Cattle Market Mitchell Livestock Auction Market Report
Mitchell, South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock
Sale of Thursday, December 29, 20227,173 head sold ·Official USDA report
This is an archived report. See the latest Mitchell Livestock Auction report →
Receipts
| Head | This sale | Last sale | Last year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total receipts | 7,173 | 6,957 | 6,736 |
| Feeder cattle | 7,173 | 6,957 | 6,736 |
Market comments — USDA reporter
New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓
Feeder Steers
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 478–497 | 493 | 29 | 204.00–214.00 | $210.20 | $1,036 | -19.03 |
| 504–545 | 532 | 132 | 204.00–211.50 | $205.80 | $1,095 | -17.47 |
| 567–579 | 575 | 61 | 205.00–207.00 | $205.58 | $1,182 | -11.81 |
| 613–646 | 628 | 188 | 193.50–201.50 | $196.78 | $1,236 | +1.20 |
| 628 | 628 | 38 | 193.50 | $193.50 | $1,215 | -2.08 |
| 620–643 | 633 | 102 | 185.00–193.00 | $191.01 | $1,209 | -4.57 |
| 652–693 | 665 | 333 | 182.00–204.50 | $195.98 | $1,303 | -0.32 |
| 680 | 680 | 10 | 175.00 | $175.00 | $1,190 | -21.30 |
| 718 | 718 | 23 | 184.00 | $184.00 | $1,321 | +1.07 |
| 700–747 | 725 | 479 | 185.00–200.25 | $193.55 | $1,403 | +10.62 |
| 747–748 | 747 | 37 | 180.00–184.00 | $183.35 | $1,370 | +8.09 |
| 752–788 | 774 | 63 | 171.50–177.00 | $173.99 | $1,347 | -13.01 |
| 751–796 | 779 | 555 | 176.75–188.75 | $181.94 | $1,417 | -5.06 |
| 806–835 | 824 | 318 | 180.00–186.50 | $183.24 | $1,510 | +13.24 |
| 853–891 | 865 | 389 | 175.75–185.75 | $179.66 | $1,554 | +6.66 |
| 877–880 | 879 | 22 | 173.50–174.25 | $173.84 | $1,528 | -8.75 |
| 915–932 | 923 | 135 | 176.25–179.75 | $178.00 | $1,643 | -7.78 |
| 924–949 | 943 | 79 | 167.50–173.00 | $171.56 | $1,618 | -14.22 |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1006–1042 | 1034 | 290 | 172.25–174.75 | $173.55 | $1,795 | -1.95 |
| 1043 | 1043 | 20 | 166.50 | $166.50 | $1,737 | -9.00 |
| 1087–1094 | 1091 | 135 | 169.00–175.10 | $171.88 | $1,875 | -4.12 |
| 1137 | 1137 | 52 | 173.75 | $173.75 | $1,976 | +8.88 |
| 1150–1162 | 1156 | 311 | 174.00–174.25 | $174.08 | $2,012 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 384 | 384 | 7 | 229.00 | $229.00 | $879 | +19.00 |
| 420 | 420 | 8 | 209.00 | $209.00 | $878 | — |
| 514–530 | 524 | 20 | 203.00–208.00 | $204.72 | $1,073 | +26.72 |
| 575 | 575 | 19 | 198.00 | $198.00 | $1,138 | -3.64 |
| 608–631 | 611 | 85 | 190.50–192.50 | $190.74 | $1,165 | +34.83 |
| 678–697 | 684 | 22 | 175.00–176.00 | $175.68 | $1,202 | +11.07 |
| 810 | 810 | 23 | 176.25 | $176.25 | $1,428 | +9.25 |
| 921 | 921 | 14 | 166.00 | $166.00 | $1,529 | +0.68 |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | 1100 | 64 | 153.50 | $153.50 | $1,688 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 832 | 832 | 29 | 169.50 | $169.50 | $1,410 | — |
| 886 | 886 | 11 | 162.50 | $162.50 | $1,440 | — |
Feeder Heifers
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 466–499 | 480 | 16 | 174.50–186.00 | $180.77 | $868 | -24.12 |
| 486–489 | 488 | 21 | 165.00–169.00 | $167.10 | $815 | -37.79 |
| 503–522 | 511 | 58 | 174.00–182.50 | $179.26 | $916 | -17.26 |
| 552–587 | 578 | 154 | 174.50–183.00 | $177.31 | $1,025 | -12.41 |
| 592 | 592 | 13 | 167.00 | $167.00 | $989 | -22.72 |
| 602–618 | 609 | 33 | 169.50–171.00 | $170.35 | $1,037 | +3.85 |
| 602–647 | 614 | 357 | 170.50–180.00 | $174.77 | $1,073 | +8.27 |
| 656–667 | 660 | 56 | 164.00–170.00 | $167.76 | $1,107 | -7.06 |
| 654–672 | 664 | 16 | 170.00 | $170.00 | $1,129 | -4.82 |
| 650–696 | 675 | 544 | 170.00–177.25 | $175.07 | $1,182 | +23.07 |
| 701–744 | 712 | 187 | 167.50–173.25 | $170.75 | $1,216 | -0.25 |
| 712–730 | 723 | 33 | 165.00–170.50 | $166.97 | $1,207 | -8.52 |
| 751–791 | 764 | 232 | 167.50–174.00 | $170.42 | $1,302 | -1.60 |
| 809–815 | 813 | 142 | 167.00–169.50 | $168.80 | $1,372 | -2.25 |
| 850–890 | 871 | 189 | 163.25–168.00 | $165.16 | $1,439 | -2.57 |
| 904–944 | 931 | 137 | 163.25–165.75 | $164.95 | $1,536 | -8.47 |
| 932–942 | 934 | 238 | 165.85–170.10 | $166.91 | $1,559 | -6.51 |
| 986 | 986 | 57 | 163.75 | $163.75 | $1,615 | +12.75 |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 481 | 481 | 5 | 172.00 | $172.00 | $827 | — |
| 520 | 520 | 14 | 169.50 | $169.50 | $881 | -10.96 |
| 555 | 555 | 19 | 162.50 | $162.50 | $902 | — |
| 655–674 | 663 | 21 | 168.50–170.00 | $169.15 | $1,121 | — |
| 762–789 | 786 | 79 | 158.00–170.75 | $169.50 | $1,332 | +16.50 |
| 898 | 898 | 13 | 162.00 | $162.00 | $1,455 | — |
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 the last sale three weeks ago: Feeder steers under 600 lbs 5.00 to 10.00 lower, 600-850 lbs mostly steady, over 850 lbs steady to 2.00 lower with instances of 5.00 lower on 900-950 lbs. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 lower, over 600 lbs 2.00 to 5.00 lower. A very large offering this week after the auction being canceled for the last two weeks due to snow storms and -20 degree temps. Feeder cattle producers were anxious to get cattle shipped to town and sold as the extreme weather has created such difficult conditions for them to feed and care for their cattle. Flesh condition varied greatly, as did the market activity and was dependent fully on that flesh condition. Some consignments showed the full effects of the tough weather and looked a little rough, while those on higher energy rations were carrying plenty of flesh. Many long strings including full loads and multiple load lots, with a string of 630 head of yearling steers and a string of 675 head of calves. Next feeder cattle auction will be Jan. 5, 2023 expecting 6,000 feeders, then another sale will be held on Saturday Jan. 7, 2023 expecting 3,500.