Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 18, 2021

40,051 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 $144.50/cwt +4.46 vs last sale · ≈ $1,046/hd at 724 lb · 3,126 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $155.30/cwt +3.25 vs last sale · ≈ $975/hd at 628 lb · 3,106 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $141.68/cwt +5.91 vs last sale · ≈ $1,092/hd at 771 lb · 2,815 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 40,051 33,327 21,385
Feeder cattle 38,170 30,411 20,159
Slaughter cattle 1,881 2,916 1,226

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers 2.00 to 5.00 higher, feeder heifers steady to 2.00 higher. Good to very good demand for all weights of feeder cattle this week as the CME Live Cattle futures finally had a good week and made nice gains. The closely watched contract month of April closed above 122.00 on Friday which gave cattle feeders a boost in their optimism level. The weather has been very mild, and rather dry, which is allowing cattle to stay clean and really look attractive. Cattle have had to spend very little of their energy to maintain their body temps which is allowing them to easily gain pounds and flesh condition. Buyers are very critical of too much flesh however, as corn futures are at 5.00 plus which translates into costs of gain of about 1.00 per pound. Cash fed cattle traded up to 110.00, which is below breakeven cost for many cattle, but with the outlook of higher prices in the coming months cattle feeders were willing to chase the market higher to get cattle bought. Very large offerings in the state’s auction markets again this week, which allows for plenty of selection. Slaughter cows steady to 4.00 higher, 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
283 283 11 213.00 $213.00 $603 —
335 335 11 200.00 $200.00 $670 -1.78
354–392 377 150 177.00–215.00 $195.90 $739 -0.55
400–445 432 228 171.00–196.00 $187.14 $808 -4.29
443 thin fleshed 443 84 192.00 $192.00 $851 —
450–499 476 550 168.00–190.00 $182.97 $871 +2.72
490 fancy 490 128 190.50 $190.50 $933 —
490–499 493 32 165.00–173.00 $167.78 $827 -12.47
510 thin fleshed 510 18 184.00 $184.00 $938 —
500–545 522 751 158.00–184.50 $174.81 $913 +18.22
519–540 534 30 151.00–163.00 $159.89 $854 -10.67
537 537 15 158.00 $158.00 $848 -12.56
553 thin fleshed 553 22 168.00 $168.00 $929 —
568 fancy 568 104 182.00 $182.00 $1,034 —
550–599 572 1,520 150.00–174.00 $164.24 $939 +1.36
565–592 574 24 144.50–158.00 $153.36 $880 -9.52
606 606 9 146.00 $146.00 $885 -6.70
622–644 627 129 139.00–150.50 $147.21 $923 -5.49
600–649 628 2,968 142.00–163.50 $155.68 $978 +2.98
650–699 677 2,504 135.00–157.50 $149.86 $1,015 +15.08
660–694 678 15 131.00 $131.00 $888 -3.78
699 thin fleshed 699 24 151.50 $151.50 $1,059 —
701 thin fleshed 701 40 145.10 $145.10 $1,017 —
700–749 724 3,029 132.00–155.50 $144.86 $1,049 +4.53
736–741 740 57 123.00–130.50 $125.10 $926 -6.15
756 756 5 136.00 $136.00 $1,028 +11.22
751–799 770 2,736 130.00–154.00 $141.97 $1,093 +6.02
750–795 791 74 126.50–131.75 $131.35 $1,039 -4.60
800–848 827 1,879 125.50–145.50 $134.60 $1,113 +3.20
813–847 833 92 120.00–125.50 $123.39 $1,028 -8.01
859–897 872 107 122.00–129.50 $127.55 $1,112 -1.39
855–898 879 1,534 123.75–137.25 $133.77 $1,176 +11.95
902–947 921 544 122.00–135.50 $131.16 $1,208 +3.72
951–998 975 284 120.00–131.25 $127.02 $1,238 +3.39
1007 1007 37 124.75 $124.75 $1,256 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1221–1293 1253 27 108.50–109.50 $109.04 $1,366 —
1327–1490 1452 191 106.00–111.00 $107.77 $1,565 +5.77
1501–1590 1563 491 104.50–111.00 $106.94 $1,671 +3.17
1600–1668 1631 108 106.00–108.50 $106.90 $1,744 +4.16
1696–1748 1718 14 103.00–104.00 $103.56 $1,779 +4.02
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
259 259 6 202.00 $202.00 $523 —
313–320 317 29 173.00–202.00 $186.16 $590 +11.16
365–390 379 22 163.00–186.00 $171.05 $648 -3.05
400–448 431 55 153.00–173.00 $164.05 $707 -6.24
466–498 482 47 156.00–174.00 $164.85 $795 +15.26
501–542 519 168 145.00–161.00 $154.44 $802 -1.44
553–599 585 140 133.00–158.50 $145.97 $854 -2.33
615–643 623 130 128.50–144.00 $140.24 $874 +3.61
662–688 672 49 126.00–144.00 $130.17 $875 -0.07
707–739 733 35 130.00–133.25 $130.63 $958 +3.25
751–773 761 28 121.00–135.00 $128.40 $977 +8.65
879 879 31 122.00 $122.00 $1,072 +3.49
981 981 5 116.00 $116.00 $1,138 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
544 544 5 159.00 $159.00 $865 ±0.00
757–777 767 10 128.50–133.50 $131.03 $1,005 —
907 907 25 127.25 $127.25 $1,154 —
1006–1043 1022 138 117.25–126.25 $122.84 $1,255 +1.34
1096 1096 5 119.50 $119.50 $1,310 -1.07
1108–1127 1118 144 119.25–122.25 $121.31 $1,356 +3.97
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
671 671 9 137.00 $137.00 $919 —
1086 1086 14 108.00 $108.00 $1,173 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
580 580 4 130.00 $130.00 $754 —
823 823 8 121.00 $121.00 $996 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
671 671 10 121.00 $121.00 $812 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
312–338 318 26 170.00–182.00 $174.89 $556 +10.63
352–387 370 229 165.00–181.00 $170.90 $632 +7.12
403–449 428 561 149.00–177.00 $162.37 $695 +2.89
452–499 479 921 145.00–165.50 $157.51 $754 +0.17
483–494 490 13 138.00–142.50 $139.71 $685 -6.29
511–530 518 35 130.00–144.00 $137.86 $714 +9.86
501–545 531 1,456 142.00–162.00 $154.09 $818 +2.36
541 541 64 159.50 $159.50 $863 +7.77
560 560 32 126.00 $126.00 $706 -20.41
553–597 573 1,667 136.00–159.50 $148.43 $851 +2.02
605–647 626 223 148.00–156.00 $152.12 $952 +23.43
626 thin fleshed 626 28 150.00 $150.00 $939 —
600–649 628 2,111 130.00–148.00 $139.21 $874 +10.52
618–649 639 65 126.00–131.00 $129.14 $825 +0.45
651 fancy 651 16 146.00 $146.00 $950 —
650–684 669 569 140.50–179.00 $154.32 $1,032 +20.46
650–698 672 1,349 126.00–141.00 $134.33 $903 +0.47
677–690 686 18 124.50–126.00 $124.91 $857 -0.05
715–746 722 268 137.50–172.00 $158.41 $1,144 +28.56
700–749 724 1,202 123.50–139.00 $130.04 $941 +0.19
728–748 741 27 116.00–128.00 $120.37 $892 -0.13
750–795 766 705 120.00–132.25 $126.88 $972 +7.84
750–775 767 101 145.50–163.00 $157.75 $1,210 +30.05
762–790 768 57 111.50–126.00 $122.15 $938 -5.55
801 801 32 128.35 $128.35 $1,028 -19.65
804–848 829 995 118.00–126.50 $124.65 $1,033 +2.38
861–898 872 34 113.50–123.50 $121.55 $1,060 +0.39
858–897 881 389 116.00–123.85 $121.82 $1,073 +0.66
906–947 936 203 112.00–124.60 $120.48 $1,128 +3.92
955–958 957 11 114.00–122.50 $118.64 $1,135 +1.19
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344 344 8 164.00 $164.00 $564 —
350–395 376 82 134.00–170.00 $156.35 $588 +3.31
420–448 438 35 145.50–156.00 $149.44 $655 +6.84
456–483 470 21 131.00–144.00 $137.82 $648 -0.82
502–548 530 62 120.00–139.00 $132.46 $702 -7.59
557–598 578 185 126.00–139.00 $134.21 $776 -2.69
624–625 624 73 126.00 $126.00 $786 -3.49
653–691 669 74 122.00–132.00 $126.46 $846 +5.88
721–744 728 26 120.50–124.50 $123.26 $897 +8.94
853 853 9 114.00 $114.00 $972 +3.00
942 942 15 104.50 $104.50 $984 —
973 973 17 96.25 $96.25 $937 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1134 1134 10 100.00 $100.00 $1,134 —
1142 1142 12 107.75 $107.75 $1,231 —
1326 1326 14 101.00 $101.00 $1,339 —
1174–1492 1415 269 102.00–107.00 $104.97 $1,485 +1.61
1515–1545 1530 8 103.00–106.00 $104.49 $1,599 -0.51
1645–1699 1664 14 103.00–104.50 $103.95 $1,730 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
598 598 9 138.00 $138.00 $825 +9.50
644 644 5 129.50 $129.50 $834 —
716 716 78 123.50–125.50 $125.32 $897 —
1018 1018 4 114.50 $114.50 $1,166 +9.76
1111 1111 4 111.75 $111.75 $1,242 —
1175 1175 51 117.25 $117.25 $1,378 —
1232 1232 44 108.50 $108.50 $1,337 +3.68
1264–1278 1272 82 103.50 $103.50 $1,317 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
574 574 8 131.50 $131.50 $755 —
1009 1009 15 109.50 $109.50 $1,105 —
1081–1085 1081 104 91.25–97.50 $91.49 $989 —
1152 1152 21 96.50 $96.50 $1,112 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530 530 17 139.00 $139.00 $737 +4.00
583 583 6 118.00 $118.00 $688 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 535 6 113.00 $113.00 $605 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1158–1310 1226 80-85% 10 60.00–62.00 $61.57 $755 —
1058–1550 1362 80-85% 158 44.00–63.00 $56.08 $764 —
1255–1785 1491 80-85% 32 50.00–62.00 $52.23 $779 +7.20
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1322–1905 1587 75-80% 77 48.50–67.00 $62.02 $984 -0.76
1425–1988 1715 75-80% 16 51.00–59.00 $54.82 $940 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210 1210 85-90% 1 54.50 $54.50 $659 —
985–1523 1251 85-90% 17 43.00–46.00 $44.27 $554 -4.35
1060–1803 1328 85-90% 47 45.00–52.50 $49.92 $663 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1438–1796 1585 65-75% 63 62.50–72.00 $66.41 $1,053 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1740–2160 1840 5 83.00–88.00 $86.89 $1,599 +6.52
1565–2255 1903 10 65.00–79.00 $75.46 $1,436 -6.97
2005–2460 2137 7 77.00–83.00 $79.79 $1,705 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320–1347 1341 9 83.50–88.25 $84.54 $1,134 —
1371–1645 1470 43 87.00–93.50 $90.55 $1,331 —

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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.