Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 19, 2021

23,794 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $136.74/cwt -4.03 vs last sale · ≈ $1,135/hd at 830 lb · 1,863 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $131.57/cwt -2.22 vs last sale · ≈ $1,017/hd at 773 lb · 1,723 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $150.17/cwt -3.70 vs last sale · ≈ $1,085/hd at 723 lb · 1,258 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 23,794 15,313 14,893
Feeder cattle 22,413 13,674 14,344
Slaughter cattle 1,381 1,639 549

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers 3.00 to 7.00 lower, heifers 5.00 to 10.00 lower, under 550 lbs to 15.00 lower. Demand was more moderate this week as the cattle futures contracts flopped and the corn futures continue to skyrocket. Large auction receipts, twice as large as last year, with quite a few cattle producers having to sell off their heifers they held back for replacements as the drought conditions continue to plague the central and western parts of the state. The drought is the most extreme in the north central and northwest part of the state, other areas are not much better. Some rain fell in the last few weeks but not enough to run any water to fill up the stock dams. Cattle feeders had just gotten to a profitable level with their fed cattle only to see the market go lower. Packers continue to hold all the leverage in the market as they have pushed the boxed beef market up to 283.77. Outside of last year, the last time Choice beef was this high the fat cattle market was 170.00 live basis, versus the 120.00-123.00 this week. Slaughter cows steady to 2.00 lower, except Breaker cows 5.00 to 6.00 lower. 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
306 306 5 220.00 $220.00 $673 —
351 thin fleshed 351 10 202.00 $202.00 $709 —
391–399 392 28 189.00–202.00 $191.36 $750 -11.64
416–449 429 26 185.00–201.00 $192.76 $827 +4.88
451–495 473 163 162.00–185.00 $177.55 $840 -5.63
483–499 thin fleshed 496 43 195.00 $195.00 $967 —
505–521 thin fleshed 512 24 180.00–187.00 $183.26 $938 —
502–545 525 196 160.00–185.50 $172.88 $908 -7.04
510–539 530 39 174.50–175.00 $174.65 $926 -5.27
520–538 531 21 161.00–162.00 $161.63 $858 -18.29
550–589 564 31 155.00–157.00 $155.64 $878 -16.18
551–599 572 313 154.00–178.00 $169.34 $969 -2.48
603–648 630 734 149.00–171.00 $160.79 $1,013 -4.88
660 660 11 146.00 $146.00 $964 -13.03
652–698 671 848 143.50–161.50 $154.80 $1,039 +4.08
705–732 719 151 159.50 $159.50 $1,147 +5.63
700–749 723 1,107 138.00–157.00 $148.90 $1,077 -4.97
750–798 769 721 129.00–150.00 $140.58 $1,081 -4.85
790 790 69 149.00 $149.00 $1,177 +13.26
795 795 12 134.00 $134.00 $1,065 -1.74
800–846 830 1,863 125.00–146.00 $136.74 $1,135 -4.03
854–899 872 939 126.00–141.50 $134.12 $1,170 -3.72
904–942 921 983 125.00–136.85 $132.66 $1,222 -1.99
931 931 8 123.00 $123.00 $1,145 -11.65
970 970 7 115.25 $115.25 $1,118 -16.63
965–991 978 190 121.50–128.50 $123.58 $1,209 -8.30
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
397 thin fleshed 397 5 196.00 $196.00 $778 —
420–425 423 15 162.00–172.00 $165.97 $702 -27.53
440 440 5 159.00 $159.00 $700 -34.50
455 455 7 171.00 $171.00 $778 +0.03
520–539 530 34 142.00–167.00 $154.50 $819 -15.88
552–569 560 38 164.00–176.00 $166.25 $931 +6.97
572 thin fleshed 572 12 174.50 $174.50 $998 +10.50
622–644 635 55 145.50–150.50 $146.94 $933 -6.06
651–687 678 98 124.25–151.50 $130.64 $886 -15.33
700–748 722 56 114.00–143.00 $131.90 $952 -3.17
780–796 790 56 125.50–132.50 $129.91 $1,026 -8.33
802–848 834 180 111.50–135.00 $123.54 $1,030 -11.21
997 997 22 120.00 $120.00 $1,196 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1032 1020 275 122.35–126.00 $123.70 $1,262 -3.22
1068–1088 1083 61 116.50–120.00 $119.09 $1,290 -7.50
1114–1142 1118 188 115.75–117.10 $116.69 $1,305 -7.11
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1306 1286 17 120.00–121.00 $120.46 $1,549 -2.79
1323–1475 1414 128 120.00–121.00 $120.16 $1,699 —
1451–1540 1508 240 120.00–122.00 $120.78 $1,821 -9.22
1529 1529 9 124.00 $124.00 $1,896 -6.00
1593 1593 12 116.00 $116.00 $1,848 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
487 487 25 137.00 $137.00 $667 —
626 626 28 128.50 $128.50 $804 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645 645 10 130.25 $130.25 $840 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
356–399 364 36 170.00–181.00 $174.19 $634 +4.84
400–438 415 28 150.00–162.00 $158.38 $657 -6.70
440 440 9 138.00 $138.00 $607 -27.08
470–495 481 14 135.00–137.00 $136.12 $655 -35.01
450–499 483 373 146.00–163.50 $155.37 $750 -15.76
500–548 523 236 143.00–160.00 $149.43 $782 -16.50
555 thin fleshed 555 12 150.25 $150.25 $834 -16.75
575 575 27 128.00 $128.00 $736 -24.58
552–598 582 554 133.00–158.00 $144.12 $839 -8.46
600–646 626 975 129.50–145.00 $138.49 $867 -8.89
629 629 5 136.00 $136.00 $855 -11.38
630–641 637 56 126.50–130.00 $127.28 $811 -20.10
650–697 672 963 127.00–149.00 $135.92 $913 -8.19
655–698 684 22 125.00–133.50 $130.91 $895 +0.41
700 700 72 126.00 $126.00 $882 -12.49
700–730 713 59 119.50–121.00 $120.07 $856 -18.42
700–745 721 805 125.50–139.25 $133.65 $964 -4.84
711–736 725 178 134.00–146.00 $137.11 $994 -1.38
750–765 761 78 116.50–119.00 $118.32 $900 -15.71
750–797 772 1,129 121.50–136.00 $128.09 $989 -5.94
758–795 776 507 131.00–150.00 $141.64 $1,099 +7.61
798 798 9 116.00 $116.00 $926 -5.13
810–842 817 238 131.50–165.00 $142.81 $1,167 +21.31
800–849 830 692 117.50–131.00 $123.73 $1,027 -4.49
872 872 15 116.00 $116.00 $1,012 -9.97
850–891 874 446 115.00–125.00 $120.96 $1,057 -5.01
885–897 891 118 129.00–133.00 $130.99 $1,167 +12.49
904–947 923 249 116.00–121.25 $118.14 $1,090 -5.66
954–984 971 122 115.50–118.10 $116.28 $1,129 -5.09
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 3 207.50 $207.50 $581 —
316 316 4 168.00 $168.00 $531 —
404–440 426 25 155.00–156.00 $155.62 $663 +17.62
453–482 472 31 142.00–160.50 $147.92 $698 -11.28
502–548 533 102 129.00–152.00 $144.21 $769 -7.36
573 573 10 147.00 $147.00 $842 +0.98
602–647 636 117 114.00–135.75 $130.15 $828 -7.43
666 thin fleshed 666 78 145.50 $145.50 $969 —
688 688 19 128.50 $128.50 $884 +4.80
708–749 730 75 115.00–132.00 $121.47 $887 +11.47
793 793 8 118.50 $118.50 $940 —
802–848 839 82 105.75–115.75 $107.62 $903 —
881 881 7 108.00 $108.00 $951 -11.00
914 914 5 110.50 $110.50 $1,010 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
667 667 37 950.00 $950.00 —
719 719 36 1,010.00 $1,010.00 —
823–849 834 87 1,070.00–1,150.00 $1,113.91 —
910–945 922 117 1,150.00–1,230.00 $1,200.72 —
958–989 978 93 1,225.00–1,290.00 $1,235.21 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1154–1270 1253 32 114.00–118.25 $117.73 $1,475 —
1292–1468 1384 89 117.00–122.00 $119.97 $1,660 -1.61
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
549 549 19 132.00 $132.00 $725 —
1031–1046 1033 61 111.00–113.25 $112.95 $1,167 -5.05
1202 1202 9 100.00 $100.00 $1,202 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
458 458 5 142.00 $142.00 $650 —
567 567 24 134.00 $134.00 $760 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 7 128.00 $128.00 $614 —
570 570 20 128.00 $128.00 $730 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
518 518 9 135.00 $135.00 $699 —
620 620 5 135.00 $135.00 $837 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
542 542 82 171.00 $171.00 $927 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
745 745 9 127.50 $127.50 $950 —
793 793 8 126.00 $126.00 $999 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1318–2025 1673 65-75% 186 71.00–79.50 $75.79 $1,268 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1435–1495 1465 75-80% 2 73.00–77.00 $75.04 $1,099 —
1294–1845 1486 75-80% 90 62.00–67.25 $65.78 $977 —
1275–1860 1499 75-80% 43 67.00–72.00 $69.19 $1,037 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
878–1510 1085 85-90% 40 31.00–56.00 $47.49 $515 —
675–1433 1124 85-90% 14 10.00–39.00 $26.32 $296 -22.81
1095–1418 1224 85-90% 5 64.00–66.00 $64.93 $795 —
973–1950 1351 85-90% 59 56.00–63.00 $60.07 $812 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970–1495 1283 80-85% 21 67.00–70.00 $67.88 $871 —
990–1695 1346 80-85% 62 62.00–69.50 $65.42 $881 -1.36
1290–1500 1395 80-85% 9 56.00–62.25 $61.14 $853 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–2500 1676 15 74.00–89.00 $83.27 $1,396 —
1238–2235 1731 22 90.00–101.50 $94.19 $1,630 +10.41

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1384–1629 1522 81 98.00–102.00 $100.24 $1,526 —

↑ Back to top

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.