Cattle Market Pulse

Mitchell Livestock Auction Market Report

Mitchell, South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, August 3, 2023

1,995 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $221.71/cwt +11.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,946/hd at 878 lb · 345 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $216.77/cwt +2.52 vs last sale · ≈ $1,987/hd at 917 lb · 284 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $241.89/cwt ≈ $2,126/hd at 879 lb · 210 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,995 1,265 2,361
Feeder cattle 1,995 1,265 2,361

Compared to last week: Few comparable weights of steers and heifers, as this week had nearly twice as many offered as last week, instances of 4.00 to 8.00 higher on steers and 5.00 higher on heifers. Very good demand for this nice offering of yearling steers and heifers, many full loads and multiple load lots. The market was very active, especially so on the steers as the quality was high and the flesh was light and attractive. The heifers were more uneven in their flesh condition, as there were more carrying a moderate plus to even heavy flesh condition. Weighing condition was favorable for buyers as the weather has been hot and muggy. Next week's sale will start at 9:30 am with 2,000 feeder cattle expected.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
568 568 6 276.00 $276.00 $1,568
695 695 12 267.50 $267.50 $1,859
799 799 16 251.00 $251.00 $2,005
828 828 33 246.50 $246.50 $2,041 +18.50
860–892 879 210 233.50–243.50 $241.89 $2,126
913 913 64 237.75 $237.75 $2,171 +3.34
982 982 132 237.50 $237.50 $2,332 +8.25
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1019 1019 12 209.50 $209.50 $2,135 -18.68
1063–1098 1079 324 235.00–237.10 $236.39 $2,551 +6.89
1183 1183 14 205.00 $205.00 $2,425
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1007 1007 57 208.00 $208.00 $2,095
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
618 618 8 245.00 $245.00 $1,514
840 840 31 206.00 $206.00 $1,730
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1003 1003 7 219.50 $219.50 $2,202
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
468 468 5 281.00 $281.00 $1,315

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 548 5 244.00 $244.00 $1,337
582 582 4 252.00 $252.00 $1,467
655–677 666 60 243.50–247.50 $245.53 $1,635
714–749 735 32 234.00–240.75 $236.66 $1,739
795 795 33 234.50 $234.50 $1,864 +8.87
817 817 12 232.50 $232.50 $1,900
822–834 828 100 228.00 $228.00 $1,888
865–888 874 162 217.35–219.00 $218.13 $1,906 +7.63
873–894 881 183 223.50–225.50 $224.88 $1,981 +14.38
903–912 907 171 216.00–219.10 $217.68 $1,974 +3.43
918–941 931 113 214.75–216.25 $215.39 $2,005 +1.14
963–997 983 42 216.00–216.25 $216.15 $2,125
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
531 thin fleshed 531 7 269.00 $269.00 $1,428
572 572 9 231.00 $231.00 $1,321
765 765 26 230.00 $230.00 $1,760
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1079 1079 7 206.50 $206.50 $2,228 +8.50

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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.