Cattle Market Pulse

Miles City Livestock Commission Auction Market Report

Miles City, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, December 14, 2021

4,571 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $215.71/cwt -7.38 vs last sale · ≈ $912/hd at 423 lb · 439 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $199.77/cwt +6.26 vs last sale · ≈ $1,037/hd at 519 lb · 248 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $178.15/cwt -13.87 vs last sale · ≈ $677/hd at 380 lb · 173 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,571 1,757 3,665
Feeder cattle 3,201 1,353 2,265
Slaughter cattle 895 303 575
Replacement cattle 475 101 825

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 mostly good for light offerings. Feeder steers under 500 lbs sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Steers over 500 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower, heifers over 500 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Quality was mixed this week from plain to attractive. Fewer load lots were seen this week. Most calves were offered in small to medium size packages. Buyers were more selective this week due to mixed quality. Demand for calves remains mostly good. Many sets of calves were weaned this week and many un-weaned calves were bunk broke or had been eating hay along side their mothers. Market activity this week was mostly active with a large pool of buyers on hand again this week actively bidding on cattle. Slaughter cows sold on light to moderate demand for heavy offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was lighter this week as fewer buyers were in the market this week buying slaughter cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to trend. Demand for feeding cows was mostly good this week. A large buyer pool of feeding cow buyers continues to be seen. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however firm undertones were noticed as feeding buyers showed strong demand for bulls suitable to feed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold with steady to higher undertones in a narrow comparison. A larger buyer pool was seen this week and quality was slightly better this week than last 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
305–343 331 51 217.50–225.00 $219.84 $728 -15.16
350 unweaned 350 40 217.50 $217.50 $761 -7.50
355–399 378 64 220.00–232.50 $225.79 $853 +8.29
403–448 423 439 206.50–227.50 $215.71 $912 -9.79
455–458 unweaned 455 38 197.00–205.50 $204.38 $930 -1.91
454–475 468 111 200.00–212.50 $205.32 $961 -9.55
503–537 516 203 190.00–204.75 $201.74 $1,041 +14.24
533–537 unweaned 533 45 189.00–191.00 $190.87 $1,017 -2.90
565–583 572 51 181.50–189.50 $186.99 $1,070 +1.49
601 601 21 175.00 $175.00 $1,052 —
621 unweaned 621 79 178.50 $178.50 $1,108 +4.95
726 unweaned 726 10 153.00 $153.00 $1,111 —
731 731 4 150.00 $150.00 $1,096 —
868 868 5 148.50 $148.50 $1,289 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 7 210.00 $210.00 $720 —
368–399 391 8 210.00 $210.00 $821 —
431 unweaned 431 5 200.00 $200.00 $862 +10.00
422–441 438 17 202.00–204.00 $202.34 $886 -0.66
459–468 unweaned 466 136 185.00 $185.00 $862 -11.00
472–487 475 15 193.00–195.00 $194.59 $924 +9.39
533 unweaned 533 6 175.00 $175.00 $933 —
558 558 5 162.00 $162.00 $904 —
657 657 7 161.00 $161.00 $1,058 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 unweaned 420 19 171.00 $171.00 $718 —
523 523 20 183.50 $183.50 $960 —
524 unweaned 524 35 160.00 $160.00 $838 —
620 unweaned 620 5 144.00 $144.00 $893 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 16 210.00 $210.00 $556 —
300 300 5 207.50 $207.50 $622 —
355 355 21 215.00 $215.00 $763 —
685 685 4 155.50 $155.50 $1,065 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
458–472 unweaned 466 30 105.00–115.00 $109.26 $509 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
673 673 15 141.00 $141.00 $949 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 unweaned 315 12 184.50 $184.50 $581 —
303–333 324 48 184.00–186.00 $185.37 $601 -12.13
354–399 378 149 174.00–184.00 $178.89 $676 -13.60
377–399 unweaned 394 24 172.00–177.00 $173.59 $684 -2.41
400–435 422 44 171.00–177.50 $173.35 $732 -8.12
448–449 unweaned 448 43 169.00 $169.00 $757 —
473–481 unweaned 474 29 162.00–163.50 $162.21 $769 -0.29
452–499 479 72 164.00–174.00 $169.74 $813 +11.13
517 unweaned 517 47 169.00 $169.00 $874 +11.20
502–549 534 63 157.00–172.00 $167.73 $896 +8.85
551 551 35 165.00 $165.00 $909 —
559–595 unweaned 592 70 159.50–161.00 $159.60 $945 +10.10
602–619 unweaned 616 33 143.00–144.00 $143.15 $882 -4.85
692 unweaned 692 6 130.00 $130.00 $900 —
705 unweaned 705 16 131.00 $131.00 $924 —
720 720 21 150.00 $150.00 $1,080 —
871 871 4 144.50 $144.50 $1,259 +1.50
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413 unweaned 413 44 82.50 $82.50 $341 —
456–469 unweaned 457 134 80.00–135.50 $131.25 $600 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 7 150.00 $150.00 $480 —
432–435 unweaned 434 29 157.00–161.00 $158.10 $686 —
506 506 27 158.00 $158.00 $799 —
543 unweaned 543 20 155.00 $155.00 $842 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 3 172.00 $172.00 $533 —
344 unweaned 344 9 171.00 $171.00 $588 —
388 unweaned 388 5 159.00 $159.00 $617 -8.84
417 unweaned 417 5 165.00 $165.00 $688 -7.00
430 430 11 162.00 $162.00 $697 —
509–543 526 18 155.00–156.00 $155.48 $818 —
536 unweaned 536 5 146.00 $146.00 $783 —
791 791 9 145.50 $145.50 $1,151 -0.50
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
332 332 15 180.00 $180.00 $598 —
356–369 367 48 167.50–172.50 $171.99 $631 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
639 639 14 133.50 $133.50 $853 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
412 unweaned 412 8 61.00 $61.00 $251 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–448 431 14 185.00–199.00 $188.77 $814 -5.23
451–488 unweaned 464 22 178.00–190.00 $184.89 $858 —
511 511 13 175.00 $175.00 $894 —
544 unweaned 544 10 161.00 $161.00 $876 —
557 unweaned 557 8 137.00 $137.00 $763 —
602–632 unweaned 620 27 126.00–137.00 $132.65 $822 —
620 620 6 141.00 $141.00 $874 —
820 unweaned 820 3 122.00 $122.00 $1,000 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
444 444 29 175.00 $175.00 $777 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870–975 935 85-90% 3 35.00–40.00 $36.55 $342 —
990–1136 1059 85-90% 9 37.00–38.00 $37.90 $401 +7.90
1000–1203 1063 85-90% 35 30.50–37.00 $34.86 $371 +4.86
1000–1290 1093 85-90% 87 38.50–46.50 $41.85 $457 —
1016–1278 1117 85-90% 76 46.50–56.50 $52.50 $586 +9.28
990–1233 1128 85-90% 22 38.00–46.50 $42.18 $476 -1.04
1019–1235 1156 85-90% 128 45.00–52.00 $47.10 $544 +8.10
1240 1240 85-90% 5 59.50 $59.50 $738 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265–1475 1307 80-85% 5 49.00–50.50 $49.34 $645 —
1332 1332 80-85% 22 56.50 $56.50 $753 —
1313–1500 1352 80-85% 34 52.00–60.00 $56.85 $769 +1.46
1355–1445 1410 80-85% 4 41.50–49.50 $45.03 $635 —
Boner ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1314 1314 80-85% 38 800.00 $800.00 —
Lean ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1292 1292 85-90% 8 735.00 $735.00 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1550–1665 1597 75-80% 3 55.00–60.50 $58.09 $928 —
1680 1680 75-80% 1 64.00 $64.00 $1,075 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1177–2043 1622 37 80.50–86.25 $83.80 $1,359 +3.49
1733–2120 1851 12 80.50–85.00 $83.21 $1,540 —
1930 1930 1 91.00 $91.00 $1,756 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
777–1006 925 (<2 yrs)Open 122 74.00–107.50 $88.32 $817
920–1215 993 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 27 52.00–93.00 $70.06 $696
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
820 820 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 41.00 $41.00 $336
836 836 (<2 yrs)Open 4 81.00 $81.00 $677

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1035 thin fleshed 1035 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 12 1,260.00 $1,260.00
1185 1185 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1358 1358 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 800.00 $800.00
1371 1371 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 22 825.00 $825.00
1345–1467 1430 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 32 985.00–1,300.00 $1,176.82
1349–1458 1441 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 45 1,100.00–1,460.00 $1,407.58
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
976 976 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 1,275.00 $1,275.00

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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.