Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2025-10-28
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-10-28

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested develop any market trend. Steer calves under 550 lbs sold sharply lower with most sales 50.00-70.00 lower, steer calves over 550 lbs sold sharply lower with most sales 30.00-45.00 lower. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold sharply lower with most sales 50.00-70.00 lower, heifers over 550 sold 25.00-35.00 lower. Demand was mostly moderate for heavy offerings. A few load lots of calves were seen this sale and demand was moderate to good for these offerings. Packages of calves sold on mostly light to moderate demand. Quality this week was average to attractive. Most calves were un-weaned with a few packages of weaned calves seen. CME feeder cattle positions have weakened considerably over the past week with several days of limit lower and expanded limit lower movement seen. The October contract from last Tuesdays close through yesterday lost 27.425, not including todays lower contract movement. Buyers all showed moderate to good demand for calves, however at sharply lower prices. Calves with 2 rounds of vaccinations sold with the best demand. This caused some price overlap as calves with both spring and fall preconditioning shots sold with strong 8.00-10.00 premiums this week. Demand for calves strengthened as the sale progressed. This was especially the case for light weight calves which sold some of the highest price offerings of the day from 5pm to 8pm or later. Quality today was mostly attractive to very attractive. This weeks buyer pool was large and similar to last week. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand. Feeding cow demand was very good this week with a very large feeding cow buyer pool noticed. Feeding cows sold generally steady on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Buyers showed very good demand for lean cows as buyers seek cows with lots of quick compensatory gain. Lean feeding cows sold 1.00-2.00 higher with packers looking for short term feeding cows and private feeders also looking for cows to feed or turn out on stubble. Too few slaughter cows sold this week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold generally in a very narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on very good demand. These offerings sold generally steady in a narrow comparison.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $419.30/cwt on 931 head. That ranks 1 of 13 comparable sales and sits −66.93 against this barn's trailing median of $486.23.

Average price

$419.30

931 head · 554 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,323

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$74

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$34.15/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−9.68

vs MT average

−10.42 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	555	422.37	2,345	783
Medium and Large 1-2	544	407.16	2,214	109
Medium and Large 2	519	397.50	2,063	14thin
Large 1	585	388.22	2,271	25

One grade step is worth $34.15/cwt here — about $74 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

13 sales

Steers 500–600 lb: high $512.23, low $440.01, median $486.23 across 13 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 sale931 hd

419.30

—

MT average5 barns · 2,294 hd

428.98

−9.68

National average179 barns · 33,800 hd

429.72

−10.42

This barn, trailing median13 sales

486.23

−66.93

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	—	Average	1,641	183.49	3,011	25
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,376	174.42	2,400	158
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	Average	1,683	174.00	2,928	66
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,350	168.00	2,268	2thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,174	160.66	1,886	194

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	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,351	$3,380	10
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,332	$2,722	22

Every lot, as filed

92 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 1Unweaned	450–500	481	408.00/cwt	395.00–428.00	1,962	466
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	610	377.50/cwt	377.50–377.50	2,303	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	567	371.24/cwt	370.00–374.00	2,105	160
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	565	384.75/cwt	365.00–398.00	2,174	43
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	296	480.00/cwt	480.00–480.00	1,421	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	527	438.09/cwt	423.00–457.00	2,309	279
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	600–650	612	371.00/cwt	371.00–371.00	2,271	26
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	576	412.18/cwt	400.00–436.00	2,374	467
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	420	444.03/cwt	425.00–470.00	1,865	161
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	517	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,913	27
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	398	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	1,791	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	619	395.44/cwt	387.50–410.00	2,448	363
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	657	384.73/cwt	370.00–393.00	2,528	210
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	373	529.89/cwt	515.00–560.00	1,976	80
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	339	557.50/cwt	557.50–557.50	1,890	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	617	342.70/cwt	335.00–352.50	2,114	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	464	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,786	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	915	282.50/cwt	282.50–282.50	2,585	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	577	346.95/cwt	340.00–351.00	2,002	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	322	610.36/cwt	575.00–630.00	1,965	34
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	392	475.00/cwt	475.00–475.00	1,862	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	530	421.76/cwt	409.00–423.00	2,235	66
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	267	480.00/cwt	480.00–480.00	1,282	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	525	388.52/cwt	370.00–404.00	2,040	404
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	430	500.08/cwt	487.50–522.50	2,150	113
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	478	472.62/cwt	446.00–496.00	2,259	307
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	382	493.89/cwt	465.00–510.00	1,887	123
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	550–600	566	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	2,179	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	309	540.07/cwt	510.00–550.00	1,669	32
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	504	432.50/cwt	432.50–432.50	2,180	37
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	455	437.50/cwt	437.50–437.50	1,991	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	403	500.00/cwt	500.00–500.00	2,015	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	550–600	590	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	1,977	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	500–550	502	416.00/cwt	416.00–416.00	2,088	141
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,024	270.39/cwt	192.50–297.50	2,769	62
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,223	217.50/cwt	217.50–217.50	2,660	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	600	356.00/cwt	356.00–356.00	2,136	27
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	316	570.00/cwt	570.00–570.00	1,801	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	351	497.50/cwt	497.50–497.50	1,746	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	468	397.50/cwt	397.50–397.50	1,860	36
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,060	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	901	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,173	150.26/cwt	125.00–164.00	1,763	41
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,179	117.40/cwt	102.50–129.00	1,384	27
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	—	1,683	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	2,928	66
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,134	172.71/cwt	164.00–179.00	1,959	59
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,420	158.14/cwt	152.00–165.00	2,246	8
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,637	187.68/cwt	181.00–191.00	3,072	13
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,369	181.17/cwt	179.00–184.00	2,480	54
Bulls	—	—	1,733	175.44/cwt	175.00–176.00	3,040	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,378	173.32/cwt	165.00–179.00	2,388	93
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	900	113.91/cwt	105.00–122.50	1,025	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,325	126.83/cwt	122.50–131.00	1,680	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,549	177.65/cwt	161.00–183.00	2,752	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,305	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	1,788	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,235	181.79/cwt	179.50–185.50	2,245	61
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,320	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	2,244	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,380	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	2,291	1
Bulls	—	—	1,945	187.69/cwt	182.00–194.00	3,651	2
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	650–700	699	357.50/cwt	357.50–357.50	2,499	7
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	600–650	600	357.00/cwt	357.00–357.00	2,142	2
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	350–400	389	462.50/cwt	462.50–462.50	1,799	9
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	550–600	582	346.00/cwt	346.00–346.00	2,014	7
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	300–350	340	487.50/cwt	487.50–487.50	1,658	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	885	66.00/cwt	60.00–72.50	584	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,232	2,635.02/head	2,600.00–2,650.00	2,635	14
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	350–400	376	502.50/cwt	502.50–502.50	1,889	4
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	785	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	2,237	3
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	350–400	382	490.00/cwt	490.00–490.00	1,872	5
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	600–650	614	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,333	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	762	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	2,400	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	426	467.37/cwt	462.50–475.00	1,991	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	718	352.50/cwt	352.50–352.50	2,531	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	628	378.00/cwt	378.00–378.00	2,374	2
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	500–550	519	397.50/cwt	397.50–397.50	2,063	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	450–500	459	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,446	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	337	476.67/cwt	440.00–497.50	1,606	39
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	381	494.50/cwt	477.50–505.00	1,884	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	382	423.46/cwt	377.50–450.00	1,618	75
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	490	437.18/cwt	431.00–442.50	2,142	13
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	250–300	265	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	1,113	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	667	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	2,368	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	532	348.88/cwt	337.50–350.00	1,856	22
Steers	Medium and Large 2	800–850	802	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	2,526	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	430	411.21/cwt	395.00–420.00	1,768	43
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	350–400	373	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,455	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	792	292.66/cwt	255.00–322.50	2,318	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,351	3,379.50/head	3,300.00–3,400.00	3,380	10
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,507	2,875.00/head	2,875.00–2,875.00	2,875	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,195	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	2,689	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	948	311.46/cwt	256.00–347.50	2,953	159
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	400–450	431	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	1,767	28
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	550–600	585	388.22/cwt	382.00–400.00	2,271	25

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 →