Sale reports / Montana / Miles City Livestock Commission / 2026-04-21

Miles City Livestock Commission

Name: Miles City Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2026-04-21
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-04-21

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Miles City, Montana · Tue, Apr 21

● Final52 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1773

← Apr 14Apr 21Apr 28 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

581 head

▲ 236 vs last sale 345▼ 120 vs year ago 701 · −17.1%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

127 head

▼ 63 vs last sale 190▲ 15 vs year ago 112 · +13.4%

Replacement Cattle receipts

141 head

▼ 26 vs last sale 167▲ 10 vs year ago 131 · +7.6%

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (4-14-26): Feeder steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeder heifers 550-750 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 lower. All other heifer weights were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Very few steers were on offer this week which limited steer demand. 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 over the last week and buyers showed some reserve as they bid on offerings. Today, CME positions sold off again with most contracts showing losses just over 2.00. A few ranchers were in the stands this week bidding on heifers to make replacements. Several sets of light fleshed heifers which would work to run on grass or to breed were seen. Buyers showed moderate to good demand for these offerings as both grass cattle buyers and replacement buyers bid on these offerings. A small crowd was on hand for todays sale, but buyers were a mix of order buyers and ranchers. Market activity was moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for light offerings. Very few older cows were seen this week as most of the offering was comprised of young cows. Feeding cows sold on good demand for all cows which would feed. Feeding cows sold fully steady in a narrow comparison. Slaughter cows sold on good demand. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady to weak. Demand for All natural bulls was very good. Feeding type bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Young age cows sold generally steady on very good demand. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Replacement or turn out cows sold on very good demand and buyers were willing to take older offerings up to 6 years old to rebreed as cow supplies remain tight.

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 $442.06/cwt on 145 head, down $26.07 from the prior sale. That ranks 11 of 14 comparable sales and sits +28.14 against this barn's trailing median of $413.93.

Average price

$442.06

▼ 26.07 vs prior sale

145 head · 560 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,475

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$150

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

$16.85/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−7.05

vs MT average

+19.89 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	520	454.50	2,363	38
Medium and Large 1	574	437.65	2,513	107

One grade step is worth $16.85/cwt here — about −$150 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 400–500 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 sale145 hd

442.06

—

MT average3 barns · 333 hd

449.12

−7.05

National average167 barns · 11,519 hd

422.17

+19.89

This barn, trailing median14 sales

413.93

+28.14

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	1,797	205.39	3,690	58
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,410	176.64	2,491	49
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,605	173.00	2,777	1thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,082	143.24	1,550	9thin

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 Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,128	$4,300	7

Every lot

52 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 · Steers4 lots · lightest first
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	675	392.00/cwt	392.00–392.00	2,646	2
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 2	676	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	2,603	8
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	833	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	2,832	5
Steers	1200–1250	Large 1-2Fleshy	1,246	282.50/cwt	282.50–282.50	3,520	12
Feeder Cattle · Heifers16 lots · lightest first
Heifers	50–100	Medium and Large 1	64	975.00/head	975.00–975.00	975	2
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	424	555.33/cwt	550.00–565.00	2,355	11
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	463	500.00/cwt	500.00–500.00	2,315	2
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	468	479.44/cwt	460.00–495.00	2,244	6
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	520	454.50/cwt	452.00–461.00	2,363	38
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	544	467.93/cwt	464.50–475.50	2,546	22
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	582	429.81/cwt	413.00–459.00	2,501	85
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	623	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	2,399	2
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	625	406.08/cwt	390.00–416.00	2,538	86
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	670	390.53/cwt	385.00–398.00	2,617	98
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	683	366.00/cwt	366.00–366.00	2,500	2
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Replacement	687	411.00/cwt	411.00–411.00	2,824	40
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	728	362.33/cwt	350.00–369.00	2,638	33
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	762	351.58/cwt	350.00–354.00	2,679	5
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1Replacement	770	356.00/cwt	356.00–356.00	2,741	10
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1Replacement	809	345.50/cwt	345.50–345.50	2,795	30
Feeder Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	50–100	Medium and Large 1	88	1,050.00/head	1,050.00–1,050.00	1,050	8
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,295	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	2,409	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,565	204.87/cwt	198.00–208.00	3,206	13
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,575	183.77/cwt	173.00–191.00	2,894	4
Bulls	—	—	1,774	179.94/cwt	162.50–192.00	3,192	6
Bulls	—	—	1,895	207.71/cwt	200.00–212.00	3,936	24
Bulls	—	—Natural	1,963	223.22/cwt	220.00–226.00	4,382	4
Bulls	—	—	1,995	223.17/cwt	218.00–230.00	4,452	4
Bulls	—	—Natural	2,153	239.00/cwt	238.00–240.00	5,146	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows13 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	870	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	1,001	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	880	102.00/cwt	102.00–102.00	898	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,058	124.32/cwt	115.00–132.00	1,315	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,070	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,605	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,140	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	1,619	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,208	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	2,199	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,250	167.50/cwt	167.50–167.50	2,094	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,353	184.03/cwt	183.00–187.00	2,490	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,373	131.04/cwt	130.00–132.00	1,799	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,379	163.74/cwt	155.00–167.00	2,258	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,423	180.04/cwt	173.00–183.00	2,562	35
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,530	169.00/cwt	169.00–169.00	2,586	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,605	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	2,777	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,128	4,300.00/head	4,300.00–4,300.00	4,300	7
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows9 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1	855	307.50/cwt	307.50–307.50	2,629	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,020	305.19/cwt	230.00–340.00	3,113	53
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,048	272.63/cwt	212.50–310.00	2,857	5
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,083	253.71/cwt	199.00–285.00	2,748	9
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,163	238.63/cwt	188.00–325.00	2,775	35
Stock Cows	—	Large 1	1,270	192.62/cwt	190.00–196.00	2,446	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,294	198.94/cwt	182.00–222.00	2,574	17
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	1,465	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	2,725	1
Stock Cows	—	Large 1Fleshy	1,530	187.00/cwt	187.00–187.00	2,861	1

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 Apr 21, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 581Last week 345Year ago 701

Slaughter CattleReceipts 127Last week 190Year ago 112

Replacement CattleReceipts 141Last week 167Year ago 131

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	650–700	676	385.00	385.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	650–700	675	392.00	392.00
5	800–850	833	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
12	1200–1250	1,246	282.50	282.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	450–500	468	460.00–495.00	479.44
38	500–550	520	452.00–461.00	454.50
2	600–650	623	385.00	385.00
2	650–700	683	366.00	366.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	50–100	64	975.00	975.00
11	400–450	424	550.00–565.00	555.33
2	450–500	463	500.00	500.00
22	500–550	544	464.50–475.50	467.93
85	550–600	582	413.00–459.00	429.81
86	600–650	625	390.00–416.00	406.08
98	650–700	670	385.00–398.00	390.53
33	700–750	728	350.00–369.00	362.33
5	750–800	762	350.00–354.00	351.58

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
40	650–700	687	411.00	411.00
10	750–800	770	356.00	356.00
30	800–850	809	345.50	345.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
8	50–100	88	1,050.00	1,050.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	7	—	1,128	4,300.00	4,300.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	53	—	1,020	230.00–340.00	305.19
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	35	—	1,163	188.00–325.00	238.63
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	17	—	1,294	182.00–222.00	198.94

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	855	307.50	307.50

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	9	—	1,083	199.00–285.00	253.71
(<2 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,048	212.50–310.00	272.63

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,465	186.00	186.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,270	190.00–196.00	192.62

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,530	187.00	187.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,379	155.00–167.00	163.74
6	—	1,353	183.00–187.00	184.03
35	—	1,423	173.00–183.00	180.04

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,250	167.50	167.50
2	—	1,208	182.00	182.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	870	115.00	115.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,058	115.00–132.00	124.32
1	—	880	102.00	102.00
1	—	1,070	150.00	150.00
1	—	1,140	142.00	142.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,373	130.00–132.00	131.04
1	—	1,530	169.00	169.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,605	173.00	173.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	1,895	200.00–212.00	207.71
4	—	1,995	218.00–230.00	223.17
6	—	1,774	162.50–192.00	179.94

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,153	238.00–240.00	239.00
4	—	1,963	220.00–226.00	223.22

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,295	186.00	186.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,565	198.00–208.00	204.87
4	—	1,575	173.00–191.00	183.77

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.