Miles City Livestock Commission Auction Market Report

Miles City, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, October 22, 2024

5,730 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Miles City Livestock Commission Auction report →

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $331.61/cwt +5.23 vs last sale · ≈ $1,585/hd at 478 lb · 604 head

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $309.73/cwt -3.85 vs last sale · ≈ $1,629/hd at 526 lb · 386 head

light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $284.12/cwt +2.26 vs last sale · ≈ $1,483/hd at 522 lb · 318 head

Receipts

Head	This sale	Last sale	Last year
Total receipts	5,730	4,529	4,176
Feeder cattle	4,379	3,707	3,267
Slaughter cattle	888	682	621
Replacement cattle	463	140	288

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 500 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher, 500-549 lbs steers sold steady to weak, steer calves 550-599 lbs sold steady to firm. Calves over 600 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold generally steady. Heifer calves over 500 lbs sold steady to 3.00 higher. Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Demand for calves was mostly good, while demand for yearlings was mostly moderate to good. Demand for light weight calves suitable to run on wheat pasture in the south or out west remains very good. CME Feeder cattle positions added triple digit gains today. Quality this sale was mostly average to attractive on calves and plain to average on yearlings. Market activity was mostly active today with a large buyer pool noticed. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was light to moderate, but stronger than last sale as packer buyers continue to try and buy cows away from feeding buyers. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 higher on all classes. Feeding cow demand was very good with multiple private ranchers and order buyers buying cows to feed. Private buyers continue to buy slightly lame or slightly blemished cows to put away on feed. Feeding cows sold generally steady on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Thin feeding cows sold steady to weak. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly moderate demand for light offerings. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Weigh up conditions were mostly average this week. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher. Demand for 3-4 year old cows was higher this week as buyers showed very good demand for cows to rebreed. Quality was mostly average to attractive today. Young cow offerings were heavy this week.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
235–245 unweaned	242	3	460.00–470.00	$463.24	$1,121	—
262–279 unweaned	267	23	420.00–450.00	$442.34	$1,181	+28.89
308–335 unweaned	329	127	411.00–431.50	$424.52	$1,397	+2.52
351–395 unweaned	377	241	386.00–435.00	$404.14	$1,524	-6.09
400–444 unweaned	420	278	350.00–382.50	$367.63	$1,544	+15.82
450–496 unweaned	478	604	315.50–348.75	$331.61	$1,585	+5.23
500–545 unweaned	526	386	303.00–325.75	$309.73	$1,629	-3.85
554–582 unweaned	570	205	289.00–312.00	$295.73	$1,686	+1.47
610–631 unweaned	624	144	274.00–285.50	$281.40	$1,756	+13.83

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
294 unweaned	294	4	415.00	$415.00	$1,220	—
310–348 unweaned	334	41	385.00–407.50	$395.00	$1,319	-5.00
361–394 unweaned	373	56	337.50–387.50	$363.42	$1,356	+14.96
428–431 unweaned	429	73	337.00–343.00	$340.48	$1,461	+6.39
450–499 unweaned	478	45	292.50–311.00	$308.32	$1,474	+3.38
528 unweaned	528	9	302.00	$302.00	$1,595	+6.93
578–598 unweaned	586	12	274.00–281.00	$278.03	$1,629	—
649 unweaned	649	4	251.00	$251.00	$1,629	-7.00
717	717	12	258.00	$258.00	$1,850	+1.00
778	778	2	246.50	$246.50	$1,918	+9.50
814	814	4	245.50	$245.50	$1,998	—

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
430 unweaned	430	11	332.00	$332.00	$1,428	—
543–545 unweaned	544	51	285.00–298.25	$294.88	$1,604	-0.12
591	591	14	281.00	$281.00	$1,661	—
645 unweaned	645	10	272.00	$272.00	$1,754	—

Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
362 unweaned	362	3	368.00	$368.00	$1,332	—
448 unweaned	448	11	303.00	$303.00	$1,357	—

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
546	546	8	267.00	$267.00	$1,458	—

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
240 unweaned	240	1	415.00	$415.00	$996	—
265–275 unweaned	268	11	382.50–392.50	$388.35	$1,041	—
310–348 unweaned	332	120	350.00–380.00	$362.29	$1,203	-7.27
353–393 unweaned	384	149	337.50–356.00	$342.54	$1,315	-3.75
405–434 unweaned	419	167	313.00–334.00	$322.31	$1,350	-1.51
456–497 unweaned	473	288	288.00–310.00	$301.01	$1,424	-0.34
500–547 unweaned	522	318	271.00–299.00	$284.12	$1,483	+2.26
551–563 unweaned	560	48	271.00–272.00	$271.75	$1,522	+0.07
604 unweaned	604	6	245.00	$245.00	$1,480	±0.00
675	675	14	260.00	$260.00	$1,755	+8.00
719 unweaned	719	5	244.00	$244.00	$1,754	—
803–813	805	36	236.50–239.50	$237.72	$1,914	+1.62
881–895	887	30	227.50–232.50	$230.31	$2,043	-2.29
904–940	920	19	230.50–234.50	$234.09	$2,154	—
974	974	7	225.00	$225.00	$2,192	+5.00

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
220 unweaned	220	5	387.50	$387.50	$852	—
272 unweaned	272	6	367.50	$367.50	$1,000	+22.50
301–345 unweaned	339	31	320.00–340.00	$324.25	$1,099	-11.63
384–388 unweaned	385	11	305.00–312.50	$306.38	$1,180	-20.38
401–447 unweaned	422	22	291.00–311.00	$302.85	$1,278	-3.41
459–480 unweaned	467	18	284.00–294.00	$289.92	$1,354	-1.72
512–534 unweaned	531	25	267.00–269.00	$267.23	$1,419	+5.23
791–799	795	13	235.00–236.50	$235.70	$1,874	+9.70
860	860	2	225.00	$225.00	$1,935	±0.00

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
425 unweaned	425	2	305.00	$305.00	$1,296	—
465–473 unweaned	472	32	267.50–289.50	$285.43	$1,347	—
522–549 unweaned	542	20	249.00–273.50	$267.60	$1,450	—
557 unweaned	557	21	252.00	$252.00	$1,404	—

Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
577	577	14	270.00	$270.00	$1,558	—
608	608	27	265.00	$265.00	$1,611	+9.23
660–689	680	9	250.00–256.00	$253.32	$1,723	+3.93

Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
400	400	3	235.00	$235.00	$940	—

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
280 unweaned	280	1	415.00	$415.00	$1,162	—
412 unweaned	412	3	320.00	$320.00	$1,318	—

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Dressing	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
695–985	833	85-90%	3	92.00–102.00	$96.77	$806	—
925–965	952	85-90%	3	84.00–86.00	$84.65	$806	—
880–1220	1084	85-90%	9	81.00–90.00	$85.56	$927	-1.34
945–1310	1123	85-90%	45	92.00–109.00	$103.09	$1,158	—
1080–1185	1133	85-90%	2	123.00–126.00	$124.57	$1,411	—
935–1295	1142	85-90%	101	114.00–128.00	$121.30	$1,385	—
1000–1265	1166	85-90%	16	110.00–117.00	$112.33	$1,310	-2.63
928–1300	1172	85-90%	73	101.00–117.00	$111.97	$1,312	-2.99
1010–1276	1195	85-90%	54	129.00–137.00	$130.04	$1,554	-2.81

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Dressing	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
1260–1530	1351	80-85%	7	105.00–112.00	$110.18	$1,489	-19.45
1315–1625	1361	80-85%	9	134.00–136.00	$135.52	$1,844	+5.89
1212–1735	1365	80-85%	75	123.00–132.00	$129.34	$1,765	+8.12
1390	1390	80-85%	1	121.00	$121.00	$1,682	-0.22
1470	1470	80-85%	1	129.00	$129.00	$1,896	—
1325–1665	1471	80-85%	6	114.00–126.25	$123.22	$1,813	—

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Dressing	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
1360–1700	1530	75-80%	2	125.00–128.00	$126.33	$1,933	-6.67
1506–1790	1563	75-80%	5	129.00–136.00	$134.40	$2,101	—
1650	1650	75-80%	1	121.00	$121.00	$1,996	—

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
1220–1745	1397	3	138.00–143.50	$140.87	$1,968	—
1195–2015	1668	37	131.00–146.00	$142.77	$2,381	+3.11
1585–2125	1817	17	147.00–161.00	$152.79	$2,776	-0.53

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd
748–1113	900	(<2 yrs)	Open	160	157.50–216.00	$210.44	$1,894
900–1285	973	Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	88	139.00–196.00	$185.69	$1,807

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd
815 thin fleshed	815	(<2 yrs)	Open	2	147.50	$147.50	$1,202
720–1035	922	(<2 yrs)	Open	20	150.00–189.00	$178.96	$1,650
845–1043	975	Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	5	142.00–187.50	$156.12	$1,522

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd
895–975	907	(<2 yrs)	Open	13	170.00–174.00	$173.34	$1,572
988	988	Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	8	163.00	$163.00	$1,610

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $
1173	1173	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	16	2,225.00	$2,225.00
1221–1360	1288	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	16	1,735.00–1,975.00	$1,757.43
1236–1467	1352	Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	24	1,550.00–1,900.00	$1,783.37

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $
1220	1220	Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	1,535.00	$1,535.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $
745–782	768	(<2 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	8	2,400.00	$2,400.00
770–818	798	(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	54	2,400.00–2,500.00	$2,441.12

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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.