Cattle Market Pulse

Miles City Livestock Commission Auction Market Report

Miles City, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, December 7, 2021

1,757 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Miles City Livestock Commission Auction report →

heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $192.03/cwt +7.91 vs last sale · ≈ $756/hd at 393 lb · 178 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $212.63/cwt +7.50 vs last sale · ≈ $1,026/hd at 483 lb · 165 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $160.27/cwt -3.35 vs last sale · ≈ $770/hd at 480 lb · 82 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,757 3,790 5,345
Feeder cattle 1,353 1,852 4,364
Slaughter cattle 303 1,330 436
Replacement cattle 101 608 545

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was moderate to good for light offerings. Feeder steers under 500 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Steers over 500 lbs sold mostly 5.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 500 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher, heifers over 500 lbs sold generally steady. Quality this week was average to attractive. A few large packages of calves were offered this week, however most calves were offered in small to moderate size packages. Demand for grass cattle remains good and buyers are purchasing some heavier weight calves (up to 525 lbs) to develop into yearlings. Demand for heavier calves was stronger this week as higher fat cattle prices helped support larger calf prices. Market activity this week was mostly active as a strong buyer pool was on hand actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold steady to weak on lean cows. Breaking and boning cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold steady to firm. A large buyer pool of feeding cows continues to be seen which helped keep cow prices close to steady. Packers showed lighter demand for slaughter cows this week compared to last week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however weak undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, lower undertones were noticed. Fewer buyers and lower quality was noticed this week.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308 308 9 235.00 $235.00 $724 +0.75
323 unweaned 323 4 220.00 $220.00 $711 —
368 368 14 217.50 $217.50 $800 —
368–398 unweaned 377 17 225.00 $225.00 $848 -2.60
413 413 49 225.50 $225.50 $931 +7.57
423–430 unweaned 428 7 202.00–217.00 $206.24 $883 -5.31
451–484 unweaned 473 43 204.50–213.00 $206.29 $976 +5.16
472–490 486 122 214.25–217.50 $214.87 $1,044 +4.59
508–529 unweaned 520 69 186.00–198.00 $193.77 $1,008 +2.70
538 538 3 187.50 $187.50 $1,009 +0.21
557–562 unweaned 560 19 189.50–193.50 $191.18 $1,071 +22.66
570 570 9 185.50 $185.50 $1,057 +9.86
614–635 unweaned 630 30 170.50–175.50 $173.55 $1,093 +9.77
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
257 257 3 215.00 $215.00 $553 —
303 unweaned 303 29 225.00 $225.00 $682 +7.50
440 440 11 203.00 $203.00 $893 +38.00
441 unweaned 441 5 190.00 $190.00 $838 -2.00
464–488 466 34 184.00–197.00 $185.20 $863 —
493 unweaned 493 6 196.00 $196.00 $966 +1.88
511 fancy 511 29 200.25 $200.25 $1,023 —
582–593 unweaned 588 10 170.50–171.00 $170.75 $1,004 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
419 419 8 85.00 $85.00 $356 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 5 155.00 $155.00 $581 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 39 197.50 $197.50 $652 +9.32
374 unweaned 374 5 176.00 $176.00 $658 -5.62
381–399 394 173 180.00–194.00 $192.49 $758 +6.02
415–435 422 57 166.00–193.00 $181.47 $766 +14.06
477 unweaned 477 35 162.50 $162.50 $775 +0.66
470–495 483 47 157.00–159.00 $158.61 $766 -5.60
500–513 507 30 153.00–160.00 $158.88 $806 -1.12
503–510 unweaned 509 31 157.00–162.00 $157.80 $803 +3.03
578 unweaned 578 2 149.50 $149.50 $864 -0.85
602 unweaned 602 17 148.00 $148.00 $891 -1.03
684 684 5 139.00 $139.00 $951 —
825 825 5 144.00 $144.00 $1,188 —
855 855 1 143.00 $143.00 $1,223 -2.00
924–940 927 5 140.50–141.00 $140.90 $1,306 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
386 386 18 167.00 $167.00 $645 —
367–398 unweaned 389 10 166.00–172.50 $167.84 $653 —
404 unweaned 404 4 172.00 $172.00 $695 —
581 unweaned 581 9 139.00 $139.00 $808 —
763 763 2 146.00 $146.00 $1,114 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
273 273 31 157.50 $157.50 $430 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 398 10 151.00 $151.00 $601 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
441 441 16 194.00 $194.00 $856 —
469 469 57 190.00 $190.00 $891 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 5 175.00 $175.00 $840 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900–995 950 85-90% 11 31.00–44.50 $38.18 $363 -0.07
1050 1050 85-90% 1 30.00 $30.00 $315 -8.19
920–1290 1108 85-90% 57 41.00–47.50 $44.68 $495 -5.20
1015–1395 1120 85-90% 54 37.00–45.00 $43.22 $484 -6.66
1160 1160 85-90% 1 39.00 $39.00 $452 -8.97
1055–1290 1164 85-90% 75 47.50–56.00 $50.70 $590 +8.29
1040–1318 1171 85-90% 9 45.50–48.00 $47.35 $554 +4.94
1200 1200 85-90% 6 58.00 $58.00 $696 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320–1460 1360 80-85% 10 53.00–60.00 $55.39 $753 —
1358–1417 1393 80-85% 5 40.50–45.00 $43.25 $602 —
1308–1500 1394 80-85% 5 49.00–52.00 $50.87 $709 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1608–1695 1637 75-80% 3 61.00–63.50 $61.86 $1,013 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315–1635 1522 5 63.00–79.50 $71.37 $1,086 -6.55
1275–1740 1556 9 81.00–86.00 $83.29 $1,296 —
1455–1825 1648 3 78.00–84.00 $80.31 $1,324 -2.20
1715 1715 1 80.50 $80.50 $1,381 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
838–1235 999 (<2 yrs)Open 34 63.50–107.00 $77.57 $775
865–1275 1081 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 43 54.00–79.50 $64.67 $699
1250–1315 1272 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 48.50–52.00 $49.71 $632
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1014 1014 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 61.00 $61.00 $619
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
915 915 (<2 yrs)Open 1 74.00 $74.00 $677

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.