Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 6, 2021

34,734 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 $182.42/cwt +5.42 vs last sale · ≈ $1,140/hd at 625 lb · 3,100 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $177.52/cwt +4.69 vs last sale · ≈ $1,188/hd at 669 lb · 2,757 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $186.11/cwt +2.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,073/hd at 577 lb · 2,642 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 34,734 38,217 41,155
Feeder cattle 33,273 36,103 38,758
Slaughter cattle 1,461 2,114 2,397

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 950 lbs steady to 5.00 higher, over 950 lbs steady to 3.00 lower. Feeder heifers under 800 lbs 2.00 to 5.00 higher, 800-900 lbs unevenly steady, over 900 lbs steady to 3.00 lower. Very good demand remains for all weights of feeder steers and heifers. The cash fed cattle market continues to offer support to the feeder cattle market, yet the Live Cattle futures contracts are not keeping pace with the cash market. Cattle feeders are feeling much better about the fed market and are willing to chase the market a little to get the cattle bought that they like. Flesh condition, as it always is, remains a critical factor but this is even more important when feed costs are as high as they are. Large auction receipts this week as many auctions will not host a feeder cattle sale during the two week period of Christmas and New Year's. Slaughter cows and bulls steady to 1.00 higher.

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
287 287 9 215.00 $215.00 $617 —
304–339 326 13 202.00–222.50 $215.14 $701 -7.36
354–397 373 107 198.00–230.50 $221.17 $825 +1.54
400–446 421 390 197.00–232.50 $216.89 $913 +0.91
464 464 9 191.00 $191.00 $886 -14.83
450–498 478 762 193.00–223.00 $208.74 $998 +2.91
500–548 525 1,530 184.00–208.50 $198.05 $1,040 -0.25
525 525 8 186.00 $186.00 $976 -12.30
531 531 7 179.00 $179.00 $950 -11.80
550–599 576 2,503 168.00–199.50 $185.96 $1,071 +2.27
570–583 576 22 173.00–173.50 $173.27 $998 -10.42
582–585 583 19 156.50–164.50 $162.81 $949 -20.88
590 fancy 590 98 197.25 $197.25 $1,164 —
607–626 617 19 161.50–173.00 $166.86 $1,030 +2.26
600–649 625 3,046 164.00–196.50 $182.61 $1,141 +20.87
632 632 35 174.00 $174.00 $1,100 +12.26
650–695 669 2,688 157.75–191.00 $177.76 $1,189 +18.56
672–682 677 69 167.00–169.00 $168.08 $1,138 -4.99
701–743 724 1,366 155.50–182.00 $173.83 $1,259 +4.82
711–745 725 95 149.00–164.00 $156.12 $1,132 -12.89
766 766 41 155.50 $155.50 $1,191 +4.91
750–793 769 421 154.00–173.50 $165.88 $1,276 +15.29
812 812 12 156.75 $156.75 $1,273 -6.35
810–848 834 477 156.50–169.00 $164.80 $1,374 +1.70
850–896 879 1,133 157.50–171.00 $165.04 $1,451 +0.15
908 thin fleshed 908 283 172.00 $172.00 $1,562 —
901–947 923 955 153.75–171.50 $163.20 $1,506 +13.20
952–999 975 658 154.50–168.75 $163.99 $1,599 -2.43
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
529–534 533 23 182.00–184.00 $183.57 $978 +0.57
584 584 18 160.50 $160.50 $937 -16.00
572–593 587 46 168.00–178.50 $175.84 $1,032 -0.66
656–669 657 47 165.50–166.50 $166.39 $1,093 +13.39
1007–1048 1032 516 155.50–164.00 $159.41 $1,645 -4.70
1052–1092 1071 867 148.25–162.85 $158.11 $1,693 +0.07
1074 1074 5 145.00 $145.00 $1,557 -13.04
1123–1138 1130 530 154.35–156.50 $155.66 $1,759 -3.64
1150–1192 1171 107 147.50–154.50 $150.90 $1,767 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–340 334 39 211.00–227.00 $220.49 $736 +11.21
360 360 10 190.00 $190.00 $684 -14.93
361–391 387 69 180.00–222.00 $203.70 $788 +33.70
401–445 426 65 162.00–205.00 $186.77 $796 -0.34
454–497 478 132 166.00–210.00 $186.63 $892 +2.71
487 487 7 175.00 $175.00 $852 -8.92
510–549 523 135 160.00–188.00 $177.00 $926 +0.99
554–592 571 72 165.00–175.00 $171.79 $981 +5.13
615 615 26 157.00 $157.00 $966 -2.58
600–647 627 150 155.00–167.50 $159.81 $1,002 +0.23
650–692 670 33 156.00–160.00 $159.25 $1,067 -1.00
728 728 17 141.00 $141.00 $1,026 -10.31
729–734 730 58 155.00–159.00 $157.89 $1,153 +6.58
762–788 775 52 146.00–166.25 $155.26 $1,203 -1.24
800–816 803 29 146.50–156.00 $148.70 $1,194 +3.84
936 936 20 148.00 $148.00 $1,385 +4.52
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1234 1234 16 140.75 $140.75 $1,737 —
1106–1300 1235 30 137.00–138.75 $138.23 $1,707 —
1159–1347 1274 31 137.75–140.50 $139.02 $1,771 —
1360 1360 5 137.00 $137.00 $1,863 +0.67
1432–1481 1456 46 135.50–141.25 $137.95 $2,009 -0.20
1413–1492 1464 144 132.00–138.50 $134.95 $1,976 -3.20
1513–1588 1545 162 131.00–137.50 $135.91 $2,100 -1.38
1527–1563 1556 25 135.00–139.50 $135.88 $2,114 -2.01
1612 1612 8 133.00 $133.00 $2,144 -0.65
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1036–1037 1036 23 128.00–151.50 $142.30 $1,474 -2.62
1063–1092 1088 23 128.00–140.00 $137.25 $1,493 —
1125 1125 14 125.00 $125.00 $1,406 —
1150 1150 7 137.00 $137.00 $1,576 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 7 175.00 $175.00 $595 —
363 363 5 190.00 $190.00 $690 —
463–479 473 26 161.00–175.00 $170.26 $805 —
505 505 11 171.00 $171.00 $864 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
524 524 46 141.00 $141.00 $739 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 21 132.00 $132.00 $601 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
576 576 12 170.00 $170.00 $979 +18.00
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
459 459 4 144.00 $144.00 $661 —
688 688 5 147.50 $147.50 $1,015 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 9 180.00 $180.00 $477 —
302–348 328 44 167.50–198.00 $181.87 $597 +1.87
358–399 380 211 171.00–199.00 $183.54 $697 -3.49
404–445 424 390 165.00–190.50 $181.14 $768 +2.05
460 thin fleshed 460 41 180.00 $180.00 $828 —
450–498 471 943 154.00–190.00 $177.83 $838 +2.78
505 thin fleshed 505 30 175.00 $175.00 $884 —
506–521 514 25 162.00–163.00 $162.57 $836 -0.69
501–549 524 1,094 153.00–184.50 $171.14 $897 +7.88
553–599 577 1,369 150.00–180.00 $164.23 $948 +11.23
590 590 50 173.50 $173.50 $1,024 -4.12
620–624 622 169 173.50 $173.50 $1,079 +18.15
605–644 625 123 145.75–154.50 $149.13 $932 -23.80
601–649 626 1,429 146.00–168.00 $160.62 $1,005 -12.31
651–697 674 852 140.00–164.60 $156.78 $1,057 +4.47
715–720 718 160 164.00 $164.00 $1,178 +5.98
709–749 720 114 143.00–159.00 $152.59 $1,099 -5.43
718–749 728 27 132.00–148.00 $138.93 $1,011 -19.09
756–793 774 493 148.00–160.50 $156.77 $1,213 +4.35
821–846 837 274 152.00–159.00 $153.78 $1,287 -1.33
853–895 868 27 135.00–146.00 $142.91 $1,240 -10.74
851–885 870 617 149.00–156.00 $152.83 $1,330 -0.82
884 884 7 146.00 $146.00 $1,291 -7.65
902–948 921 433 145.00–164.70 $153.87 $1,417 +13.87
950–999 961 337 139.50–156.00 $149.66 $1,438 -3.37
956–977 971 23 133.00–135.75 $134.93 $1,310 -18.10
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–345 320 34 152.50–179.00 $162.11 $519 -21.05
355–394 371 42 151.00–183.00 $167.03 $620 +0.97
419–442 428 38 152.50–176.00 $165.58 $709 -6.74
450–494 469 116 153.00–165.00 $158.04 $741 -1.62
503–544 527 127 140.00–160.00 $155.60 $820 +4.71
552–594 567 172 144.00–160.00 $153.81 $872 +1.80
622–643 635 67 148.50–155.00 $152.40 $968 +8.41
691–696 695 30 131.00–150.50 $147.92 $1,028 +3.01
734–746 744 25 135.00–148.00 $137.05 $1,020 +14.05
753–784 775 39 140.00–149.50 $146.40 $1,135 +6.40
827–833 831 50 138.00–148.75 $146.14 $1,214 +3.14
887 887 3 145.00 $145.00 $1,286 +7.72
948 948 6 138.00 $138.00 $1,308 +5.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
508–516 510 35 145.00–153.00 $146.85 $749 +6.35
1001–1048 1019 79 141.00–153.00 $145.46 $1,482 +0.04
1050–1090 1069 42 126.00–150.00 $142.81 $1,527 -3.25
1106 1106 111 149.60 $149.60 $1,655 +3.70
1101–1137 1115 179 141.00–148.00 $144.85 $1,615 -1.05
1163–1170 1165 72 139.25–145.25 $143.58 $1,673 +12.58
1204–1205 1205 28 135.75–146.00 $140.51 $1,693 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1255 1255 10 137.50 $137.50 $1,726 +6.50
1207–1498 1351 112 135.25–138.35 $136.61 $1,846 -1.13
1273–1481 1398 215 135.00–138.00 $137.24 $1,919 +0.36
1556 1556 16 125.00 $125.00 $1,945 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
466 466 25 155.00 $155.00 $722 —
1052 1052 3 133.00 $133.00 $1,399 -5.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382 382 11 120.00 $120.00 $458 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308 308 4 150.00 $150.00 $462 —
406 406 4 152.50 $152.50 $619 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845 845 41 147.00 $147.00 $1,242 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1645 1257 85-90% 21 15.00–46.00 $33.12 $416 -11.48
1110–1415 1301 85-90% 8 60.00–60.50 $60.06 $781 —
915–1653 1304 85-90% 69 39.00–54.00 $47.20 $615 —
1050–1540 1331 85-90% 56 52.00–59.50 $55.48 $738 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010–1530 1270 80-85% 2 25.00–44.00 $32.56 $414 -13.93
1060–1815 1416 80-85% 43 43.00–62.00 $55.88 $791 -8.33
1418 1418 80-85% 2 69.50 $69.50 $986 +5.29
988–1660 1424 80-85% 70 61.00–69.00 $64.67 $921 +0.46
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1425–1790 1545 75-80% 15 63.00–69.50 $66.32 $1,025 —
1160–1725 1547 75-80% 38 71.00–76.00 $74.13 $1,147 —
1440–1910 1722 75-80% 5 77.00–79.00 $78.33 $1,349 —
1930 1930 75-80% 1 45.00 $45.00 $868 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135–2195 1614 13 55.00–84.00 $72.49 $1,170 —
1225–2400 1771 13 82.50–90.50 $86.51 $1,532 +11.47
2350–2470 2410 2 95.00 $95.00 $2,290 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1370–1570 1439 33 110.00–116.00 $113.58 $1,634 +5.35
1538 1538 7 109.00 $109.00 $1,676 —

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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.