Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2024-12-17

Miles City Livestock Commission

Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-12-17
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-12-17

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Dec 17

● Final86 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773

← Dec 10Dec 17Jan 7 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

1,243 head

▼ 778 vs last sale 2,021▲ 223 vs year ago 1,020 · +21.9%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

420 head

▲ 137 vs last sale 283▼ 82 vs year ago 502 · −16.3%

Replacement Cattle receipts

355 head

▲ 164 vs last sale 191▼ 83 vs year ago 438 · −18.9%

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 15.00-20.00 higher, steer calves over 450 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves all sold steady to 5.00 lower. Quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Large packages and load lots sold on very good demand as quality was mostly attractive to very attractive. Small packages of calves sold with significant discounts to load lots and large packages. Quality on small packages was also significantly lower than large packages. Demand for light weight steers was very good this sale as demand from wheat and western grass buyers was very good. Light weight heifer quality was not as attractive this week which hampered demand. Demand for heifers over 600 lbs was very good as feeding buyers and replacement buyers bid aggressively over light offerings. Most of these offerings were purchased by feeding buyers this week. Market activity was mostly active today with a large buyer pool on hand. Bidding was active both ringside as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Demand for slaughter cows remains light, but was stronger than last week as today was the last opportunity for packer buyers to buy cows prior to the holiday break. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher on boning and lean cows, breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however firm undertones were noticed. Feeding cow demand was mostly good this sale as both private feeders and packers both showed good demand for cows to feed. Private buyers continue to buy slightly lame or slightly blemished cows to but away on feed. Packer buyers were also active and buying slightly lame or blemished cows to put away to feed for the upcoming holidays. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Thin feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Cow quality this week was average to attractive. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly average this week for cows and below average for bulls. Bull quality this week was mostly plain with many low dressing bulls on offer. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher on a higher quality offering. Young age offerings sold mostly steady with prices two weeks ago. Young age cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light offerings. Quality was mostly average to attractive.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $343.58/cwt on 211 head. That ranks 1 of 11 comparable sales and sits −108.00 against this barn's trailing median of $451.58.

Average price

$343.58

211 head · 534 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,835

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$25

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

$30.69/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+8.73

vs MT average

+16.95 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	532	346.20	1,841	180
Large 1	533	334.00	1,780	14thin
Medium 1	543	333.00	1,808	8thin
Medium and Large 1-2	576	315.51	1,816	9thin

One grade step is worth $30.69/cwt here — about $25 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 400–500 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale211 hd

343.58

—

MT average4 barns · 737 hd

334.85

+8.73

National average173 barns · 17,754 hd

326.63

+16.95

This barn, trailing median11 sales

451.58

−108.00

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

11 sales

Steers 500–600 lb: high $512.23, low $384.50, median $451.58 across 11 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

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	1,806	123.73	2,235	22
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Very Low	1,382	118.54	1,638	153
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,621	118.35	1,919	7thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,172	113.72	1,332	221

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,439	$2,103	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,223	$1,962	53
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,115	$2,775	36

Every lot

86 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.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers26 lots · lightest first
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	325	443.46/cwt	440.00–445.00	1,441	3
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	389	451.06/cwt	445.00–453.00	1,755	24
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	394	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	1,478	4
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	415	430.16/cwt	401.00–450.00	1,785	44
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	426	438.00/cwt	438.00–438.00	1,866	7
Steers	400–450	Large 1	433	411.00/cwt	411.00–411.00	1,780	4
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	445	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,691	1
Steers	450–500	Medium 2	456	252.50/cwt	252.50–252.50	1,151	14
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	481	371.38/cwt	357.00–397.50	1,786	54
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	490	333.93/cwt	317.50–350.00	1,636	8
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	491	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,817	7
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	518	327.50/cwt	327.50–327.50	1,696	2
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	519	354.09/cwt	333.00–361.00	1,838	127
Steers	500–550	Large 1	533	334.00/cwt	334.00–334.00	1,780	14
Steers	500–550	Medium 1	543	333.00/cwt	333.00–333.00	1,808	8
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	558	328.66/cwt	315.00–330.00	1,834	45
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	573	329.00/cwt	329.00–329.00	1,885	3
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	592	312.08/cwt	311.00–312.50	1,848	7
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Full	593	314.00/cwt	314.00–314.00	1,862	5
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	601	313.50/cwt	313.50–313.50	1,884	4
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	607	301.92/cwt	294.00–304.00	1,833	5
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	623	311.31/cwt	305.00–317.75	1,939	155
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	653	283.00/cwt	283.00–283.00	1,848	3
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Full	699	256.00/cwt	256.00–256.00	1,789	4
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	716	256.34/cwt	245.00–265.00	1,835	14
Steers	700–750	Large 1	740	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	1,902	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers27 lots · lightest first
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1	330	412.07/cwt	406.00–415.00	1,360	9
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	347	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,353	3
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	370	381.25/cwt	370.00–385.00	1,411	4
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	372	371.89/cwt	371.00–372.50	1,383	10
Heifers	400–450	Large 1-2	401	292.50/cwt	292.50–292.50	1,173	4
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	417	352.51/cwt	340.00–367.50	1,470	61
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	437	338.40/cwt	337.50–342.00	1,479	15
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	438	339.05/cwt	337.00–340.00	1,485	16
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	458	308.00/cwt	308.00–308.00	1,411	3
Heifers	450–500	Large 1-2	459	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,193	8
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	473	331.15/cwt	322.00–338.00	1,566	64
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	473	331.00/cwt	331.00–331.00	1,566	5
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	512	319.93/cwt	313.00–321.00	1,638	15
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	517	316.14/cwt	305.50–327.00	1,634	92
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	522	298.64/cwt	296.00–302.00	1,559	18
Heifers	550–600	Large 1	555	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,499	1
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	570	294.83/cwt	292.00–295.00	1,681	53
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	573	262.00/cwt	262.00–262.00	1,501	10
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	619	283.00/cwt	283.00–283.00	1,752	67
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	628	268.28/cwt	268.00–269.00	1,685	7
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	652	262.00/cwt	262.00–262.00	1,708	7
Heifers	650–700	Medium 1-2	679	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,650	11
Heifers	650–700	Large 1	683	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,585	2
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	786	245.50/cwt	245.50–245.50	1,930	26
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	817	249.80/cwt	242.00–250.50	2,041	12
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	850	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,998	1
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1	916	227.11/cwt	227.00–227.50	2,080	9
Feeder Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	300–350	Medium and Large 1	335	455.00/cwt	455.00–455.00	1,524	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,405	118.66/cwt	115.00–122.00	1,667	2
Bulls	—	—	1,811	119.87/cwt	110.00–133.00	2,171	17
Bulls	—	—	1,920	146.49/cwt	146.00–147.00	2,813	2
Bulls	—	—	2,305	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	3,550	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	949	87.92/cwt	83.00–96.00	834	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	985	77.50/cwt	77.50–77.50	763	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,085	83.48/cwt	77.50–87.00	906	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,120	105.33/cwt	94.00–115.50	1,180	44
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,145	128.95/cwt	127.00–132.50	1,476	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,154	95.25/cwt	92.00–98.00	1,099	8
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,197	104.66/cwt	101.00–109.00	1,253	10
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,199	119.78/cwt	115.00–124.00	1,436	145
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,330	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,676	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,339	110.78/cwt	103.00–116.00	1,483	16
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,346	94.16/cwt	94.00–95.00	1,267	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,370	122.17/cwt	116.00–128.50	1,674	117
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,430	106.75/cwt	105.00–110.00	1,527	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,502	101.13/cwt	99.00–102.00	1,519	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,585	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	1,854	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,600	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	1,312	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,608	114.15/cwt	108.75–118.00	1,836	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,647	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	2,026	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,892	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	2,308	3
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	807	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	1,485	7
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	887	175.62/cwt	127.00–196.00	1,558	33
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	934	191.63/cwt	150.00–225.50	1,790	122
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,038	125.63/cwt	121.50–150.00	1,304	11
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,075	147.54/cwt	123.00–192.00	1,586	36
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,115	1,750.00/head	1,750.00–1,750.00	1,750	9
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,245	2,005.50/head	1,900.00–2,075.00	2,006	44
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,439	2,103.15/head	1,925.00–2,200.00	2,103	3
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,115	2,775.00/head	2,775.00–2,775.00	2,775	36

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.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Miles City Livestock Commission Auction - Miles City, MT

Tue Dec 17, 2024

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 1,243Last week 2,021Year ago 1,020

Slaughter CattleReceipts 420Last week 283Year ago 502

Replacement CattleReceipts 355Last week 191Year ago 438

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	300–350	330	406.00–415.00	412.07
4	350–400	370	370.00–385.00	381.25
61	400–450	417	340.00–367.50	352.51
64	450–500	473	322.00–338.00	331.15
92	500–550	517	305.50–327.00	316.14
53	550–600	570	292.00–295.00	294.83
7	600–650	628	268.00–269.00	268.28
7	650–700	652	262.00	262.00
26	750–800	786	245.50	245.50
12	800–850	817	242.00–250.50	249.80
1	850–900	850	235.00	235.00
9	900–950	916	227.00–227.50	227.11

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	347	390.00	390.00
10	350–400	372	371.00–372.50	371.89
15	400–450	437	337.50–342.00	338.40
5	450–500	473	331.00	331.00
15	500–550	512	313.00–321.00	319.93
67	600–650	619	283.00	283.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
16	400–450	438	337.00–340.00	339.05
3	450–500	458	308.00	308.00
18	500–550	522	296.00–302.00	298.64
10	550–600	573	262.00	262.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	400–450	401	292.50	292.50
8	450–500	459	260.00	260.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11	650–700	679	243.00	243.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	550–600	555	270.00	270.00
2	650–700	683	232.00	232.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
24	350–400	389	445.00–453.00	451.06
44	400–450	415	401.00–450.00	430.16
54	450–500	481	357.00–397.50	371.38
127	500–550	519	333.00–361.00	354.09
45	550–600	558	315.00–330.00	328.66
155	600–650	623	305.00–317.75	311.31
3	650–700	653	283.00	283.00
14	700–750	716	245.00–265.00	256.34

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
5	550–600	593	314.00	314.00
4	650–700	699	256.00	256.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	400–450	426	438.00	438.00
7	450–500	491	370.00	370.00
3	550–600	573	329.00	329.00
4	600–650	601	313.50	313.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	325	440.00–445.00	443.46
1	400–450	445	380.00	380.00
8	450–500	490	317.50–350.00	333.93
2	500–550	518	327.50	327.50
7	550–600	592	311.00–312.50	312.08
5	600–650	607	294.00–304.00	301.92

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	400–450	433	411.00	411.00
14	500–550	533	334.00	334.00
2	700–750	740	257.00	257.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
14	450–500	456	252.50	252.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	500–550	543	333.00	333.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	394	375.00	375.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	335	455.00	455.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	7	—	807	184.00	184.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	33	—	887	127.00–196.00	175.62
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	11	—	1,038	121.50–150.00	125.63

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	36	—	1,075	123.00–192.00	147.54
(<2 yrs)	Open	122	—	934	150.00–225.50	191.63

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	44	—	1,245	1,900.00–2,075.00	2,005.50

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	9	—	1,115	1,750.00	1,750.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	1,439	1,925.00–2,200.00	2,103.15

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	36	—	1,115	2,775.00	2,775.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,346	94.00–95.00	94.16
117	—	1,370	116.00–128.50	122.17
16	—	1,339	103.00–116.00	110.78
1	—	1,330	126.00	126.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,608	108.75–118.00	114.15

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,892	122.00	122.00
1	—	1,600	82.00	82.00
5	—	1,430	105.00–110.00	106.75
3	—	1,502	99.00–102.00	101.13

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,647	123.00	123.00
1	—	1,585	117.00	117.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
145	—	1,199	115.00–124.00	119.78
3	—	1,145	127.00–132.50	128.95
44	—	1,120	94.00–115.50	105.33

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,197	101.00–109.00	104.66
5	—	1,085	77.50–87.00	83.48
8	—	1,154	92.00–98.00	95.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	949	83.00–96.00	87.92
1	—	985	77.50	77.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,405	115.00–122.00	118.66

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,305	154.00	154.00
17	—	1,811	110.00–133.00	119.87
2	—	1,920	146.00–147.00	146.49

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.