Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 15, 2021

37,421 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $168.85/cwt +0.15 vs last sale · ≈ $1,052/hd at 623 lb · 2,900 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $185.00/cwt +4.30 vs last sale · ≈ $970/hd at 524 lb · 2,667 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $176.15/cwt +4.83 vs last sale · ≈ $1,015/hd at 576 lb · 2,460 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 37,421 44,286 50,090
Feeder cattle 35,713 42,625 46,250
Slaughter cattle 1,708 1,661 3,840

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves 450-600 lbs 5.00 to 6.00 higher, over 600 lbs steady to 2.00 higher. Heifer calves 400-550 lbs 3.00 to 6.00 higher, over 550 lbs steady. Yearling feeder steers 3.00 to 6.00 higher, except 1050-1100 lbs 5.00 to 10.00 higher, yearling heifers 2.00 to 5.00 higher. Good to very good demand for steer and heifer calves, very good demand for yearling steers and heifers. As the cash fed cattle market topped at 135.00 this week, cattle feeders were willing to chase the market to get yearlings bought. This also spilled into the calf market as the CME Live Cattle contracts are at 135.00-136.00 for those months when these calves will reach their finished weights. Long strings of calves continue to come to market in West River SD but the fall run appears to be over the hump of the largest offerings as the drought conditions have pushed those cattle to town sooner. Most auction markets will not host a feeder cattle sale next week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Slaughter cows 1.00 to 3.00 lower, bulls not well tested.

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
339–344 342 19 216.00–225.00 $220.60 $754 -5.62
350–398 385 195 200.00–218.00 $206.67 $796 -6.47
400–448 422 310 169.00–217.00 $201.77 $851 -4.16
430 thin fleshed 430 50 224.00 $224.00 $963 —
450–499 477 1,185 163.00–208.50 $195.11 $931 +5.93
478 478 6 178.00 $178.00 $851 -11.18
494 fancy 494 75 217.50 $217.50 $1,074 +13.00
506–517 fancy 514 80 204.00–206.00 $204.49 $1,051 -0.01
500–547 524 2,462 164.00–202.00 $184.81 $968 +4.79
509–538 534 66 169.00–179.50 $177.98 $950 +15.98
510–544 538 59 161.00–179.00 $174.31 $938 +12.31
550–599 576 2,437 158.00–189.00 $176.26 $1,015 +4.81
575–595 591 23 154.00–167.00 $164.25 $971 +5.66
600–649 623 2,841 146.00–180.50 $169.16 $1,054 +0.46
621–648 635 59 148.00–157.00 $154.07 $978 -14.63
650–699 668 1,599 151.00–171.50 $165.14 $1,103 +1.17
703–748 721 331 150.00–166.75 $163.08 $1,176 +1.88
751 751 9 148.00 $148.00 $1,111 -4.00
750–796 771 494 152.25–163.75 $158.86 $1,225 +6.86
801–847 823 771 146.00–173.25 $164.55 $1,354 +5.37
827 827 63 157.25 $157.25 $1,300 -1.93
875 875 66 158.00 $158.00 $1,382 -2.41
853–896 876 1,275 152.75–173.25 $163.12 $1,429 +2.71
901–946 917 1,063 152.50–171.00 $166.15 $1,524 +4.94
910–931 925 127 156.75–160.00 $158.49 $1,466 -2.72
951–995 978 548 146.25–160.00 $153.99 $1,506 -2.12
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1004–1047 1022 587 145.00–160.00 $157.27 $1,607 +2.28
1053–1093 1073 353 128.50–153.35 $152.05 $1,631 +4.44
1102–1141 1117 748 150.50–154.50 $152.10 $1,699 +10.98
1205 1205 24 127.00 $127.00 $1,530 —
1309 1309 14 125.00 $125.00 $1,636 +5.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1292 1292 14 128.00 $128.00 $1,654 -7.46
1357 1357 9 127.00 $127.00 $1,723 —
1410 1410 9 127.00 $127.00 $1,791 -1.33
1304–1468 1431 44 123.00–125.00 $123.41 $1,766 -4.92
1405–1454 1432 92 130.00–134.75 $132.42 $1,896 +4.09
1415–1499 1481 104 126.00–129.75 $128.63 $1,905 -1.31
1493–1584 1545 257 129.00–135.00 $132.72 $2,051 +3.72
1506–1595 1556 421 124.00–130.50 $128.43 $1,998 -1.85
1615–1650 1620 62 127.00–129.00 $127.62 $2,067 +0.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
293 293 8 205.00 $205.00 $601 -3.00
314–335 326 22 165.00–228.00 $200.30 $653 +2.19
355–389 378 57 180.00–198.00 $188.07 $711 -2.85
400–442 428 118 176.00–197.00 $186.18 $797 +3.13
453–496 475 87 159.00–186.00 $171.11 $813 +5.45
516–537 530 84 145.00–182.50 $165.50 $877 +2.87
553–595 576 122 150.00–167.00 $160.98 $927 +4.40
597 thin fleshed 597 75 151.00 $151.00 $901 —
608–640 633 47 146.00–158.00 $155.82 $986 +7.32
655 thin fleshed 655 79 154.00 $154.00 $1,009 —
652–694 666 89 131.00–156.00 $149.65 $997 -1.67
702–738 718 18 136.00–159.00 $150.89 $1,083 +10.89
780 780 5 149.00 $149.00 $1,162 —
897 897 22 141.00 $141.00 $1,265 —
906–930 924 40 135.75–148.00 $143.87 $1,329 -1.63
990 990 11 132.00 $132.00 $1,307 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
414 414 31 167.00 $167.00 $691 +17.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1001 1001 5 140.00 $140.00 $1,401 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
249 249 8 205.00 $205.00 $510 —
326–342 337 27 172.50–205.00 $195.49 $659 +8.03
350–399 379 304 155.00–184.00 $171.88 $651 -6.68
405–449 431 537 150.00–179.00 $169.56 $731 +2.89
451 fancy 451 120 185.00 $185.00 $834 —
450–499 478 1,192 151.00–178.00 $162.58 $777 +3.50
463–492 480 56 141.00–151.00 $145.81 $700 -13.27
525 525 22 144.00 $144.00 $756 -9.53
500–549 526 2,159 142.50–173.00 $160.55 $844 +7.02
551–565 561 134 165.50–175.00 $168.29 $944 +16.07
553–575 565 17 130.00–134.00 $132.16 $747 -20.06
550–599 569 2,128 136.50–172.50 $152.13 $866 -0.09
607–614 610 215 159.00–183.00 $166.90 $1,018 +31.90
610 610 28 132.00 $132.00 $805 -3.00
600–649 625 1,295 134.75–155.25 $148.36 $927 +13.36
636 636 10 136.00 $136.00 $865 -29.20
667 667 12 152.50 $152.50 $1,017 -2.50
663–680 671 44 128.50–136.00 $132.37 $888 -12.60
651–698 683 423 136.00–156.00 $150.30 $1,027 +5.33
717 717 32 142.00 $142.00 $1,018 +16.00
705–749 738 167 141.00–155.50 $151.16 $1,116 -0.77
751–796 776 876 144.50–157.85 $152.99 $1,187 +1.96
799 799 58 148.25 $148.25 $1,185 +4.68
803–843 826 668 147.00–157.50 $152.08 $1,256 +1.53
851–899 873 589 147.25–154.75 $150.34 $1,312 +1.05
901–949 919 490 140.75–155.25 $148.55 $1,365 +2.02
954–995 981 377 139.00–154.00 $148.45 $1,456 +5.67
994 994 46 134.00 $134.00 $1,332 -8.78
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
316–340 324 23 148.00–165.00 $158.80 $515 -16.34
356–376 366 45 170.00–182.00 $176.43 $646 +17.57
400–421 410 119 132.00–162.00 $147.57 $605 -7.79
471–497 486 105 142.00–152.00 $147.39 $716 +2.19
486 486 17 150.00 $150.00 $729 +4.80
504–549 533 115 131.00–146.75 $140.63 $750 -3.94
558–585 570 96 132.00–149.00 $141.68 $808 -3.62
614–648 635 41 129.50–146.50 $136.12 $864 -13.56
650–697 673 21 126.00–145.00 $134.31 $904 -4.11
725 725 78 133.00 $133.00 $964 -13.62
761 761 26 136.00 $136.00 $1,035 -1.00
805–828 816 26 133.00–142.00 $138.80 $1,133 -3.20
820 thin fleshed 820 5 147.00 $147.00 $1,205 —
969 969 4 126.00 $126.00 $1,221 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1009–1047 1039 101 140.00–148.50 $142.00 $1,475 -2.11
1052–1077 1062 42 129.50–150.00 $141.41 $1,502 +8.87
1111–1136 1134 117 122.00–133.00 $132.36 $1,501 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1243 1243 22 124.75 $124.75 $1,551 —
1258–1425 1342 122 125.00–128.75 $126.85 $1,702 —
1277–1446 1367 111 129.00–135.00 $131.51 $1,798 +5.78
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385–389 387 41 130.00–148.00 $139.70 $541 —
401 401 19 122.50 $122.50 $491 -14.05
470–499 496 92 133.00–141.00 $133.82 $664 +0.82
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1043 1043 7 130.50 $130.50 $1,361 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 338 8 212.50 $212.50 $718 —
443 443 13 195.00 $195.00 $864 —
717 717 79 156.50 $156.50 $1,122 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
662–1406 1078 85-90% 26 11.00–39.00 $27.85 $300 —
1110 1110 85-90% 1 59.00 $59.00 $655 -6.00
898–1585 1184 85-90% 26 50.00–56.00 $51.75 $613 +17.15
850–1631 1334 85-90% 59 30.00–49.00 $44.27 $591 -11.62
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1320 1287 80-85% 3 42.00–49.00 $45.41 $584 —
1075–1575 1366 80-85% 30 59.50–66.00 $63.28 $864 -6.25
1170–1563 1387 80-85% 5 67.00–69.00 $68.25 $947 -1.28
1235–1610 1390 80-85% 21 44.00–59.00 $55.29 $769 -14.24
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1443–1685 1564 75-80% 13 63.00–68.00 $65.45 $1,024 —
1180–1745 1586 75-80% 13 69.00–77.00 $71.46 $1,133 —
1465–1850 1629 75-80% 5 78.00–81.00 $79.24 $1,291 —
1850 1850 75-80% 1 56.00 $56.00 $1,036 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1688–2000 1844 65-75% 6 87.00–89.00 $88.08 $1,624 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1185–2805 1849 14 61.00–84.00 $76.73 $1,419 —
1725–2035 1897 3 85.00–91.00 $88.61 $1,681 —
2160 2160 1 99.00 $99.00 $2,138 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1442–1478 1458 9 84.00–98.00 $90.31 $1,317 -23.01
1421–1486 1459 24 109.00 $109.00 $1,590 -4.32
1412–1562 1499 23 110.00–113.50 $111.46 $1,671 -1.86

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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.