Cattle Market Pulse

Mitchell Livestock Auction Market Report

Mitchell, South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, March 16, 2023

2,819 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $178.97/cwt +0.54 vs last sale · ≈ $1,568/hd at 876 lb · 296 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $166.77/cwt -6.05 vs last sale · ≈ $1,526/hd at 915 lb · 255 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $173.01/cwt -1.29 vs last sale · ≈ $1,400/hd at 809 lb · 242 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,819 5,446 6,559
Feeder cattle 2,819 5,446 6,559

Compared to last week: A lighter offering of feeder cattle this week due to the winter storm that is moving across the region and making for difficult travel conditions. In narrow comparisons, feeder steers 700-850 lbs 2.00-4.00 lower, 850-900 lbs and 1000-1050 lbs steady. Feeder heifers 2.00 to 5.00 lower. Demand remains good, yet the rough winter weather is affecting the market. A few large load lots in today's offering. The next feeder cattle auction will be Mar.23rd, expecting 4500 head of feeders, starting at 8:30 am.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
447 447 47 250.50 $250.50 $1,120
492 492 3 248.00 $248.00 $1,220 -4.87
524–537 528 15 230.00–248.00 $241.90 $1,277 +0.84
557 557 100 238.50 $238.50 $1,328 -1.50
601–621 615 140 210.00–222.50 $219.01 $1,347 +4.44
622 622 5 185.00 $185.00 $1,151 -29.57
672–697 684 66 203.50–210.00 $207.99 $1,423 -9.60
722–745 731 205 195.00–204.00 $202.52 $1,480 -2.80
758–789 772 166 190.00–196.00 $193.11 $1,491 +4.01
829 829 78 182.25 $182.25 $1,511 -2.02
856–895 876 296 172.00–182.00 $178.97 $1,568 +0.33
990 990 80 180.35 $180.35 $1,785 +17.35
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1040 1020 105 172.50–172.85 $172.67 $1,761 +0.15
1071–1080 1074 79 167.75–168.10 $168.00 $1,804 +2.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
484–498 490 20 206.50–228.00 $219.25 $1,074
508 508 9 225.00 $225.00 $1,143 -1.50
591 591 53 210.00 $210.00 $1,241 -7.00
655–681 660 25 170.00–187.00 $183.49 $1,211 -17.00
924 924 6 173.50 $173.50 $1,603 +13.50
957 957 30 173.60 $173.60 $1,661 +6.60

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
582–589 584 82 194.00–198.50 $195.27 $1,140 -6.28
639–642 640 31 184.50–186.00 $184.94 $1,184 -9.07
665 665 57 185.00 $185.00 $1,230 -11.36
702–721 709 167 172.50–177.00 $175.64 $1,245 -8.76
751–792 773 40 171.50–174.00 $172.81 $1,336 -3.85
788 788 23 165.00 $165.00 $1,300 -11.66
800–816 809 242 168.50–176.75 $173.01 $1,400 +8.01
858–874 866 135 161.75–167.75 $166.18 $1,439 -3.81
902–929 915 255 166.00–167.85 $166.77 $1,526 -6.05
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
461–497 481 18 201.00–209.00 $204.39 $983 -3.96
575–585 576 42 182.00–188.00 $182.58 $1,052 -1.92
626 626 4 157.00 $157.00 $983 -21.79
680–694 687 54 177.50–181.00 $179.15 $1,231 +5.55
702–746 728 10 170.00 $170.00 $1,238
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1042 1042 6 158.00 $158.00 $1,646 +4.25

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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.