Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2026-04-28

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Apr 28
● Final37 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
49 head
532 vs last sale 581 450 vs year ago 499 · 90.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
192 head
65 vs last sale 127 36 vs year ago 156 · +23.1%
Replacement Cattle receipts
179 head
38 vs last sale 141 64 vs year ago 243 · 26.3%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (4-21-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeder cattle were scarcely traded this week. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate to good for very light offerings. Most feeders were offered as singles this week. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. CME positions bounced back from last weeks losses as they pushed sharply higher both yesterday and today, with over 4.00 gains seen today. A small crowd was on hand for todays sale, but buyers were a mix of order buyers and ranchers. Market activity was moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for light offerings. Feeding cows sold on very good demand for all cows which would feed. Feeding cows sold steady to 4.00 higher in a narrow comparison, with the largest increase in price seen on young and high yielding cows. Slaughter cows sold on good demand. A couple loads of fed cows were seen this week. Demand for fed cows was very good. No recent sales of premium white cows were seen to make an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed compared to the last reported test the first week of April. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Feeding type bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows sold generally steady to firm on very good demand. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Replacement or turn out cows sold on very good demand and buyers were willing to take older offerings up to 6 years old to rebreed as cow supplies remain tight.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 600–700 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
600–700 lb heifers averaged $415.00/cwt on 6 head, up $15.28 from the prior sale. That ranks 19 of 18 comparable sales and sits +19.98 against this barn's trailing median of $395.02.
Average price
$415.00
15.28 vs prior sale
6 head · 613 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,544
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
single grade reported
vs the market
+30.05
vs MT average
+28.86 vs national

What quality paid 600–700 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1613415.002,5446thin
Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

This barn's trailing prices 600–700 lb

18 sales
419395372349median 395.0201/0602/1003/2404/2108/18
Heifers 600–700 lb: high $404.52, low $363.33, median $395.02 across 18 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 600–700 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale6 hd
415.00
MT average2 barns · 38 hd
384.95
+30.05
National average163 barns · 7,794 hd
386.14
+28.86
This barn, trailing median18 sales
395.02
+19.98
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
BullsAverage1,798206.753,71721
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,387182.372,52973
CowsPremium White 65-75%Low1,802178.713,22162
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,579178.692,82115
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,141142.291,6239thin

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age
Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,122$4,0424thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,269$3,5505
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,415$3,4003thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,420$3,0007
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,086$4,37512

Every lot, as filed

37 lots · USDA AMS · Miles City Livestock Commission Auction - Miles City, MT
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
BullsReturn to Feed1,664208.56/cwt198.00–213.003,4706
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,386188.10/cwt185.00–190.002,60746
Bulls2,060207.74/cwt202.00–216.004,2797
Bulls1,770226.77/cwt224.00–231.004,0143
Bulls1,805178.92/cwt175.50–183.003,2302
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,155172.00/cwt172.00–172.001,9871
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,4982,850.00/head2,850.00–2,850.002,8504
SteersMedium and Large 2900–950930301.00/cwt301.00–301.002,7992
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,311188.51/cwt184.00–195.002,47110
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4453,500.00/head3,500.00–3,500.003,5001
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0864,375.00/head4,375.00–4,375.004,37512
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,143208.37/cwt182.50–270.002,38212
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2974283.21/cwt250.00–295.002,7584
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,006307.23/cwt236.00–340.003,09162
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1224,041.80/head3,850.00–4,100.004,0424
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3153,200.00/head3,200.00–3,200.003,2003
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Fleshy1,415189.50/cwt189.50–189.502,6811
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,101256.57/cwt191.00–327.502,82529
HeifersMedium and Large 1600–650613415.00/cwt415.00–415.002,5446
CowsLean 85-90%1,192131.25/cwt125.00–142.001,5653
Stock CowsLarge 11,270205.00/cwt205.00–205.002,6041
Stock CowsMedium 1855321.02/cwt315.00–325.002,7453
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,4003,350.00/head3,350.00–3,350.003,3502
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2693,550.00/head3,550.00–3,550.003,5505
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Fleshy1,272219.95/cwt216.00–220.502,7988
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,142157.61/cwt148.00–169.001,8003
CowsBoner 80-85%1,250146.00/cwt146.00–146.001,8251
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,393179.69/cwt176.00–184.002,50320
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,835175.00/cwt175.00–175.003,2111
CowsBoner 80-85%1,393153.39/cwt150.00–159.002,1376
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,565181.10/cwt178.00–183.002,83413
BullsReturn to Feed1,475199.38/cwt195.00–202.002,9413
CowsPremium White 65-75%Heavy Weight2,108163.11/cwt155.00–172.003,4382
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight865120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,0381
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,792179.23/cwt178.00–179.753,21260
CowsLean 85-90%1,245122.00/cwt122.00–122.001,5191
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,505151.00/cwt151.00–151.002,2731

How this sale compares

Montana weighted averages
One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every Montana auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.