Cattle Market Pulse

Miles City Livestock Commission Auction Market Report

Miles City, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, January 23, 2024

3,006 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 heifers $296.44/cwt +15.44 vs last sale · ≈ $1,568/hd at 529 lb · 309 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $304.72/cwt +15.07 vs last sale · ≈ $1,725/hd at 566 lb · 197 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $268.35/cwt +10.82 vs last sale · ≈ $1,637/hd at 610 lb · 177 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,006 2,656 2,269
Feeder cattle 1,764 1,709 1,842
Slaughter cattle 522 663 322
Replacement cattle 720 284 105

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale: The sale last week was canceled due to severely cold temperatures, so all comparisons are to two weeks ago. Feeder steers under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed, steers 450-499 lbs sold mostly 15.00 higher on a higher quality offering. 500-549 lbs steers sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher, steers over 550 lbs sold 5.00-15.00 higher. Heifer calves under 650 lbs sold mostly 5.00-15.00 higher. Heifers over 650 lbs were not well compared, however steady undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive, and overall more attractive than last sale. Most cattle were weaned 45-100 days, with a limited offering of calves straight off the cows. Package sizes were mostly moderate this week with several partial loads seen. CME positions continue to tick higher. The January contract closed today at 231.00, while the March closed at 233.65, 7.225 and 8.775 higher respectfully compared to two weeks ago. Market activity was mostly active this week with a large buyer pool noticed of farmer feeders, ranchers and order-buyers. Demand for replacement quality cattle was good this week with several buyers looking for heifers to breed. These offerings pushed higher than last sale as feeding buyers and replacement buyers both competed over offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was especially good as packer buyers showed need for cows for immediate harvest. With many canceled sales across the northern portion of the country last week packers are short cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher on all classes. Several buyers continue to buy feeding cows as many are betting the market continues to improve. Feeding cows sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were average to below average this week. Young age cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand this week. Interest continues to be good for this class of cows, with a strong buyer pool seen again this week. Quality this week was mostly average. This class of cows sold mostly steady. Todays sale featured around 500 head of bred cows and heifers. Demand for bred stock was good to very good. A very large crowd was on hand for the bred portion of todays sale.

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
325 325 4 385.00 $385.00 $1,251 +17.50
370 370 2 360.00 $360.00 $1,332 +17.04
450–476 469 62 330.00–341.00 $338.66 $1,588 +17.12
477 unweaned 477 24 305.00 $305.00 $1,455 -11.00
503–545 514 38 303.00–325.00 $312.98 $1,609 -0.74
557 unweaned 557 35 296.00 $296.00 $1,649 —
559–585 568 162 291.00–310.50 $306.60 $1,741 +16.95
602–646 627 128 277.00–294.00 $287.43 $1,802 +5.44
657–697 661 34 262.00–272.00 $270.83 $1,790 +13.79
726 726 56 256.00 $256.00 $1,859 +12.50
822 822 18 216.00 $216.00 $1,776 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
392 392 3 322.50 $322.50 $1,264 -4.50
418 418 5 335.00 $335.00 $1,400 +27.00
464–484 475 11 310.00–313.00 $311.67 $1,480 +6.04
573–580 573 20 275.00–277.00 $276.90 $1,587 -0.11
620–627 626 6 255.00–262.00 $256.16 $1,604 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
384 384 10 334.00 $334.00 $1,283 +4.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
489 489 7 271.00 $271.00 $1,325 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555 555 3 289.00 $289.00 $1,604 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
389–396 393 11 315.00–325.00 $321.40 $1,263 +11.53
402–422 417 32 312.00–320.00 $313.93 $1,309 +13.65
450–491 467 108 300.00–314.00 $305.58 $1,427 +15.59
480 480 5 297.00 $297.00 $1,426 +7.01
501–547 526 261 288.00–306.00 $297.81 $1,566 +16.81
544 544 48 289.00 $289.00 $1,572 —
553–576 563 45 266.00–289.00 $275.39 $1,550 +6.15
604–606 605 156 271.00–273.50 $271.90 $1,645 +17.90
646 646 21 242.00 $242.00 $1,563 -20.00
667–682 676 89 238.00–250.50 $247.46 $1,673 -8.97
742 742 10 207.00 $207.00 $1,536 —
846 846 10 202.50 $202.50 $1,713 —
876 876 18 200.00 $200.00 $1,752 —
985 985 2 199.00 $199.00 $1,960 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425–446 435 28 282.00–299.00 $290.48 $1,264 +13.81
485 485 27 297.00 $297.00 $1,440 —
516–528 517 22 277.00–285.00 $284.26 $1,470 +17.70
563 563 2 261.00 $261.00 $1,469 +12.22
680 680 5 226.00 $226.00 $1,537 —
718 718 2 207.50 $207.50 $1,490 —
800 800 3 198.50 $198.50 $1,588 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344 344 6 285.00 $285.00 $980 —
361–375 368 15 301.00–311.00 $305.76 $1,125 —
436–448 441 17 284.00–289.00 $286.09 $1,262 +4.09
494–496 495 18 274.00–292.00 $282.02 $1,396 —
524 524 4 278.00 $278.00 $1,457 +21.82
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
567 567 3 256.00 $256.00 $1,452 —
607 607 21 249.50 $249.50 $1,514 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
468 468 3 276.00 $276.00 $1,292 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
695 695 7 217.00 $217.00 $1,508 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–991 972 85-90% 5 76.00–77.00 $76.18 $740 -0.48
1000–1055 1028 85-90% 2 62.00–64.00 $63.03 $648 —
1077–1215 1109 85-90% 13 87.00–87.50 $87.13 $966 +10.55
925–1223 1117 85-90% 56 72.00–85.00 $81.03 $905 +4.45
1023–1325 1183 85-90% 45 72.00–87.00 $81.80 $968 +13.50
1094–1275 1205 85-90% 50 87.00–98.00 $89.35 $1,077 —
1220 1220 85-90% 1 100.00 $100.00 $1,220 —
1260 1260 85-90% 1 67.00 $67.00 $844 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1293–1451 1354 80-85% 53 93.50–102.00 $99.53 $1,348 —
1318–1555 1366 80-85% 20 83.00–92.00 $86.63 $1,183 -1.85
1352–1480 1374 80-85% 17 85.00–89.50 $86.67 $1,191 -1.81
1315–1623 1379 80-85% 39 92.00–100.00 $93.79 $1,293 +5.31
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1485–1800 1679 65-75% 89 101.00–105.00 $102.28 $1,717 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1503–1640 1568 75-80% 4 89.00–89.50 $89.37 $1,401 —
1520–1680 1568 75-80% 33 96.00–100.50 $99.57 $1,561 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210 1210 2 114.00 $114.00 $1,379 —
1160–2335 1633 9 86.00–103.00 $94.12 $1,537 —
1600–1960 1783 4 105.00–111.00 $109.10 $1,945 +18.44
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1963 1963 4 111.00 $111.00 $2,179 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
881–1174 1012 (<2 yrs)Open 57 120.00–182.00 $138.99 $1,407
950–1315 1094 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 28 96.00–129.00 $112.78 $1,234

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1133 1133 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,150.00 $2,150.00
1338–1573 1407 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 131 1,525.00–1,675.00 $1,625.11
1338–1493 1415 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 40 1,575.00–1,835.00 $1,768.22
1470 1470 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,350.00 $1,350.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1095–1218 1157 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 1,750.00–1,800.00 $1,773.67
1181–1233 1205 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 41 1,300.00–1,325.00 $1,302.50
1330 1330 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 1,400.00 $1,400.00
1342 thin fleshed 1342 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,275.00 $1,275.00
1402 1402 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,750.00 $1,750.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
889 889 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,750.00 $1,750.00
1000–1112 1055 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 188 2,350.00–2,550.00 $2,444.75
1045–1096 1080 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 99 2,425.00–2,650.00 $2,548.32
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
916 916 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 17 2,275.00 $2,275.00
986 986 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 2,000.00 $2,000.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
757 757 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 10 1,750.00 $1,750.00

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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.