Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 8, 2021

44,286 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 $171.32/cwt -4.77 vs last sale · ≈ $985/hd at 575 lb · 4,241 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $168.70/cwt -2.34 vs last sale · ≈ $1,048/hd at 621 lb · 3,700 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $155.57/cwt -5.91 vs last sale · ≈ $810/hd at 521 lb · 3,270 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 44,286 56,092 54,965
Feeder cattle 42,625 54,208 52,996
Slaughter cattle 1,661 1,884 1,969

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 550 lbs mostly steady, except 400-450 lbs 5.00 to 10.00 higher, over 550 lbs 2.00 to 5.00 lower. Heifer calves 2.00 to 5.00 lower. Yearling feeder steers steady to 2.00 higher, yearling heifers mostly steady except 950-1000 lbs 3.00 lower. Good demand for this very large offering of calves again this week, cow-calf producers in western and central South Dakota are continuing to market their calves as feed supplies are short. Fewer spring born calves being offered in East River auctions as those producers have more readily available feed supplies. The best demand for calves was seen on those light weight steers and heifers, under 500 lbs, which can be roughed through the winter and ran on grass next year as a yearling. Very good demand remains for yearlings. The market is extremely active as the cash fed cattle market rose to 130.00-132.00 and cattle feeders want to have cattle to fit those coming spring markets. Truck availability is still an issue which is keeping some pressure on the calf market. It’s not near as big of an issue for yearlings but it sure is with a bawling calf to keep them standing in a pen at the auction for 2-3 days waiting on a truck to haul them to their destination. Slaughter cows 1.00 to 3.00 higher, bulls too lightly tested for comparison.

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
260 260 23 225.00 $225.00 $585 +15.00
307–330 329 120 207.00–227.00 $226.22 $744 +11.64
355–395 372 315 185.00–228.00 $213.14 $793 +0.19
400–447 433 751 174.00–218.00 $205.93 $892 +9.50
450–499 480 1,845 168.00–208.00 $189.18 $908 -1.65
495 fancy 495 118 204.50 $204.50 $1,012 -4.50
500 fancy 500 119 204.50 $204.50 $1,022 +13.42
500–549 528 3,080 161.00–199.00 $180.02 $951 -0.47
505–543 529 40 160.00–163.00 $162.00 $857 -18.49
555–579 571 22 157.00–164.00 $161.84 $924 -14.47
550–597 575 4,193 150.00–181.75 $171.45 $986 -4.86
574–583 580 26 153.00–161.50 $158.59 $920 -17.72
600–649 621 3,700 148.00–178.00 $168.70 $1,048 -2.68
650–696 666 2,001 151.00–175.50 $163.97 $1,092 -3.66
706 fancy 706 180 173.50 $173.50 $1,225 —
700–737 718 474 151.00–171.50 $161.20 $1,157 -2.11
761 761 9 152.00 $152.00 $1,157 -5.74
783 unweaned 783 36 148.00 $148.00 $1,159 —
751–797 786 213 149.50–163.50 $156.14 $1,227 +5.64
807–842 834 157 153.25–165.25 $159.18 $1,328 +14.18
858–888 867 529 153.25–165.25 $160.41 $1,391 +8.91
891 891 74 145.00–152.25 $151.27 $1,348 -9.42
906–949 934 1,166 152.25–165.00 $161.21 $1,506 +2.12
950–996 972 752 147.00–164.50 $156.11 $1,517 -3.43
997 997 58 149.75 $149.75 $1,493 -9.79
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
277 thin fleshed 277 20 205.00 $205.00 $568 —
291 291 10 208.00 $208.00 $605 —
332 thin fleshed 332 44 207.00 $207.00 $687 —
336–342 340 65 194.00–204.00 $198.11 $674 +4.74
360–393 382 71 180.00–199.50 $190.92 $729 +4.34
404–435 428 134 151.00–198.00 $183.05 $783 +6.88
458–492 473 170 141.00–180.00 $165.66 $784 -0.54
503–549 526 359 154.00–178.50 $162.63 $855 -4.21
550–593 567 262 141.00–168.00 $156.58 $888 -7.09
602–646 621 178 140.00–161.00 $148.50 $922 -12.21
660–693 674 27 146.00–159.00 $151.32 $1,020 -3.23
685 685 5 141.00 $141.00 $966 -13.55
717 717 6 140.00 $140.00 $1,004 -11.50
922 922 63 145.50 $145.50 $1,342 -6.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
508–543 531 69 148.00–167.00 $160.87 $854 -10.13
636 636 36 147.00 $147.00 $935 -4.73
690 690 6 149.50 $149.50 $1,032 -5.32
1002–1038 1022 660 136.50–162.50 $154.99 $1,584 +12.49
1053–1091 1074 258 135.00–150.50 $147.61 $1,585 +1.39
1114–1143 1131 135 136.75–144.00 $141.12 $1,596 -0.93
1190–1193 1191 109 133.10–134.75 $134.40 $1,601 —
1315 1315 5 120.00 $120.00 $1,578 —
1370 1370 27 127.25 $127.25 $1,743 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220–1341 1278 60 128.00–138.50 $135.46 $1,731 +6.84
1305 1305 6 127.50 $127.50 $1,664 -1.50
1404–1482 1431 76 126.00–129.75 $128.33 $1,836 -2.86
1402–1495 1450 65 128.00–133.00 $129.94 $1,884 +3.85
1516 1516 7 129.00 $129.00 $1,956 -3.11
1523–1647 1558 60 128.00–134.00 $130.28 $2,030 +2.82
1513–1591 1561 146 124.00–129.75 $128.19 $2,001 +0.73
1619–1673 1639 164 124.00–129.00 $127.12 $2,083 +2.12
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308 308 6 170.00 $170.00 $524 -2.50
435 435 6 150.00 $150.00 $652 +16.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1052 1052 6 132.00 $132.00 $1,389 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307 thin fleshed 307 11 200.00 $200.00 $614 —
305–342 322 156 179.00–191.00 $187.46 $604 +12.40
361 361 5 165.00 $165.00 $596 -6.13
356–399 385 456 149.00–188.50 $178.56 $687 +7.43
409 thin fleshed 409 120 191.50 $191.50 $783 —
426 426 8 156.00 $156.00 $665 -14.57
403–448 428 702 145.00–178.00 $166.67 $713 -3.90
465 465 240 177.00 $177.00 $823 +44.50
450–499 479 1,802 140.50–169.00 $159.08 $762 -1.79
491 491 9 143.00 $143.00 $702 -8.00
502–521 510 22 142.00–143.50 $142.63 $727 -36.23
500–549 521 2,797 137.00–165.00 $153.53 $800 -25.33
500–539 521 444 166.00–172.00 $169.40 $883 -9.46
536 536 7 133.00 $133.00 $713 -18.52
550–597 570 2,544 138.50–158.00 $152.22 $868 -21.38
571 unweaned 571 10 154.50 $154.50 $882 +4.75
553–598 576 10 139.00–141.00 $140.04 $807 -14.33
585–598 592 208 155.00–182.00 $169.43 $1,003 +15.06
623 623 17 135.00 $135.00 $841 -17.99
600–649 628 1,165 134.75–156.50 $147.78 $928 -5.21
610–643 637 199 155.50–172.50 $165.20 $1,052 -2.16
655–662 659 25 124.00–142.00 $130.30 $859 -21.33
660 660 85 155.00 $155.00 $1,023 +3.37
654–699 680 357 135.00–157.50 $144.97 $986 -6.66
710 710 9 126.00 $126.00 $895 -21.68
715 thin fleshed 715 82 160.85 $160.85 $1,150 —
706–747 730 105 140.50–157.00 $151.93 $1,109 +17.31
753–784 771 550 148.50–157.75 $151.03 $1,164 +24.03
768–783 781 86 143.00–147.50 $143.57 $1,121 +16.57
810–836 816 21 134.75–145.00 $137.25 $1,120 -13.25
807–843 831 556 135.00–155.00 $150.55 $1,251 +15.55
850–895 870 1,012 127.50–158.50 $149.29 $1,299 -0.38
902–949 935 605 143.85–151.00 $146.53 $1,370 +0.13
950–996 965 330 132.00–150.50 $142.78 $1,378 -6.02
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
247 247 13 181.00 $181.00 $447 —
275 thin fleshed 275 5 195.00 $195.00 $536 —
327 thin fleshed 327 33 175.00 $175.00 $572 —
322–339 330 22 170.00–181.00 $175.14 $578 +10.57
350–397 376 58 145.00–167.00 $158.86 $597 +0.15
413–448 427 82 146.00–161.00 $155.36 $663 -11.70
457–495 471 58 140.00–153.00 $145.20 $684 -5.01
517–548 533 144 137.00–150.00 $144.57 $771 -2.27
552–591 579 160 131.00–153.50 $145.30 $841 -7.04
600–633 621 60 136.00–155.00 $149.68 $930 -2.11
653–654 653 21 131.00–143.00 $138.42 $904 -7.79
707–714 709 24 132.00–154.00 $146.62 $1,040 +10.14
779 779 5 137.00 $137.00 $1,067 +7.00
803 803 12 142.00 $142.00 $1,140 —
919 919 8 136.50 $136.50 $1,254 +4.96
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1177–1199 1192 17 125.00–127.50 $125.74 $1,499 -3.26
1274–1546 1364 215 127.00–133.25 $130.63 $1,782 —
1236–1479 1365 218 122.50–127.00 $125.73 $1,716 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 13 134.50 $134.50 $706 -7.57
602 602 38 138.50 $138.50 $834 +1.59
856 856 7 144.50 $144.50 $1,237 —
1001–1039 1013 102 129.00–152.75 $144.11 $1,460 -1.95
1061–1066 1063 47 126.00–137.00 $132.54 $1,409 -10.08
1156–1183 1174 57 127.25–131.75 $130.27 $1,529 —
1206 1206 4 124.00 $124.00 $1,495 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–449 434 18 135.00–140.00 $136.55 $593 -5.95
465 465 4 133.00 $133.00 $618 +3.00
479 thin fleshed 479 9 152.00 $152.00 $728 —
631 631 9 129.00 $129.00 $814 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
381 381 19 179.00 $179.00 $682 —
492 492 26 142.00 $142.00 $699 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
481 481 16 158.00 $158.00 $760 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115 1115 85-90% 3 65.00 $65.00 $725 —
870–1378 1172 85-90% 26 17.00–39.00 $34.60 $406 +3.24
970–1728 1270 85-90% 106 42.00–52.50 $47.01 $597 —
1188–1512 1347 85-90% 72 53.00–59.50 $55.89 $753 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1580 1396 75-80% 19 70.00–78.00 $76.38 $1,066 —
1340–1620 1527 75-80% 3 58.00–64.00 $62.24 $950 -13.76
1130–2030 1530 75-80% 17 70.00–76.00 $74.09 $1,134 -1.91
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1300–1460 1380 80-85% 2 69.00–70.00 $69.53 $960 —
1165–1638 1405 80-85% 21 60.00–68.00 $64.86 $911 +1.12
1212–1683 1430 80-85% 14 45.00–56.50 $51.50 $736 -12.24
1285–1620 1453 80-85% 2 43.00–43.50 $43.28 $629 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1410–1960 1685 2 85.50–91.00 $87.80 $1,479 +12.14
1245–2410 1783 30 60.00–84.50 $79.18 $1,412 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1419 1419 9 110.00 $110.00 $1,561 +3.18
1385–1604 1464 32 113.00–114.00 $113.32 $1,659 —

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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.