Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 7, 2020

41,155 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 $164.19/cwt +1.01 vs last sale · ≈ $947/hd at 577 lb · 2,770 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $159.51/cwt +2.71 vs last sale · ≈ $991/hd at 621 lb · 2,541 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $174.92/cwt +2.49 vs last sale · ≈ $923/hd at 528 lb · 2,436 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 41,155 25,171 49,217
Feeder cattle 38,758 23,056 46,822
Slaughter cattle 2,397 2,115 2,395

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves steady to 2.00 higher, instances to 5.00 higher on 450-500 lbs, heifer calves steady to 3.00 higher. Yearling feeder steers 2.00 to 4.00 lower, yearling heifers 3.00 to 5.00 lower, instances to 10.00 lower on 900-950 lbs. Good demand remains for steer and heifer calves but concern is building as the futures contracts falter and corn prices much higher than last year. The calves are very eye appealing as the mild, dry weather continues which is allowing cattle to stay clean and bloomy. Quite a few weaned calves in the offering, but still a good amount of calves coming right off the cow as the open weather has allowed cattle to remain turned out and grazing corn stalk fields. Good demand for yearlings, as supply is limited, but there was much pressure on the market as the cash fed cattle market moved lower and the futures contracts remain lower than projected breakeven prices. Slaughter cows 1.00 to 4.00 lower, bulls 2.00 higher.

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
271–298 291 15 187.50–230.00 $198.06 $576 —
319–341 330 94 178.00–212.50 $190.14 $627 -0.86
351–398 380 312 178.00–210.00 $192.73 $732 +1.93
404–449 432 1,197 177.00–206.00 $190.82 $824 -1.62
465–480 475 20 172.00 $172.00 $817 +11.00
476 476 84 189.50 $189.50 $902 +28.50
452–499 481 1,468 163.00–191.00 $181.53 $873 +20.53
515 fancy 515 46 191.50 $191.50 $986 —
527 527 10 150.00 $150.00 $790 -15.00
500–549 528 2,380 163.00–184.50 $174.70 $922 +9.70
562–584 573 18 150.00–153.50 $151.78 $870 -11.54
550–598 577 2,752 146.00–172.00 $164.27 $948 +0.95
600–648 621 2,480 146.00–168.75 $159.74 $992 +2.32
604–649 623 61 149.00–151.50 $150.24 $936 -7.18
657–693 673 103 136.00–147.00 $141.58 $953 -9.60
650–699 674 1,267 139.50–164.00 $151.27 $1,020 +0.09
700–747 723 829 135.00–153.50 $146.46 $1,059 +1.65
724–743 727 45 135.00–138.50 $137.37 $999 +0.87
719–737 thin fleshed 728 140 159.00 $159.00 $1,158 —
750–797 772 586 131.00–147.25 $137.94 $1,065 -1.05
766–786 775 28 132.00–135.00 $133.59 $1,035 -5.40
801–848 823 380 130.00–143.00 $136.93 $1,127 +7.15
837–845 838 36 126.00–130.00 $129.66 $1,087 -0.12
858 858 41 133.00 $133.00 $1,141 -6.34
859 859 15 135.50 $135.50 $1,164 -3.84
852–894 872 1,226 134.00–142.00 $136.87 $1,194 -2.47
906–949 926 1,710 129.50–143.50 $138.99 $1,287 -1.20
950–996 977 2,070 128.35–140.00 $135.64 $1,325 -2.67
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1007–1040 1024 547 123.60–139.50 $133.52 $1,367 -2.63
1016–1046 1038 359 126.00–128.00 $126.85 $1,317 -9.30
1055–1092 1070 491 122.00–134.75 $130.67 $1,398 -5.08
1102–1108 1106 226 119.00–133.75 $129.63 $1,434 +1.10
1150–1151 1150 91 112.75–132.00 $130.09 $1,496 +4.20
1264 1264 27 111.25 $111.25 $1,406 —
1367 1367 30 109.50 $109.50 $1,497 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1083 1083 5 115.00 $115.00 $1,245 —
1179–1292 1210 51 106.50–115.00 $112.48 $1,361 —
1221–1394 1356 120 102.00–110.25 $106.47 $1,444 -4.54
1388 1388 39 98.00 $98.00 $1,360 -13.01
1406–1427 1414 41 102.50–105.50 $103.52 $1,464 -2.59
1404–1479 1442 178 102.00–105.25 $103.31 $1,490 -2.80
1512–1580 1535 105 98.00–99.50 $98.96 $1,519 -8.29
1503–1582 1554 415 100.00–103.25 $102.14 $1,587 —
1611–1665 1636 272 100.25–102.50 $101.47 $1,660 -6.03
1730 1730 7 98.75 $98.75 $1,708 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
249 249 6 223.00 $223.00 $555 —
263–267 266 9 157.50–180.00 $164.92 $439 —
303–348 312 42 167.50–175.00 $171.14 $534 -11.83
359–375 368 37 168.00–184.00 $178.09 $655 -5.12
401–445 423 87 144.00–176.00 $162.48 $687 -21.95
467–495 479 25 159.00–167.00 $163.60 $784 -7.40
509–547 540 176 147.50–163.25 $158.65 $857 +8.15
550–582 579 49 144.50–151.00 $149.08 $863 -3.38
603–640 610 25 126.00–134.50 $132.72 $810 -11.62
630–643 633 39 137.00–150.50 $143.12 $906 -1.22
647 thin fleshed 647 71 151.50 $151.50 $980 —
660–678 667 35 123.00–140.00 $138.18 $922 +0.48
727–741 736 19 125.50–134.00 $128.39 $945 -16.11
750 750 9 132.00 $132.00 $990 -7.03
753–795 770 31 125.00–141.00 $134.21 $1,033 -4.82
840–849 843 26 128.00–131.00 $130.07 $1,096 -4.88
879–898 890 53 121.00–131.50 $126.45 $1,125 -3.29
908–928 909 103 121.00–128.75 $128.44 $1,168 -1.12
927–936 930 145 126.25–128.00 $126.88 $1,180 -2.68
961 961 118 127.75 $127.75 $1,228 -6.49
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
959 959 9 111.00 $111.00 $1,064 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
598 598 6 125.00 $125.00 $748 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
258–287 270 25 152.50–185.00 $164.26 $444 —
300–341 321 110 155.00–172.50 $166.00 $533 +5.50
352–399 382 366 150.00–171.00 $163.12 $623 -2.45
424 424 5 145.00 $145.00 $615 -18.22
402–448 425 1,033 150.00–171.00 $160.65 $683 -2.57
450–498 473 1,217 142.00–166.00 $156.67 $741 +2.59
495 495 61 166.00 $166.00 $822 +11.92
501–547 519 275 166.00–196.25 $180.60 $937 +30.80
500–549 523 1,996 137.50–162.50 $151.42 $792 +1.62
543 543 11 136.50 $136.50 $741 -40.50
561–586 567 33 125.00–134.00 $127.94 $725 -17.60
550–597 570 1,505 130.00–155.50 $146.73 $836 +1.19
556–591 575 115 156.00–172.00 $169.59 $975 +24.05
599 599 58 141.50 $141.50 $848 +9.83
601–620 612 14 128.50–131.00 $129.95 $795 -11.86
600–647 627 677 131.75–148.00 $140.21 $879 +9.55
659–681 670 42 116.00–126.50 $122.77 $823 -11.70
650–697 676 570 129.00–139.50 $135.60 $917 +1.13
704–747 722 420 125.50–140.25 $133.75 $966 +0.54
738 738 9 122.00 $122.00 $900 -6.50
750–798 770 367 124.00–140.00 $132.52 $1,020 +6.65
788 thin fleshed 788 214 139.25 $139.25 $1,097 —
802–849 821 423 117.00–137.25 $131.42 $1,079 -3.28
810–848 835 124 121.50–129.25 $127.09 $1,061 -7.61
854–897 879 643 114.00–133.50 $125.92 $1,107 -5.86
904 904 64 121.00 $121.00 $1,094 -13.65
901–948 933 491 114.00–135.75 $124.64 $1,163 -10.01
951–991 976 1,032 117.00–133.00 $126.44 $1,234 -4.18
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
262–299 287 17 165.00–172.50 $167.30 $480 +23.30
321–342 333 16 143.00–159.00 $152.25 $507 -7.75
354–398 379 92 140.00–161.00 $152.77 $579 +0.32
413–428 420 27 134.00–146.00 $140.12 $589 +0.50
483 483 18 148.00 $148.00 $715 +4.42
511–539 530 101 134.00–144.50 $140.21 $743 +10.75
554–597 576 38 129.50–138.50 $133.03 $766 +4.56
578 thin fleshed 578 17 137.50 $137.50 $795 —
599 599 8 115.00 $115.00 $689 -13.47
635–644 638 28 116.00–128.50 $125.63 $802 +1.63
673–695 684 22 115.00–132.50 $124.67 $853 -6.91
718 thin fleshed 718 82 138.00 $138.00 $991 +1.75
720–730 725 27 118.00–121.00 $119.53 $867 -13.47
762–791 777 32 113.00–131.00 $124.01 $964 -7.33
901–917 907 30 115.25–117.00 $116.29 $1,055 —
978 978 9 110.00 $110.00 $1,076 -14.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1007–1036 1024 261 120.10–128.50 $123.05 $1,260 +7.55
1057–1097 1084 46 108.75–119.25 $112.07 $1,215 -2.43
1116–1143 1124 36 102.00–114.35 $110.86 $1,246 —
1141 1141 11 104.00 $104.00 $1,187 —
1163–1190 1174 26 107.00–109.50 $108.07 $1,269 -0.97
1250–1258 1254 100 101.50–105.50 $103.27 $1,295 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1198–1213 1209 54 104.25–104.60 $104.50 $1,263 —
1265–1473 1361 394 98.50–103.50 $100.65 $1,370 -5.80
1388 1388 8 98.00 $98.00 $1,360 -6.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
461 461 7 125.00 $125.00 $576 —
596 596 8 106.00 $106.00 $632 —
700 700 14 103.50 $103.50 $724 —
880 880 11 110.00 $110.00 $968 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1032 1032 8 105.00 $105.00 $1,084 —
1078 1078 8 105.00 $105.00 $1,132 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
401 401 7 165.00 $165.00 $662 —
462 462 5 163.00 $163.00 $753 -3.00
603 603 18 146.00 $146.00 $880 —
659 659 8 120.00 $120.00 $791 —
715–743 717 79 127.00–137.00 $136.21 $977 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
935–1510 1191 85-90% 53 32.00–47.00 $41.05 $489 -5.22
980–1718 1249 85-90% 64 44.00–51.50 $47.15 $589 —
1251–1288 1262 85-90% 10 51.00–53.00 $51.61 $651 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
848–1630 1274 80-85% 12 39.00–48.00 $42.39 $540 -21.90
1243–1485 1333 80-85% 12 56.00–66.00 $59.32 $791 +5.02
1183–1785 1379 80-85% 70 46.00–59.00 $53.95 $744 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1390–1865 1523 75-80% 50 52.00–64.00 $58.41 $890 —
1250–1760 1527 75-80% 32 41.00–57.00 $53.24 $813 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1583–1850 1695 65-75% 44 61.00–67.50 $63.21 $1,071 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1455–2165 1749 25 69.00–79.00 $75.37 $1,318 —
1490–2210 1809 7 65.00–73.50 $71.17 $1,287 —
1790–2075 1933 2 81.00 $81.00 $1,566 —
YG3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2350 2350 1 71.00 $71.00 $1,668 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1435–1673 1518 35 85.00–86.50 $86.21 $1,309 -2.99

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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.