Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2025-03-18

Miles City Livestock Commission

Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2025-03-18
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-03-18

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Mar 18

● Final85 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773

← Mar 11Mar 18Mar 25 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

1,829 head

▲ 1,481 vs last sale 348▼ 195 vs year ago 2,024 · −9.6%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

190 head

▼ 92 vs last sale 282▲ 48 vs year ago 142 · +33.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

254 head

▲ 176 vs last sale 78▲ 186 vs year ago 68 · +273.5%

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were all too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all steer offerings. Feeder heifers were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Feeder quality this week was mostly average to very attractive and overall quality this week was more attractive than last week. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly good to very good for light to moderate offerings. CME feeder cattle positions traded firm today on all contracts. Very good demand was seen for heifers today as todays sale featured replacement heifers in todays Annual Trailhead replacement heifer special. Heifers as light as 537 lbs were purchased for replacements this week. Demand from packer buyers was very good for heavyweight heifers as they competed with replacement buyers over high quality offerings. Market activity was mostly active today with a large buyer pool on hand for todays annual trailhead sale. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly good. Small regional packers were in the market again this week and helped push fed cows mostly higher. Premium white and breaking cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher. Boning and lean slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Most fed cows had been on feed for over 100 days. Cows were mixed for grade but most fed cows were purchased to slaughter this week. Major packers and private feeding buyers both showed good demand for all cows suitable to feed. Demand for feeding cows mostly good as regional packers, major packers, and private feeders all showed good demand for high quality offerings. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher on all offerings. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive this week. Slaughter bulls sold on good demand this week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Bull quality was not as attractive this week as the past few weeks. Weigh up conditions were mostly average this week. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady. Quality was mostly average to attractive today. Many sets of light weight offerings were purchased to feed, while heavier offerings which had recently lost calves sold to rebreed or use as recips.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $339.12/cwt on 259 head. That ranks 1 of 14 comparable sales and sits −74.80 against this barn's trailing median of $413.93.

Average price

$339.12

259 head · 551 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,867

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$85

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

$40.24/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+5.42

vs MT average

+24.54 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	541	347.67	1,882	204
Medium and Large 1-2	585	307.43	1,797	55

One grade step is worth $40.24/cwt here — about $85 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.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale259 hd

339.12

—

MT average3 barns · 388 hd

333.71

+5.42

National average174 barns · 12,680 hd

314.58

+24.54

This barn, trailing median14 sales

413.93

−74.80

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

14 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $468.13, low $357.36, median $413.93 across 14 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

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	1,503	149.70	2,251	27
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	Average	1,576	148.38	2,338	79
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,409	141.46	1,993	38
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,518	141.23	2,144	5thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,080	129.55	1,400	19

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	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,247	$3,700	55
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,500	$3,425	45
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,516	$3,025	7
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,274	$2,796	56

Every lot

85 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. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers26 lots · lightest first
Steers	250–300	Medium 2	250	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	950	1
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1	325	505.00/cwt	505.00–505.00	1,641	1
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	337	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	1,500	3
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	355	490.00/cwt	490.00–490.00	1,740	30
Steers	350–400	Medium 2	394	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	877	4
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	418	435.53/cwt	432.00–439.00	1,821	21
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	426	472.00/cwt	472.00–472.00	2,011	63
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	439	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	1,800	18
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	462	391.00/cwt	391.00–391.00	1,806	3
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	475	413.78/cwt	395.00–428.00	1,965	46
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	523	352.68/cwt	340.00–365.00	1,845	4
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	539	384.00/cwt	384.00–384.00	2,070	5
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	574	383.22/cwt	354.00–386.50	2,200	126
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	608	323.00/cwt	323.00–323.00	1,964	2
Steers	600–650	Large 1	620	331.00/cwt	331.00–331.00	2,052	3
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	623	344.15/cwt	326.00–351.00	2,144	19
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	670	330.00/cwt	322.00–337.00	2,211	86
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	728	284.00/cwt	284.00–284.00	2,068	12
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	731	300.50/cwt	300.50–300.50	2,197	7
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	754	299.61/cwt	291.00–300.50	2,259	85
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	832	274.00/cwt	274.00–274.00	2,280	5
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1	900	262.00/cwt	262.00–262.00	2,358	11
Steers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	961	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	2,354	7
Steers	1000–1050	Large 1-2	1,023	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	2,281	8
Steers	1150–1200	Large 1-2	1,179	209.50/cwt	209.50–209.50	2,470	7
Steers	1200–1250	Large 1-2	1,202	206.25/cwt	206.25–206.25	2,479	22
Feeder Cattle · Heifers29 lots · lightest first
Heifers	250–300	Medium and Large 1	278	442.50/cwt	442.50–442.50	1,230	4
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	363	415.00/cwt	415.00–415.00	1,506	8
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	365	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,460	2
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	370	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	1,277	2
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	410	398.06/cwt	387.50–401.00	1,632	35
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	436	356.02/cwt	350.00–359.00	1,552	15
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	470	368.49/cwt	354.00–381.00	1,732	94
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	478	345.06/cwt	341.00–347.50	1,649	33
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	508	331.00/cwt	331.00–331.00	1,681	3
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	534	336.70/cwt	333.00–348.00	1,798	70
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Replacement	537	361.00/cwt	361.00–361.00	1,939	106
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	577	324.63/cwt	317.00–333.00	1,873	28
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	589	306.07/cwt	292.00–322.50	1,803	52
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	608	312.86/cwt	298.00–316.00	1,902	29
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Replacement	622	332.18/cwt	299.00–349.00	2,066	251
Heifers	650–700	Large 1	663	277.50/cwt	277.50–277.50	1,840	4
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	670	274.00/cwt	274.00–274.00	1,836	8
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Replacement	682	291.60/cwt	285.00–297.00	1,989	42
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Replacement	688	2,075.00/head	2,075.00–2,075.00	2,075	10
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	694	292.50/cwt	292.50–292.50	2,030	29
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	720	287.50/cwt	287.50–287.50	2,070	1
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Replacement	727	298.79/cwt	295.00–300.00	2,172	174
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1Replacement	764	283.00/cwt	283.00–283.00	2,162	10
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	767	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,879	3
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1Replacement	770	2,175.00/head	2,175.00–2,175.00	2,175	10
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	791	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	2,096	12
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1Fancy	815	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	2,221	22
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1Replacement	849	2,200.00/head	2,200.00–2,200.00	2,200	10
Heifers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	990	219.02/cwt	216.00–222.00	2,168	14
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	350–400	Medium and Large 1	395	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	1,679	1
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 1	465	383.00/cwt	383.00–383.00	1,781	1
Bulls	900–950	Medium and Large 1	912	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	2,143	3
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,172	157.40/cwt	157.00–157.50	1,845	5
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,400	141.39/cwt	132.00–149.00	1,979	3
Bulls	—	—	1,521	143.84/cwt	139.00–149.00	2,188	13
Bulls	—	—	1,793	160.13/cwt	152.00–165.00	2,871	6
Slaughter Cattle · Cows14 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	820	92.59/cwt	81.00–111.00	759	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,074	116.68/cwt	110.00–130.50	1,253	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,142	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	1,656	11
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,210	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	1,476	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,255	145.44/cwt	142.00–149.00	1,825	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,391	153.48/cwt	153.00–157.00	2,135	8
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,392	141.36/cwt	138.00–150.00	1,968	16
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,422	130.88/cwt	122.00–136.00	1,861	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,483	140.05/cwt	139.00–141.00	2,077	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,503	113.85/cwt	101.00–125.00	1,711	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,528	143.27/cwt	141.00–146.00	2,189	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,533	156.00/cwt	155.00–157.00	2,391	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,570	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	2,190	1
Cows	—	Premium White 65-75%	1,576	148.38/cwt	146.50–151.00	2,338	79
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,155	2,550.00/head	2,550.00–2,550.00	2,550	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,247	3,700.00/head	3,700.00–3,700.00	3,700	55
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,281	2,810.32/head	2,725.00–2,900.00	2,810	53
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,500	3,425.00/head	3,425.00–3,425.00	3,425	45
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,516	3,025.00/head	3,025.00–3,025.00	3,025	7
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,005	222.57/cwt	195.00–251.00	2,237	35
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,010	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	1,717	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	1,043	197.90/cwt	195.00–201.00	2,064	13
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,154	172.44/cwt	153.00–215.00	1,990	20

This sale against other markets

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 →

Miles City Livestock Commission Auction - Miles City, MT

Tue Mar 18, 2025

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 1,829Last week 348Year ago 2,024

Slaughter CattleReceipts 190Last week 282Year ago 142

Replacement CattleReceipts 254Last week 78Year ago 68

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	250–300	278	442.50	442.50
8	350–400	363	415.00	415.00
35	400–450	410	387.50–401.00	398.06
94	450–500	470	354.00–381.00	368.49
70	500–550	534	333.00–348.00	336.70
28	550–600	577	317.00–333.00	324.63
29	600–650	608	298.00–316.00	312.86
29	650–700	694	292.50	292.50
1	700–750	720	287.50	287.50
12	750–800	791	265.00	265.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
106	500–550	537	361.00	361.00
251	600–650	622	299.00–349.00	332.18
42	650–700	682	285.00–297.00	291.60
10	650–700	688	2,075.00	2,075.00
174	700–750	727	295.00–300.00	298.79
10	750–800	764	283.00	283.00
10	750–800	770	2,175.00	2,175.00
10	800–850	849	2,200.00	2,200.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	365	400.00	400.00
15	400–450	436	350.00–359.00	356.02
33	450–500	478	341.00–347.50	345.06
3	500–550	508	331.00	331.00
52	550–600	589	292.00–322.50	306.07
8	650–700	670	274.00	274.00
3	750–800	767	245.00	245.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	650–700	663	277.50	277.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	370	345.00	345.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
14	950–1000	990	216.00–222.00	219.02

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
22	800–850	815	272.50	272.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	325	505.00	505.00
30	350–400	355	490.00	490.00
21	400–450	418	432.00–439.00	435.53
46	450–500	475	395.00–428.00	413.78
5	500–550	539	384.00	384.00
126	550–600	574	354.00–386.50	383.22
19	600–650	623	326.00–351.00	344.15
86	650–700	670	322.00–337.00	330.00
7	700–750	731	300.50	300.50
85	750–800	754	291.00–300.50	299.61
5	800–850	832	274.00	274.00
11	900–950	900	262.00	262.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
63	400–450	426	472.00	472.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	337	445.00	445.00
18	400–450	439	410.00	410.00
3	450–500	462	391.00	391.00
4	500–550	523	340.00–365.00	352.68
2	600–650	608	323.00	323.00
12	700–750	728	284.00	284.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	250	380.00	380.00
4	350–400	394	222.50	222.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	600–650	620	331.00	331.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	1000–1050	1,023	223.00	223.00
7	1150–1200	1,179	209.50	209.50
22	1200–1250	1,202	206.25	206.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
7	950–1000	961	245.00	245.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	350–400	395	425.00	425.00
1	450–500	465	383.00	383.00
3	900–950	912	235.00	235.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	7	—	1,516	3,025.00	3,025.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	45	—	1,500	3,425.00	3,425.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	55	—	1,247	3,700.00	3,700.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	53	—	1,281	2,725.00–2,900.00	2,810.32

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	3	—	1,155	2,550.00	2,550.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,010	170.00	170.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	20	—	1,154	153.00–215.00	172.44
(<2 yrs)	Open	35	—	1,005	195.00–251.00	222.57

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	13	—	1,043	195.00–201.00	197.90

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,172	157.00–157.50	157.40
3	—	1,400	132.00–149.00	141.39

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,521	139.00–149.00	143.84
6	—	1,793	152.00–165.00	160.13

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	820	81.00–111.00	92.59

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,074	110.00–130.50	116.68
11	—	1,142	145.00	145.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	1,392	138.00–150.00	141.36
6	—	1,422	122.00–136.00	130.88
8	—	1,391	153.00–157.00	153.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,570	139.50	139.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,255	142.00–149.00	145.44
3	—	1,503	101.00–125.00	113.85
3	—	1,533	155.00–157.00	156.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,483	139.00–141.00	140.05
2	—	1,528	141.00–146.00	143.27

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,210	122.00	122.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
79	—	1,576	146.50–151.00	148.38

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.