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

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested develop any market trend. Steer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. 400-500 lbs sold 10.00-15.00 lower in a very narrow comparison on a lower quality offering. Steer calves 500 lbs and heavier sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower. Heifer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. 400-449 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 lower, heifers over 450 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 lower. Demand was mostly moderate for moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to attractive and noticeably lower than last week. Lightweight offerings were mostly plain this week and this hampered demand. Many sets of calves were cutbacks off summer video sales. Several sets of weaned calves were seen this week, these offerings were met with light to moderate demand as buyers continue to prefer to buy fresh appearing calves right off the cow. Several short weaned packages were seen this week and these offerings were met with the lightest demand. 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. CME positions pushed higher for the 2nd day in a row with sharply higher movement seen for the nearby November contract. Market activity was mostly moderate. A slightly smaller crowd of buyers was noticed this week with a few less ranchers in the stands bidding on calves. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for heavy offerings. Feeding cows continue to be driving force in the cow market. A large supply of cows was seen again this week and buyers report many lots are starting to fill as cow supplies have been heavy in the northern portion of the country over the last few weeks. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Thin feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold 5.00-6.00 lower. Only severely blemished cows were purchased to send to harvest this week as packers continue to buy slightly blemished cows to feed and hold for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on moderate to good demand. These offerings sold 10.00-18.00 lower. Demand for these offerings was lighter this week as the calendar is starting to get to late for many buyers looking to breed for fall calving

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $431.36/cwt on 580 head. That ranks 1 of 13 comparable sales and sits −54.87 against this barn's trailing median of $486.23.

Average price

$431.36

580 head · 558 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,407

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$330

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1

$23.43/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+10.34

vs MT average

+6.49 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	562	433.43	2,438	524
Medium and Large 1-2	517	412.21	2,131	51
Medium 1	514	410.00	2,107	5thin

One grade step is worth $23.43/cwt here — about $330 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 sale580 hd

431.36

—

MT average4 barns · 1,756 hd

421.02

+10.34

National average177 barns · 31,012 hd

424.87

+6.49

This barn, trailing median13 sales

486.23

−54.87

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	1,818	173.50	3,155	26
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,517	167.08	2,535	24
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	Average	1,760	164.33	2,892	34
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,364	161.15	2,198	210
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,177	147.64	1,738	261
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	875	85.00	744	1thin

Every lot, as filed

89 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
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	660	342.50/cwt	342.50–342.50	2,261	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	554	379.00/cwt	379.00–379.00	2,100	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	510	477.50/cwt	477.50–477.50	2,435	22
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	280	670.00/cwt	670.00–670.00	1,876	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	466	488.38/cwt	480.00–500.00	2,276	56
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	950–1000	968	292.50/cwt	292.50–292.50	2,831	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	619	398.14/cwt	390.00–412.00	2,464	113
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	576	418.88/cwt	412.50–424.00	2,413	90
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	420	538.22/cwt	520.00–550.00	2,261	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	526	377.80/cwt	375.00–379.00	1,987	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	365	532.06/cwt	512.50–545.00	1,942	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	538	454.14/cwt	440.00–465.00	2,443	212
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	667	380.24/cwt	360.00–394.00	2,536	40
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	519	375.52/cwt	365.00–382.50	1,949	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	321	448.88/cwt	420.00–495.00	1,441	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	441	431.00/cwt	431.00–431.00	1,901	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	575	383.48/cwt	375.00–389.00	2,205	131
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	337	589.70/cwt	575.00–620.00	1,987	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700–750	715	381.46/cwt	365.00–385.50	2,727	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	582	357.63/cwt	340.00–362.50	2,081	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	430	428.19/cwt	420.00–431.00	1,841	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	442	479.82/cwt	452.50–485.00	2,121	51
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	325	503.33/cwt	500.00–505.00	1,636	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	553	402.50/cwt	402.50–402.50	2,226	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	363	486.57/cwt	460.00–502.50	1,766	23
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	473	429.89/cwt	412.50–442.50	2,033	148
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	700	382.50/cwt	382.50–382.50	2,678	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,127	179.83/cwt	172.00–185.00	2,027	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	588	413.18/cwt	402.00–445.00	2,429	200
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	423	454.20/cwt	435.00–477.50	1,921	61
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	450–500	454	461.00/cwt	461.00–461.00	2,093	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	613	362.62/cwt	357.00–374.00	2,223	64
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	496	436.50/cwt	436.50–436.50	2,165	91
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	374	566.61/cwt	560.00–580.00	2,119	16
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	465	480.00/cwt	480.00–480.00	2,232	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	750–800	760	267.50/cwt	267.50–267.50	2,033	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	521	396.63/cwt	381.00–414.00	2,066	111
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	506	415.00/cwt	415.00–415.00	2,100	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	945	107.05/cwt	100.00–115.00	1,012	8
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,455	168.50/cwt	168.50–168.50	2,452	2
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	875	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	744	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,169	85.01/cwt	82.50–87.50	994	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,228	120.92/cwt	120.00–122.00	1,485	2
Cows	Premium White 65-75%Heavy Weight	—	2,029	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	3,348	4
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	—	1,730	159.28/cwt	157.00–162.00	2,756	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,200	165.85/cwt	161.00–169.00	1,990	90
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	860	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	516	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,357	167.96/cwt	162.00–175.00	2,279	166
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,364	113.55/cwt	102.50–125.00	1,549	17
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,775	183.16/cwt	180.00–187.00	3,251	13
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,833	175.08/cwt	172.00–178.00	3,209	2
Bulls	—	—	1,770	145.76/cwt	134.00–164.00	2,580	6
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	—	1,723	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	2,843	26
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,183	146.42/cwt	127.00–160.00	1,732	118
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,169	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	1,999	12
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,433	177.00/cwt	177.00–177.00	2,536	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,153	107.74/cwt	102.50–117.50	1,242	25
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,756	158.02/cwt	155.00–164.00	2,775	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,402	147.07/cwt	111.00–160.00	2,062	25
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,454	169.58/cwt	166.00–171.00	2,466	17
Bulls	—	—	2,030	177.00/cwt	177.00–177.00	3,593	1
Bulls	—	—	1,971	182.08/cwt	177.00–185.00	3,589	4
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	500–550	514	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	2,107	5
Steers	Medium 1	450–500	494	432.50/cwt	432.50–432.50	2,137	4
Stock Cows	Medium 1-2	—	785	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,884	1
Heifers	Large 1-2	1100–1150	1,134	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	2,948	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	627	362.14/cwt	350.00–385.00	2,271	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	372	453.41/cwt	440.00–455.00	1,687	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	585	366.68/cwt	350.00–402.50	2,145	6
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	350–400	391	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	1,681	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	821	305.05/cwt	300.00–308.00	2,504	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	624	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,184	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	483	404.79/cwt	402.50–407.50	1,955	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	400–450	405	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,559	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	771	318.00/cwt	318.00–318.00	2,452	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,356	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	2,359	20
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,056	241.57/cwt	177.00–310.00	2,551	67
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	320	555.00/cwt	555.00–555.00	1,776	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	472	451.27/cwt	427.50–467.50	2,130	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	508	418.28/cwt	418.00–420.00	2,125	45
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	682	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,387	3
Heifers	Medium 2-3	300–350	323	435.00/cwt	435.00–435.00	1,405	7
Steers	Medium 2-3	300–350	343	432.50/cwt	432.50–432.50	1,483	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	910	292.43/cwt	240.00–332.50	2,661	103
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	1,231	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	2,056	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,126	181.50/cwt	170.00–190.00	2,044	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	877	286.94/cwt	250.00–295.00	2,516	7
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	1050–1100	1,095	284.00/cwt	284.00–284.00	3,110	5
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	650–700	680	354.18/cwt	349.00–362.00	2,408	5

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 →