Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-09-24
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-09-24

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder calves were scarcely tested this week thus no comparisons can be made. Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers under 900 lbs sold mostly 5.00-9.00 higher, heifers over 900 lbs sold mostly steady to firm. Demand was mostly good to very good today with a large crowd of buyers on hand and over the internet actively bidding on offerings. CME feeder cattle positions continue to improve as higher contract prices have been seen almost daily over the last week. The cattle on feed report which was released on Friday was received positively by traders as they continue to push contracts higher this week. Quality this sale was mostly average to very attractive and overall more attractive than last week. Market activity was mostly active today with a large pool of buyers on hand for todays sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand for moderate offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was light, while feeding cow demand was moderate. Cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower to sharply lower undertones were noticed on slaughter cows, while feeding cows sold with lower undertones. Cows followed a regional trend lower this week as heavier supplies are starting to be seen. Most sound cows continue to be purchased for feed. Slaughter bulls sold on light to moderate demand. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 4.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly mixed today. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Young age cow quality was mostly average to very attractive today. Demand for young cows to rebreed was very good as several ranchers and order buyers bid aggressively on todays feature consignment of young home raised cows.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 600–700 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

600–700 lb heifers averaged $262.53/cwt on 36 head. That ranks 1 of 18 comparable sales and sits −132.50 against this barn's trailing median of $395.02.

Average price

$262.53

36 head · 645 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,694

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$14

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

$25.63/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+8.61

vs MT average

+27.74 vs national

What quality paid 600–700 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	618	274.63	1,697	19thin
Medium and Large 1-2	676	249.00	1,683	17thin

One grade step is worth $25.63/cwt here — about $14 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

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 sale36 hd

262.53

—

MT average3 barns · 97 hd

253.92

+8.61

National average169 barns · 7,972 hd

234.79

+27.74

This barn, trailing median18 sales

395.02

−132.50

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	1,651	141.32	2,333	50
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,357	124.89	1,695	194
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,582	122.62	1,939	8thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,193	116.88	1,394	116

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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	734	234.83/cwt	230.00–237.50	1,724	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	731	253.23/cwt	245.50–257.00	1,851	140
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	850–900	893	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	1,884	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	700–750	717	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	1,882	20
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	993	209.00/cwt	209.00–209.00	2,075	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	200–250	216	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	821	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,010	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	2,030	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	555	292.00/cwt	292.00–292.00	1,621	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	714	269.00/cwt	269.00–269.00	1,921	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	765	259.81/cwt	259.50–260.00	1,988	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	819	236.19/cwt	233.00–238.50	1,934	93
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,030	216.00/cwt	216.00–216.00	2,225	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	758	242.50/cwt	242.50–242.50	1,838	32
Steers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	962	232.00/cwt	231.75–232.50	2,232	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	618	274.63/cwt	274.00–275.50	1,697	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	917	223.15/cwt	222.00–224.00	2,046	150
Steers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	877	242.75/cwt	241.00–247.00	2,129	54
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	860	232.44/cwt	225.25–234.50	1,999	98
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	806	260.53/cwt	250.00–260.75	2,100	49
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	386	342.50/cwt	342.50–342.50	1,322	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	645	280.50/cwt	280.50–280.50	1,809	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	960	220.91/cwt	217.00–221.75	2,121	65
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	803	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	1,365	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,202	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,539	22
Bulls	—Natural	—	1,640	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	2,362	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,403	118.00/cwt	113.00–127.50	1,656	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,410	106.65/cwt	93.00–113.00	1,504	10
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,267	135.56/cwt	133.00–140.00	1,718	3
Bulls	—	—	1,550	134.51/cwt	127.00–142.00	2,085	28
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,563	118.74/cwt	118.00–120.00	1,856	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,640	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	2,099	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	940	86.76/cwt	80.00–92.50	816	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,153	104.26/cwt	92.00–111.00	1,202	12
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,168	121.20/cwt	115.00–126.00	1,416	19
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,208	86.29/cwt	85.00–87.50	1,042	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,600	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	2,024	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,188	99.09/cwt	92.00–107.00	1,177	9
Bulls	—	—	1,831	150.50/cwt	144.50–157.00	2,756	13
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,354	134.82/cwt	134.50–135.50	1,825	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,215	112.53/cwt	107.00–117.00	1,367	25
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,244	129.15/cwt	129.00–133.00	1,607	23
Heifers	Large 1	1050–1100	1,082	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	2,207	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,351	127.08/cwt	115.00–131.00	1,717	162
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	990	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	792	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,335	109.87/cwt	103.00–114.00	1,467	10
Bulls	—	—	1,955	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	2,933	1
Bulls	—	—	1,984	160.60/cwt	159.00–162.00	3,186	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	753	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	1,777	2
Steers	Medium 1	650–700	650	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,788	3
Steers	Medium 1	600–650	630	280.60/cwt	276.00–281.00	1,768	102
Bulls	Large 1	1150–1200	1,160	182.97/cwt	180.00–186.00	2,122	2
Bulls	Large 1	1100–1150	1,120	181.50/cwt	181.00–182.00	2,033	2
Heifers	Large 1	750–800	780	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	1,849	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	850–900	893	222.00/cwt	222.00–222.00	1,982	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,047	141.85/cwt	140.00–147.00	1,485	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	947	193.70/cwt	153.00–200.00	1,834	80
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	676	249.00/cwt	249.00–249.00	1,683	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	790	252.25/cwt	252.00–252.50	1,993	6

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 →