Cattle Market Pulse

Miles City Livestock Commission Auction Market Report

Miles City, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, October 13, 2026

3,305 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $425.74/cwt -6.54 vs last sale · ≈ $2,461/hd at 578 lb · 290 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $496.76/cwt +3.31 vs last sale · ≈ $2,379/hd at 479 lb · 237 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $442.35/cwt -23.73 vs last sale · ≈ $2,353/hd at 532 lb · 216 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,305 2,517 3,411
Feeder cattle 2,430 2,280 2,522
Slaughter cattle 674 202 552
Replacement cattle 201 35 337

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale (10-06-26): Feeder steer and heifer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Steer and heifer calves over 450 lbs sold unevenly steady from 5.00 higher to 8.00 lower. Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive on calves and mostly average on yearlings. Calves were overall not as attractive this week compared to last week. Many calves showed signs of stress after last weekends snow and rain which fell across the state. Some calves were muddy as well due to wet country conditions. Calves with 2 rounds of vaccinations continue to sell with the best demand. Premiums were even more prevalent this week as buyers were cautious bidding on calves with only spring shots. Premiums ranged from 10.00-15.00 or more in some instances. Light weight calves continue to sell on good demand, however with late summer rains pastures have greened and many calves continue to gain into the fall. Many cattle are weighing heavier than they historically have. Very few high quality light weight calves were seen this week as most were too heavy for wheat and western buyers this sale. A smaller buyer pool was noticed for todays sale. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for heavy offerings. Feeding cows sold steady to 5.00 higher this week with more feeding buyers in the market this week. Slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 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 noticed. Additional slaughter bull buyers were in the market this week which helped improve demand. 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. Young age offerings were light. 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
300–320 unweaned 317 18 575.00–605.00 $599.63 $1,901 +12.14
372–382 unweaned 378 46 540.00–545.00 $542.97 $2,052 -21.63
413–446 unweaned 436 122 492.50–525.00 $504.76 $2,201 -17.98
455–485 unweaned 479 237 480.00–510.50 $496.76 $2,379 +3.31
500–549 unweaned 532 216 434.00–480.00 $442.35 $2,353 -23.73
561–597 unweaned 578 290 402.00–445.50 $425.74 $2,461 -6.54
605–619 unweaned 611 96 401.00–412.50 $410.03 $2,505 +1.52
650 unweaned 650 33 395.00 $395.00 $2,568 —
710 unweaned 710 3 365.00 $365.00 $2,592 —
801 801 19 354.25 $354.25 $2,838 —
903–935 905 27 330.00–333.00 $330.23 $2,989 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
317 unweaned 317 6 537.50 $537.50 $1,704 +17.50
360–363 unweaned 363 6 510.00–515.00 $510.83 $1,854 —
476–497 unweaned 486 35 450.00–455.00 $452.94 $2,201 —
511–544 unweaned 533 44 414.00–448.00 $427.71 $2,280 +0.17
544 544 14 405.00 $405.00 $2,203 —
611 611 5 340.00 $340.00 $2,077 —
614 unweaned 614 3 388.00 $388.00 $2,382 +5.50
691 unweaned 691 5 345.00 $345.00 $2,384 —
991 991 5 307.50 $307.50 $3,047 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
394 unweaned 394 4 470.00 $470.00 $1,852 —
444 unweaned 444 7 412.50 $412.50 $1,832 —
585 unweaned 585 2 352.50 $352.50 $2,062 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
743 unweaned 743 5 352.50 $352.50 $2,619 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
664 664 5 347.50 $347.50 $2,307 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360–376 unweaned 371 16 470.00–490.00 $476.85 $1,769 -15.99
410–439 unweaned 425 107 450.00–515.00 $496.25 $2,109 +7.55
454–488 unweaned 472 166 419.00–440.00 $430.32 $2,031 -13.47
509–530 unweaned 517 110 392.50–412.50 $407.55 $2,107 -0.96
545 545 105 427.50 $427.50 $2,330 —
553–588 unweaned 569 62 380.00–392.50 $390.48 $2,222 +10.29
589 589 31 382.50 $382.50 $2,253 —
615–619 unweaned 617 14 365.00–380.00 $371.40 $2,292 -3.60
664 unweaned 664 7 340.00 $340.00 $2,258 —
755 755 10 343.00 $343.00 $2,590 —
805–849 832 48 318.00–321.00 $319.05 $2,654 +2.23
880 880 49 301.00 $301.00 $2,649 -5.22
901–940 912 20 292.00–301.00 $296.27 $2,702 +3.25
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311–349 unweaned 332 11 442.50–450.00 $445.70 $1,480 —
365–394 unweaned 378 13 450.00–452.50 $451.30 $1,706 —
422–444 unweaned 432 43 415.00–447.50 $424.98 $1,836 -11.25
458–493 unweaned 481 39 367.50–410.00 $393.29 $1,892 -20.50
512 512 17 382.00 $382.00 $1,956 —
510–537 unweaned 526 30 377.50–393.00 $383.01 $2,015 +18.01
560–585 unweaned 561 21 338.00–345.00 $338.35 $1,898 -29.50
703 703 5 330.00 $330.00 $2,320 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1091 1091 9 257.50 $257.50 $2,809 -12.50
1121 1121 4 261.00 $261.00 $2,926 +2.59
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423 unweaned 423 3 350.00 $350.00 $1,480 —
651 651 6 342.00 $342.00 $2,226 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
392 unweaned 392 3 472.50 $472.50 $1,852 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
813–940 845 85-90% 4 104.00–107.50 $104.97 $887 —
920–945 933 85-90% 2 95.00–105.00 $100.07 $934 —
952 952 85-90% 8 151.00 $151.00 $1,438 —
935–970 953 85-90% 3 85.00–90.00 $86.67 $826 —
1115 1115 85-90% 1 95.00 $95.00 $1,059 —
890–1280 1126 85-90% 167 115.00–137.50 $129.94 $1,463 —
1015–1258 1126 85-90% 22 97.50–113.00 $107.09 $1,206 —
1045–1213 1157 85-90% 3 117.00–127.50 $120.16 $1,390 +28.12
1048–1260 1182 85-90% 232 139.50–147.50 $144.54 $1,708 +32.19
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1263–1495 1331 80-85% 6 105.00–115.00 $110.85 $1,475 -3.79
1293–1483 1338 80-85% 84 138.00–146.00 $143.63 $1,922 +28.99
1366 1366 80-85% 10 147.00 $147.00 $2,008 +2.67
1207–1635 1416 80-85% 40 121.00–140.00 $134.53 $1,905 +12.28
1390–1530 1468 80-85% 6 125.00–128.00 $127.53 $1,872 +5.38
1500–1600 1538 80-85% 3 128.00–136.00 $130.63 $2,009 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1575–1640 1608 75-80% 2 125.00–126.00 $125.49 $2,018 —
1605–1645 1625 75-80% 2 145.00 $145.00 $2,356 —
1640 1640 75-80% 1 127.50 $127.50 $2,091 —
1560–1743 1682 75-80% 3 135.00 $135.00 $2,271 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1415–1840 1582 3 171.00–172.00 $171.70 $2,716 —
1555–2125 1747 3 161.00–170.00 $164.48 $2,873 +4.04
1665–2060 1842 3 177.00–179.00 $177.60 $3,271 —
2030 2030 1 179.00 $179.00 $3,634 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
969–1101 1017 (<2 yrs)Open 16 260.00–282.50 $275.15 $2,798
994–1179 1061 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 33 222.50–282.50 $249.34 $2,645
843–1385 1157 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 20 143.50–217.50 $164.33 $1,901
1201 thin fleshed 1201 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 8 131.00 $131.00 $1,573
1236–1489 1371 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 33 150.00–172.00 $162.18 $2,223
1414 1414 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 161.00 $161.00 $2,277
1403–1488 1467 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 145.00–149.00 $148.04 $2,172
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
944 944 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 7 250.00 $250.00 $2,360
900–1230 1042 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 32 177.00–252.50 $211.29 $2,202
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
840–963 938 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 165.00–185.00 $176.36 $1,654
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
886 886 (<2 yrs)Open 5 272.50 $272.50 $2,414

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1168 1168 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 1,800.00 $1,800.00

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Open Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845–1108 959 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 8 259.00–310.00 $282.71 $2,711 —
1355 1355 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 175.00 $175.00 $2,371 —

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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.