Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2025-04-29
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-04-29

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were both too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on like quality offerings. Feeder quality this week was mostly plain to average with a limited offering of attractive quality offerings. Heifer quality was more attractive this week than steer quality as several packages of replacement quality heifers sold. These offerings sold on mostly good demand. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. CME positions continue to push higher as all nearby contracts hit contract highs again today. Quality limited demand at times. Market activity was mostly moderate to active today. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for light to moderate offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly moderate to good. Packers tried to buy slaughter cows lower this week as many cow packers are operating in the red. The cutter cow cutout has been stuck hovering between the upper 280.00s to the upper 290.00s since early February, but many of the cows are selling from 280.00-305.00+ on a dressed basis standing in the ring prior to freighting them to the plant. The cutter cow cutout as of todays close was 291.22, up 0.51 from yesterdays close. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however weak undertones were noticed. Fewer slaughter cow buyers were noticed this week compared to last week. Major packers continue to buy cows to feed. Feeding cows sold on very good demand as private feeders and packer buyers both showed good demand for high quality cows to feed. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold on good demand this week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher a narrow comparison. Bull quality was average to attractive this week with more high yielding bulls noticed. Weigh up conditions were mostly average. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on good to very good demand. Most offerings sold steady to 5.00 higher on like quality offerings. Quality was mostly average to attractive today. Very good demand was seen for wet bagged offerings which had recently lost calves and for light weight offerings which buyers could buy to blend on yearling offerings.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $338.41/cwt on 44 head. That ranks 1 of 16 comparable sales and sits −102.02 against this barn's trailing median of $440.43.

Average price

$338.41

44 head · 564 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,908

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$86

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2

$24.11/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.40

vs MT average

+9.07 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	527	352.11	1,856	19thin
Medium and Large 1-2	592	328.00	1,942	25

One grade step is worth $24.11/cwt here — about −$86 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 300–400 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

16 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $468.13, low $352.48, median $440.43 across 16 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale44 hd

338.41

—

MT average2 barns · 73 hd

338.01

+0.40

National average176 barns · 11,721 hd

329.34

+9.07

This barn, trailing median16 sales

440.43

−102.02

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Low	1,779	172.50	3,068	35
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,398	155.85	2,179	68
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,719	149.92	2,577	5thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,141	142.57	1,627	30

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.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,216	$3,000	3thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,350	$2,868	5
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,446	$2,700	7
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,465	$3,182	18
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,188	$3,075	2thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,468	$3,050	3thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,355	$2,830	9
Heifer Pairs	Open	(<2 yrs)	1,214	$3,400	5

Every lot, as filed

63 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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	750–800	779	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	2,337	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	674	280.81/cwt	277.50–282.50	1,893	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	479	352.58/cwt	340.00–360.00	1,689	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	300–350	318	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,272	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	463	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,713	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	662	308.00/cwt	308.00–308.00	2,039	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	616	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,971	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	592	328.00/cwt	328.00–328.00	1,942	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	425	384.79/cwt	375.00–397.50	1,635	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	418	387.50/cwt	387.50–387.50	1,620	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,150	166.68/cwt	164.00–172.50	1,917	4
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,468	3,050.00/head	3,050.00–3,050.00	3,050	3
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,188	3,075.00/head	3,075.00–3,075.00	3,075	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	577	371.82/cwt	365.00–375.00	2,145	43
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	513	402.50/cwt	402.50–402.50	2,065	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	742	309.00/cwt	309.00–309.00	2,293	12
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,350	2,868.15/head	2,850.00–2,900.00	2,868	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,080	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	2,025	11
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,150	190.88/cwt	162.50–235.00	2,195	37
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	394	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,418	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	527	352.11/cwt	350.00–360.00	1,856	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	650–700	678	289.00/cwt	289.00–289.00	1,959	12
Heifer Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,214	3,400.00/head	3,400.00–3,400.00	3,400	5
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,355	2,829.82/head	2,700.00–2,875.00	2,830	9
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,465	3,181.96/head	3,000.00–3,300.00	3,182	18
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,714	151.40/cwt	149.00–157.00	2,595	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,491	140.85/cwt	137.00–145.00	2,100	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,272	135.59/cwt	125.00–144.00	1,725	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,196	159.87/cwt	159.00–160.00	1,912	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,170	151.73/cwt	147.00–157.00	1,775	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,447	143.87/cwt	140.00–150.50	2,082	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,740	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	2,506	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	895	102.50/cwt	102.50–102.50	917	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	885	117.42/cwt	112.00–121.00	1,039	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,078	132.85/cwt	122.50–145.00	1,432	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,336	160.45/cwt	160.00–162.00	2,144	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,408	156.32/cwt	151.00–159.00	2,201	44
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,390	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	2,210	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,524	160.53/cwt	145.00–165.00	2,446	7
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,712	173.56/cwt	170.00–181.00	2,971	9
Bulls	—	—	1,593	151.48/cwt	145.00–160.00	2,413	4
Bulls	—	—	2,159	192.77/cwt	191.00–197.00	4,162	4
Bulls	—	—	1,925	179.52/cwt	171.00–185.00	3,456	11
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,130	234.00/cwt	234.00–234.00	2,644	1
Steers	Medium 1-2	350–400	368	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,435	5
Heifers	Medium 1	450–500	498	356.00/cwt	356.00–356.00	1,773	3
Steers	Medium 1	400–450	433	419.00/cwt	419.00–419.00	1,814	9
Bulls	Large 1-2	1050–1100	1,070	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	2,461	1
Bulls	Large 1	1150–1200	1,173	203.73/cwt	202.50–205.00	2,390	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	450–500	474	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,754	7
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,216	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	945	241.42/cwt	190.00–267.50	2,281	90
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,446	2,700.00/head	2,700.00–2,700.00	2,700	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	850	231.08/cwt	210.00–245.00	1,964	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,115	180.53/cwt	167.00–188.00	2,013	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	534	362.50/cwt	362.50–362.50	1,936	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	694	316.17/cwt	316.00–317.50	2,194	42
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	624	303.41/cwt	302.50–304.00	1,893	5
Steers	Medium and Large 2	450–500	460	387.50/cwt	387.50–387.50	1,783	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	350–400	391	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,564	15
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	550–600	573	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,776	12
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	960	239.50/cwt	239.50–239.50	2,299	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	800–850	800	302.00/cwt	302.00–302.00	2,416	53

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.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →