Cattle Market Pulse

Ft. Pierre Livestock Auction (Friday) Market Report

Ft. Pierre, South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock · usually sells Fridays

Sale of Friday, August 28, 2026

3,430 head sold ·Official USDA report · Past reports (188)

light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $334.99/cwt -10.01 vs last sale · ≈ $3,089/hd at 922 lb · 701 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $296.12/cwt -8.88 vs last sale · ≈ $2,905/hd at 981 lb · 677 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $321.25/cwt +1.27 vs last sale · ≈ $2,795/hd at 870 lb · 595 head
Ft. Pierre, SD (Friday) 9-weight heifers sold at $303/cwt, the highest of the 4 yards reporting the class and $6/cwt above the SD average ($297). SD 9-weight heifers are down $14 from their early August peak of $311. What this means — computed from this report and its neighbors
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,430 1,441 3,291
Feeder cattle 3,430 1,441 3,291

Compared to two weeks ago: Feeder steers 900-1000 lbs 10.00 lower, other weights of steers not well compared. Feeder heifers sold with higher undertones compared to the limited heifer offering last sale. Good demand for yearling steers and heifers, several long strings offered in multiple load lots including 1 cut of 10 full loads. Numerous stock trailer loads of yearlings allowed buyers to put together and make loads. The market was not as active as the cash fed cattle market has slipped down around 220.00, some below, leaving cattle feeders facing losses on outgoing fed cattle. The current price structure of the deferred months of the Live Cattle contracts are putting much pressure on the feeder cattle market. Flesh condition ranged from very light to moderate, as the drought continues to be very severe, forcing cattle to town sooner and some producers having to put out supplemental feed.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805–825 818 105 344.00–352.00 $349.38 $2,858 +4.63
917–932 922 701 334.00–335.50 $334.99 $3,089 -10.01
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1002–1034 1027 81 301.00–317.00 $307.07 $3,154
1092 1092 6 284.00 $284.00 $3,101

↑ Back to top

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
776 thin fleshed 776 74 368.00 $368.00 $2,856
779 779 21 350.00 $350.00 $2,726 +27.00
851–899 870 595 317.00–329.00 $321.25 $2,795 +1.27
904–947 924 345 309.00–328.00 $316.17 $2,921 +2.53
958–988 981 677 291.50–322.00 $296.12 $2,905 -8.88
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1033 1020 130 298.00–312.00 $307.95 $3,141 +8.72
1064–1078 1072 11 295.00–298.00 $296.35 $3,177 +5.13
1108–1147 1131 40 282.00–288.00 $284.98 $3,223 +2.98
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
637 637 11 345.00 $345.00 $2,198
928–937 936 43 289.00–292.00 $289.42 $2,709
950 950 18 306.00 $306.00 $2,907

↑ Back to top

high 514.00 low 434.68 Sep 2025 Jul 2026

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

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 (Aug 14, 2026)