Cattle Market Pulse

Miles City Livestock Commission Auction Market Report

Miles City, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, November 28, 2023

2,735 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $291.10/cwt +0.39 vs last sale · ≈ $1,525/hd at 524 lb · 239 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $266.46/cwt +1.38 vs last sale · ≈ $1,376/hd at 517 lb · 163 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $261.37/cwt +12.47 vs last sale · ≈ $1,620/hd at 620 lb · 139 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,735 2,203 3,002
Feeder cattle 1,862 1,169 2,070
Slaughter cattle 728 778 631
Replacement cattle 145 256 301

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 500 lbs were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. 500-599 lb steers sold generally steady, steer calves over 600 lbs sold 8.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Heifer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. 450-499 lb heifers sold steady to 5.00 higher, 500-549 lbs sold fully steady, heifers over 550 lbs were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was average to very attractive and very consistent throughout the sale. Package sizes were larger this week than last and allowed buyers to start and build loads of like quality calves. Demand was moderate to good for all feeder cattle on offer. Several sets of long weaned calves were seen this week and these were met with mostly good demand. CME positions sold off sharply late last week and yesterday, however today saw sharply higher prices and buyers responded positively to higher contract prices. The January closed at 221.05, while the March contract closed at 223.50, 8.25 and 7.20 higher than Mondays close. Market activity was mostly active today with a large buyer pool on hand of both ranchers and order buyers. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and moderate to heavy offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly light to moderate this week as packers opted to send most cows to feed. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on all offerings. A large portion of the cow offering was purchased to feed this week. Feeding quality cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Thin feeding or turn out cows sold steady to firm. Many thin, low dressing or very low dressing cows were seen this week. A large buyer pool was actively bidding on this class of cows this week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week. Young age cows sold on mostly light demand this week. Most of these offerings were purchased to feed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average.

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
320–335 unweaned 328 2 320.00–325.00 $322.56 $1,058 —
344 344 10 337.50 $337.50 $1,161 ±0.00
350–367 unweaned 364 29 329.00–345.00 $330.91 $1,205 —
400–420 unweaned 409 23 311.00–319.00 $313.94 $1,284 —
400–443 429 46 309.00–323.00 $312.76 $1,342 +16.03
453 453 9 300.00 $300.00 $1,359 +2.03
453–474 unweaned 461 69 294.00–300.00 $298.07 $1,374 —
505–532 516 33 284.00–300.00 $294.13 $1,518 +3.42
509–544 unweaned 525 206 276.25–302.00 $290.61 $1,526 —
571–590 576 40 261.00–278.00 $271.84 $1,566 +17.06
560–594 unweaned 581 80 258.00–281.00 $263.20 $1,529 —
609–619 unweaned 612 79 254.00–260.00 $257.21 $1,574 —
625–631 630 60 266.85 $266.85 $1,681 +17.95
657 unweaned 657 29 250.50 $250.50 $1,646 —
675 675 26 245.00 $245.00 $1,654 +21.64
733 unweaned 733 8 220.00 $220.00 $1,613 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
381 381 4 292.50 $292.50 $1,114 —
445 unweaned 445 3 301.00 $301.00 $1,339 —
497 497 7 285.00 $285.00 $1,416 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
697 697 8 207.50 $207.50 $1,446 —
738 738 5 205.50 $205.50 $1,517 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
367 unweaned 367 3 310.00 $310.00 $1,138 —
450–490 unweaned 461 7 285.00–290.00 $288.48 $1,330 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353 353 12 316.00 $316.00 $1,115 +21.67
356–381 unweaned 368 34 280.00–300.00 $296.31 $1,090 —
418 418 12 276.00 $276.00 $1,154 +9.24
410–438 unweaned 429 54 273.00–289.00 $280.71 $1,204 —
456 456 11 269.00 $269.00 $1,227 -1.91
461–497 unweaned 479 92 264.00–284.00 $276.60 $1,325 —
504–517 unweaned 511 110 257.00–272.00 $267.16 $1,365 —
528 528 53 265.00 $265.00 $1,399 +2.63
567–599 unweaned 575 118 235.00–249.50 $244.62 $1,407 —
608–639 unweaned 620 31 220.00–229.00 $225.40 $1,397 —
659 659 4 204.00 $204.00 $1,344 —
711 711 7 219.50 $219.50 $1,561 —
800–835 805 44 193.00–212.50 $211.62 $1,704 —
854 854 22 196.00 $196.00 $1,674 —
918 918 9 196.00 $196.00 $1,799 —
1009–1031 1020 12 171.00–186.00 $178.58 $1,822 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 unweaned 360 5 270.00 $270.00 $972 —
397 397 28 274.00 $274.00 $1,088 —
444 444 36 257.00 $257.00 $1,141 —
667 667 54 221.75 $221.75 $1,479 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
339–340 unweaned 340 8 280.00–285.00 $282.50 $960 —
351–384 373 29 255.00–284.00 $272.93 $1,018 +13.12
373–374 unweaned 373 9 265.00–272.50 $269.16 $1,004 —
416–431 unweaned 426 14 261.00–265.00 $263.60 $1,123 —
442 442 11 258.00 $258.00 $1,140 +5.15
808 808 2 194.00 $194.00 $1,568 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
560 560 5 190.00 $190.00 $1,064 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
381 unweaned 381 9 286.00 $286.00 $1,090 —
457–464 unweaned 463 28 291.00–300.00 $291.95 $1,352 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900–995 927 85-90% 7 61.00–72.00 $64.35 $597 —
954–1130 1032 85-90% 13 54.00–59.00 $56.42 $582 —
940–1265 1127 85-90% 9 90.00–95.00 $92.02 $1,037 —
880–1355 1153 85-90% 20 61.00–76.00 $67.66 $780 -16.42
930–1285 1155 85-90% 196 65.00–80.00 $76.64 $885 -7.44
955–1325 1204 85-90% 225 79.00–89.00 $83.85 $1,010 —
1130–1280 1239 85-90% 4 82.00–85.00 $82.77 $1,026 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1335 1335 80-85% 1 86.00 $86.00 $1,148 —
1300–1555 1394 80-85% 38 72.50–84.00 $80.83 $1,127 —
1210–1530 1399 80-85% 31 84.00–95.00 $90.19 $1,262 —
1385–1450 1418 80-85% 2 69.00–70.50 $69.77 $989 —
1442 1442 80-85% 8 96.50 $96.50 $1,392 —
1345–1580 1463 80-85% 2 80.00–84.50 $82.43 $1,206 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1500–1635 1568 75-80% 2 83.00–87.00 $84.91 $1,331 —
1495–1735 1592 75-80% 3 85.00–88.00 $85.94 $1,368 —
1635 1635 75-80% 1 96.00 $96.00 $1,570 —
1646–1848 1686 75-80% 10 98.50–99.50 $98.72 $1,664 —
1650–1760 1690 75-80% 3 91.50–96.50 $94.22 $1,592 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1310–1780 1584 5 96.00–106.50 $103.84 $1,645 —
1550–1665 1603 3 94.00–106.50 $101.97 $1,635 —
1530–1790 1730 11 108.00–116.00 $114.11 $1,974 —
1705–1800 1753 2 113.00–115.00 $114.03 $1,999 —
1830 1830 1 118.00 $118.00 $2,159 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
830–1048 982 (<2 yrs)Open 53 122.00–186.00 $141.03 $1,385
870–1130 1007 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 19 92.50–135.00 $107.86 $1,086
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
735–1015 871 (<2 yrs)Open 30 112.50–140.00 $126.47 $1,102

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1279 1279 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 100.00 $100.00 $1,279

↑ Back to top

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.