Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2026-02-03
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-02-03

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (1-27-26): 500-699 lbs steers offered the best test this week selling mostly 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. All other weights of steers were to lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Heifers were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Demand for all feeders was good to very good on light to moderate offerings. Demand for light weight cattle suitable to develop into yearlings was mostly very good again this week. Quality this week was average to attractive. Some backgrounded offerings were pushing moderate plus to fleshy conditions this week. Most cattle were offered in smaller groups this week with no full load lots on offer. Heifer demand was very good as feeders and ranchers looking for replacements showed very good demand for heifers 600 lbs and heavier. CME positions continue their march higher, driven by tight supplies and a bullish cattle inventory report that showed continued heard contraction. CME positions added another day of triple digit higher movement as traders reflect on the estimated cow inventory of 86.2 million head, the smallest since 1951 and the smallest calf crop since 1941. Market activity was mostly active this week with a slightly smaller buyer pool noticed compared to last week. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light offerings. Feeding demand continues to drive the cow market as buyers all showed good to very good demand for high quality cows to feed. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher despite fewer feeding buyers in the stands. Cow quality this week was average to very attractive and overall more attractive compared to last week. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $447.93/cwt on 169 head, up $9.81 from the prior sale. That ranks 12 of 16 comparable sales and sits +7.50 against this barn's trailing median of $440.43.

Average price

$447.93

▲ 9.81 vs prior sale

169 head · 549 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,460

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

—

single grade reported

vs the market

+5.63

vs MT average

+16.39 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	549	447.93	2,460	169

Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

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 sale169 hd

447.93

—

MT average3 barns · 491 hd

442.30

+5.63

National average145 barns · 12,920 hd

431.54

+16.39

This barn, trailing median16 sales

440.43

+7.50

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	1,829	177.07	3,239	31
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,365	172.04	2,348	82
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,506	165.84	2,497	25
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,146	140.98	1,615	23

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,311	$4,525	39
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,131	$4,512	63
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,300	$4,185	38
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,268	$3,325	33
Bred Heifers	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	979	$3,925	48

Every lot, as filed

69 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	400–450	411	516.17/cwt	507.50–540.00	2,121	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	474	494.23/cwt	490.00–506.00	2,343	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	450	580.00/cwt	580.00–580.00	2,610	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	526	523.74/cwt	514.00–535.00	2,755	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	300–350	323	540.00/cwt	540.00–540.00	1,744	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	545	495.00/cwt	495.00–495.00	2,698	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	420	570.00/cwt	570.00–570.00	2,394	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	610	452.32/cwt	436.00–455.00	2,759	53
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	669	388.29/cwt	386.00–393.00	2,598	92
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	572	419.00/cwt	419.00–419.00	2,397	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	250–300	268	660.00/cwt	660.00–660.00	1,769	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	695	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	2,398	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	497	527.00/cwt	527.00–527.00	2,619	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1	300–350	340	650.00/cwt	650.00–650.00	2,210	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	732	383.02/cwt	382.00–384.00	2,804	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	533	460.14/cwt	451.00–490.00	2,453	121
Steers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	355	620.00/cwt	620.00–620.00	2,201	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	395	561.00/cwt	561.00–561.00	2,216	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	437	588.87/cwt	585.00–600.00	2,573	23
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,268	3,325.00/head	3,325.00–3,325.00	3,325	33
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,143	4,562.97/head	4,450.00–4,660.00	4,563	60
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	985	3,950.00/head	3,950.00–3,950.00	3,950	45
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	650–700	654	399.74/cwt	392.00–407.50	2,614	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	611	401.37/cwt	400.00–405.00	2,452	55
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	650–700	695	377.50/cwt	377.50–377.50	2,624	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	550–600	596	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	2,324	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	600–650	639	415.00/cwt	415.00–415.00	2,652	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	900–950	935	307.50/cwt	307.50–307.50	2,875	14
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,330	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	2,314	7
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,648	147.01/cwt	131.00–155.00	2,423	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,775	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	2,876	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,158	129.14/cwt	122.00–132.50	1,495	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,512	168.90/cwt	168.00–169.00	2,554	11
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,660	155.67/cwt	151.00–158.00	2,584	3
Bulls	—	—	1,643	167.09/cwt	155.00–175.00	2,745	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,095	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,161	1
Bulls	—	—	1,895	181.95/cwt	176.00–185.00	3,448	10
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,350	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	1,647	1
Bulls	—Heavy Weight	—	2,530	178.00/cwt	178.00–178.00	4,503	1
Bulls	—	—	2,348	178.00/cwt	178.00–178.00	4,179	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,391	147.04/cwt	130.00–155.00	2,045	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,207	171.57/cwt	170.00–173.00	2,071	4
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,580	179.14/cwt	175.00–182.00	2,830	6
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,558	160.13/cwt	150.00–172.00	2,495	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,370	168.10/cwt	162.00–173.00	2,303	16
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,147	138.80/cwt	122.50–150.00	1,592	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,245	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	1,058	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,345	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	1,977	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,450	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	2,117	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,103	162.06/cwt	159.00–164.00	1,788	3
Bulls	—	—	2,293	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	4,357	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,361	176.52/cwt	175.00–179.00	2,402	59
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	910	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	1,119	1
Bred Cows	Medium 1	—	895	3,500.00/head	3,500.00–3,500.00	3,500	3
Bred Heifers	Medium 1	—	893	3,550.00/head	3,550.00–3,550.00	3,550	3
Steers	Large 1	750–800	765	359.00/cwt	359.00–359.00	2,746	3
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	970	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	2,425	1
Bulls	—	—	1,845	191.00/cwt	191.00–191.00	3,524	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,300	4,185.00/head	4,185.00–4,185.00	4,185	38
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,331	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	2,436	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	820	290.93/cwt	232.00–327.50	2,386	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,311	4,525.00/head	4,525.00–4,525.00	4,525	39
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,051	218.04/cwt	176.00–280.00	2,292	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,066	248.19/cwt	182.00–320.00	2,646	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	550–600	590	422.00/cwt	422.00–422.00	2,490	38
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	661	427.50/cwt	427.50–427.50	2,826	25
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	573	479.75/cwt	460.00–484.50	2,749	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	383	605.00/cwt	605.00–605.00	2,317	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	608	438.51/cwt	435.00–439.00	2,666	8

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 →