Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2025-10-28

Miles City Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Oct 28
● Final92 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773
Feeder Cattle receipts
4,752 head
▲ 554 vs last sale 4,198▲ 1,254 vs year ago 3,498 · +35.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
949 head
▲ 225 vs last sale 724▲ 159 vs year ago 790 · +20.1%
Replacement Cattle receipts
268 head
▲ 70 vs last sale 198▼ 35 vs year ago 303 · −11.6%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested develop any market trend. Steer calves under 550 lbs sold sharply lower with most sales 50.00-70.00 lower, steer calves over 550 lbs sold sharply lower with most sales 30.00-45.00 lower. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold sharply lower with most sales 50.00-70.00 lower, heifers over 550 sold 25.00-35.00 lower. Demand was mostly moderate for heavy offerings. A few load lots of calves were seen this sale and demand was moderate to good for these offerings. Packages of calves sold on mostly light to moderate demand. Quality this week was average to attractive. Most calves were un-weaned with a few packages of weaned calves seen. CME feeder cattle positions have weakened considerably over the past week with several days of limit lower and expanded limit lower movement seen. The October contract from last Tuesdays close through yesterday lost 27.425, not including todays lower contract movement. Buyers all showed moderate to good demand for calves, however at sharply lower prices. 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 8.00-10.00 premiums this week. Demand for calves strengthened as the sale progressed. This was especially the case for light weight calves which sold some of the highest price offerings of the day from 5pm to 8pm or later. Quality today was mostly attractive to very attractive. This weeks buyer pool was large and similar to last week. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand. Feeding cow demand was very good this week with a very large feeding cow buyer pool noticed. Feeding cows sold generally steady on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Buyers showed very good demand for lean cows as buyers seek cows with lots of quick compensatory gain. Lean feeding cows sold 1.00-2.00 higher with packers looking for short term feeding cows and private feeders also looking for cows to feed or turn out on stubble. Too few slaughter cows sold this week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold generally in a very narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on very good demand. These offerings sold generally steady in a narrow comparison.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $419.30/cwt on 931 head. That ranks 2 of 11 comparable sales and sits −32.28 against this barn's trailing median of $451.58.
Average price
$419.30
931 head · 554 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,323
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$74
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$34.15/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−9.68
vs MT average
−10.42 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1555422.372,345783
Medium and Large 1-2544407.162,214109
Medium and Large 2519397.502,06314thin
Large 1585388.222,27125
One grade step is worth $34.15/cwt here — about $74 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 sale931 hd
419.30
—
MT average5 barns · 2,294 hd
428.98
−9.68
National average179 barns · 33,800 hd
429.72
−10.42
This barn, trailing median11 sales
451.58
−32.28
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

11 sales
526474422371median 451.5803/1003/3109/2910/2011/03
Steers 500–600 lb: high $512.23, low $384.50, median $451.58 across 11 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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—Average1,641183.493,01125
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,376174.422,400158
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,683174.002,92866
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,350168.002,2682thin
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,174160.661,886194

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 $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,351$3,38010
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,332$2,72222

Every lot

92 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.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers30 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 2Unweaned265420.00/cwt420.00–420.001,1133
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned296480.00/cwt480.00–480.001,4214
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned322610.36/cwt575.00–630.001,96534
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned339557.50/cwt557.50–557.501,8904
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned373529.89/cwt515.00–560.001,97680
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2Unweaned373390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,4553
Steers350–400Medium 1Unweaned376502.50/cwt502.50–502.501,8894
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned381494.50/cwt477.50–505.001,88420
Steers350–400Large 1Unweaned382490.00/cwt490.00–490.001,8725
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1403500.00/cwt500.00–500.002,0158
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned426467.37/cwt462.50–475.001,99128
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned430500.08/cwt487.50–522.502,150113
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned431410.00/cwt410.00–410.001,76728
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned478472.62/cwt446.00–496.002,259307
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned490437.18/cwt431.00–442.502,14213
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1504432.50/cwt432.50–432.502,18037
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2Unweaned519397.50/cwt397.50–397.502,06314
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned527438.09/cwt423.00–457.002,309279
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned530421.76/cwt409.00–423.002,23566
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned565384.75/cwt365.00–398.002,17443
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned576412.18/cwt400.00–436.002,374467
Steers550–600Large 1Unweaned585388.22/cwt382.00–400.002,27125
Steers600–650Large 1Unweaned614380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,3334
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned619395.44/cwt387.50–410.002,448363
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned628378.00/cwt378.00–378.002,3742
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned657384.73/cwt370.00–393.002,528210
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned667355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,3685
Steers650–700Large 1Unweaned699357.50/cwt357.50–357.502,4997
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2718352.50/cwt352.50–352.502,53122
Steers800–850Medium and Large 2802315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,5265
Feeder Cattle · Heifers28 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned267480.00/cwt480.00–480.001,2829
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned309540.07/cwt510.00–550.001,66932
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned337476.67/cwt440.00–497.501,60639
Heifers300–350Large 1Unweaned340487.50/cwt487.50–487.501,6586
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned382493.89/cwt465.00–510.001,887123
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned382423.46/cwt377.50–450.001,61875
Heifers350–400Large 1Unweaned389462.50/cwt462.50–462.501,7999
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2398450.00/cwt450.00–450.001,7919
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned420444.03/cwt425.00–470.001,865161
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned430411.21/cwt395.00–420.001,76843
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2Unweaned459315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,4465
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned464385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,7864
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1468397.50/cwt397.50–397.501,86036
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned481408.00/cwt395.00–428.001,962466
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Fancy502416.00/cwt416.00–416.002,088141
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned525388.52/cwt370.00–404.002,040404
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned532348.88/cwt337.50–350.001,85622
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Replacement566385.00/cwt385.00–385.002,17918
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned567371.24/cwt370.00–374.002,105160
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned577346.95/cwt340.00–351.002,0028
Heifers550–600Large 1Unweaned582346.00/cwt346.00–346.002,0147
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Full590335.00/cwt335.00–335.001,97712
Heifers600–650Large 1Unweaned600357.00/cwt357.00–357.002,1422
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned600356.00/cwt356.00–356.002,13627
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Replacement612371.00/cwt371.00–371.002,27126
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned617342.70/cwt335.00–352.502,11413
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2762315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,40010
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2915282.50/cwt282.50–282.502,5856
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned316570.00/cwt570.00–570.001,8014
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned351497.50/cwt497.50–497.501,74610
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned392475.00/cwt475.00–475.001,8623
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned455437.50/cwt437.50–437.501,99111
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned517370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,91327
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned610377.50/cwt377.50–377.502,3031
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,549177.65/cwt161.00–183.002,7528
Bulls——Return to Feed1,637187.68/cwt181.00–191.003,07213
Bulls——1,733175.44/cwt175.00–176.003,0402
Bulls——1,945187.69/cwt182.00–194.003,6512
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight88566.00/cwt60.00–72.505842
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight900113.91/cwt105.00–122.501,0253
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,06085.00/cwt85.00–85.009011
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,134172.71/cwt164.00–179.001,95959
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,173150.26/cwt125.00–164.001,76341
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,179117.40/cwt102.50–129.001,38427
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,235181.79/cwt179.50–185.502,24561
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,305137.00/cwt137.00–137.001,7881
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,320170.00/cwt170.00–170.002,2441
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,325126.83/cwt122.50–131.001,6802
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,369181.17/cwt179.00–184.002,48054
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,378173.32/cwt165.00–179.002,38893
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,380166.00/cwt166.00–166.002,2911
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,420158.14/cwt152.00–165.002,2468
Cows—Premium White 65-75%1,683174.00/cwt174.00–174.002,92866
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1785285.00/cwt285.00–285.002,2373
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2792292.66/cwt255.00–322.502,3183
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1948311.46/cwt256.00–347.502,953159
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,024270.39/cwt192.50–297.502,76962
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,195225.00/cwt225.00–225.002,6891
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,223217.50/cwt217.50–217.502,6606
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2322,635.02/head2,600.00–2,650.002,63514
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3513,379.50/head3,300.00–3,400.003,38010
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5072,875.00/head2,875.00–2,875.002,8758

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.