Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 25, 2021

56,646 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $175.93/cwt +0.16 vs last sale · ≈ $1,008/hd at 573 lb · 7,401 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $180.71/cwt -0.58 vs last sale · ≈ $950/hd at 526 lb · 4,912 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $159.92/cwt -0.87 vs last sale · ≈ $837/hd at 524 lb · 4,224 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 56,646 57,525 38,248
Feeder cattle 54,465 56,390 36,659
Slaughter cattle 2,181 1,135 1,589

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, steer calves sold steady to 3.00 lower; yearling steers steady to 3.00 higher. Heifer calves sold 2.00 to 6.00 lower; yearling heifers steady to 2.00 higher. Good to very good demand for yearlings in moderate to moderate plus flesh. Demand for calves varied greatly depending on the quality and vaccination programs. The calves that were not fully vaccinated were met light to moderate demand, while attractive quality, fully vaccinated calves, especially those selling in load lots, were met with good to very good demand. Flesh on calves also varied, from light to moderate plus. An active market on yearlings, moderate to active on calves with mostly order buyers interested in buying cattle today. Fields and yards remain muddy and colder weather is expected for next week. Many farmers are trying to wrap up harvest which has become difficult due to all the fall moisture. This is the second week in a row of feeder cattle receipts on this report eclipsing 50,000 head.

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
315–349 336 107 172.00–219.00 $204.93 $689 -14.06
356–398 384 633 193.50–231.00 $216.69 $832 +1.89
365–391 388 55 194.00–195.00 $194.10 $753 -20.70
400–449 428 1,430 179.00–216.50 $202.78 $868 -4.98
427–446 434 21 190.50–191.00 $190.80 $828 -16.96
470 470 12 174.00 $174.00 $818 -18.29
450–499 480 3,781 172.00–209.50 $189.54 $910 -2.75
477–499 fancy 485 311 201.00–203.50 $202.57 $982 —
470–498 486 77 166.00–176.00 $172.26 $837 -20.03
502–527 514 64 160.00–165.00 $163.88 $842 -6.62
515 fancy 515 59 197.00 $197.00 $1,015 —
500–549 526 4,661 165.50–195.00 $181.08 $952 -0.66
500–540 531 128 159.00–169.50 $168.16 $893 +4.46
550 550 11 154.00 $154.00 $847 -12.00
550–599 572 7,002 153.00–186.00 $175.63 $1,005 +0.02
567–595 fancy 585 328 180.00–187.50 $185.50 $1,085 +0.50
574–597 591 60 162.00–164.00 $162.97 $963 -12.64
600–630 603 61 151.00–154.00 $151.88 $916 -18.18
613 613 39 161.50 $161.50 $990 -8.56
600–646 621 2,861 153.75–183.75 $170.42 $1,058 +0.36
655–665 fancy 660 272 174.00–181.00 $178.70 $1,179 —
650–686 662 1,143 145.00–176.50 $166.80 $1,104 +19.73
675 675 18 151.00 $151.00 $1,019 -15.33
707–748 727 195 156.75–169.00 $164.51 $1,196 +22.51
729 729 9 151.50 $151.50 $1,104 +9.50
755–798 775 581 141.50–172.00 $162.39 $1,259 +2.14
838–848 842 116 157.25–164.50 $161.49 $1,360 +2.23
857–898 879 874 151.00–166.50 $156.41 $1,375 -3.10
913 913 65 144.50 $144.50 $1,319 -5.15
902–949 936 1,216 153.00–164.50 $159.36 $1,492 +3.87
955–997 983 548 149.00–158.00 $153.03 $1,504 -0.04
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 5 205.00 $205.00 $769 —
414–431 427 149 173.00–192.50 $189.90 $811 —
455–473 462 31 174.00–175.50 $174.91 $808 +7.78
502–548 525 134 155.00–166.00 $162.63 $854 -4.65
563–589 584 43 161.50–163.00 $161.96 $946 +2.96
606–646 627 102 157.00–158.00 $157.30 $986 —
658 658 19 152.00 $152.00 $1,000 +7.00
1000–1044 1025 441 143.75–155.25 $150.63 $1,544 +1.90
1033 1033 11 139.50 $139.50 $1,441 -9.23
1054–1096 1086 1,078 137.50–154.25 $148.45 $1,612 +0.32
1117–1125 1120 84 131.50–142.00 $138.11 $1,547 -0.56
1160 1160 20 135.50 $135.50 $1,572 -7.14
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1271 1271 8 134.00 $134.00 $1,703 —
1309 1309 5 120.00 $120.00 $1,571 -8.50
1230–1362 1325 59 124.00–129.00 $125.90 $1,668 -1.10
1403–1495 1446 191 126.00–129.50 $128.16 $1,853 —
1411–1482 1452 200 122.00–126.25 $123.79 $1,797 +0.04
1467 1467 6 123.00 $123.00 $1,804 -0.75
1473 1473 20 121.00 $121.00 $1,782 -2.75
1501–1534 1515 14 128.00–129.00 $128.43 $1,946 —
1503–1586 1546 305 121.50–127.00 $124.75 $1,929 —
1605–1655 1630 194 122.25–124.50 $123.18 $2,008 -3.82
1776 1776 30 119.50 $119.50 $2,122 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–286 277 23 195.00–205.00 $202.36 $561 -2.19
305–317 311 19 209.00–220.00 $214.10 $666 +14.61
350–398 368 164 176.00–202.00 $189.23 $696 -9.88
400–448 424 150 152.50–188.00 $168.10 $713 -12.76
452–491 477 98 152.00–176.00 $162.58 $776 -9.31
500–543 523 160 150.00–170.00 $160.84 $841 -3.03
554–592 568 138 148.50–163.25 $158.58 $901 +1.91
629–643 640 20 141.00–157.50 $145.06 $928 -7.92
657–696 677 18 145.00–158.00 $150.65 $1,020 +8.65
715–740 727 41 154.00–160.00 $157.57 $1,146 +13.57
804–837 827 28 143.00–161.50 $155.37 $1,285 +1.37
888–898 893 19 146.00–150.00 $147.29 $1,315 -0.46
925 925 16 145.00 $145.00 $1,341 +13.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353 353 8 176.50 $176.50 $623 +8.40
1028 1028 15 137.00 $137.00 $1,408 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
648 648 6 132.00 $132.00 $855 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–295 284 22 172.00–181.00 $175.05 $497 -11.58
305–345 336 216 162.00–190.00 $180.86 $608 -7.47
350–399 378 651 159.50–188.00 $175.68 $664 -1.30
397 397 11 156.00 $156.00 $619 -20.98
405–411 thin fleshed 411 131 180.00–181.00 $180.92 $744 -2.08
420 420 36 152.50 $152.50 $640 -38.50
402–449 428 1,644 154.00–183.00 $167.37 $716 -6.66
465 thin fleshed 465 54 175.00 $175.00 $814 —
475 475 86 141.00 $141.00 $670 -24.00
450–499 477 2,940 143.50–174.00 $160.74 $767 -4.26
486 fancy 486 90 175.00 $175.00 $850 —
494 494 14 146.00 $146.00 $721 -45.00
495 495 116 204.00 $204.00 $1,010 +13.00
500–549 523 3,926 145.00–175.50 $158.44 $829 -1.44
520–540 532 272 177.00–188.50 $183.38 $976 +6.41
523–545 539 26 136.50–139.00 $137.82 $743 -3.68
550–585 565 1,245 155.00–211.50 $174.78 $988 +19.07
550–594 573 2,092 133.00–163.00 $153.16 $878 -2.55
598 598 69 142.50 $142.50 $852 -13.21
600–647 621 687 137.00–158.50 $152.12 $945 -0.92
628 628 9 135.00 $135.00 $848 -15.00
625–645 637 45 171.00–173.00 $172.26 $1,097 +22.26
653 653 38 135.00 $135.00 $882 -15.35
668–689 679 41 141.00–155.50 $145.29 $987 -5.06
701–749 722 685 145.50–160.50 $154.40 $1,115 +4.33
723 723 5 146.00 $146.00 $1,056 -4.07
759–786 776 87 145.00–149.75 $147.99 $1,148 -4.23
754–791 780 214 148.00–154.75 $151.74 $1,184 -0.48
789–794 793 27 133.00–136.00 $135.23 $1,072 -16.99
802–848 820 689 145.85–158.00 $152.41 $1,250 +2.16
862 862 23 144.00 $144.00 $1,241 -3.39
850–895 879 1,207 144.25–156.25 $146.77 $1,290 -0.62
903–948 930 266 139.00–150.00 $144.82 $1,347 -6.56
936–943 939 122 135.00–135.75 $135.38 $1,271 -16.00
952–972 957 526 143.10–151.00 $147.41 $1,411 +15.91
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
286–294 289 13 185.00–189.00 $187.44 $542 —
300–315 308 13 162.00–172.00 $166.49 $513 -10.90
356–391 369 73 150.00–169.00 $161.25 $595 -1.04
403–445 417 69 142.00–171.00 $151.87 $633 -4.27
459–499 474 263 137.50–159.25 $150.05 $711 +0.23
508–545 529 146 141.00–151.00 $143.76 $760 -2.65
555–565 561 17 135.00–147.00 $137.84 $773 -4.93
602–629 621 63 135.00–149.00 $141.62 $879 -0.74
663–698 675 146 135.00–154.50 $148.10 $1,000 +13.90
714–746 721 76 143.00–149.00 $145.50 $1,049 +9.95
781 781 7 143.50 $143.50 $1,121 +4.87
888 888 6 135.50 $135.50 $1,203 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
373–386 377 20 168.00 $168.00 $633 +15.50
451–494 482 156 143.00–155.00 $150.25 $724 -8.75
571–582 578 33 137.00–141.50 $138.48 $800 -7.52
1003–1044 1025 349 130.00–145.50 $138.08 $1,415 +4.14
1058–1079 1074 207 132.75–138.75 $135.96 $1,460 +1.81
1116–1131 1129 67 135.75–137.50 $136.03 $1,536 +18.03
1181–1182 1181 48 121.25–130.50 $122.99 $1,453 -7.40
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1084–1163 1107 14 121.50–124.00 $123.25 $1,364 —
1148–1204 1193 118 112.50–115.25 $114.71 $1,368 —
1371 1371 14 131.00 $131.00 $1,796 +9.44
1309–1456 1374 174 123.00–125.25 $123.71 $1,700 +2.15
1154–1476 1397 170 123.00–130.00 $128.36 $1,793 +6.80
1394–1400 1398 12 121.00 $121.00 $1,692 -0.56
1429 1429 6 120.00 $120.00 $1,715 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 4 137.00 $137.00 $658 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
463 463 6 159.00 $159.00 $736 —
524–549 535 36 147.00–150.00 $148.63 $795 —
564 564 14 145.00 $145.00 $818 —
653 653 14 140.00 $140.00 $914 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590–1280 914 85-90% 19 10.00–32.00 $21.39 $196 —
680–1595 1196 85-90% 52 40.00–51.00 $46.15 $552 -13.79
1085–1560 1274 85-90% 47 50.00–58.50 $55.89 $712 +8.97
1295 1295 85-90% 1 58.50 $58.50 $758 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1048–1820 1327 80-85% 90 59.00–66.50 $62.30 $827 —
1205–1805 1422 80-85% 24 46.00–58.00 $55.81 $794 +0.56
1315–1605 1460 80-85% 3 44.00–46.00 $45.27 $661 -1.73
1460 1460 80-85% 2 67.00–67.50 $67.25 $982 +20.25
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1227–1795 1435 75-80% 26 59.00–67.50 $64.25 $922 —
1290–1775 1531 75-80% 20 68.00–74.00 $69.77 $1,068 -1.11
1595 1595 75-80% 1 54.00 $54.00 $861 —
1460–1885 1639 75-80% 22 75.00–83.00 $80.54 $1,320 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1406–1743 1502 65-75% 7 85.00–93.00 $90.35 $1,357 -4.65

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320–2910 1894 16 61.00–85.00 $78.89 $1,494 —
1605–2090 1916 4 87.00–93.50 $89.18 $1,709 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 8 137.50 $137.50 $667 —
583–584 584 90 114.00–120.00 $118.00 $689 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1407–1418 1413 12 106.00–108.00 $107.00 $1,512 —
1329–1568 1428 65 109.00–117.00 $112.60 $1,608 —
1463 1463 10 97.00 $97.00 $1,419 -12.95

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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.