Cattle Market Pulse

Miles City Livestock Commission Auction Market Report

Miles City, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock · usually sells Tuesdays

Sale of Tuesday, October 20, 2026

4,235 head sold ·Official USDA report · Price history in the app

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $429.35/cwt +3.61 vs last sale · ≈ $2,456/hd at 572 lb · 485 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $401.98/cwt -8.05 vs last sale · ≈ $2,488/hd at 619 lb · 399 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $403.39/cwt -13.90 vs last sale · ≈ $2,114/hd at 524 lb · 280 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,235 3,305 5,120
Feeder cattle 3,212 2,430 4,198
Slaughter cattle 713 674 724
Replacement cattle 310 201 198

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to the last sale (10-13-26): Feeder steers weighing under 500 lbs sold 4.00 to 8.00 lower, while those weighing over 500 lbs sold 2.00 to 3.00 higher. Feeder heifers weighing under 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noted. Feeder heifers weighing over 500 lbs sold 3.00 to 4.00 higher. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive on calves and mostly average on yearlings. Light weight calves continue to sell on good demand. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate offerings. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 1.00 higher on breaking and lean flesh cows, while boning cows sold 4.00 to 7.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 lower on boning and lean cows in a narrow comparison. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noted. Weigh up conditions were mostly average today. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly average this week. Several sets of exposed cows continue to sell either ranch tested or not tested at all. These sold on good demand and are listed as stock cows in the report below.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–285 unweaned 272 15 620.00–640.00 $632.49 $1,720 —
367 unweaned 367 20 625.00 $625.00 $2,294 +82.03
400–447 unweaned 427 90 475.00–517.50 $500.71 $2,138 -4.05
452–498 unweaned 469 259 481.00–505.00 $489.02 $2,294 -7.74
500–534 unweaned 525 127 456.50–482.50 $464.42 $2,438 +22.07
550–599 unweaned 572 485 410.00–439.50 $429.35 $2,456 +3.61
600–640 619 399 390.00–417.00 $401.98 $2,488 —
691 691 11 370.00 $370.00 $2,557 —
710–739 734 9 370.00 $370.00 $2,716 —
922 922 5 332.50 $332.50 $3,066 +2.27
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–345 unweaned 335 13 550.00–590.00 $558.93 $1,872 +21.43
355–390 unweaned 374 74 512.50–565.00 $547.39 $2,047 +36.56
413–448 unweaned 427 27 445.00–467.50 $463.81 $1,980 —
450–493 unweaned 481 39 439.25–476.00 $451.98 $2,174 -0.96
500–546 unweaned 537 162 428.00–455.00 $439.57 $2,360 +11.86
550–597 unweaned 585 103 391.00–418.00 $404.66 $2,367 —
606–642 620 18 375.00–385.00 $379.99 $2,356 +39.99
708–737 729 7 347.50–350.00 $348.19 $2,538 —
910–943 937 11 307.50–316.00 $314.50 $2,947 —
963 963 2 310.00 $310.00 $2,985 +2.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 unweaned 340 2 540.00 $540.00 $1,836 —
390–395 unweaned 392 3 485.00–490.00 $488.32 $1,914 +18.32
430–445 unweaned 441 11 422.50–440.00 $426.34 $1,880 +13.84
465–495 unweaned 489 17 409.00–435.00 $429.16 $2,099 —
515–540 unweaned 518 27 396.00–425.00 $400.11 $2,073 —
560–583 unweaned 577 4 375.00–385.00 $381.88 $2,203 +29.38
658–695 679 6 320.00–345.00 $332.24 $2,256 —
900 900 1 260.00 $260.00 $2,340 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 unweaned 510 2 427.50 $427.50 $2,180 —
612 612 3 395.00 $395.00 $2,417 —
1050–1051 1051 23 300.00–310.00 $300.43 $3,158 —
1118 1118 2 280.00 $280.00 $3,130 —
1152–1170 1157 4 265.00–280.00 $268.79 $3,110 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–335 unweaned 309 8 490.00–540.00 $517.14 $1,598 —
350–395 unweaned 392 48 497.50–520.00 $501.46 $1,966 +24.61
400–440 unweaned 429 47 465.00–480.00 $470.56 $2,019 -25.69
458–475 unweaned 466 66 443.00–457.00 $450.15 $2,098 +19.83
500–549 unweaned 524 280 387.00–420.00 $403.39 $2,114 -4.16
550–584 unweaned 566 126 380.00–397.50 $387.13 $2,191 -3.35
603–625 613 56 350.00–363.00 $360.36 $2,209 —
655–680 665 5 350.00–370.00 $358.18 $2,382 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–295 unweaned 277 3 530.00–590.00 $552.71 $1,531 —
320–330 unweaned 323 6 450.00–480.00 $464.97 $1,502 +19.27
355–399 unweaned 376 31 475.00–495.00 $485.84 $1,827 +34.54
403–449 unweaned 429 78 425.00–457.50 $438.41 $1,881 +13.43
450–498 unweaned 476 129 405.00–432.50 $424.57 $2,021 +31.28
511–548 unweaned 537 66 365.00–387.50 $380.05 $2,041 -2.96
568–596 unweaned 579 45 363.00–384.00 $372.28 $2,156 +33.93
650 650 3 335.00–337.50 $336.67 $2,188 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390–395 unweaned 392 3 440.00–450.00 $443.32 $1,738 —
428–445 unweaned 434 8 400.00–410.00 $405.02 $1,758 —
470–490 unweaned 482 7 405.00–412.50 $409.64 $1,974 —
580–590 unweaned 588 5 359.00–360.00 $359.40 $2,113 —
800 800 1 297.50 $297.50 $2,380 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
333–335 unweaned 334 4 550.00–565.00 $557.48 $1,862 —
445 unweaned 445 26 480.00 $480.00 $2,136 —
460–490 unweaned 482 12 422.50–465.00 $441.88 $2,130 —
508–523 unweaned 522 40 412.50–420.00 $412.93 $2,155 —
550 unweaned 550 1 382.50 $382.50 $2,104 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 unweaned 398 2 510.00 $510.00 $2,030 +37.50
618–648 634 8 327.50–342.50 $338.19 $2,144 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020 1020 2 247.50 $247.50 $2,524 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1214–1328 1238 80-85% 57 139.50–142.00 $141.58 $1,753 —
1239–1465 1282 80-85% 17 129.00–134.00 $132.30 $1,696 —
1200–1437 1305 80-85% 26 148.00–157.50 $151.43 $1,976 +40.58
1306–1397 1325 80-85% 33 138.00–139.50 $138.85 $1,840 +28.00
1209–1471 1341 80-85% 132 136.00–148.00 $143.37 $1,923 -0.26
1272–1481 1384 80-85% 50 131.00–135.00 $133.66 $1,850 -13.34
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820–955 903 85-90% 8 95.00–115.00 $103.98 $939 +3.91
1005–1040 1030 85-90% 4 150.00–152.50 $151.62 $1,562 —
1030–1385 1117 85-90% 14 85.00–98.00 $93.69 $1,047 -1.31
1015–1385 1146 85-90% 49 102.50–113.00 $108.05 $1,238 -21.89
990–1383 1189 85-90% 36 120.00–128.00 $124.36 $1,479 -20.18
1151–1305 1221 85-90% 32 115.00–128.00 $117.99 $1,441 —
1040–1342 1230 85-90% 118 131.00–147.00 $137.45 $1,691 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1423–1635 1508 75-80% 5 119.00–129.00 $123.83 $1,867 —
1420–1725 1519 75-80% 39 130.00–143.00 $137.28 $2,085 —
1470–1580 1530 75-80% 7 125.00–128.00 $125.71 $1,923 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–2185 1686 9 170.50–184.00 $174.37 $2,940 —
1635–1858 1784 3 167.00–169.00 $167.61 $2,990 —
1425–2090 1799 6 159.00–167.50 $162.08 $2,916 —
1890–1980 1940 3 151.00–155.00 $152.69 $2,962 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
800–1053 942 (<2 yrs)Open 92 290.00–340.00 $306.73 $2,889
990–1225 1071 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 44 237.50–264.00 $252.25 $2,702
965–1340 1142 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 5 185.00–202.50 $191.89 $2,191
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
955–1120 1062 (<2 yrs)Open 92 260.00–287.50 $279.08 $2,964
985–1220 1139 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 20 215.00–230.00 $222.88 $2,539
1055–1414 1272 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 21 162.50–175.00 $170.98 $2,175

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1157–1168 1159 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 22 1,600.00–1,935.00 $1,873.62
1244 1244 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 2,000.00 $2,000.00

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Price trend

high 495.45 low 379.50 Oct 2025 Oct 2026

550–599 lb Medium and Large 1 steers — head-weighted average $/cwt by sale date, last 12 months.

Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.

← Previous sale (Oct 13, 2026)

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