Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 4, 2021

34,459 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $184.21/cwt +3.29 vs last sale · ≈ $967/hd at 525 lb · 2,524 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $176.02/cwt +3.80 vs last sale · ≈ $1,005/hd at 571 lb · 2,396 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $191.29/cwt +0.92 vs last sale · ≈ $918/hd at 480 lb · 2,308 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 34,459 21,105 21,820
Feeder cattle 33,043 20,078 20,543
Slaughter cattle 1,416 1,027 1,277

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves 2.00 to 5.00 higher, instances to 8.00 higher on 600-650 lbs. Heifer calves 2.00 to 5.00 higher. Yearling feeder steers steady to 3.00 higher, except over 1000 lbs 10.00 higher. Yearling heifers 2.00 to 6.00 higher, except 950-1050 lbs steady. Very good demand for spring born calves. The fall run is in full swing in the central and western South Dakota auction markets as these high quality calves are coming to town earlier than normal due to the extreme drought. Plenty of buyers are on the seats along with internet buyers as well competing heavily to get these strings of calves bought while they are available. Demand remains very good for yearlings as they are harder to come by and when they are offered the bidding takes off at a swift pace. The fat cattle market continues to disappoint but there are still plenty of buyers who believe that giving 1500.00 a head for a yearling steer isn't too high. Corn harvest is in full swing across the midwest which keeps farmer feeders out of the market usually, but despite that fact the calf market was able to push higher. Feedyard pens are in good shape and the weather is extremely mild, which helps to keep calves from getting sick. Large runs of calves again this next week. Slaughter cows 2.00 to 3.00 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
250–260 254 13 227.50–235.00 $232.05 $589 —
305–340 320 270 175.00–222.50 $209.82 $671 -14.54
320 320 15 200.00 $200.00 $640 -24.36
367 367 5 185.00 $185.00 $679 -24.28
350–398 377 424 181.00–221.00 $210.72 $794 +1.44
405–420 410 70 181.00–189.00 $188.24 $772 -14.41
400–448 426 1,585 182.00–221.00 $206.42 $879 +3.77
446 446 13 174.50 $174.50 $778 -4.12
453–498 480 2,283 165.00–207.00 $191.48 $919 +1.11
465–485 480 25 174.00–175.00 $174.23 $836 -16.14
522 522 7 160.00 $160.00 $835 -20.77
500–547 524 2,357 164.00–200.00 $184.83 $969 +4.06
503–547 540 160 170.00–179.50 $176.15 $951 -4.62
556 556 14 159.50 $159.50 $887 +7.50
550–599 571 2,382 160.00–186.50 $176.12 $1,006 +3.68
601–645 618 1,191 147.00–179.00 $171.70 $1,061 +7.43
650–681 658 350 156.25–173.00 $171.51 $1,129 +10.59
668 668 12 152.00 $152.00 $1,015 -8.92
705–721 717 91 147.00–176.50 $165.25 $1,185 +3.55
750–793 779 224 148.75–168.00 $161.04 $1,255 +3.42
821–840 829 346 158.00–164.00 $160.94 $1,334 +0.22
858–899 878 290 156.50–166.00 $163.36 $1,434 +10.32
904–947 916 1,233 144.00–163.25 $158.69 $1,454 +3.76
964 thin fleshed 964 56 158.00 $158.00 $1,523 —
953–984 972 815 140.00–161.30 $159.85 $1,554 +7.94
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413–448 435 25 181.50–188.00 $183.72 $799 —
471–482 476 61 164.00–173.00 $170.29 $811 —
501–533 510 150 167.00–177.00 $173.94 $887 —
567 567 5 158.00 $158.00 $896 —
601 601 11 147.00 $147.00 $883 —
750 750 17 158.00 $158.00 $1,185 —
1000–1045 1030 593 136.00–150.25 $147.95 $1,524 +9.32
1053–1096 1072 235 132.50–150.35 $148.65 $1,594 +8.75
1124–1136 1132 87 123.50–144.10 $139.28 $1,577 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
268–280 272 25 203.00–213.00 $206.70 $562 —
353–385 373 99 165.00–194.00 $181.36 $676 -2.79
415–445 435 101 153.00–190.00 $170.24 $741 -0.93
454–498 480 82 150.00–173.50 $161.09 $773 -11.91
502–547 520 115 150.00–172.00 $168.07 $874 +3.30
562 thin fleshed 562 13 171.00 $171.00 $961 —
550–599 574 106 141.00–161.00 $155.06 $890 +0.33
615–634 624 27 140.00–157.00 $150.67 $940 —
653–679 671 84 142.00–163.50 $155.76 $1,045 +5.64
714–749 724 39 143.50–157.00 $146.40 $1,060 +0.62
789 789 21 143.00 $143.00 $1,128 -4.81
829–836 835 98 143.00–143.25 $143.21 $1,196 +2.02
865–891 885 32 137.50–143.00 $138.68 $1,227 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1336 1336 7 120.00 $120.00 $1,603 —
1356 1356 30 123.50 $123.50 $1,675 +3.38
1332–1471 1409 59 123.50–124.50 $124.20 $1,750 +1.20
1406–1482 1459 81 123.00–124.75 $123.42 $1,801 —
1497 1497 5 117.00 $117.00 $1,751 —
1500–1516 1504 61 123.00–127.00 $126.17 $1,898 —
1549–1555 1550 54 123.25–124.25 $124.06 $1,923 —
1613–1648 1631 195 120.25–125.75 $122.64 $2,000 +4.05
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340–343 341 26 131.00–175.00 $161.38 $550 —
417–439 431 19 131.00–152.00 $144.51 $623 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
265–290 285 25 525.00–550.00 $529.65 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
233 233 12 202.50 $202.50 $472 —
273 273 42 175.00 $175.00 $478 -9.75
315 315 8 151.00 $151.00 $476 -52.05
300–349 329 323 161.00–190.00 $177.58 $584 -25.47
357–396 377 500 160.00–189.00 $175.96 $663 +1.06
400–448 423 1,616 156.00–186.50 $175.15 $741 +2.53
405–435 424 29 161.00–169.50 $166.42 $706 -6.20
459 459 7 159.00 $159.00 $730 -5.66
450–498 472 1,935 142.00–180.50 $167.53 $791 +2.87
473 fancy 473 222 192.50 $192.50 $911 +17.50
490 490 109 201.25 $201.25 $986 +26.04
507–518 508 57 146.00–160.50 $159.20 $809 +4.44
505–519 510 226 165.00–201.25 $185.23 $945 +30.47
500–544 521 996 140.00–173.00 $159.01 $828 +4.25
500–545 533 43 145.00–148.00 $147.44 $786 -7.32
555–570 561 184 164.00–172.50 $167.81 $941 +15.86
553–599 569 709 132.00–163.00 $155.70 $886 +3.75
609–628 614 184 146.75–154.50 $151.66 $931 +12.16
660–697 672 186 145.00–156.10 $151.13 $1,016 +5.23
706–739 717 134 146.50–149.50 $147.30 $1,056 +0.33
732 732 27 136.00 $136.00 $996 -10.97
760 760 12 133.00 $133.00 $1,011 -13.98
757–786 773 370 138.00–156.00 $150.42 $1,163 +3.44
800–845 822 654 141.50–152.25 $146.39 $1,203 +1.84
815–841 829 1,053 158.75–159.50 $159.00 $1,318 +14.45
854–860 858 55 128.50–131.00 $129.22 $1,109 -10.99
855–898 875 827 136.00–151.75 $144.21 $1,262 +4.00
894 894 122 153.50 $153.50 $1,372 +13.29
904–949 928 533 134.00–147.50 $140.20 $1,301 +5.90
906–944 929 1,013 151.30–152.75 $152.27 $1,415 +17.97
952–978 967 309 132.75–144.00 $137.76 $1,332 -0.64
977 977 6 134.00 $134.00 $1,309 -4.40
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
251–254 252 13 170.00–177.50 $173.48 $437 +12.48
334 334 14 169.00 $169.00 $564 +6.16
351–395 358 79 160.00–169.00 $166.66 $597 +6.50
403–440 424 87 135.00–164.00 $155.23 $658 -1.65
464–488 473 61 140.00–155.00 $151.42 $716 -4.58
509–534 516 23 149.00–151.00 $150.46 $776 -3.54
565 565 17 141.00 $141.00 $797 -8.36
614 thin fleshed 614 12 131.50 $131.50 $807 —
618–646 634 31 142.00–148.00 $144.70 $917 +9.40
653–697 thin fleshed 662 175 140.50–147.00 $143.70 $951 —
657–696 675 11 144.00–149.00 $146.34 $988 +4.98
701–736 729 20 135.00–140.50 $136.06 $992 -4.34
781 781 8 131.00 $131.00 $1,023 -5.93
843 843 8 135.00 $135.00 $1,138 +3.66
965–990 977 21 120.00–127.50 $123.88 $1,210 -1.12
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
428 428 5 160.00 $160.00 $685 —
514 514 8 151.00 $151.00 $776 —
556 556 9 141.00 $141.00 $784 —
1003–1048 1019 454 124.50–134.85 $132.85 $1,354 -0.06
1050–1075 1060 98 128.00–132.75 $130.86 $1,387 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1137 1137 6 119.00 $119.00 $1,353 —
1265 1265 18 123.50 $123.50 $1,562 +4.26
1275 1275 12 124.00 $124.00 $1,581 +4.76
1327 1327 11 112.50 $112.50 $1,493 —
1277–1548 1371 280 119.00–124.50 $122.77 $1,683 —
1621 1621 10 118.00 $118.00 $1,913 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
348 348 25 156.00 $156.00 $543 —
450–471 458 16 130.00 $130.00 $595 —
582 582 6 127.00 $127.00 $739 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
240 240 10 460.00 $460.00 —
295 295 6 425.00 $425.00 —
300–320 312 10 300.00–450.00 $392.31 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 391 19 133.00 $133.00 $520 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
230 230 4 275.00 $275.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
409 409 5 135.00 $135.00 $552 —
536 536 11 138.00 $138.00 $740 —
644 644 10 130.00 $130.00 $837 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
735–1520 1131 85-90% 16 10.00–37.00 $25.76 $291 —
850–1503 1174 85-90% 50 41.00–55.00 $48.70 $572 +15.18
1180–1335 1283 85-90% 3 61.50–66.00 $64.62 $829 —
985–1790 1308 85-90% 52 54.50–61.00 $57.47 $752 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1120–1598 1439 75-80% 35 68.50–76.00 $73.21 $1,053 —
1370–1833 1550 75-80% 23 75.00–82.00 $77.81 $1,206 +0.96
1500–1741 1645 75-80% 9 65.00–68.00 $66.05 $1,087 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175 1175 80-85% 2 68.00 $68.00 $799 -1.94
1081–1730 1338 80-85% 46 60.00–67.00 $63.40 $848 -1.96
1233–1955 1367 80-85% 12 56.00–61.00 $58.43 $799 —
1430 1430 80-85% 1 40.00 $40.00 $572 -23.20
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1748 1574 65-75% 26 79.00–89.00 $83.52 $1,315 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195–2465 1758 21 60.00–89.50 $81.83 $1,439 —
1778–1945 1849 4 92.00–95.00 $93.16 $1,723 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1289 1289 12 105.00 $105.00 $1,353 —
1394–1574 1496 32 111.00–114.50 $112.75 $1,687 —
1420–1572 1507 28 106.50–110.00 $107.91 $1,626 —

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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.