Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 20, 2021

21,602 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $149.35/cwt -1.71 vs last sale · ≈ $1,450/hd at 971 lb · 1,304 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $138.91/cwt -3.94 vs last sale · ≈ $1,218/hd at 877 lb · 1,286 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $167.24/cwt +8.82 vs last sale · ≈ $1,313/hd at 785 lb · 1,149 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 21,602 14,111 14,337
Feeder cattle 19,980 12,799 12,083
Slaughter cattle 1,622 1,312 2,254

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 500 lbs steady to 4.00 higher, over 500 lbs 2.00 to 4.00 lower. Heifer calves steady to 5.00 lower, except 350-400 lbs 15.00 lower. Yearling feeder steers 2.00 to 3.00 lower, except 1000-1050 lbs 2.00 higher. Yearling heifers unevenly steady. Good to very good demand for spring born calves but the intensity shown by cattle feeders to get calves bought subsided this week. Farmer feeders have begun their fall harvest of soybeans and many don't have the time necessary to start a set of calves on feed. The market was not as active as it has been due to this fact. The weather has been up and down making for ripe conditions for having to treat respiratory sickness in incoming calves. Good demand remains for yearlings as it's getting harder to find a full load of yearlings right off grass. The market is very active but not as active as it was a month ago when the futures contracts were dollars higher. Slaughter cows mixed, fleshy cows (Breakers) 1.00 to 2.00 higher, Boners and Lean cows 1.00 lower, bulls 1.00 lower.

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
270–288 282 39 203.00–225.00 $210.00 $592 -9.86
305–341 327 34 184.00–207.50 $201.70 $660 -13.58
350–399 375 433 182.00–231.00 $215.23 $807 +3.78
400–447 426 594 190.00–209.00 $199.19 $849 +3.80
450–498 474 1,134 172.00–219.00 $193.74 $918 +3.76
500 500 7 169.00 $169.00 $845 -14.31
502–540 522 930 167.00–191.00 $178.99 $934 -4.32
551–586 567 281 161.00–185.00 $172.55 $978 +3.48
602–649 617 399 158.25–177.50 $169.83 $1,048 +1.51
668 668 18 153.50 $153.50 $1,025 -5.94
652–696 681 377 156.50–181.00 $175.90 $1,198 +16.46
700–745 720 455 155.00–181.00 $172.82 $1,244 +14.06
775 thin fleshed 775 207 172.50 $172.50 $1,337 —
751–798 787 942 150.50–170.00 $166.09 $1,307 +7.67
801–842 823 511 151.00–171.00 $162.44 $1,337 +2.72
853–892 873 677 142.00–163.25 $153.03 $1,336 -4.44
878 thin fleshed 878 64 157.75 $157.75 $1,385 —
892–898 897 53 147.00–154.00 $147.66 $1,325 -9.81
902–948 925 606 142.50–156.75 $149.80 $1,386 -3.58
962 thin fleshed 962 44 154.25 $154.25 $1,484 —
951–993 971 1,260 139.50–156.00 $149.18 $1,449 -1.88
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1260 1256 39 114.00–116.00 $115.29 $1,448 -0.27
1235–1353 1316 27 119.00–122.50 $120.86 $1,591 +2.17
1324 1324 5 114.00 $114.00 $1,509 -4.69
1207–1374 1335 35 117.00–122.00 $120.39 $1,607 +1.70
1348–1349 1348 24 121.50–122.00 $121.77 $1,641 +3.08
1375–1431 1391 67 125.50–126.00 $125.65 $1,748 +9.65
1388–1482 1424 47 114.50–116.00 $115.11 $1,639 —
1465 1465 4 118.00 $118.00 $1,729 -3.50
1517–1591 1551 313 117.00–120.00 $118.13 $1,832 —
1548–1552 1551 34 125.00–127.00 $125.35 $1,944 —
1515–1585 1581 117 114.50–116.50 $114.63 $1,812 —
1603 1603 18 117.75 $117.75 $1,888 -5.25
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
276 276 6 184.00 $184.00 $508 -28.50
333–348 339 13 192.50 $192.50 $653 +11.50
364–391 382 63 172.00–190.00 $183.23 $700 —
421–440 433 79 161.00–193.00 $180.14 $780 +13.32
469 thin fleshed 469 7 180.00 $180.00 $844 —
463–499 475 84 160.00–184.00 $173.77 $825 —
531 531 23 161.00 $161.00 $855 +0.41
574 574 5 127.00 $127.00 $729 -33.00
634 634 6 156.00 $156.00 $989 +8.35
663–695 674 25 140.00–150.00 $143.16 $965 +8.02
703–745 723 74 146.00–160.00 $154.99 $1,121 +11.91
748 748 10 146.00 $146.00 $1,092 +2.92
754–792 765 97 135.00–159.00 $147.72 $1,130 -0.97
840 840 5 150.50 $150.50 $1,264 +17.12
880–892 885 53 135.00–146.00 $143.43 $1,269 +2.93
946 946 5 136.00 $136.00 $1,287 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1012 1012 57 143.50 $143.50 $1,452 +2.10
1004–1032 1014 178 139.50–147.00 $144.78 $1,468 +3.38
1073 1073 5 135.00 $135.00 $1,449 +0.05
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
689 689 11 124.00 $124.00 $854 —
724 724 4 136.00 $136.00 $985 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280–290 287 29 160.00–172.00 $168.77 $484 -25.28
315–340 332 81 157.00–193.00 $178.47 $593 -7.41
350–396 372 367 155.00–189.00 $166.91 $621 -15.09
413 413 101 206.00 $206.00 $851 +32.65
400–449 428 431 158.00–183.00 $169.75 $727 -3.60
408–445 434 46 149.00–156.00 $151.00 $655 -22.35
452–491 474 778 140.50–170.00 $164.24 $778 +1.74
500–546 512 279 146.00–164.00 $156.09 $799 +2.35
557–598 578 86 132.00–161.00 $144.57 $836 -18.36
609 609 15 136.00 $136.00 $828 -15.30
608–634 618 97 136.00–160.00 $155.92 $964 +4.62
626 626 29 158.00 $158.00 $989 +6.70
651–692 671 325 138.00–158.50 $151.07 $1,014 +1.62
705–747 731 732 139.50–161.00 $152.71 $1,116 +3.55
745 745 76 160.00 $160.00 $1,192 +10.84
760 760 65 158.50 $158.50 $1,205 +8.81
751–799 773 595 136.00–156.50 $147.62 $1,141 -2.07
783 783 20 142.00 $142.00 $1,112 -7.69
819 thin fleshed 819 150 152.85 $152.85 $1,252 —
800–849 824 850 138.00–150.00 $144.74 $1,193 +0.10
850–898 877 1,286 132.50–148.50 $138.91 $1,218 -3.94
900–945 916 740 133.00–149.50 $141.09 $1,292 +14.09
940 940 8 138.75 $138.75 $1,304 -0.44
955–999 983 297 128.75–144.00 $135.60 $1,333 -3.25
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
291 291 7 152.00 $152.00 $442 —
338–347 344 14 163.00–169.00 $166.89 $574 —
377–398 396 61 155.00–158.50 $158.12 $626 -3.93
413–427 417 44 141.00–151.00 $148.15 $618 -7.84
463–497 474 57 146.00–156.00 $149.24 $707 -5.65
516–546 537 59 136.00–153.00 $146.54 $787 +6.27
559–598 573 34 130.00–144.00 $140.47 $805 -7.96
612–638 620 29 137.00–148.50 $145.82 $904 —
656–685 674 36 135.00–148.00 $141.11 $951 -1.57
701–747 735 116 127.00–142.00 $138.91 $1,021 +0.99
754–799 775 41 120.00–145.25 $141.06 $1,093 +0.88
817–849 841 135 128.00–144.50 $139.59 $1,174 +4.47
856–859 857 17 139.00–144.00 $141.94 $1,216 +5.94
911–932 920 38 120.00–143.00 $132.89 $1,223 +10.89
961–973 966 8 118.50–129.00 $125.03 $1,208 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1169 1169 22 118.00 $118.00 $1,379 —
1173–1291 1248 26 115.00–117.50 $116.47 $1,454 —
1325 1325 10 114.00 $114.00 $1,510 —
1280–1352 1327 111 124.50–126.00 $124.94 $1,658 —
1247–1451 1328 163 116.50–117.75 $117.16 $1,556 —
1390 1390 6 120.00 $120.00 $1,668 -3.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1041 1014 98 134.50–142.50 $137.51 $1,394 +3.30
1050–1053 1052 113 129.25–139.00 $133.46 $1,404 +2.67
1133 1133 9 126.00 $126.00 $1,428 -5.52
1176 1176 9 119.00 $119.00 $1,399 -5.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
534 534 8 127.00 $127.00 $678 —
605 605 7 101.00 $101.00 $611 -24.00
701 701 7 119.00 $119.00 $834 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1074 1074 9 122.50 $122.50 $1,316 +10.50
1184 1184 7 118.50 $118.50 $1,403 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
613 613 8 148.00 $148.00 $907 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
680–1540 1205 85-90% 30 21.00–49.00 $37.95 $457 -16.06
908–1555 1266 85-90% 40 56.00–62.00 $59.38 $752 —
920–1595 1273 85-90% 25 43.00–56.00 $52.05 $663 —
1110–1400 1310 85-90% 9 63.00–65.50 $63.85 $836 +2.97
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1238–1360 1269 80-85% 4 69.00–72.75 $70.01 $888 —
1015–1810 1335 80-85% 55 63.50–68.50 $65.45 $874 -1.11
1340 1340 80-85% 1 55.00 $55.00 $737 -11.56
1250–1703 1529 80-85% 6 51.00–62.00 $59.10 $904 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350–1675 1479 75-80% 8 62.00–70.00 $66.67 $986 -10.78
1403–1795 1520 75-80% 8 78.00–83.00 $79.56 $1,209 —
1265–2180 1523 75-80% 20 69.50–77.00 $73.74 $1,123 —
1735 1735 75-80% 1 51.00 $51.00 $885 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1323–1730 1636 65-75% 10 85.00–89.00 $87.15 $1,426 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–2615 1727 13 70.00–87.00 $82.90 $1,432 —
1440–2385 1728 9 85.00–90.00 $87.38 $1,510 —
2040–2070 2055 2 93.00–95.00 $94.01 $1,932 -1.24

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1191–1237 1214 10 79.00–81.00 $80.02 $971 —
1359–1491 1413 67 108.00–112.00 $109.84 $1,552 -2.69
1417–1658 1547 24 114.50–117.75 $116.03 $1,795 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
824 824 14 78.00 $78.00 $643 —
978 978 10 75.00 $75.00 $734 —

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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.