Cattle Market Pulse

Mitchell Livestock Auction Market Report

Mitchell, South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, May 16, 2024

1,256 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $221.86/cwt +11.07 vs last sale · ≈ $1,937/hd at 873 lb · 270 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $223.26/cwt +2.85 vs last sale · ≈ $2,179/hd at 976 lb · 143 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $216.67/cwt +5.63 vs last sale · ≈ $1,974/hd at 911 lb · 123 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,256 1,372 3,380
Feeder cattle 1,256 1,372 3,380

Compared to last week: Feeder steers 700-950 lbs. sold on a higher undertone, steers 950-1000 lbs. sold 2.00 higher. Feeder heifers 700-900 lbs. sold on unevenly steady undertone, heifers 900-950 lbs. sold 5.00 higher. Demand was good. A couple load lots today. Flesh determined prices today. The next feeder cattle auction will be May 23rd , expecting 1500 head of feeders, starting at 10:00 am.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
634 634 6 307.00 $307.00 $1,946
773 773 5 250.00 $250.00 $1,932 +7.26
811 811 54 254.50 $254.50 $2,064
834 834 24 238.50 $238.50 $1,989
871–880 874 42 239.50–245.00 $243.02 $2,124 -0.09
916–937 923 82 225.50–236.00 $232.36 $2,145 +6.86
952–988 976 143 220.00–224.25 $223.26 $2,179 +2.85
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1031–1038 1037 75 221.50–221.75 $221.53 $2,297
1114 1114 36 214.75 $214.75 $2,392
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
567 567 6 272.50 $272.50 $1,545
614–636 629 12 251.00–261.00 $257.74 $1,621
697 697 5 240.00 $240.00 $1,673
710–744 718 17 244.00–260.00 $256.10 $1,839 +4.10
822 822 3 233.00 $233.00 $1,915 +1.00
854 854 15 230.00 $230.00 $1,964
921 921 4 190.00 $190.00 $1,750
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1018 1018 4 184.00 $184.00 $1,873

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
668–676 673 9 259.00–263.00 $260.32 $1,752
704 704 10 250.00 $250.00 $1,760 -4.63
751 751 91 240.00 $240.00 $1,802 -3.00
839 839 58 239.00 $239.00 $2,005 +12.49
851–896 873 270 215.00–226.50 $221.86 $1,937 +11.23
901–917 911 123 210.00–221.75 $216.67 $1,974 +5.63
985 985 15 207.25 $207.25 $2,041
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
692 692 3 200.00 $200.00 $1,384
790 790 10 239.50 $239.50 $1,892
802 802 13 219.00 $219.00 $1,756
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1039 1039 25 207.10 $207.10 $2,152
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
560 560 9 210.00 $210.00 $1,176

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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.