Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2023-03-21

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Mar 21
● Final58 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,218 head
▲ 245 vs last sale 973▲ 445 vs year ago 773 · +57.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
90 head
▲ 47 vs last sale 43▼ 141 vs year ago 231 · −61.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
146 head
▲ 109 vs last sale 37▼ 103 vs year ago 249 · −41.4%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeder heifers sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Quality this sale was mixed from plain to very attractive. Demand was mostly good to very good today for moderate offerings. A large crowd of ranchers was on hand for todays annual trailhead replacement heifer special. Several ranchers reported they planned to sort and feed the bottom end of the heifers and breed the front end. Market activity was mostly active to very active this week as a very large crowd was on hand actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows were all too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Major packers and local packers continue to be very aggressive as they fight over limited offerings. Packers purchased a few attractive offerings to feed this week. No feeding cows were seen last week so no comparisons can be made. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Cow quality was average to attractive this sale. Bull quality was mixed. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to attractive to buyers this sale. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher, with sharply higher sales seen on very attractive offerings. Several buyers looking for young cows that lost calves were very active this week. Demand for young open cows was good to very good.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $210.67/cwt on 915 head.
Average price
$210.67
915 head · 625 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,317
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$260
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 1
$3.24/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.27
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2498213.801,06632
Medium and Large 1630210.561,326883
One grade step is worth $3.24/cwt here — about −$260 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 0–100 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 0–100 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale915 hd
210.67
—
MT average3 barns · 1,179 hd
210.40
+0.27
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
Bulls—Low1,868115.172,1517thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,49096.371,4364thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,35893.421,26824
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,18786.961,03325

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 $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,359$2,10010
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,465$2,1005
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,158$1,9509
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,146$1,0504thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)914$1,7504thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,352$1,8753thin

Every lot

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. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers10 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 2443227.50/cwt227.50–227.501,0084
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2457257.83/cwt252.00–272.501,1787
Steers—Medium and Large 2489225.50/cwt225.00–226.001,1036
Steers—Medium and Large 1522265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,3835
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2527244.58/cwt243.00–252.001,28911
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2550220.00/cwt220.00–220.001,2104
Steers—Medium and Large 1564246.00/cwt246.00–246.001,3875
Steers—Medium and Large 1636223.02/cwt220.50–226.501,41813
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2678196.79/cwt189.00–205.001,3342
Steers—Medium and Large 1790185.50/cwt185.50–185.501,4654
Feeder Cattle · Heifers22 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1382243.00/cwt243.00–243.009283
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2426222.72/cwt215.00–227.5094911
Heifers—Medium and Large 1428235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,0065
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2469219.72/cwt217.50–222.001,0304
Heifers—Medium and Large 1495235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,16315
Heifers—Medium and Large 1519226.44/cwt215.00–228.501,17541
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2531213.73/cwt212.50–214.501,13510
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2563200.93/cwt200.00–205.501,1316
Heifers—Medium and Large 1565215.54/cwt206.00–219.501,21858
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement576218.58/cwt209.00–228.001,259111
Heifers—Medium and Large 1618203.88/cwt202.50–206.001,26067
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement632213.71/cwt205.00–217.501,351380
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement655210.72/cwt210.50–212.001,38068
Heifers—Medium and Large 1662190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,2583
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2700170.00/cwt170.00–170.001,1901
Heifers—Medium and Large 1726183.34/cwt178.00–186.001,33144
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement737198.61/cwt190.00–200.501,46452
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement771179.00/cwt179.00–179.001,38022
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement7871,450.64/head1,400.00–1,500.001,45120
Heifers—Medium and Large 1836168.62/cwt168.00–169.001,4108
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement8461,450.00/head1,450.00–1,450.001,45010
Heifers—Medium and Large 1868165.99/cwt164.00–167.001,4416
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,795106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,9031
Bulls——1,805112.18/cwt111.00–115.002,0254
Bulls——2,030125.74/cwt125.50–126.002,5532
Slaughter Cattle · Cows12 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed90085.00/cwt85.00–85.007651
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,10570.00/cwt70.00–70.007741
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17889.00/cwt89.00–89.001,0483
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19191.39/cwt86.00–93.501,0888
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,21582.70/cwt80.00–85.501,00510
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,23597.00/cwt97.00–97.001,1982
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,29585.50/cwt85.50–85.501,1071
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,30794.13/cwt93.50–96.001,23011
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,31586.50/cwt86.50–86.501,1371
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,41689.98/cwt88.50–92.001,2746
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,42198.95/cwt97.00–101.501,4065
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,49096.37/cwt96.00–97.001,4364
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1461,050.00/head1,050.00–1,050.001,0504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1581,950.00/head1,950.00–1,950.001,9509
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3592,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,10010
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4652,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1005
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Large 1770120.00/cwt120.00–120.009241
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2909131.35/cwt114.00–142.001,1945
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1931147.99/cwt120.00–166.001,37836
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,02595.00/cwt95.00–95.009741
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,061109.02/cwt86.00–125.001,15720
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium 19141,750.00/head1,750.00–1,750.001,7504
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,3521,875.00/head1,875.00–1,875.001,8753

This sale against other markets

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.