quality was mostly plain to average today.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 600–700 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
600–700 lb heifers averaged $259.44/cwt on 94 head. That ranks 1 of 18 comparable sales and sits 135.58 against this barn's trailing median of $395.02.
Average price
$259.44
94 head · 678 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,759
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$289
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1-2
$18.63/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+4.91
vs MT average
+26.02 vs national

What quality paid 600–700 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1681263.631,79561
Medium 1680253.791,72519thin
Medium and Large 1-2675249.921,68711thin
Medium 1-2615245.001,5073thin
One grade step is worth $18.63/cwt here — about $289 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 600–700 lb

18 sales
419395372349median 395.0201/0602/1003/2404/2108/18
Heifers 600–700 lb: high $404.52, low $363.33, median $395.02 across 18 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 600–700 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale94 hd
259.44
MT average2 barns · 137 hd
254.53
+4.91
National average176 barns · 12,548 hd
233.42
+26.02
This barn, trailing median18 sales
395.02
−135.58
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
BullsAverage1,719148.492,55360
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,761132.402,3327thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,357130.121,76650
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,165112.281,30881

Every lot, as filed

58 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
HeifersMedium 1650–700694253.00/cwt253.00–253.001,75614
SteersMedium and Large 1850–900885240.08/cwt240.00–241.002,12524
HeifersMedium and Large 1650–700681263.63/cwt263.00–266.001,79561
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,145144.17/cwt135.00–154.001,6512
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,037155.23/cwt152.00–162.001,6103
HeifersMedium and Large 1700–750718252.25/cwt246.50–256.001,81134
SteersMedium and Large 1-2800–850830240.45/cwt239.00–241.001,99654
HeifersMedium and Large 1850–900887219.21/cwt217.50–223.001,94436
HeifersMedium and Large 1750–800788235.99/cwt233.00–241.001,860127
BullsMedium and Large 11050–11001,080192.00/cwt192.00–192.002,0741
BullsMedium and Large 11000–10501,045191.00/cwt191.00–191.001,9961
HeifersMedium and Large 1950–1000968216.49/cwt212.50–218.502,09652
SteersMedium and Large 1750–800793250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,98329
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2750–800755232.00/cwt232.00–232.001,7523
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650–700675249.92/cwt248.00–255.001,68711
HeifersMedium and Large 1900–950921217.54/cwt215.00–221.002,00463
SteersMedium and Large 11000–10501,014207.70/cwt205.00–211.002,10622
SteersMedium and Large 1900–950942237.22/cwt231.00–237.502,23569
HeifersMedium and Large 11000–10501,025214.08/cwt209.50–217.502,19441
HeifersMedium and Large 1800–850825230.85/cwt224.50–234.001,905147
SteersMedium and Large 1-2700–750720252.58/cwt248.00–256.001,81928
SteersMedium and Large 1-2900–950942218.50/cwt218.50–218.502,05823
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2960145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,3921
Bulls1,771152.36/cwt147.50–163.002,69833
BullsCanadian Origin1,885145.00/cwt145.00–145.002,7331
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,763136.03/cwt134.00–138.002,3982
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,787128.91/cwt124.00–132.502,3043
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,351130.67/cwt124.00–138.001,76546
BullsReturn to Feed1,345140.63/cwt136.00–145.501,8912
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,213125.30/cwt123.00–132.001,52019
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight94599.53/cwt95.00–108.009414
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,720134.00/cwt134.00–134.002,3052
CowsLean 85-90%1,188105.80/cwt101.00–111.001,25735
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,105114.07/cwt106.00–120.001,2607
CowsLean 85-90%1,07698.99/cwt96.00–99.501,0657
CowsBoner 80-85%1,368117.02/cwt115.00–119.001,6012
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,340121.00/cwt121.00–121.001,6211
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,640140.00/cwt140.00–140.002,2961
CowsLean 85-90%1,194121.05/cwt116.00–128.501,4457
Bulls1,672143.98/cwt131.00–148.002,40724
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,150137.21/cwt136.50–138.001,5782
SteersMedium 1-2700–750728247.00/cwt247.00–247.001,79810
HeifersLarge 1950–1000959206.00/cwt206.00–206.001,9767
SteersLarge 11100–11501,115186.50/cwt186.50–186.502,0799
HeifersLarge 1800–850830220.33/cwt219.00–221.001,8299
BullsLarge 1-21150–12001,155178.00/cwt178.00–178.002,0561
BullsLarge 1-21050–11001,095187.50/cwt187.50–187.502,0531
HeifersMedium 1600–650639256.00/cwt256.00–256.001,6365
SteersMedium 1600–650627267.29/cwt267.00–270.001,67610
SteersMedium 1-2650–700691249.00/cwt249.00–249.001,7214
HeifersMedium 1-2600–650615245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,5073
SteersMedium 1-2600–650611265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,6194
SteersMedium 2550–600575257.00/cwt257.00–257.001,47810
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2700–750740239.82/cwt235.00–240.001,77580
SteersMedium and Large 1-2750–800789239.00/cwt239.00–239.001,8866
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2800–850835217.00/cwt217.00–217.001,8123
SteersMedium and Large 2700–750702236.00/cwt236.00–236.001,6579
SteersMedium and Large 2800–850808225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,8186

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.