Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 5, 2021

28,127 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $136.85/cwt +1.81 vs last sale · ≈ $1,263/hd at 923 lb · 2,593 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $145.17/cwt +3.68 vs last sale · ≈ $1,195/hd at 823 lb · 2,525 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $139.37/cwt +0.54 vs last sale · ≈ $1,222/hd at 877 lb · 2,434 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 28,127 16,098 3,723
Feeder cattle 26,787 15,032 3,500
Slaughter cattle 1,340 1,066 223

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers 2.00 to 6.00 higher, except 650-750 lbs steady. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs 4.00 to 6.00 higher, over 600 lbs 2.00 to 3.00 higher. Very good demand for feeder cattle this week, as the cash fed cattle market broke loose and topped at 125.00 cattle feeders and backgrounders were feeling much better about their chances of profitability in the coming months. Large receipts for this time of year as many producers held their cattle longer than usual, also still seeing some replacement heifers coming to town that normally would not as producers from the worst of the drought areas are having to adjust their numbers. Rain was more widespread East River as many areas received over 1.5 inches but West River was spotty as many areas have yet to receive spring moisture. Fires broke out last week as the country is so dry and the winds were very high. Calving season is in full swing and the weather has made it much easier for cattle producers to help calves alive and healthy. Slaughter cows 1.00 to 2.00 higher, bulls 2.00 to 3.00 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
382–396 390 13 202.00–213.00 $209.82 $818 -3.28
420 unweaned 420 6 180.00 $180.00 $756 —
423–447 437 120 190.00–207.00 $198.70 $868 -3.67
457–499 471 252 179.00–205.00 $194.85 $918 +3.99
507 unweaned 507 34 170.00 $170.00 $862 —
504–549 534 324 172.00–196.00 $184.93 $988 +5.76
552–595 579 425 165.00–185.50 $173.79 $1,006 +16.79
599 599 8 167.00 $167.00 $1,000 +10.00
621 fancy 621 85 184.00 $184.00 $1,143 —
601–649 622 609 160.00–178.50 $171.45 $1,066 +6.81
657–669 659 88 170.00–172.50 $172.18 $1,135 +12.49
662 662 17 147.50 $147.50 $976 -12.19
668 668 9 153.00 $153.00 $1,022 -6.69
651–695 678 682 146.00–169.50 $160.20 $1,086 +0.51
688 fancy 688 7 155.50 $155.50 $1,070 —
706–725 710 58 141.50–148.75 $147.22 $1,045 -7.75
714 714 32 143.50 $143.50 $1,025 -11.47
700–749 728 984 147.00–165.00 $155.20 $1,130 +0.23
767 767 10 136.50 $136.50 $1,047 -8.52
755–798 771 1,459 141.00–157.00 $150.16 $1,158 +5.14
801–849 823 2,452 135.50–149.00 $145.44 $1,197 +3.54
837–846 839 73 134.00–137.00 $136.06 $1,142 +4.32
851–899 877 2,434 132.50–146.50 $139.37 $1,222 +0.54
901–949 923 2,570 128.75–142.70 $136.92 $1,264 +1.88
929 929 23 129.50 $129.50 $1,203 -5.54
952–998 976 975 128.75–139.50 $133.70 $1,305 +1.39
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
682 682 84 144.50 $144.50 $985 —
832 832 5 135.00 $135.00 $1,123 —
1002–1044 1020 492 127.25–138.25 $131.67 $1,343 +3.94
1051–1092 1071 280 127.25–133.50 $129.87 $1,391 +4.93
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353–391 361 37 192.50–201.00 $197.28 $712 -4.72
416–444 433 30 170.00–192.00 $184.93 $801 +1.93
462–496 479 40 175.00–185.00 $177.86 $852 +11.11
505–544 523 14 172.00–177.00 $173.03 $905 —
571–594 588 77 146.00–160.00 $155.62 $915 +1.21
604–639 626 26 127.00–161.00 $140.55 $880 -15.84
673 673 8 142.00 $142.00 $956 -5.19
718–749 736 69 139.25–144.50 $141.67 $1,043 +5.05
787 787 5 135.00 $135.00 $1,062 +3.63
860 860 3 126.00 $126.00 $1,084 —
921–925 924 20 118.00–129.00 $121.84 $1,126 -2.10
965 965 15 125.00 $125.00 $1,206 +10.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1378–1490 1447 163 120.00–121.00 $120.66 $1,746 +5.24
1503–1569 1547 127 120.00–122.00 $120.46 $1,864 +2.29
1631 1631 5 121.00 $121.00 $1,974 +4.61
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
517 517 11 170.50 $170.50 $881 —
736 736 4 145.50 $145.50 $1,071 —
888 888 9 133.25 $133.25 $1,183 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 323 6 177.50 $177.50 $573 —
378 378 12 174.50 $174.50 $660 -5.24
419 thin fleshed 419 34 175.00 $175.00 $733 —
402–441 426 77 160.00–171.00 $162.33 $692 -9.04
479 479 35 172.00 $172.00 $824 +7.41
452–499 490 303 155.50–175.00 $169.19 $829 +4.60
502–548 524 313 153.50–169.50 $162.20 $850 +4.23
550–598 578 874 144.00–163.50 $156.52 $905 +6.82
604–638 619 41 131.50–140.50 $136.34 $844 -11.69
600–646 622 900 136.00–157.00 $149.84 $932 +1.81
653–682 669 11 132.00–136.00 $133.78 $895 -6.91
653–699 679 1,207 134.00–150.25 $143.71 $976 +3.02
693 693 61 146.00 $146.00 $1,012 +17.50
701–748 718 837 128.00–144.50 $139.09 $999 +2.62
709–745 728 267 143.00–153.50 $150.47 $1,095 +14.00
770 770 3 125.00 $125.00 $962 -5.55
753–799 773 864 127.50–142.50 $132.19 $1,022 +1.64
752–798 777 265 138.75–155.00 $144.90 $1,126 +14.35
809–845 821 678 124.00–134.00 $130.77 $1,074 +2.20
825 825 12 141.00 $141.00 $1,163 +12.43
826–841 833 133 136.00–138.25 $137.22 $1,143 +8.65
835 835 6 118.00 $118.00 $985 -10.57
851–899 873 997 121.00–128.85 $127.21 $1,111 +2.38
896 896 6 110.00 $110.00 $986 -22.99
900–932 916 124 122.00–128.35 $126.90 $1,162 +0.90
957–991 963 141 120.75–125.35 $123.75 $1,192 +1.12
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
324 324 15 153.00 $153.00 $496 —
352–397 372 65 161.00–183.00 $173.17 $644 -0.75
412 thin fleshed 412 8 168.00 $168.00 $692 —
420–445 430 51 121.00–163.00 $135.87 $584 -28.98
452–496 488 101 129.50–162.00 $156.21 $762 +12.89
501–536 525 33 141.00–155.50 $149.69 $786 +10.69
560–595 587 75 137.00–146.00 $140.40 $824 +1.56
606–646 626 56 130.00–144.00 $137.54 $861 +6.03
671–688 676 28 125.00–132.00 $127.75 $864 -7.04
726–730 729 26 124.00–133.00 $127.99 $933 +1.09
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1242–1381 1304 66 112.00–115.00 $114.39 $1,492 +4.89
1269–1430 1366 353 118.00–123.75 $120.55 $1,647 +3.20
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
763 763 5 132.00 $132.00 $1,007 —
1005–1048 1035 162 117.00–122.25 $120.56 $1,248 -0.69
1065 1065 49 120.75 $120.75 $1,286 —
1179 1179 5 110.00 $110.00 $1,297 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
498 498 11 132.00 $132.00 $657 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040 1040 5 102.00 $102.00 $1,061 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
514 514 5 160.00 $160.00 $822 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
715–1255 877 85-90% 9 20.00–45.00 $26.80 $235 —
818–1515 1141 85-90% 23 38.00–57.00 $50.71 $579 —
1010–1780 1240 85-90% 34 57.00–65.00 $60.80 $754 —
1175–1525 1252 85-90% 18 65.50–68.00 $66.15 $828 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1112–1600 1307 80-85% 8 70.00–78.00 $74.54 $974 —
1085–1960 1424 80-85% 74 66.00–69.50 $67.27 $958 +0.82
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–2115 1555 75-80% 34 70.00–76.00 $72.75 $1,131 —
1400–1895 1564 75-80% 8 61.00–69.00 $65.55 $1,025 —
1752–2000 1814 75-80% 4 78.00–80.25 $79.63 $1,444 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1475–1922 1779 65-75% 42 71.00–81.00 $77.50 $1,379 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985–2110 1361 39 74.00–90.00 $83.57 $1,137 —
1432–2180 1630 22 92.50–99.00 $95.26 $1,553 —
1945–2188 2107 3 101.00–102.00 $101.31 $2,135 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1316–1551 1446 39 103.00–108.00 $105.27 $1,522 +4.50

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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.