Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 9, 2020

54,965 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $165.42/cwt +1.30 vs last sale · ≈ $870/hd at 526 lb · 7,694 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $160.38/cwt +1.67 vs last sale · ≈ $917/hd at 572 lb · 5,290 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $156.81/cwt +3.53 vs last sale · ≈ $973/hd at 620 lb · 4,438 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 54,965 48,054 44,832
Feeder cattle 52,996 45,615 40,071
Slaughter cattle 1,969 2,439 4,761

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves 1.00 to 3.00 higher, heifer calves steady to 4.00 higher. Yearling feeder steers steady to 3.00 higher, yearling heifers 3.00 to 5.00 higher, instances to 6.00 higher. Good demand for steer and heifer calves this week after the strong run-up in the CME Live Cattle futures. Farmer feeders have about finished their fall field work and have the time now to receive and start calves on feed. Feed supplies are plentiful, however CME Corn futures are at 4.00 and higher which is pushing projected costs of gain higher. The western SD calves that are coming to auction are in light flesh this year after a droughty summer, and then an early start to winter, that has resulted in calves being about 50 lbs lighter than normal. This has made those calves really attractive to cattle feeders as they carry a lot of compensatory gain. Much lighter offering of calves East River as cattle producers there have more feedstuffs available and the ability to wean and background. Very good demand for the strings of yearlings offered this week, especially the heifers that were straight off grass. Very few of these green yearlings left, the market is very active as there is great competition to buy them. The market is still active for the heavier fleshed feedyard backgrounded yearlings as cattle feeders want to have fat cattle ready for the late winter/early spring markets. Very large auction receipts expected next week, mostly calves. Slaughter cows 2.00 to 3.00 lower, except Breaker cows 3.00 higher. Bulls 2.00 lower.

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
275–295 290 39 170.00–198.00 $191.19 $554 -1.96
315–349 334 130 173.00–200.00 $184.25 $615 +3.01
355–373 365 9 151.00–181.00 $163.97 $598 -25.88
352–398 382 783 167.00–204.00 $191.98 $733 +2.13
401 401 82 204.00 $204.00 $818 +23.30
405 thin fleshed 405 16 203.50 $203.50 $824 —
427 427 27 168.00 $168.00 $717 -12.70
400–449 429 2,296 163.00–195.00 $182.44 $783 +1.74
460 thin fleshed 460 9 188.00 $188.00 $865 +8.08
450–499 477 3,471 154.00–186.50 $175.00 $835 +2.64
456–492 484 43 146.00–155.50 $149.53 $724 -13.47
512 thin fleshed 512 106 178.00 $178.00 $911 —
500–549 526 7,544 147.00–180.00 $165.30 $869 +1.15
501–540 536 44 149.00–157.25 $156.55 $839 -7.60
550–598 572 5,284 141.00–169.00 $160.40 $917 +1.60
598 598 6 145.00 $145.00 $867 -9.65
600–649 620 4,399 140.00–165.25 $156.92 $973 +3.51
649 649 39 144.00 $144.00 $935 +7.30
650–689 668 1,640 138.00–160.00 $151.85 $1,014 -0.23
685 685 9 134.50 $134.50 $921 -17.58
700–745 724 693 139.00–152.25 $146.71 $1,062 -1.33
731 unweaned 731 8 135.50 $135.50 $991 —
751–791 773 390 133.50–152.00 $145.45 $1,124 +5.10
806–833 825 603 137.00–146.00 $144.33 $1,191 +2.50
831 831 26 137.00 $137.00 $1,138 -4.83
852–898 879 645 127.00–146.00 $139.94 $1,230 +2.50
902–949 935 360 136.50–146.10 $142.12 $1,329 +13.31
958 958 6 122.00 $122.00 $1,169 -12.30
952–997 971 1,081 124.00–141.75 $137.57 $1,336 +3.27
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
407 407 19 175.00 $175.00 $712 —
528 528 11 156.00 $156.00 $824 +3.14
1004–1041 1020 909 126.75–136.50 $134.04 $1,367 +4.22
1051–1078 1068 294 126.50–134.75 $130.74 $1,396 +1.01
1144 1144 63 122.25 $122.25 $1,399 +3.86
1161 1161 55 126.75 $126.75 $1,472 +12.01
1230 1230 13 110.00 $110.00 $1,353 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1434–1487 1452 15 104.00–105.50 $104.51 $1,517 -0.83
1447–1491 1471 180 106.25–107.75 $106.88 $1,572 +1.54
1485 1485 13 104.00 $104.00 $1,544 -1.34
1545 1545 7 103.00 $103.00 $1,591 —
1508–1589 1549 279 105.50–108.75 $107.39 $1,663 —
1608–1655 1627 502 106.00–109.00 $107.23 $1,745 +5.36
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
224 224 6 225.00 $225.00 $504 —
264–294 280 15 180.00–181.00 $180.56 $506 -9.44
319–348 338 91 149.00–191.00 $165.40 $559 -13.60
352–395 374 97 155.00–185.00 $172.85 $646 +17.16
407–449 433 59 156.00–177.00 $161.61 $700 +20.61
466–498 493 115 145.00–169.50 $157.50 $776 +9.60
502–535 518 112 145.00–162.00 $150.11 $778 +7.86
558–584 579 30 144.50–160.50 $157.41 $911 +17.43
620–646 633 18 137.50–146.50 $142.09 $899 +11.90
690 690 14 126.50 $126.50 $873 -6.50
703–723 715 15 133.50–138.00 $136.23 $974 —
774 774 12 134.00 $134.00 $1,037 +12.56
822 822 8 121.50 $121.50 $999 -3.96
823 823 8 110.50 $110.50 $909 -14.96
870 870 7 131.50 $131.50 $1,144 +10.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
789 789 14 123.00 $123.00 $970 -5.00
867 867 10 105.00 $105.00 $910 —
965 965 60 117.50 $117.50 $1,134 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285–297 290 53 134.00–171.00 $147.84 $429 -26.65
303–349 331 232 140.00–183.00 $158.20 $524 +4.96
350–399 382 1,093 137.00–175.00 $160.47 $613 +16.07
400–449 426 1,568 138.00–172.00 $156.79 $668 +4.03
413–445 435 49 141.00–149.00 $146.52 $637 -2.48
450–497 476 3,130 130.00–160.50 $153.13 $729 +3.42
475–494 483 404 166.00–176.00 $172.05 $831 +7.05
495 495 7 139.00 $139.00 $688 -26.00
500–549 524 2,819 134.00–156.00 $148.13 $776 -0.33
505–538 524 447 157.50–174.00 $164.54 $862 +16.08
529–546 541 31 130.00–137.50 $132.86 $719 +25.86
555 555 30 152.25 $152.25 $845 +9.74
550–599 576 1,981 130.50–153.00 $143.80 $828 -8.32
564–585 577 366 150.00–173.00 $162.46 $937 +10.34
590 590 14 131.00 $131.00 $773 -21.12
600 600 104 164.50 $164.50 $987 +42.00
601–645 625 824 130.50–146.00 $137.54 $860 -0.48
650–690 664 395 124.50–143.00 $137.86 $915 +4.12
674–690 686 21 115.00–120.00 $116.17 $797 -17.57
700–734 714 300 124.50–144.00 $135.75 $969 +10.50
750–779 762 550 125.50–145.00 $138.00 $1,052 +19.00
820 820 12 125.00 $125.00 $1,025 ±0.00
810–846 830 841 126.50–142.00 $134.63 $1,117 +3.13
850–899 871 1,616 122.50–139.50 $133.61 $1,164 +4.52
896 896 5 123.25 $123.25 $1,104 -5.84
900–941 911 288 123.00–139.00 $130.43 $1,188 +15.03
950–998 971 539 120.00–135.00 $131.12 $1,273 +6.99
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
293–294 293 19 158.00–160.00 $158.84 $465 -6.26
303–333 320 35 160.00–169.00 $162.78 $521 +13.41
351–395 372 104 124.00–155.50 $143.25 $533 -1.81
422–445 429 68 126.00–153.00 $145.41 $624 +6.64
456–498 475 40 133.00–143.00 $140.17 $666 +8.63
504–536 517 64 123.00–140.00 $136.17 $704 -0.02
589 589 9 126.00 $126.00 $742 —
611 611 12 132.00 $132.00 $807 +10.00
652–685 673 8 126.50–133.50 $129.04 $868 +7.04
676 thin fleshed 676 28 138.50 $138.50 $936 —
724 724 14 134.00 $134.00 $970 +19.00
783 783 8 132.00 $132.00 $1,034 +13.00
852–891 868 57 116.50–131.25 $129.55 $1,124 +8.55
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1280 1280 6 102.00 $102.00 $1,306 —
1280–1466 1369 324 103.50–107.75 $104.69 $1,433 —
1356–1438 1405 109 101.50–103.60 $102.71 $1,443 -1.62
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
447 447 15 152.50 $152.50 $682 —
492 492 6 142.00 $142.00 $699 +2.00
1003–1032 1017 130 120.00–130.00 $126.05 $1,282 +12.05
1052–1078 1070 52 116.00–123.50 $118.02 $1,263 -0.54
1107–1135 1110 60 114.50–122.50 $121.55 $1,349 +9.80
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
921 921 48 109.50 $109.50 $1,008 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
363 363 11 133.00 $133.00 $483 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
333 333 7 165.00 $165.00 $549 —
384 384 13 168.50 $168.50 $647 —
508 508 35 147.00 $147.00 $747 -4.00

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320–2125 1499 75-80% 40 48.00–60.00 $54.00 $809 —
1271–1795 1533 75-80% 95 58.00–69.00 $64.52 $989 +11.98
1465–1597 1553 75-80% 5 69.00–71.00 $70.43 $1,094 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1162–1395 1220 80-85% 4 61.00–62.50 $62.07 $757 —
1160–1695 1356 80-85% 50 49.00–59.00 $52.90 $717 —
1245–1681 1491 80-85% 15 46.00–52.00 $47.48 $708 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1130–1335 1208 85-90% 22 34.00–52.00 $42.42 $512 +1.17
1040–1780 1243 85-90% 34 43.50–53.00 $46.92 $583 -2.03
1280–1355 1340 85-90% 5 52.50–55.00 $54.52 $731 —
1397 1397 85-90% 3 35.00 $35.00 $489 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1459–1860 1582 65-75% 19 70.00–76.50 $71.61 $1,133 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1500–1905 1654 14 67.00–76.00 $72.09 $1,192 —
1545–2175 1828 18 74.00–83.00 $77.37 $1,414 —
YG3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2500 2500 1 71.00 $71.00 $1,775 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1470–1542 1494 29 90.00–93.50 $91.10 $1,361 —

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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.