Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2025-11-04
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-11-04

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested develop any market trend. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold sharply higher with most sales 50.00-60.00 higher, steer calves 450-549 lbs sold 20.00-25.00 higher, steer calves over 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold sharply higher with most sales 15.00-25.00 higher, heifers over 550 sold mostly 10.00 higher. Demand was mostly moderate to good for moderate to heavy offerings. A few load lots of calves were seen this sale and demand was mostly good for these offerings. Packages of calves sold on mostly moderate demand. The best demand was for light weight offerings suitable to develop into yearlings. Many sets of lightweight offerings were purchased to go to wheat pastures in the south and demand was very good for calves of both sexes. Quality this week was mixed from average to very attractive, however overall quality was not as attractive as last week. Most calves were unweaned with a few packages of weaned calves seen this week. CME feeder cattle positions traded with a large trading range today before finishing the day sharply lower. Despite lower CME positions, demand for feeders was mostly good. Many sets of calves continue to leave the state with good demand seen for large steers to ship north to Canada. 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 premiums again this week. This weeks buyer pool was not as large as last week but demand for calves was stronger on all classes this week compared to last week. Market activity was mostly active throughout the day. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand. Feeding cow demand was very good again this week. Feeding cows sold generally steady on to weak on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Cow quality was not as attractive this week as last week. Buyers continue to show very good demand for lean cows as buyers seek cows with lots of quick compensatory gain. Thin feeding cows steady to 2.00 higher. Too few slaughter cows sold this week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. The quality of cows destined for slaughter is very poor as even slightly blemished cows continue to be purchased to feed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on very good demand. These offerings sold 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $443.78/cwt on 690 head. That ranks 2 of 13 comparable sales and sits −42.45 against this barn's trailing median of $486.23.

Average price

$443.78

690 head · 546 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,423

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$109

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

$43.38/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+11.39

vs MT average

+24.68 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	542	448.69	2,434	612
Medium and Large 1-2	573	405.31	2,324	78

One grade step is worth $43.38/cwt here — about $109 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 200–300 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 sale690 hd

443.78

—

MT average4 barns · 1,582 hd

432.39

+11.39

National average195 barns · 36,957 hd

419.10

+24.68

This barn, trailing median13 sales

486.23

−42.45

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	1,738	179.59	3,121	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,371	167.51	2,297	162
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,174	163.80	1,923	318
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,817	161.61	2,936	3thin

Every lot, as filed

84 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 1-2	850–900	881	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	2,687	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	589	365.20/cwt	365.00–366.00	2,151	77
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	390	484.99/cwt	480.00–487.50	1,891	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	426	548.01/cwt	522.50–580.00	2,335	184
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	622	360.55/cwt	347.50–365.00	2,243	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	525	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	2,048	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	534	436.45/cwt	430.00–437.50	2,331	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	813	317.50/cwt	317.50–317.50	2,581	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	703	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	2,285	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	675	390.21/cwt	375.00–397.00	2,634	322
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	574	413.74/cwt	402.50–455.00	2,375	194
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	528	465.58/cwt	440.00–475.00	2,458	402
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	418	475.29/cwt	457.50–488.00	1,987	67
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	270	725.00/cwt	725.00–725.00	1,958	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	200–250	245	710.00/cwt	710.00–710.00	1,740	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	616	401.06/cwt	384.50–424.00	2,471	198
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	372	508.51/cwt	487.50–540.00	1,892	46
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	200–250	215	650.00/cwt	650.00–650.00	1,398	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	606	365.89/cwt	351.00–380.00	2,217	62
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	473	497.61/cwt	477.50–521.00	2,354	161
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	367	594.34/cwt	585.00–600.00	2,181	55
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	318	670.32/cwt	660.00–690.00	2,132	20
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	376	580.00/cwt	580.00–580.00	2,181	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	268	612.72/cwt	590.00–625.00	1,642	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	478	433.69/cwt	415.00–454.00	2,073	163
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	565	385.18/cwt	381.00–388.00	2,176	64
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	335	565.53/cwt	555.00–590.00	1,895	54
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	524	406.24/cwt	382.00–423.00	2,129	141
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	530	416.51/cwt	357.50–435.00	2,208	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	930	311.00/cwt	311.00–311.00	2,892	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	418	538.57/cwt	510.00–560.00	2,251	17
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	300	640.00/cwt	640.00–640.00	1,920	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	461	482.50/cwt	482.50–482.50	2,224	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	600–650	603	391.19/cwt	387.00–391.50	2,359	119
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	500–550	522	448.00/cwt	448.00–448.00	2,339	16
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	972	313.03/cwt	232.50–345.00	3,043	80
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,404	178.17/cwt	178.00–179.00	2,502	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,402	155.23/cwt	127.50–165.00	2,176	23
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,103	156.22/cwt	120.00–162.50	1,723	94
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,165	177.12/cwt	177.00–177.50	2,063	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,214	171.00/cwt	165.00–175.00	2,076	198
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	928	107.61/cwt	100.00–112.00	999	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	—	2,055	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	3,185	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,364	169.86/cwt	165.00–175.00	2,317	125
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,323	124.52/cwt	115.00–130.00	1,647	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,119	114.34/cwt	102.50–125.00	1,279	12
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,641	181.64/cwt	178.00–185.00	2,981	6
Bulls	—	—	1,727	171.82/cwt	163.00–174.00	2,967	5
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	400–450	415	427.00/cwt	427.00–427.00	1,772	34
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	550–600	590	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	2,095	21
Steers	Large 1Full	750–800	797	323.00/cwt	323.00–323.00	2,574	22
Bulls	—	—	1,865	184.90/cwt	182.00–187.00	3,448	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,245	128.00/cwt	126.00–130.00	1,594	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,698	164.91/cwt	162.00–168.00	2,800	2
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	350–400	389	557.50/cwt	557.50–557.50	2,169	21
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	450–500	471	485.00/cwt	485.00–485.00	2,284	22
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	300–350	332	632.40/cwt	625.00–655.00	2,100	12
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	700–750	733	342.50/cwt	342.50–342.50	2,511	3
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	600–650	615	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	2,368	3
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	250–300	273	602.50/cwt	602.50–602.50	1,645	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,418	187.00/cwt	187.00–187.00	2,652	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,132	236.21/cwt	185.00–315.00	2,674	60
Steers	Medium 1	700–750	740	337.50/cwt	337.50–337.50	2,498	3
Steers	Medium 1	600–650	611	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	2,108	8
Bulls	Large 1-2	1100–1150	1,100	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	2,448	1
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	300–350	342	517.00/cwt	517.00–517.00	1,768	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	671	365.74/cwt	365.00–367.50	2,454	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	550–600	568	322.00/cwt	322.00–322.00	1,829	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 2	—	825	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,485	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	963	261.56/cwt	180.00–300.00	2,519	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	969	283.11/cwt	220.00–294.00	2,743	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,465	181.38/cwt	179.50–185.00	2,657	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	642	388.98/cwt	362.50–394.00	2,497	100
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	423	521.71/cwt	512.50–542.50	2,207	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	485	458.20/cwt	442.50–472.50	2,222	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	340	590.11/cwt	580.00–645.00	2,006	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	300	535.00/cwt	535.00–535.00	1,605	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	295	660.00/cwt	660.00–660.00	1,947	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	588	393.84/cwt	386.00–407.50	2,316	57
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	430	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	1,828	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	280	550.00/cwt	550.00–550.00	1,540	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	671	342.00/cwt	342.00–342.00	2,295	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	360	535.00/cwt	535.00–535.00	1,926	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	469	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,782	9

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 →