Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2026-04-07

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Apr 7
● Final40 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
142 head
795 vs last sale 937 87 vs year ago 229 · 38.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
120 head
145 vs last sale 265 52 vs year ago 172 · 30.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
88 head
22 vs last sale 110 16 vs year ago 104 · 15.4%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (3-31-26): All feeder cattle were to lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate to good. Demand was uneven as limited offerings and fewer buyers in the stands hindered demand in places. Very few steers were on offer this week which limited steer demand. Heifer demand was stronger than steer demand this sale as heifer quality was mostly attractive. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive overall. Feeders were mostly offered in small to moderate size packages this week. CME positions sold off slightly today after a couple weeks of continuous higher movement. A small crowd was on hand for todays sale. Market activity was moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for light offerings. A full load of fed cows was seen this week. Demand for fed cows was very good and stronger than last week. Premium white cows sold 6.00 higher on a lower yielding offering than was seen last week. Feeding cow buyers showed good demand for all cows which would feed. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter cows sold on good demand. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Demand for All natural bulls was very good. Feeding type bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $443.04/cwt on 23 head, up $4.24 from the prior sale. That ranks 11 of 16 comparable sales and sits +2.61 against this barn's trailing median of $440.43.
Average price
$443.04
4.24 vs prior sale
23 head · 572 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,534
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
single grade reported
vs the market
14.31
vs MT average
+14.68 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1572443.042,53423
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
482434386338median 440.4312/1601/2702/2404/0705/12
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 sale23 hd
443.04
MT average3 barns · 630 hd
457.35
−14.31
National average175 barns · 10,626 hd
428.36
+14.68
This barn, trailing median16 sales
440.43
+2.61
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
BullsAverage1,631205.973,35924
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,468179.502,63540
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,563176.852,7644thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,410175.362,47329
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,112143.141,59221

Every lot, as filed

40 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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,392178.78/cwt173.00–183.002,48919
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,560175.00/cwt175.00–175.002,7301
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,623173.20/cwt170.00–177.002,8112
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,445186.00/cwt186.00–186.002,6881
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,091153.45/cwt140.00–171.001,6747
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,197176.67/cwt176.00–177.002,1153
HeifersMedium and Large 1350–400393515.00/cwt515.00–515.002,0245
HeifersMedium and Large 1750–800786344.50/cwt344.50–344.502,70815
HeifersMedium and Large 150–100801,000.00/head1,000.00–1,000.001,0001
HeifersMedium and Large 1650–700677394.86/cwt385.00–396.002,67338
BullsMedium and Large 1900–950901311.00/cwt311.00–311.002,8024
BullsMedium and Large 1650–700658402.50/cwt402.50–402.502,6482
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650622392.50/cwt392.50–392.502,4413
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600–650643402.50/cwt402.50–402.502,5882
HeifersMedium and Large 1550–600579438.00/cwt438.00–438.002,53620
BullsMedium and Large 150–100751,000.00/head1,000.00–1,000.001,0005
HeifersMedium and Large 2450–500468435.00/cwt435.00–435.002,0362
SteersMedium and Large 2550–600562402.50/cwt402.50–402.502,2626
SteersMedium and Large 1800–850803357.00/cwt357.00–357.002,86710
HeifersMedium and Large 1500–550525476.63/cwt475.00–480.002,5023
HeifersMedium and Large 1600–650608424.00/cwt424.00–424.002,5784
BullsMedium and Large 1-2500–550522477.50/cwt477.50–477.502,4933
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,233200.59/cwt190.00–211.002,4733
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1999304.33/cwt242.50–327.003,04053
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,187208.52/cwt185.00–242.502,4755
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,002300.22/cwt296.00–310.003,0089
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Fleshy1,352186.97/cwt186.00–189.002,5283
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,175244.08/cwt191.00–289.002,86814
Bulls1,804203.40/cwt195.00–215.003,6697
BullsLight Weight1,135155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,7591
BullsNatural1,888230.72/cwt226.00–235.004,3562
BullsReturn to Feed1,199207.97/cwt205.00–210.002,4944
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,468179.50/cwt179.50–179.502,63540
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,343184.35/cwt183.00–185.002,4763
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight927121.85/cwt115.00–135.001,1303
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,489162.21/cwt152.00–171.002,4157
CowsLean 85-90%1,163145.62/cwt140.00–150.001,6943
CowsLean 85-90%1,172119.88/cwt107.50–131.001,4055
BullsReturn to Feed1,498191.97/cwt191.00–193.002,8762
BullsNatural1,726210.91/cwt207.00–221.003,6408

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.