Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-10-29
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-10-29

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 450 lbs sold generally steady, steer calves over 450 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, with instances of higher sales seen on high quality offerings. Heifers 450-549 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Heifers calves over 550 lbs were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Demand for calves was mostly good to very good. Demand for yearlings mostly moderate to good. Demand for light weight calves suitable to run on wheat pasture in the south or out west remains very good. Quality this sale was mostly average to very attractive on calves and plain to average on yearlings. Several load lots were seen this week and very good demand was seen for one iron home raised calves. Packages of calves continue to sell with a discount to full load or partial load offerings. Market activity was mostly active today with a large buyer pool noticed. Buyers were actively bidding both ring side as well as over the internet this week. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for heavy offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was light to moderate while feeding cows sold on moderate to good demand. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-5.00 lower on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeding cow demand was moderate to good with multiple private ranchers and order buyers buying cows to feed. Private buyers continue to buy slightly lame or slightly blemished cows to but away on feed. Feeding cows sold 3.00-5.00 lower. Cow quality this week was significantly lower than last week as many very thin cows were seen. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week. Many cow were both full and thin this week. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to weak on a lower quality offering. Many young age cows were very thin this sale. Quality was mostly average today and not as attractive as last week.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $312.98/cwt on 844 head. That ranks 1 of 13 comparable sales and sits −173.26 against this barn's trailing median of $486.23.

Average price

$312.98

844 head · 541 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,694

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$113

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$39.07/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+10.67

vs MT average

+12.29 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	540	314.51	1,699	762
Medium and Large 1-2	525	311.09	1,632	50
Medium 1	591	280.50	1,658	25
Large 1	576	275.44	1,587	7thin

One grade step is worth $39.07/cwt here — about $113 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 200–300 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

13 sales

Steers 500–600 lb: high $512.23, low $440.01, median $486.23 across 13 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 sale844 hd

312.98

—

MT average5 barns · 2,389 hd

302.31

+10.67

National average185 barns · 40,108 hd

300.69

+12.29

This barn, trailing median13 sales

486.23

−173.26

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	—	Average	1,703	142.09	2,419	36
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,611	124.50	2,006	4thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,357	122.44	1,662	186
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,177	107.45	1,265	303

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
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,018	$1,900	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,150	$1,725	4thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,267	$1,700	11
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,215	$1,675	31

Every lot, as filed

89 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
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	886	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	1,559	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,215	1,675.00/head	1,675.00–1,675.00	1,675	31
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,150	1,725.00/head	1,725.00–1,725.00	1,725	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	519	321.95/cwt	303.00–335.75	1,671	375
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	427	319.82/cwt	314.00–330.00	1,366	137
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	513	295.06/cwt	282.00–305.00	1,514	145
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	473	346.48/cwt	321.00–377.00	1,639	418
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	255	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	995	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	961	225.72/cwt	220.00–226.00	2,169	44
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	710	251.68/cwt	249.50–252.50	1,787	59
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	289	443.20/cwt	440.00–450.00	1,281	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	767	248.00/cwt	248.00–248.00	1,902	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	420	366.55/cwt	357.00–375.00	1,540	130
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	337	416.98/cwt	412.00–427.50	1,405	54
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	613	288.05/cwt	279.00–294.00	1,766	108
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	896	228.00/cwt	226.00–236.00	2,043	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	373	402.05/cwt	385.00–450.00	1,500	56
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	567	304.10/cwt	291.00–317.00	1,724	324
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	658	267.00/cwt	267.00–267.00	1,757	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	529	323.75/cwt	323.75–323.75	1,713	63
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	332	385.76/cwt	357.50–390.00	1,281	45
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	373	344.50/cwt	335.00–360.00	1,285	68
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	575	262.54/cwt	258.00–266.00	1,510	75
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	345	332.50/cwt	332.50–332.50	1,147	8
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	920	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	1,941	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	750–800	752	241.00/cwt	241.00–241.00	1,812	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	467	305.58/cwt	300.00–312.00	1,427	216
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	395	351.88/cwt	346.00–360.00	1,390	19
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	874	202.42/cwt	175.00–211.00	1,769	100
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	665	251.00/cwt	251.00–251.00	1,669	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	808	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,939	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	413	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,363	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,114	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,459	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	474	290.87/cwt	288.00–293.00	1,379	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	555	251.00/cwt	251.00–251.00	1,393	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	488	312.55/cwt	310.00–315.00	1,525	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	287	438.00/cwt	438.00–438.00	1,257	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	819	234.00/cwt	234.00–234.00	1,916	4
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,605	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	1,990	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,312	130.39/cwt	128.00–134.50	1,711	35
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,388	112.21/cwt	105.00–114.00	1,557	18
Bulls	—	—	1,783	149.04/cwt	144.00–152.00	2,657	13
Bulls	—	—	1,952	137.30/cwt	136.00–140.00	2,680	3
Bulls	—	—	1,915	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	2,987	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,681	144.85/cwt	142.00–147.00	2,435	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,359	122.45/cwt	117.00–127.00	1,664	123
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,436	121.88/cwt	116.00–125.00	1,750	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,370	87.50/cwt	87.50–87.50	1,199	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,447	101.08/cwt	92.00–106.00	1,463	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,455	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,877	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	972	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	778	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,172	95.98/cwt	90.00–104.00	1,125	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	975	90.28/cwt	87.50–96.00	880	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,116	84.51/cwt	82.00–86.00	943	16
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,265	122.50/cwt	122.50–122.50	1,550	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,597	136.27/cwt	123.00–142.00	2,176	14
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	450–500	465	322.50/cwt	322.50–322.50	1,500	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,245	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	1,587	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,184	107.40/cwt	97.00–118.00	1,272	206
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,193	118.02/cwt	113.00–123.00	1,408	60
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,100	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	1,232	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,613	124.67/cwt	124.00–125.00	2,011	3
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	450–500	491	290.09/cwt	289.00–291.00	1,424	11
Heifers	Large 1	1050–1100	1,088	206.68/cwt	205.00–210.00	2,249	9
Bulls	Large 1Unweaned	500–550	545	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,444	1
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	600–650	640	271.44/cwt	242.50–272.50	1,737	28
Bulls	Large 1Unweaned	400–450	440	332.50/cwt	332.50–332.50	1,463	2
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	550–600	576	275.44/cwt	275.00–276.00	1,587	7
Steers	Medium 1	550–600	591	280.50/cwt	280.50–280.50	1,658	25
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	250–300	260	342.50/cwt	342.50–342.50	891	2
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	400–450	414	351.00/cwt	351.00–351.00	1,453	8
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	400–450	431	308.00/cwt	308.00–308.00	1,327	33
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	250–300	270	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	918	5
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	550–600	576	261.00/cwt	261.00–261.00	1,503	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	433	338.84/cwt	315.00–356.00	1,467	75
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	521	312.63/cwt	289.00–317.00	1,629	47
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	369	322.11/cwt	315.00–327.50	1,189	43
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	300–350	336	344.00/cwt	344.00–344.00	1,156	18
Steers	Medium 1	650–700	659	270.11/cwt	264.00–271.00	1,780	71
Heifers	Medium 1	600–650	617	253.00/cwt	253.00–253.00	1,561	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	918	227.66/cwt	226.00–230.00	2,090	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,014	216.00/cwt	216.00–216.00	2,190	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,267	1,700.00/head	1,700.00–1,700.00	1,700	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	583	287.00/cwt	287.00–287.00	1,673	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	429	309.61/cwt	307.00–312.50	1,328	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	341	387.45/cwt	355.00–405.00	1,321	76
Steers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	466	344.00/cwt	344.00–344.00	1,603	26
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	939	181.71/cwt	140.00–202.50	1,706	37
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,018	1,900.00/head	1,900.00–1,900.00	1,900	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 →