Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 4, 2021

36,640 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $144.65/cwt -1.53 vs last sale · ≈ $1,047/hd at 724 lb · 2,921 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $149.18/cwt -0.98 vs last sale · ≈ $1,012/hd at 678 lb · 2,554 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $159.50/cwt +0.97 vs last sale · ≈ $996/hd at 625 lb · 2,314 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 36,640 7,583 32,482
Feeder cattle 34,465 7,170 29,857
Slaughter cattle 2,175 413 2,625

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: A much larger offering of feeder cattle this week, last week’s test was too limited to offer a real comparison with this week. As the start of the New Year began so did the start of the weaned and backgrounded calf marketing season. Large numbers of these cattle were available at all the auctions. Demand was good for these calves, whether they were light enough to background and grow them further or for those bound straight for finishing yards. The weather has been very mild which is allowing cattle to grow very easily and stay rather clean, making it easy on those who produce these cattle. There were still some yearlings offered and these were met with very good demand. The CME Live and Feeder Cattle futures whipsawed the industry again this week by losing 3.00-4.00 on Monday only to regain most of those losses on Tuesday. Cattle feeders wound up accepting lower bids of 110.00 by Friday as the packers pulled back their bids from last week’s 112.00. Cattle feeders were again left wondering what to do and how to proceed forward as anytime the cash market gains some traction the packers pull the rug out from under them again, which is making it extremely difficult to buy feeder cattle. Cash corn moving towards 5.00 is as weighing on their minds. Slaughter cows steady 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
313–346 338 47 191.00–219.00 $199.85 $675 —
350–396 379 115 172.00–207.00 $188.12 $713 —
400 thin fleshed 400 116 206.50 $206.50 $826 —
401–449 422 307 170.00–194.00 $184.97 $781 -2.21
455–460 thin fleshed 458 330 196.00–197.00 $196.67 $901 —
461 unweaned 461 9 161.00 $161.00 $742 —
455–495 478 543 171.00–194.00 $183.75 $878 +6.14
500–548 528 1,405 163.00–186.50 $176.97 $934 +0.74
546 546 4 166.00 $166.00 $906 -10.23
557 fancy 557 101 185.50 $185.50 $1,033 —
550–598 577 1,552 150.00–177.00 $166.81 $962 -1.83
585 unweaned 585 13 142.25 $142.25 $832 —
600–645 624 2,137 149.75–169.00 $159.51 $995 +0.98
630 fancy 630 90 170.50 $170.50 $1,074 —
631–647 637 64 146.00–148.25 $147.25 $938 -11.28
638 638 23 149.50 $149.50 $954 -9.03
676 unweaned 676 22 138.00 $138.00 $933 —
650–699 678 2,395 134.50–159.00 $149.92 $1,016 -0.24
653–691 681 137 130.00–144.50 $138.07 $940 -12.09
704–708 706 30 120.00–138.00 $130.78 $923 -15.40
700–749 724 2,891 132.75–156.00 $144.79 $1,048 -1.39
751–799 771 1,639 129.75–143.75 $137.75 $1,062 -6.33
761–790 772 64 120.00–135.00 $130.14 $1,005 -13.94
809–819 812 104 120.00–131.50 $121.93 $990 -17.64
800–848 825 1,237 125.50–138.50 $132.93 $1,097 -6.64
851–899 875 1,198 123.00–144.00 $133.97 $1,172 -4.99
872–892 875 23 120.25–123.50 $120.68 $1,056 -18.28
903–931 913 102 120.25–128.00 $123.12 $1,124 -13.31
901–949 928 1,267 120.00–135.35 $131.01 $1,216 -5.42
965 965 19 126.00 $126.00 $1,216 -10.97
953–999 972 829 124.50–134.85 $131.34 $1,277 -5.63
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1001–1039 1022 475 126.75–132.00 $128.86 $1,317 -5.23
1036–1045 1043 24 114.50–123.25 $121.44 $1,267 -12.65
1058–1097 1076 544 116.00–128.75 $126.88 $1,365 -5.35
1119–1143 1122 129 122.75–126.60 $125.49 $1,408 -2.25
1151–1153 1152 349 125.25–125.50 $125.33 $1,444 +17.33
1388 1388 5 103.50 $103.50 $1,437 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1379 1379 7 100.00 $100.00 $1,379 —
1384–1431 1405 51 108.00–111.50 $110.70 $1,555 —
1458 1458 5 101.00 $101.00 $1,473 —
1410–1509 1477 194 110.00–112.75 $111.99 $1,654 —
1482 1482 26 113.00 $113.00 $1,675 —
1545 1545 17 108.00 $108.00 $1,669 —
1505–1597 1559 301 108.25–111.85 $110.76 $1,727 -1.24
1609–1689 1644 236 106.25–109.75 $108.38 $1,782 —
1728–1821 1747 85 103.00–108.50 $106.18 $1,855 -1.82
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
284 284 5 180.00 $180.00 $511 —
320–337 330 10 170.00–193.00 $184.08 $607 +33.08
362–398 388 21 186.00–195.00 $190.75 $740 —
402 402 9 189.00 $189.00 $760 —
534–546 541 31 156.00–162.00 $158.40 $857 -8.17
594 594 5 153.50 $153.50 $912 -1.50
606–649 620 37 136.00–141.00 $139.66 $866 -3.09
685–688 686 40 135.50–140.25 $138.13 $948 -0.87
701–741 726 11 133.00–138.00 $134.75 $978 —
783 783 3 132.00 $132.00 $1,034 -4.65
956 956 20 122.00 $122.00 $1,166 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
722 722 8 119.00 $119.00 $859 —
834 834 19 120.00 $120.00 $1,001 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205 1205 3 108.50 $108.50 $1,307 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
312–348 331 15 170.00–198.00 $186.79 $618 +13.79
352–393 378 73 160.50–189.00 $171.90 $650 —
415 thin fleshed 415 280 178.00 $178.00 $739 —
402–447 427 258 153.00–173.50 $162.04 $692 -0.32
446 unweaned 446 9 150.00 $150.00 $669 —
465 465 24 145.00 $145.00 $674 -21.98
450–499 478 900 153.00–168.00 $161.26 $771 -5.72
511 511 6 139.00 $139.00 $710 -14.35
512 thin fleshed 512 39 160.50 $160.50 $822 —
502–549 526 838 139.00–167.00 $154.93 $815 +1.58
535 unweaned 535 13 138.50 $138.50 $741 —
550–599 575 1,668 133.00–157.00 $146.53 $843 -3.55
581–595 589 22 126.00–139.00 $133.76 $788 -16.32
600–648 623 1,064 129.00–152.00 $141.43 $881 -1.17
612–649 642 78 125.50–135.00 $129.96 $834 -12.64
650–698 671 1,341 125.00–148.50 $139.76 $938 +0.66
687 687 3 124.00 $124.00 $852 -15.10
703–742 724 838 121.00–139.50 $131.70 $954 -4.25
705–729 724 101 140.00–146.00 $144.67 $1,047 +8.72
732 732 20 127.25 $127.25 $931 -8.70
753 753 8 129.50 $129.50 $975 -5.12
751–797 772 483 120.00–134.75 $127.95 $988 -6.67
801–843 823 869 116.75–130.50 $123.33 $1,015 -9.12
832–838 834 19 123.00–124.50 $124.02 $1,034 -1.98
850–886 865 491 117.50–127.75 $124.11 $1,074 -1.85
883 883 22 123.50 $123.50 $1,091 -1.50
902–946 915 467 111.00–131.75 $124.73 $1,141 -2.16
957–987 962 239 117.50–124.50 $123.54 $1,188 -0.57
1095 1095 10 119.00 $119.00 $1,303 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1228 1228 20 104.25 $104.25 $1,280 —
1236 1236 25 105.00 $105.00 $1,298 —
1311 1311 20 101.00 $101.00 $1,324 —
1134–1525 1404 506 107.00–111.50 $108.93 $1,529 —
1411 1411 16 111.75 $111.75 $1,577 —
1528 1528 12 105.00 $105.00 $1,604 —
1658 1658 13 104.25 $104.25 $1,728 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1030 1019 137 116.75–127.00 $121.90 $1,242 -2.23
1055–1094 1072 55 111.50–120.00 $118.16 $1,267 -5.09
1103–1143 1127 146 106.00–115.00 $109.88 $1,238 -6.06
1157 1157 9 114.50 $114.50 $1,325 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
273–280 277 7 173.00–182.50 $177.01 $490 —
352–397 361 61 144.00–161.00 $152.02 $549 —
420–425 424 10 153.50–155.00 $154.55 $655 —
450–496 463 19 142.00–149.50 $147.46 $683 -0.60
525 525 5 141.00 $141.00 $740 +1.50
599 599 5 136.00 $136.00 $815 —
622–642 635 23 133.00–135.00 $133.68 $849 +3.26
670 670 3 112.00 $112.00 $750 -23.40
798 798 3 112.00 $112.00 $894 —
975–999 987 8 105.50–119.00 $112.17 $1,107 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
668 668 7 122.00 $122.00 $815 —
805 805 19 109.50 $109.50 $881 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1008 1008 15 104.00 $104.00 $1,048 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
459 459 5 153.00 $153.00 $702 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
448 448 10 159.50 $159.50 $715 —
569 569 14 151.00 $151.00 $859 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350–1685 1546 75-80% 66 55.00–66.00 $62.10 $960 —
1240–2035 1749 75-80% 23 44.00–55.00 $52.05 $910 -4.81
1625–1791 1763 75-80% 6 67.00–68.50 $68.17 $1,202 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1178 1178 85-90% 2 60.00 $60.00 $707 —
1028–1415 1239 85-90% 33 38.00–48.50 $45.05 $558 —
1135–1453 1293 85-90% 17 49.00–55.00 $52.11 $674 +5.78
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1303–1317 1311 80-85% 5 45.00–51.00 $48.62 $637 —
1125–1470 1327 80-85% 25 51.00–60.00 $53.95 $716 —
1200–1425 1327 80-85% 12 61.00–66.00 $63.06 $837 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1450 1450 65-75% 1 53.00 $53.00 $768 —
1495–1865 1630 65-75% 21 65.00–72.00 $66.95 $1,091 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1575–1675 1612 3 60.00–77.00 $68.00 $1,096 -1.25
1655–2200 1923 7 77.00–87.00 $84.24 $1,620 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1412–1509 1446 37 88.00–91.00 $89.99 $1,301 —
1431–1606 1567 72 90.00–94.25 $91.18 $1,429 —

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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.