Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2026-09-01

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Sep 1
● Final34 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
288 head
▲ 22 vs last sale 266▲ 288 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
88 head
▼ 252 vs last sale 340▲ 88 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
5 head
▼ 94 vs last sale 99▲ 5 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (8-25-26): Feeder steers were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeder heifers under 900 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison, while heifers over 900 lbs sold generally steady. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand for feeders was mostly light to moderate for light offerings, however demand did improve as buyers started loads. CME positions were lower again today which caused buyers to pause as they bid on offerings. Many sets of attractive tested open heifers, off ranchers replacements, were seen again this week. Most offerings were coming off grass and were in light flesh. Market activity was slow to moderate with a small buyer pool noticed. Weigh up cows sold on light demand and offerings. Feeding cow quality was mostly plain to average. Many blemished offerings were seen this week, which limited feeding demand. Some buyers were willing to put blemished cows on feed but mostly at slaughter cow prices as packers were the only ones willing to bid against them. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower. Demand for slaughter bulls was light to moderate. Feeding bull demand was very light and private buyers sidelined themselves and allowed packers to buy all bulls lower. Bull quality was mostly plain to average this week. Most bulls continue to come off pasture and range after breeding season. Yields continue to be mostly average to below average as a result. Weigh up conditions were mixed today with both full and empty cows and bulls noticed. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 700–800 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
700–800 lb heifers averaged $326.00/cwt on 2 head, up $1.28 from the prior sale. That ranks 2 of 14 comparable sales and sits −24.42 against this barn's trailing median of $350.42.
Average price
$326.00
▲ 1.28 vs prior sale
2 head · 750 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,445
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
—
single grade reported
vs the market
−25.18
vs MT average
+12.87 vs national

What quality paid 700–800 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1750326.002,4452thin
Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

This barn's trailing prices 700–800 lb

14 sales
383359335311median 350.4201/2003/1704/2105/2609/15
Heifers 700–800 lb: high $369.36, low $324.72, median $350.42 across 14 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 700–800 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale2 hd
326.00
—
MT average2 barns · 62 hd
351.18
−25.18
National average127 barns · 3,235 hd
313.13
+12.87
This barn, trailing median14 sales
350.42
−24.42
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
Bulls—Average1,717173.912,98647
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,424147.772,10410
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,670142.002,3711thin
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,205127.841,54115

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
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed—1,225142.17/cwt127.50–153.001,7424
Bulls—Return to Feed—1,400178.00/cwt178.00–178.002,4921
Bulls——1,821181.28/cwt177.00–186.003,30118
CowsLean 85-90%—1,22595.00/cwt95.00–95.001,1641
CowsLean 85-90%—1,270115.99/cwt105.00–125.001,4736
Bulls—Light Weight—1,285145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,8631
BullsLarge 1-21200–12501,230212.50/cwt212.50–212.502,6141
SteersLarge 1Unweaned500–550548417.50/cwt417.50–417.502,2886
BullsLarge 11100–11501,135250.00/cwt250.00–250.002,8381
HeifersLarge 11100–11501,106257.50/cwt257.50–257.502,84814
HeifersLarge 11050–11001,073263.43/cwt261.00–268.502,82715
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed—1,670142.00/cwt142.00–142.002,3711
SteersMedium and Large 11000–10501,016302.00/cwt302.00–302.003,06812
SteersMedium and Large 1950–1000984313.62/cwt313.00–317.503,08621
HeifersMedium and Large 11000–10501,010281.00/cwt281.00–281.002,8385
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned350–400360537.50/cwt537.50–537.501,9359
SteersMedium and Large 1850–900891321.00/cwt321.00–321.002,86017
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2—1,068192.83/cwt185.00–201.002,0592
HeifersMedium and Large 1850–900880308.30/cwt289.00–315.002,71373
HeifersMedium and Large 1750–800750326.00/cwt326.00–326.002,4452
HeifersMedium and Large 1950–1000973288.24/cwt284.00–294.002,80551
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned300–350328522.50/cwt522.50–522.501,7146
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned250–300278552.50/cwt552.50–552.501,5363
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned400–450425470.00/cwt470.00–470.001,9982
BullsMedium and Large 1-2900–950905275.00/cwt275.00–275.002,4892
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned350–400385495.00/cwt495.00–495.001,9064
HeifersMedium and Large 1900–950922291.80/cwt289.00–294.502,6904
HeifersMedium and Large 1800–850835323.19/cwt323.00–323.502,69921
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed—1,190161.50/cwt161.50–161.501,9222
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight—978117.50/cwt117.50–117.501,1492
Bulls——1,733169.37/cwt159.00–175.002,93520
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed—1,394147.62/cwt144.00–151.002,0588
CowsBoner 80-85%—1,543148.38/cwt146.00–151.002,2902
Bulls—Return to Feed—1,511171.45/cwt159.00–175.002,5917

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.