Cattle Market Ft. Pierre Livestock Auction (Friday) Market Report
Ft. Pierre, South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock
Sale of Friday, August 28, 20263,430 head sold ·Official USDA report
Receipts
| Head | This sale | Last sale | Last year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total receipts | 3,430 | 1,441 | 3,291 |
| Feeder cattle | 3,430 | 1,441 | 3,291 |
Market comments — USDA reporter
- → Feeder cattle: leaving cattle feeders facing losses on outgoing fed cattle
- ▲ Feeder heifers: Feeder heifers sold with higher undertones compared to the limited heifer offering last sale
- ▼ Feeder steers: Feeder steers 900-1000 lbs 10.00 lower
New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓
Feeder Steers
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ 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 |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1002–1034 | 1027 | 81 | 301.00–317.00 | $307.07 | $3,154 | — |
| 1092 | 1092 | 6 | 284.00 | $284.00 | $3,101 | — |
Feeder Heifers
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 776 | 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 |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ 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 |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ 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 | — |
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.
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.