Cattle Market Pulse

Mitchell Livestock Auction Market Report

Mitchell, South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, August 26, 2021

4,124 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $147.23/cwt +4.75 vs last sale · ≈ $1,284/hd at 872 lb · 522 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $146.99/cwt +10.23 vs last sale · ≈ $1,362/hd at 927 lb · 467 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $152.52/cwt -1.40 vs last sale · ≈ $1,478/hd at 969 lb · 406 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,124 4,866 1,072
Feeder cattle 4,124 4,866 1,072

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to two weeks ago: A lower undertone was noted on steers up to 800 lbs. Steers 800 lbs. and up were steady to 3.00 higher. Heifers 700 lbs. and up were steady to 4.00 higher. Demand was good with many large lots in todays offering. The next feeder cattle auction will be Sept. 2nd, expecting 3000 head of feeders, starting at 9:00 am.

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
516 516 4 185.50 $185.50 $957 —
564 564 8 183.00 $183.00 $1,032 —
606–623 619 91 166.85–176.75 $168.65 $1,044 +0.87
679 679 93 165.75 $165.75 $1,125 -5.03
710–715 712 125 160.75–164.00 $162.98 $1,160 -5.52
783–795 789 18 152.00–157.50 $154.77 $1,221 -7.23
812–832 816 233 157.00–162.00 $161.28 $1,316 +3.57
827 thin fleshed 827 86 165.10 $165.10 $1,365 -3.00
857–891 881 332 155.75–160.00 $157.60 $1,388 +0.45
882 882 61 144.10 $144.10 $1,271 -13.05
935–947 942 207 154.35–155.35 $154.75 $1,458 +0.79
957–992 969 406 147.00–154.75 $152.52 $1,478 +12.59
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1024–1042 1027 85 140.50–143.75 $142.95 $1,468 +2.44
1051–1078 1066 301 140.00–148.50 $143.58 $1,531 +1.54
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
596 596 22 158.00 $158.00 $942 -5.05
710 710 3 150.00 $150.00 $1,065 -8.00
762 762 6 139.00 $139.00 $1,059 —
885 885 4 134.00 $134.00 $1,186 -12.00
979 979 41 133.50 $133.50 $1,307 +9.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1112 1112 14 104.00 $104.00 $1,156 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
432 432 9 176.00 $176.00 $760 —
500–534 523 31 170.50–178.00 $172.81 $904 —
651–660 652 54 166.00–166.50 $166.47 $1,085 +10.06
706–748 737 197 153.00–157.25 $156.54 $1,154 +3.07
772–783 777 79 148.50–154.50 $153.17 $1,190 +0.36
800–845 828 309 146.00–157.00 $150.13 $1,243 +4.08
851–888 872 522 145.00–152.75 $147.23 $1,284 +4.75
910 thin fleshed 910 99 156.75 $156.75 $1,426 —
900–946 931 368 141.00–149.50 $144.36 $1,344 +7.60
957 957 54 145.10 $145.10 $1,389 +9.26
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
358 358 4 160.00 $160.00 $573 —
584 584 8 147.50 $147.50 $861 -6.51
743–744 743 17 125.00–144.50 $138.76 $1,031 —
769–770 769 8 142.50–149.00 $144.94 $1,115 +22.94
831 831 17 145.00 $145.00 $1,205 +11.48
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1008–1032 1016 53 133.00–140.50 $135.39 $1,376 +5.70
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1061–1090 1077 9 121.50–125.50 $123.25 $1,327 —

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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.