Cattle Market Pulse

Miles City Livestock Commission Auction Market Report

Miles City, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, November 1, 2022

4,493 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $200.90/cwt -0.99 vs last sale · ≈ $1,157/hd at 576 lb · 495 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $206.20/cwt -4.09 vs last sale · ≈ $1,093/hd at 530 lb · 414 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $197.32/cwt -1.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,038/hd at 526 lb · 354 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,493 1,789 4,725
Feeder cattle 3,303 1,406 2,239
Slaughter cattle 889 281 1,882
Replacement cattle 301 102 604

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed; 450-599 lbs steer calves sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower, steer calves over 600 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Heifer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed; 400-449 lbs sold 6.00-10.00 higher, 450 lbs and heavier sold steady to 3.00 higher. Demand was mostly moderate to good throughout todays sale. Demand for heifers suitable to develop into replacements was very good as several ranchers were on hand actively bidding on high quality offerings. Both feeding buyers and replacement buyers competed over offerings pushing feeding heifers close to steer price in places. Demand for light weight calves was mostly good today as several buyers were active in buying steers and heifers under 450 lbs to develop into yearlings. Quality today was mostly attractive with many sets of fresh, clean calves straight off the cow. Many sets of calves had preconditioning shots and these offerings sold with the best demand. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packers opted to send most of the cow offering to feed this week as we are just 3 weeks from the Thanksgiving holiday week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold fully steady. Slaughter cow quality was lower this week as packers opted to feed most able bodied cows. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Feeding bull buyers were unwilling to take heavy weight bulls to feed which created uneven prices in places. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 5.00 higher. Demand for rebreed offerings remains very good.

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
320–345 unweaned 342 22 250.00–267.50 $257.92 $882 -3.26
356–390 unweaned 367 23 250.00–270.00 $259.14 $951 +18.28
400–442 unweaned 420 256 234.00–257.00 $247.52 $1,040 +12.52
455–495 unweaned 475 312 205.50–235.75 $220.12 $1,046 -5.58
500–549 unweaned 530 414 199.00–211.00 $206.20 $1,093 -4.09
550–599 unweaned 576 495 196.00–208.00 $200.90 $1,157 -0.99
600–639 unweaned 612 136 188.75–202.00 $194.01 $1,187 +7.59
668–675 unweaned 669 37 182.00–187.00 $183.00 $1,224 -1.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 3 234.00 $234.00 $913 —
435–443 unweaned 439 17 217.00–230.00 $225.20 $989 +4.91
478–494 unweaned 483 54 199.00–208.50 $206.72 $998 -0.69
503–522 unweaned 510 23 190.00–198.50 $194.56 $992 -0.44
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
573 unweaned 573 3 194.00 $194.00 $1,112 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
680 680 2 182.00 $182.00 $1,238 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311–330 unweaned 312 25 220.00–227.50 $220.32 $687 -6.86
358–397 unweaned 381 86 215.00–240.00 $223.04 $850 +3.18
401–449 unweaned 431 156 198.00–219.00 $207.53 $894 +8.22
451–493 unweaned 469 96 189.00–201.00 $196.69 $922 -0.01
471 471 26 211.00 $211.00 $994 —
500–549 unweaned 523 192 191.00–196.00 $193.04 $1,010 -0.96
507–540 530 162 197.00–205.00 $202.39 $1,073 —
551–588 560 13 192.00–202.00 $194.43 $1,089 +4.43
559–587 unweaned 574 38 186.00–189.00 $186.72 $1,072 +0.71
628 unweaned 628 2 174.00 $174.00 $1,093 +1.00
865–870 870 16 168.00–170.50 $170.34 $1,482 —
905–930 924 4 165.00–168.00 $165.73 $1,531 —
970 970 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,600 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 210.00 $210.00 $630 —
333 unweaned 333 13 185.00 $185.00 $616 —
380 unweaned 380 3 212.50 $212.50 $808 —
423–449 unweaned 430 35 185.00–192.00 $186.45 $802 —
460–478 unweaned 465 12 175.00–188.00 $184.77 $859 -1.73
502–527 unweaned 512 27 183.00–186.00 $184.38 $944 —
729 729 5 160.50 $160.50 $1,170 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
409–447 unweaned 430 9 186.00–192.00 $189.46 $815 —
489 unweaned 489 4 181.00 $181.00 $885 —
559–592 unweaned 567 13 172.00–175.00 $174.28 $988 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
322 unweaned 322 9 175.00 $175.00 $564 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
333–344 unweaned 339 19 202.50–210.00 $205.60 $697 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
575 unweaned 575 3 165.00 $165.00 $949 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
898 898 85-90% 2 41.00 $41.00 $368 —
910–980 955 85-90% 3 51.00–55.00 $53.00 $506 —
965 965 85-90% 1 57.00 $57.00 $550 —
1130 1130 85-90% 1 78.00 $78.00 $881 +19.49
1005–1365 1142 85-90% 31 50.00–62.50 $55.52 $634 -2.99
1044–1205 1169 85-90% 9 43.00–47.50 $46.04 $538 -16.07
1010–1345 1199 85-90% 79 53.00–64.50 $60.48 $725 -1.63
1145–1265 1209 85-90% 5 63.00–65.00 $63.93 $773 -6.43
1100–1395 1222 85-90% 105 65.00–70.50 $66.79 $816 -3.57
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1240–1500 1349 80-85% 15 59.00–66.50 $61.65 $832 -10.26
1257–1685 1396 80-85% 47 68.50–77.50 $72.68 $1,015 —
1310–1530 1420 80-85% 2 60.00–61.50 $60.69 $862 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1355–1735 1545 75-80% 2 74.50–75.00 $74.72 $1,154 —
1550 1550 75-80% 2 77.00 $77.00 $1,194 —
1688 1688 75-80% 8 77.75 $77.75 $1,312 —
1650–1730 1690 75-80% 2 76.50–77.50 $77.01 $1,301 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1665 1665 1 91.00 $91.00 $1,515 -5.50
1460–1968 1693 18 93.00–102.50 $97.47 $1,650 +0.96
1345–2150 1718 4 72.00–87.00 $80.81 $1,388 —
1775–1923 1886 4 97.50–100.50 $98.21 $1,852 —
2180 2180 1 98.00 $98.00 $2,136 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2085 2085 1 99.50 $99.50 $2,075 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
782–1113 930 (<2 yrs)Open 50 88.00–124.00 $111.18 $1,034
980–1240 1066 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 53 71.00–96.00 $83.11 $886
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
813–945 872 (<2 yrs)Open 4 71.00–92.00 $85.84 $749
980 980 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 63.00 $63.00 $617

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1366 1366 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,125.00 $1,125.00

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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.