Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2026-05-19

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, May 19
● Final34 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
38 head
237 vs last sale 275 18 vs year ago 56 · 32.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
275 head
15 vs last sale 260 149 vs year ago 126 · +118.3%
Replacement Cattle receipts
149 head
395 vs last sale 544 71 vs year ago 78 · +91.0%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (5-12-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate to good for very light offerings. Most feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. Quality this week was mostly average. CME feeder cattle positions moved sharply higher today, with most contracts from August 2026-Janurary 2027 showing over 4.00 gains. The May contract moved over 1.00 higher as it nears expiration. Market activity was moderate. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Feeding cows sold on very good demand for all cows which would feed. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher on all classes of cows. Quality this week was mostly attractive to very attractive. Many very empty cows were on offer this week as most were coming off grass. Demand for slaughter cows remains good. Packers showed need for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. A very limited portion of the offering was purchased for slaughter this week as feeding buyers pushed prices well over packer buyers orders for slaughter cows. Weigh up conditions were mostly above average this week. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Private feeding bull buyers were back in the market this week and showed very good demand for any bulls which would feed. Feeding bulls sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Bull quality this week was average to very attractive. Young age cows sold generally steady. Quality this week was mostly average with a few attractive offerings.

Weight class

Bulls · summary 700–800 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
700–800 lb bulls averaged $345.00/cwt on 1 head, down $6.18 from the prior sale (only 17 head in that comparison). That ranks 1 of 1 comparable sales and sits 6.18 against this barn's trailing median of $351.18.
Average price
$345.00
6.18 vs prior sale
1 head · 730 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,519
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
single grade reported
vs the market
+2.00
vs MT average

What quality paid 700–800 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2730345.002,5191thin
Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

How it compared 700–800 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale1 hd
345.00
MT average2 barns · 5 hd
343.00
+2.00
This barn, trailing median1 sales
351.18
−6.18
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
BullsAverage1,813215.583,90837
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,449190.072,755158
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,681186.263,1315thin
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,141167.401,91026

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
BullsN/AYoung (2-4 yrs)1,687$4,1003thin
BullsN/A(<2 yrs)1,300$3,8501thin

Every lot, as filed

34 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
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,654188.32/cwt186.00–191.003,1154
CowsLean 85-90%1,158149.49/cwt145.00–155.001,7313
CowsLean 85-90%1,090133.94/cwt125.00–143.001,4604
BullsReturn to Feed1,557218.19/cwt213.00–222.503,3978
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight910142.50/cwt142.50–142.501,2971
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,195186.72/cwt181.00–189.002,2319
Bulls1,880191.70/cwt182.00–202.003,6046
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,240191.74/cwt191.50–192.002,3782
Bulls2,053229.15/cwt225.00–238.004,70412
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,444192.64/cwt191.00–195.002,78291
BullsReturn to Feed1,533205.08/cwt195.00–210.003,1444
Bulls1,682214.96/cwt207.50–221.003,6166
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,100205.63/cwt195.00–237.502,2628
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,053285.38/cwt230.00–340.003,00552
Stock CowsMedium 1872299.50/cwt195.00–316.002,61211
BullsLarge 1-21050–11001,060236.66/cwt232.50–237.502,5096
BullsLarge 1-21200–12501,245230.00/cwt230.00–230.002,8641
Bulls2,480221.00/cwt221.00–221.005,4811
BullsMedium and Large 1-2950–1000965262.50/cwt262.50–262.502,5331
BullsMedium and Large 11,3003,850.00/head3,850.00–3,850.003,8501
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,280195.00/cwt195.00–195.002,4961
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,213222.61/cwt194.00–285.002,70053
BullsMedium and Large 11,6874,100.00/head4,100.00–4,100.004,1003
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,027249.09/cwt215.00–287.502,5585
BullsMedium and Large 1-2700–750730345.00/cwt345.00–345.002,5191
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650633380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,4053
SteersMedium and Large 1-2550–600568435.00/cwt435.00–435.002,4717
BullsMedium and Large 1-21000–10501,028242.50/cwt242.50–242.502,4933
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,790178.00/cwt178.00–178.003,1861
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,465187.79/cwt181.50–190.502,75161
CowsBoner 80-85%1,365176.85/cwt172.00–178.002,4145
CowsBoner 80-85%1,425162.00/cwt162.00–162.002,3091
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,142171.13/cwt150.00–179.001,9546
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight840135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,1341

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.