Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 14, 2020

32,188 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 $168.03/cwt +3.84 vs last sale · ≈ $970/hd at 577 lb · 2,520 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $160.39/cwt +0.88 vs last sale · ≈ $1,012/hd at 631 lb · 2,293 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $152.41/cwt +1.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,027/hd at 674 lb · 1,881 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 32,188 41,155 35,742
Feeder cattle 30,797 38,758 32,671
Slaughter cattle 1,391 2,397 3,071

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves 2.00 to 6.00 higher, heifer calves 2.00 to 5.00 higher except 550-600 lbs 1.00 higher. Yearling steers 2.00 to 3.00 higher, yearling heifers under 850 lbs steady to 2.00 lower, over 850 lbs 2.00 to 4.00 higher. Good demand for steer and heifer calves, improved demand for heifers as heifer prices have lagged far behind their steer mates. Many calves are weaned for 30-60 days already making them highly desirable, as long as the flesh isn’t too heavy. The calves are staying clean as the weather remains dry, which is making them very eye appealing as they are bloomy and shiny. Good to very good demand remains for yearlings, all dependent upon the flesh condition, as cattle feeders would like to have some fat cattle ready to hit the spring markets. The CME Live Cattle, and the fed cattle market have done little to support the yearling market at these price levels. Cattle feeders continue to bet on the prospects for a higher market and continue to be frustrated as the fat market struggles. Slaughter cows steady to 2.00 higher, bulls 1.00 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
308–346 332 102 189.00–216.00 $201.09 $668 +10.95
352–399 380 219 184.00–220.00 $201.49 $766 +8.76
401–447 431 578 172.00–206.00 $193.44 $834 +2.62
459–474 thin fleshed 462 36 190.00–192.50 $192.00 $887 —
451–498 471 1,266 172.50–203.50 $188.37 $887 +16.37
471 471 29 171.00 $171.00 $805 -1.00
473 473 26 168.50 $168.50 $797 -3.50
489 489 13 172.00 $172.00 $841 -9.53
500–549 527 1,470 157.00–191.50 $176.80 $932 +26.80
522–543 529 17 153.00–157.00 $155.55 $823 -19.15
533 fancy 533 98 191.00 $191.00 $1,018 -0.50
554 thin fleshed 554 8 171.00 $171.00 $947 —
562 fancy 562 89 174.50 $174.50 $981 —
550–599 578 2,423 153.00–177.00 $167.78 $970 +3.51
600–649 631 2,185 146.50–172.00 $161.10 $1,017 +10.86
631 631 42 147.00 $147.00 $928 -3.24
605–646 633 66 143.00–149.00 $145.40 $920 -4.84
657 657 19 144.00 $144.00 $946 +2.42
650–699 674 1,813 132.50–162.00 $152.76 $1,030 +1.49
658–683 675 49 142.00–142.75 $142.53 $962 -8.74
704 704 55 138.00 $138.00 $972 -8.46
701–748 719 1,020 140.50–162.00 $148.42 $1,067 +1.96
731 731 60 139.00 $139.00 $1,016 +1.63
752 unweaned 752 10 134.00 $134.00 $1,008 —
751–798 777 420 131.00–152.25 $144.89 $1,126 +11.30
791–798 795 20 131.00–138.00 $134.48 $1,069 +0.89
804–845 825 393 132.75–144.50 $138.46 $1,142 +1.53
853–880 868 73 121.00–132.75 $129.62 $1,125 -7.25
851–899 881 390 135.25–143.00 $139.59 $1,230 +2.72
914–949 933 828 129.50–144.00 $141.59 $1,321 +2.60
956 956 14 124.50 $124.50 $1,190 -11.14
951–998 975 347 123.50–142.00 $137.41 $1,340 +1.77
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645 645 51 143.00 $143.00 $922 —
1000–1020 1005 120 125.00–141.25 $140.43 $1,411 +6.91
1050–1096 1063 204 129.00 $129.00 $1,371 -1.67
1061–1092 1066 129 123.00–132.10 $130.51 $1,391 -0.16
1101 1101 9 120.00 $120.00 $1,321 -9.63
1102–1110 1105 152 113.50–130.75 $128.64 $1,421 -0.99
1185 1185 17 104.00–120.00 $114.35 $1,355 -15.74
1228 1228 84 123.50 $123.50 $1,517 —
1288 1288 32 119.50 $119.50 $1,539 +8.25
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
232 232 13 185.00 $185.00 $429 -38.00
275–281 278 12 171.00–197.00 $183.86 $511 +18.94
301–343 333 17 177.50–185.00 $183.41 $611 +12.27
335 335 5 149.00 $149.00 $499 -22.14
361–381 369 23 155.00–190.00 $174.58 $644 -3.51
397 397 8 160.00 $160.00 $635 -18.09
401–444 425 81 164.00–193.00 $176.68 $751 +14.20
452 thin fleshed 452 9 184.00 $184.00 $832 —
467–488 484 17 133.00–161.00 $148.87 $721 -14.73
497 497 14 148.00 $148.00 $736 -15.60
501–547 520 86 145.00–173.00 $157.48 $819 -1.17
557–598 579 77 137.00–161.50 $149.95 $868 +0.87
621–646 634 64 135.00–150.50 $144.87 $918 +1.75
650–684 661 33 128.00–139.00 $134.25 $887 -3.93
712–737 723 16 121.00–135.50 $128.29 $928 -0.10
783 783 7 131.50 $131.50 $1,030 -2.71
839 839 13 132.25 $132.25 $1,110 +2.18
913–928 919 44 120.00–132.00 $128.98 $1,185 +0.54
954 954 28 125.25 $125.25 $1,195 -2.50
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1189 1189 14 109.50 $109.50 $1,302 —
1291–1296 1294 16 111.00–115.00 $113.75 $1,472 —
1434–1496 1469 185 104.75–108.00 $107.13 $1,574 —
1522 1522 17 103.75 $103.75 $1,579 +4.79
1503–1582 1550 120 105.85–106.50 $106.15 $1,645 +4.01
1576 1576 74 104.50 $104.50 $1,647 +2.36
1619–1686 1644 32 102.50–104.25 $103.58 $1,703 +2.11
1703 1703 5 102.00 $102.00 $1,737 +3.25
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030–1047 1041 16 121.00–125.50 $122.67 $1,277 —
1132 1132 6 117.00 $117.00 $1,324 —
1236 1236 27 91.00 $91.00 $1,125 —
1561 1561 28 90.50 $90.50 $1,413 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
479 479 5 157.00 $157.00 $752 —
537–541 538 26 155.00–161.00 $156.86 $844 —
667–683 670 38 122.00–141.00 $137.94 $924 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795 795 8 109.00 $109.00 $867 —
859–887 879 24 112.00–114.00 $112.57 $989 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
257–298 275 9 175.00–179.00 $177.08 $487 +12.82
310–341 325 66 165.00–180.00 $170.86 $555 +4.86
350–399 377 276 154.00–178.00 $168.20 $634 +5.08
418–423 420 10 150.00–151.00 $150.60 $633 +5.60
402–448 427 608 151.00–181.00 $164.85 $704 +4.20
430 430 7 147.00 $147.00 $632 -13.65
461–486 474 37 143.00–150.00 $145.56 $690 -11.11
451–498 478 859 149.50–168.00 $162.06 $775 +5.39
500–549 527 1,140 141.50–166.00 $155.25 $818 +3.83
542 542 7 140.00 $140.00 $759 +3.50
555 thin fleshed 555 45 154.25 $154.25 $856 —
562 562 12 137.00 $137.00 $770 +9.06
551–598 577 1,010 131.00–162.00 $147.46 $851 -22.13
589 589 10 139.00 $139.00 $819 -2.50
609 unweaned 609 5 137.50 $137.50 $837 —
606–616 615 100 151.50–155.00 $151.84 $934 +21.89
603–649 625 1,120 125.00–151.00 $142.47 $890 +2.26
661 661 10 123.00 $123.00 $813 +0.23
650–699 669 744 120.00–145.50 $139.06 $930 +16.29
727 unweaned 727 13 126.50 $126.50 $920 —
701–747 729 366 127.00–142.50 $132.06 $963 -1.69
750–799 769 348 127.00–139.25 $134.13 $1,031 +1.61
766–787 775 30 118.00–126.50 $122.43 $949 -10.09
792 792 71 137.50 $137.50 $1,089 +4.98
801–849 828 447 125.00–135.00 $129.65 $1,074 -1.77
853–898 867 265 134.00–140.00 $135.86 $1,178 +9.94
850–899 878 947 120.50–136.50 $128.26 $1,126 +2.34
891 891 9 119.00 $119.00 $1,060 -6.92
900–949 921 470 114.00–137.50 $128.83 $1,187 +4.19
906–932 928 838 127.50–136.75 $135.81 $1,260 +11.17
951 951 9 110.00 $110.00 $1,046 -16.44
951–986 961 135 125.50–134.00 $130.13 $1,251 +3.69
954–990 964 414 119.50–133.50 $128.46 $1,238 +2.02
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
474 474 7 151.50 $151.50 $718 —
529 529 20 142.00 $142.00 $751 —
563 563 8 139.00 $139.00 $783 —
611 611 14 135.00 $135.00 $825 —
1004–1024 1016 56 119.00–125.00 $123.19 $1,252 +0.14
1016 1016 288 128.00 $128.00 $1,300 +4.95
1069–1089 1085 17 112.00–119.00 $114.53 $1,243 +2.46
1129 1129 11 108.25 $108.25 $1,222 -2.61
1160–1166 1162 13 107.00–111.00 $108.54 $1,261 +0.47
1206 1206 19 118.00 $118.00 $1,423 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
231 231 4 170.00 $170.00 $393 —
274–280 277 12 172.00–184.00 $178.94 $496 +11.64
318–346 332 30 153.00–192.00 $175.00 $581 +22.75
350–391 369 15 161.00 $161.00 $594 +8.23
411–442 431 34 139.50–159.50 $148.81 $641 +8.69
453 thin fleshed 453 11 156.00 $156.00 $707 —
450–492 469 52 138.00–150.00 $142.23 $667 -5.77
474 474 7 127.00 $127.00 $602 -21.00
524–545 534 39 121.00–143.50 $137.79 $736 -2.42
550–595 573 30 135.50–144.00 $140.91 $807 +7.88
602–643 632 74 116.00–135.00 $126.07 $797 +0.44
634 634 5 115.00 $115.00 $729 -10.63
662–669 665 16 120.00–135.00 $129.99 $864 +5.32
712–735 718 28 122.00–127.00 $124.35 $893 +4.82
817 817 13 125.50 $125.50 $1,025 —
891 891 8 123.00 $123.00 $1,096 —
925 925 20 123.75 $123.75 $1,145 +7.46
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1249 1249 16 102.50 $102.50 $1,280 —
1300–1435 1379 170 103.00–106.00 $104.80 $1,445 +6.80
1427 1427 9 103.25 $103.25 $1,473 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035–1047 1044 19 105.00–108.00 $105.63 $1,103 +0.63
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
509 509 10 149.00 $149.00 $758 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
236 236 8 150.00 $150.00 $354 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
287 287 5 190.00 $190.00 $545 —
488 488 5 159.00 $159.00 $776 -4.00
758 758 6 127.00 $127.00 $963 —

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Slaughter Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1618–1675 1651 65-75% 12 80.00–84.00 $81.16 $1,340 —
1390–2310 1711 65-75% 110 64.50–79.00 $71.49 $1,223 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145–1695 1449 75-80% 74 53.00–65.00 $60.00 $869 —
1410–1555 1483 75-80% 2 64.00–65.00 $64.52 $957 —
1285–1968 1634 75-80% 23 48.00–52.00 $50.23 $821 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080–1610 1318 80-85% 48 48.00–57.00 $52.23 $688 -7.09
1095–1513 1383 80-85% 7 58.00–65.00 $62.14 $859 +8.19
1270–1612 1405 80-85% 31 42.00–51.00 $46.86 $658 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970–1484 1244 85-90% 45 43.00–53.00 $49.01 $610 +1.86
1053–1630 1275 85-90% 17 42.00–48.00 $44.21 $564 -7.40
1055–1523 1373 85-90% 13 31.00–42.00 $32.30 $443 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145–2380 1658 9 57.00–73.00 $65.52 $1,086 —
1420–2355 1983 10 71.00–80.50 $76.17 $1,510 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1302–1462 1375 11 78.50–83.00 $80.68 $1,109 —
1409–1544 1486 60 84.00–87.00 $84.76 $1,260 —

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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.