Cattle Market Pulse

Kist Livestock Auction Market Report

Mandan, North Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, February 28, 2024

1,309 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Kist Livestock Auction report →

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $303.15/cwt +0.42 vs last sale · ≈ $1,898/hd at 626 lb · 123 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $276.88/cwt -0.16 vs last sale · ≈ $1,584/hd at 572 lb · 99 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $323.07/cwt -11.35 vs last sale · ≈ $1,712/hd at 530 lb · 89 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,309 2,842 3,790
Feeder cattle 1,309 2,842 3,790

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week the only weights comparable were the 600 to 650 lbs. steers that were steady from last week. Most weights of steers and heifers trended steady to higher this week. A Storm went through the state yesterday causing less feeders to come to market today so most weights did not have numbers for a comparison. Buyer demand was still good for the feeders offered today. Most feeders were in light to moderate flesh condition. The lighter weights to go to pasture this summer brought the most aggressive bidding today. Expecting a larger sale next week.

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
395 395 5 404.00 $404.00 $1,596 +11.50
421–438 434 23 365.00–380.00 $375.40 $1,629 +3.74
474–477 475 13 350.00–364.00 $356.48 $1,693 +26.48
515–549 530 89 305.00–330.00 $323.07 $1,712 -11.35
550–594 565 49 302.50–320.00 $311.84 $1,762 -1.52
607–636 626 123 288.00–313.50 $303.15 $1,898 +0.42
653–684 674 35 270.00–282.00 $277.63 $1,871 +3.22
704–741 715 71 256.00–267.00 $261.69 $1,871 -0.85
762 762 56 261.50 $261.50 $1,993 +7.65
873 873 65 243.00 $243.00 $2,121 +5.89
988 988 11 213.00 $213.00 $2,104 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
584–599 594 47 272.50–289.00 $283.74 $1,685 +13.07
627 627 7 262.50 $262.50 $1,646 -14.79

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403–430 418 23 311.00–335.00 $318.94 $1,333 +2.02
458–478 464 21 310.00–317.50 $312.21 $1,449 +5.85
506–541 517 44 284.00–297.00 $294.06 $1,520 -5.75
551–596 572 99 272.50–286.50 $276.88 $1,584 -0.16
600–642 617 75 248.00–275.00 $266.65 $1,645 +11.06
657–696 672 85 253.50–266.00 $257.70 $1,732 -0.22
709–712 711 27 225.00–227.50 $225.74 $1,605 -22.26
756–757 757 67 236.00–241.00 $236.37 $1,789 +7.50
823 823 27 214.00 $214.00 $1,761 -8.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
357–376 368 15 307.50–310.00 $309.03 $1,137 —
434 434 19 300.00 $300.00 $1,302 +32.00
468–490 478 25 280.00–295.00 $286.81 $1,371 —
641–643 642 12 221.00–226.00 $224.33 $1,440 —
660 660 15 239.50 $239.50 $1,581 —

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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.