Cattle Market Pulse

Mitchell Livestock Auction Market Report

Mitchell, South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, October 8, 2026

1,150 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $241.90/cwt ≈ $2,269/hd at 938 lb · 38 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $310.00/cwt ≈ $2,582/hd at 833 lb · 30 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $288.00/cwt ≈ $2,756/hd at 957 lb · 20 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,150 1,000 0
Feeder cattle 1,150 1,000 0

Compared to two weeks a ago: Very few light feeders, trend not applicable. Heavy steers over 1000 lbs. were 9.00 lower. Many large load lots in heavy steers. Very few heifers in todays auction trend not applicable. Demand was good. NO SALE next week Oct. 15th, next feeder cattle auction will be Oct 22nd. , expecting 3000-3500 head of feeders, yearlings first then lighter calves, starting at 10:00 am.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1047 1047 50 284.50 $284.50 $2,979 -24.25
1069 1069 35 274.50 $274.50 $2,934 -15.87
1101–1140 1121 183 261.00–279.25 $274.53 $3,077 -9.82
1150–1163 1158 259 268.50–279.25 $272.62 $3,157 —
1222–1246 1238 265 268.50–270.25 $269.15 $3,332 —
1266 1266 52 264.00 $264.00 $3,342 —
1329 1329 7 222.50 $222.50 $2,957 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
676 676 10 357.50 $357.50 $2,417 —
840–842 841 11 301.00–331.00 $317.38 $2,669 —
901–944 938 38 240.00–255.00 $241.90 $2,269 —
957 957 20 288.00 $288.00 $2,756 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
267 267 5 530.00 $530.00 $1,415 —
306 306 7 525.00 $525.00 $1,606 —
397 397 9 495.00 $495.00 $1,965 —
466 466 5 480.00 $480.00 $2,237 —
672 672 9 381.00 $381.00 $2,560 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1022 1022 13 235.00 $235.00 $2,402 —

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
269 269 5 420.00 $420.00 $1,130 —
384 384 9 410.00 $410.00 $1,574 —
534–535 535 9 344.00–347.00 $345.33 $1,848 —
682 682 12 337.00 $337.00 $2,298 +4.50
833 833 30 310.00 $310.00 $2,582 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
591 591 8 329.00 $329.00 $1,944 —
720 720 12 324.00 $324.00 $2,333 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1244 1244 6 230.50 $230.50 $2,867 —

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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.