Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2025-12-16

Miles City Livestock Commission

Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2025-12-16
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-12-16

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Dec 16

● Final72 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773

← Dec 9Dec 16Jan 6 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

626 head

▼ 323 vs last sale 949▼ 617 vs year ago 1,243 · −49.6%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

164 head

▼ 458 vs last sale 622▼ 256 vs year ago 420 · −61.0%

Replacement Cattle receipts

51 head

▼ 49 vs last sale 100▼ 304 vs year ago 355 · −85.6%

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. A few remanent yearlings continue to be marketed. Demand for yearling cattle was mostly moderate to good. Demand continues to improve as CME positions continue to inch higher. 550-599 lbs feeder steers offered the best test this week, selling mostly 25.00-35.00 higher. All other weights of steers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however sharply higher undertones were noticed. Feeder heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive with a wide range of quality and breeds represented. Group sizes were small to moderate this week, with many singles noticed. Demand for attractive offerings was mostly very good, while plain to average quality offerings sold on mostly moderate to good demand. CME positions traded higher today with all contracts January through September 2026 up over 2.00 higher. Offerings were light. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week with a significantly larger buyer pool noticed for the last sale of the year. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand improved slightly this week as additional buyers were present buying feeding cows this week. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher with the largest price increases seen on lower yielding offerings. Slaughter cows sold 3.00-4.00 higher on breaking and boning cows, lean cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly moderate. Cow quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Lighter demand from feeding bull buyers was seen this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on light to moderate demand. Too few young cows were seen this week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly plain to average again this week.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $440.01/cwt on 171 head. That ranks 5 of 11 comparable sales and sits −11.57 against this barn's trailing median of $451.58.

Average price

$440.01

171 head · 557 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,452

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$1,336

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2-3

$211.20/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.01

vs MT average

−4.09 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	566	461.20	2,608	130
Large 1	564	445.00	2,510	4thin
Medium and Large 1-2	540	438.77	2,369	20
Medium and Large 2-3	518	330.00	1,709	6thin
Medium 2-3	509	250.00	1,273	11thin

One grade step is worth $211.20/cwt here — about $1,336 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 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 sale171 hd

440.01

—

MT average4 barns · 585 hd

440.02

−0.01

National average163 barns · 16,063 hd

444.10

−4.09

This barn, trailing median11 sales

451.58

−11.57

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

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Low	1,712	160.10	2,740	13
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,585	158.50	2,512	20
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,362	156.63	2,133	48
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,131	135.60	1,534	57
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,285	111.00	1,426	1thin

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/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,513	$2,600	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,398	$2,500	8

Every lot

72 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 · Steers24 lots · lightest first
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	325	600.00/cwt	600.00–600.00	1,950	1
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1	335	620.00/cwt	620.00–620.00	2,077	1
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	379	550.49/cwt	550.00–552.50	2,086	5
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	387	567.54/cwt	562.50–570.00	2,196	5
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	417	552.48/cwt	540.00–555.00	2,304	10
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	448	487.50/cwt	487.50–487.50	2,184	3
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	476	477.90/cwt	475.00–487.50	2,275	22
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	479	534.57/cwt	507.50–542.50	2,561	45
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	495	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	2,228	2
Steers	500–550	Medium 2-3	509	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,273	11
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 2-3	518	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,709	6
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	521	485.24/cwt	483.00–500.00	2,528	22
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	521	449.12/cwt	440.00–455.00	2,340	14
Steers	550–600	Large 1	564	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	2,510	4
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	574	457.51/cwt	435.00–467.50	2,626	105
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	584	414.62/cwt	407.50–430.00	2,421	6
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Full	597	414.00/cwt	414.00–414.00	2,472	3
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	605	402.50/cwt	402.50–402.50	2,435	1
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	656	403.00/cwt	403.00–403.00	2,644	6
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	678	349.80/cwt	345.00–353.00	2,372	5
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 2	704	312.50/cwt	312.50–312.50	2,200	7
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 2	797	323.50/cwt	323.50–323.50	2,578	31
Steers	800–850	Large 1-2	806	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	2,015	4
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 2	825	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	2,516	3
Feeder Cattle · Heifers17 lots · lightest first
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	333	452.18/cwt	447.50–460.00	1,506	13
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	370	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,369	4
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	386	447.42/cwt	430.00–455.00	1,727	24
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	413	502.50/cwt	502.50–502.50	2,075	16
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 2-3	417	312.50/cwt	312.50–312.50	1,303	3
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	420	445.15/cwt	440.00–453.00	1,870	34
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 2	449	407.50/cwt	407.50–407.50	1,830	5
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	451	484.00/cwt	484.00–484.00	2,183	29
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	472	376.55/cwt	370.00–385.00	1,777	11
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	474	380.37/cwt	363.00–385.00	1,803	12
Heifers	500–550	Large 1	536	352.50/cwt	352.50–352.50	1,889	10
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	558	341.00/cwt	341.00–341.00	1,903	2
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	562	355.33/cwt	355.00–357.50	1,997	8
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	568	352.50/cwt	352.50–352.50	2,002	2
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	608	351.00/cwt	351.00–351.00	2,134	3
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	630	322.00/cwt	322.00–322.00	2,029	2
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	828	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	2,567	10
Feeder Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	597	362.50/cwt	362.50–362.50	2,164	6
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,325	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	2,027	1
Bulls	—	—	1,704	158.32/cwt	152.00–168.00	2,698	9
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,830	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	3,056	1
Bulls	—	—	1,880	168.24/cwt	167.00–169.50	3,163	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	935	117.50/cwt	117.50–117.50	1,099	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	950	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	808	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	970	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	1,387	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	1,075	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,129	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,093	138.54/cwt	115.00–152.50	1,514	10
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,119	88.03/cwt	72.50–100.00	985	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,140	158.41/cwt	147.00–166.00	1,806	15
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,165	168.18/cwt	167.00–171.00	1,959	9
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,170	111.91/cwt	102.50–127.50	1,309	12
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,270	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	1,683	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,298	118.23/cwt	115.00–122.00	1,535	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,320	90.00/cwt	90.00–90.00	1,188	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,342	168.09/cwt	168.00–169.50	2,256	16
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,373	164.81/cwt	157.00–168.00	2,263	18
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,395	147.13/cwt	134.00–155.00	2,052	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,453	134.63/cwt	132.00–138.00	1,956	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,539	163.38/cwt	158.00–165.00	2,514	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,570	158.48/cwt	152.00–161.00	2,488	14
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,780	148.84/cwt	146.00–152.00	2,649	2
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,285	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	1,426	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	946	268.60/cwt	220.00–292.50	2,541	17
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	954	242.08/cwt	230.00–271.00	2,309	4
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,021	216.26/cwt	180.00–245.00	2,208	5
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,116	199.74/cwt	180.00–227.50	2,229	9
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,398	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	8
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,513	2,600.00/head	2,600.00–2,600.00	2,600	2

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 Dec 16, 2025

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 626Last week 949Year ago 1,243

Slaughter CattleReceipts 164Last week 622Year ago 420

Replacement CattleReceipts 51Last week 100Year ago 355

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,119	72.50–100.00	88.03
1	—	1,270	132.50	132.50
12	—	1,170	102.50–127.50	111.91

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,570	152.00–161.00	158.48
2	—	1,780	146.00–152.00	148.84

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,539	158.00–165.00	163.38

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,165	167.00–171.00	168.18
15	—	1,140	147.00–166.00	158.41
10	—	1,093	115.00–152.50	138.54

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	950	85.00	85.00
1	—	1,075	105.00	105.00
1	—	970	143.00	143.00
1	—	935	117.50	117.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,395	134.00–155.00	147.13
16	—	1,342	168.00–169.50	168.09
18	—	1,373	157.00–168.00	164.81

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,298	115.00–122.00	118.23
1	—	1,320	90.00	90.00
2	—	1,453	132.00–138.00	134.63

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,285	111.00	111.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,325	153.00	153.00
9	—	1,704	152.00–168.00	158.32
2	—	1,880	167.00–169.50	168.24

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,830	167.00	167.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
3	550–600	597	414.00	414.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	800–850	806	250.00	250.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	550–600	564	445.00	445.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	335	620.00	620.00
5	350–400	387	562.50–570.00	567.54
10	400–450	417	540.00–555.00	552.48
45	450–500	479	507.50–542.50	534.57
22	500–550	521	483.00–500.00	485.24
105	550–600	574	435.00–467.50	457.51

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	650–700	656	403.00	403.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	350–400	379	550.00–552.50	550.49
3	400–450	448	487.50	487.50
22	450–500	476	475.00–487.50	477.90
14	500–550	521	440.00–455.00	449.12
6	550–600	584	407.50–430.00	414.62
1	600–650	605	402.50	402.50
5	650–700	678	345.00–353.00	349.80

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	325	600.00	600.00
2	450–500	495	450.00	450.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
11	500–550	509	250.00	250.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
6	500–550	518	330.00	330.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	700–750	704	312.50	312.50
31	750–800	797	323.50	323.50
3	800–850	825	305.00	305.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
10	500–550	536	352.50	352.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
16	400–450	413	502.50	502.50
29	450–500	451	484.00	484.00
2	550–600	568	352.50	352.50
3	600–650	608	351.00	351.00
10	800–850	828	310.00	310.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	550–600	562	355.00–357.50	355.33

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	300–350	333	447.50–460.00	452.18
24	350–400	386	430.00–455.00	447.42
34	400–450	420	440.00–453.00	445.15
12	450–500	474	363.00–385.00	380.37
2	550–600	558	341.00	341.00
2	600–650	630	322.00	322.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
3	400–450	417	312.50	312.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	370	370.00	370.00
5	400–450	449	407.50	407.50
11	450–500	472	370.00–385.00	376.55

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	550–600	597	362.50	362.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	17	—	946	220.00–292.50	268.60
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	9	—	1,116	180.00–227.50	199.74

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	5	—	1,021	180.00–245.00	216.26
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	954	230.00–271.00	242.08

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)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	8	—	1,398	2,500.00	2,500.00

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)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	2	—	1,513	2,600.00	2,600.00

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.