Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 19, 2020

44,294 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary report →

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $154.14/cwt -6.18 vs last sale · ≈ $891/hd at 578 lb · 4,639 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $158.29/cwt -5.66 vs last sale · ≈ $829/hd at 524 lb · 3,341 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $138.30/cwt -0.53 vs last sale · ≈ $1,283/hd at 928 lb · 2,767 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 44,294 37,529 44,496
Feeder cattle 42,561 35,408 42,566
Slaughter cattle 1,733 2,121 1,930

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves 5.00 to 10.00 lower, heifer calves 4.00 to 7.00 lower with instances to 10.00 lower. Yearling feeder steers 2.00 to 3.00 lower with a few instances of steady, yearling feeder heifers 4.00 to 7.00 lower. Moderate demand for spring born calves this week, a large winter storm moved through the area at midweek which dramatically curtailed consignments of calves. The market has been under pressure as the CME Live Cattle contracts have moved lower and feed cost have risen. Calf buyers struggled greatly with profitability last year as many faced very large losses, this fact weighs heavy on every cattle feeders’ mind. Yearlings steers and heifers fared better than the calves as the supply is so much more limited than the calves, that are just now starting to move in great numbers. Cattle feeders want to place yearlings on feed but with the futures contracts painting such a bleak picture there is great concern that the winter and spring fat cattle markets could greatly disappoint. Slaughter cows unevenly steady, bulls steady.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 5 192.00 $192.00 $470 —
314–348 326 62 172.50–208.00 $191.59 $625 +21.59
355–399 381 515 164.00–199.00 $187.86 $716 -8.03
401–449 433 1,142 153.50–189.00 $174.59 $756 -7.40
452 452 7 157.00 $157.00 $710 -4.00
464 464 9 157.00 $157.00 $728 -4.00
450–499 478 2,492 148.00–181.50 $168.37 $805 -4.64
500–548 524 3,341 134.75–172.00 $158.29 $829 -5.77
550–598 578 4,623 140.00–162.50 $154.21 $891 -6.03
563–598 583 16 120.00–142.50 $132.99 $775 -27.25
608 608 5 137.00 $137.00 $833 -20.76
600–647 617 2,137 135.75–165.50 $150.92 $931 -6.84
650–699 672 898 136.00–152.25 $146.48 $984 +11.24
704–730 711 20 131.00–136.50 $135.09 $960 -1.77
707–741 728 381 138.00–150.25 $145.51 $1,059 -5.84
753–796 770 427 134.50–152.00 $144.15 $1,110 -3.28
800–848 826 598 132.00–151.50 $142.28 $1,175 -0.77
850–898 879 969 130.00–145.25 $137.17 $1,206 -4.60
898 898 46 129.85 $129.85 $1,166 -11.92
900–949 928 2,661 127.00–146.25 $138.63 $1,286 -0.20
928–929 929 106 128.85–131.50 $129.95 $1,207 -8.88
951–990 968 2,112 125.25–143.25 $135.90 $1,316 +6.90
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
428 428 6 169.00 $169.00 $723 —
547 547 27 147.75 $147.75 $808 -7.25
556–584 573 70 141.00–145.00 $143.06 $820 —
602–618 609 22 138.00–139.50 $138.88 $846 -7.12
1003–1047 1029 1,839 127.00–138.50 $134.69 $1,386 -0.44
1050–1094 1068 771 122.75–132.25 $127.27 $1,359 —
1137–1142 1141 33 115.00–121.50 $119.73 $1,366 —
1204 1204 19 118.25 $118.25 $1,424 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1212–1441 1322 43 100.00–105.00 $103.53 $1,369 —
1444 1444 7 100.00 $100.00 $1,444 —
1405–1488 1452 329 101.50–105.00 $102.79 $1,493 -1.92
1506–1580 1540 313 100.50–104.00 $102.25 $1,575 -2.24
1600–1687 1648 211 98.00–102.50 $100.36 $1,654 -2.71
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
258–259 259 19 193.00–213.00 $200.35 $519 —
332 332 5 173.00 $173.00 $574 -1.22
357–358 357 16 175.00–176.00 $175.44 $626 +14.62
411–447 429 102 140.00–163.50 $150.77 $647 -13.26
458–499 476 74 140.00–154.75 $151.41 $721 -3.61
505–545 537 128 126.00–151.00 $145.14 $779 -4.81
551–598 571 291 137.25–147.00 $144.18 $823 -0.97
606–615 611 16 132.00–137.00 $134.48 $822 -20.28
655–673 668 25 129.50–130.50 $130.23 $870 -9.43
756–770 761 28 129.00–138.00 $134.75 $1,025 -6.31
824–836 827 35 128.00–135.00 $133.17 $1,101 -6.03
882 882 13 124.75 $124.75 $1,100 -6.43
919–941 929 83 117.00–132.75 $127.19 $1,182 +14.19
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 42 117.50 $117.50 $570 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403 403 15 126.00 $126.00 $508 —
475 475 7 132.00 $132.00 $627 ±0.00
598 598 15 121.00 $121.00 $724 -5.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 22 142.00 $142.00 $689 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
301–349 328 143 150.00–174.00 $164.66 $540 -1.58
350–399 381 591 136.00–175.00 $156.46 $596 -0.90
393 393 8 144.50 $144.50 $568 -12.86
400–449 429 890 132.00–158.50 $149.78 $643 -5.68
450–499 473 1,927 135.50–158.50 $144.99 $686 -6.56
521 521 25 136.00 $136.00 $709 -10.23
500–549 529 2,239 130.50–158.00 $142.46 $754 -3.77
500–543 534 274 151.00–165.00 $153.92 $822 +7.69
546 546 9 132.00 $132.00 $721 -14.23
552–596 567 847 124.50–144.00 $134.98 $765 -7.38
550–580 575 106 153.00–156.50 $153.50 $883 +11.14
586 586 5 131.00 $131.00 $768 ±0.00
603–642 617 414 125.50–142.50 $135.28 $835 -4.67
610–635 620 96 149.00–155.00 $152.50 $946 +12.55
642 642 15 131.00 $131.00 $841 +2.00
652 652 19 135.50 $135.50 $883 -4.49
651–697 674 556 127.50–145.50 $135.02 $910 -4.97
702–749 721 514 129.85–141.00 $136.21 $982 -3.86
770 770 31 125.00 $125.00 $962 -16.05
773 773 40 122.00 $122.00 $943 -19.05
751–798 782 448 129.50–141.25 $135.95 $1,063 -5.10
800–849 820 862 122.00–139.75 $133.04 $1,091 -3.73
844 844 15 124.00 $124.00 $1,047 -12.77
851–898 871 899 118.00–136.00 $129.27 $1,126 -7.37
902–949 922 1,040 122.50–134.00 $128.29 $1,183 -4.58
948 948 30 114.50 $114.50 $1,085 -8.50
950–982 964 285 119.25–128.50 $123.89 $1,194 +22.39
967–991 981 473 131.25–134.25 $133.12 $1,306 +1.16
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
269–283 276 18 162.00–180.00 $170.77 $471 —
322–330 324 15 135.00–147.50 $137.55 $446 -18.15
370–394 380 32 132.25–150.00 $142.06 $540 —
405–440 421 79 132.00–145.00 $137.87 $580 -4.92
458–493 475 80 124.00–137.00 $133.44 $634 -1.87
504–537 520 137 126.00–135.50 $131.44 $683 -7.56
559–592 584 38 132.00–132.50 $132.39 $773 -11.92
623–646 637 8 126.50–128.00 $127.05 $809 -4.62
687–692 690 24 126.75–131.00 $128.34 $886 -12.16
706–724 714 43 121.00–132.00 $130.52 $932 +10.52
792 792 13 130.00 $130.00 $1,030 +9.04
807 807 15 125.50 $125.50 $1,013 +1.20
875 875 12 116.00 $116.00 $1,015 —
900 900 4 119.00 $119.00 $1,071 +9.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
421 421 5 141.00 $141.00 $594 —
462 462 13 141.50 $141.50 $654 —
1005–1040 1034 222 114.50–129.00 $117.29 $1,213 +1.29
1034 1034 4 101.00 $101.00 $1,044 -15.00
1056–1093 1062 83 109.25–115.50 $115.01 $1,221 -3.87
1178 1178 111 110.10 $110.10 $1,297 +4.10
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1299 1299 46 98.00 $98.00 $1,273 —
1318–1478 1368 274 99.00–103.50 $101.64 $1,390 -0.98
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
349 349 8 127.00 $127.00 $443 —
382 382 6 137.00 $137.00 $523 —
435 435 46 122.00 $122.00 $531 —
503 503 9 123.00 $123.00 $619 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985 985 5 111.00 $111.00 $1,093 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
447 447 13 152.00 $152.00 $679 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
685 685 10 124.00 $124.00 $849 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050–1440 1297 80-85% 9 63.00–65.00 $64.75 $840 —
1030–1600 1308 80-85% 26 54.00–61.00 $57.86 $757 +0.71
1205–1583 1427 80-85% 26 41.00–53.00 $50.66 $723 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
935–1390 1181 85-90% 18 36.00–46.00 $41.74 $493 +13.66
885–1395 1197 85-90% 17 46.00–54.00 $48.77 $584 +20.69
1150–1280 1234 85-90% 8 22.00–37.00 $31.47 $388 -15.25
1230–1283 1272 85-90% 5 59.00–60.00 $59.19 $753 +5.51
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1338–1673 1448 75-80% 23 63.00–68.00 $65.42 $947 —
1535–1898 1684 75-80% 22 51.00–61.00 $55.35 $932 —
1560–1925 1743 75-80% 2 69.00–74.00 $71.76 $1,251 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1639–1945 1702 65-75% 14 73.00–78.00 $74.54 $1,269 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1450–2045 1810 3 70.00–77.00 $72.87 $1,319 —
1430–2390 1830 15 78.00–87.00 $82.72 $1,514 —
1985–2155 2070 2 88.00–92.00 $90.08 $1,865 —
YG3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2290 2290 1 76.00 $76.00 $1,740 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1490–1671 1576 21 96.00–97.50 $96.76 $1,525 —

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Reading this report

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.