Cattle Market Pulse

Mitchell Livestock Auction Market Report

Mitchell, South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, August 8, 2024

1,398 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $222.07/cwt -13.93 vs last sale · ≈ $2,176/hd at 980 lb · 147 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $211.78/cwt -8.66 vs last sale · ≈ $1,973/hd at 932 lb · 136 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $212.39/cwt -7.86 vs last sale · ≈ $2,035/hd at 958 lb · 96 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,398 612 1,497
Feeder cattle 1,398 612 1,497

Compared to last week: Due to low numbers last week trend not applicable. A lower undertone was noted. Steers 1050-1100 lbs. sold 10.00 lower. Also a lower undertone was noted on light heifers, heifers 900-1000 lbs. sold 7.00 lower. Demand was good. Most were in large load lots today. The next feeder cattle auction will be Aug. 15th, starting at 10:00 am. expecting 1500 head of feeders.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1027–1048 1038 169 215.25–220.60 $218.16 $2,265
1053–1083 1075 396 213.25–221.60 $219.38 $2,358 -9.99
1112–1139 1130 170 209.25–210.50 $209.66 $2,369
1181 1181 91 209.50 $209.50 $2,474
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820 820 4 244.00 $244.00 $2,001
903 903 50 228.00 $228.00 $2,059 -11.00
952–986 980 147 221.00–227.50 $222.07 $2,176 -13.93

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
780 780 80 229.75 $229.75 $1,792 -25.75
928–936 930 28 207.75–209.00 $208.02 $1,935 -12.42
926–937 932 108 212.50–213.00 $212.75 $1,983 -7.69
952–974 958 96 204.00–215.75 $212.39 $2,035 -7.86
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
482 482 6 260.00 $260.00 $1,253 -32.50
572 572 6 252.00 $252.00 $1,441
790 790 3 210.00 $210.00 $1,659 -18.00
925 925 6 204.00 $204.00 $1,887
953 953 3 202.00 $202.00 $1,925

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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.