Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 3, 2022

33,688 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $170.68/cwt -5.94 vs last sale · ≈ $1,244/hd at 729 lb · 3,242 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $164.11/cwt -6.50 vs last sale · ≈ $1,272/hd at 775 lb · 2,797 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $183.47/cwt -6.38 vs last sale · ≈ $1,155/hd at 630 lb · 2,351 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 33,688 7,579 36,640
Feeder cattle 32,294 6,736 34,465
Slaughter cattle 1,394 843 2,175

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Only 1 reported auction a week ago, no recent price comparison to be made with this week's full run of reported auctions. Very good demand for all weights of steers and heifers. As the New Year began and all auction markets came back to their regular weekly feeder cattle sales, cattle feeders and order buyers were geared up and ready to buy cattle. The Live Cattle contracts faltered and traded lower as daily slaughter totals have declined, but there is great optimism yet from many cattle feeders that better days lie ahead and they want to have cattle ready when that time comes. Packers were able to buy cattle cheaper this week as they have had to cut their daily kills. Feeder cattle producers are eager to get their cattle consigned and sold as the market is so much higher than where they were expecting it to be just a few short months ago. Large auction receipts expected again for next week. Slaughter cows were mixed, Breaker and Boner cows 3.00 to 6.00 lower, Lean cows and 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
247 247 5 260.00 $260.00 $642 —
339–348 342 13 222.50–235.00 $230.11 $787 —
356–394 372 48 200.00–240.00 $218.79 $814 +0.79
417–423 420 16 171.50–185.00 $178.20 $748 -31.21
400–443 424 172 207.00–226.00 $217.65 $923 +8.24
461 461 20 216.00 $216.00 $996 +13.36
452–496 479 581 190.00–220.00 $210.09 $1,006 +7.45
488 488 13 200.00 $200.00 $976 -2.64
518 thin fleshed 518 32 224.00 $224.00 $1,160 —
500–548 529 734 180.00–216.00 $200.52 $1,061 +7.28
521–548 541 18 166.00–190.00 $172.43 $933 -20.81
550 fancy 550 21 204.00 $204.00 $1,122 —
555 unweaned 555 7 188.00 $188.00 $1,043 —
553–598 575 1,038 176.50–206.25 $193.99 $1,115 +4.17
551–594 582 111 173.00–187.50 $182.71 $1,063 -7.11
601 thin fleshed 601 95 203.50 $203.50 $1,223 +4.75
607 unweaned 607 14 169.50 $169.50 $1,029 —
623 623 7 173.00 $173.00 $1,078 -4.88
600–649 631 2,199 168.00–190.00 $183.09 $1,155 +5.21
605–649 633 36 144.50–174.00 $161.25 $1,021 -16.63
650 unweaned 650 13 162.00 $162.00 $1,053 —
657–692 673 86 160.50–169.00 $166.09 $1,118 -9.33
650–698 674 2,128 162.00–185.75 $175.70 $1,184 +0.28
710–745 728 41 155.00–161.00 $158.56 $1,154 -15.54
700–749 729 3,201 156.00–179.50 $170.84 $1,245 -3.26
750–799 774 2,690 150.50–179.00 $164.43 $1,273 -6.18
790–798 797 107 146.00–159.00 $156.06 $1,244 -14.55
800–848 825 1,207 154.50–167.00 $162.95 $1,344 -3.08
833 833 66 170.25 $170.25 $1,418 +4.22
851–898 875 1,466 153.00–168.75 $161.05 $1,409 -2.13
900–949 919 621 151.25–164.50 $158.22 $1,454 -3.42
963–985 975 179 154.50–158.25 $156.18 $1,523 -8.36
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
309–335 322 18 200.00–212.50 $205.53 $662 -14.47
367–393 383 68 195.00–210.00 $205.22 $786 —
400–444 431 33 183.00–204.50 $193.98 $836 —
475 unweaned 475 11 186.00 $186.00 $884 —
460–499 485 39 167.00–198.00 $178.44 $865 —
501–544 530 59 161.00–193.00 $183.75 $974 —
559–598 571 176 170.50–182.00 $179.90 $1,027 +8.90
610–644 624 106 160.00–170.50 $165.57 $1,033 -3.43
662 662 27 155.00 $155.00 $1,026 -2.16
667–699 686 153 150.50–167.00 $160.58 $1,102 +3.42
702–741 717 106 149.00–165.00 $157.43 $1,129 —
781–790 786 31 144.50–154.00 $150.29 $1,181 -6.06
826 826 4 147.50 $147.50 $1,218 +2.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1046 1026 398 153.25–164.00 $158.28 $1,624 -4.80
1026 1026 6 146.50 $146.50 $1,503 -16.58
1066–1098 1085 276 150.50–158.60 $156.90 $1,702 -1.25
1114–1139 1134 51 152.50 $152.50 $1,729 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1289 1289 12 135.00 $135.00 $1,740 —
1383 1383 12 138.00 $138.00 $1,909 -2.47
1432 1432 13 138.50 $138.50 $1,983 -5.64
1367–1475 1456 43 137.00–140.50 $138.82 $2,021 -8.18
1551–1598 1577 227 136.00–140.00 $138.51 $2,184 —
1535–1653 1599 46 140.00–142.00 $140.79 $2,251 —
1636–1645 1645 127 136.25–137.85 $137.80 $2,267 -7.44
1745 1745 10 143.50 $143.50 $2,504 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1072 1072 10 135.50 $135.50 $1,453 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
729 729 4 146.00 $146.00 $1,064 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
284 284 8 215.00 $215.00 $611 —
300–337 316 16 179.50–215.00 $198.45 $627 —
356–398 370 45 170.00–211.00 $193.11 $715 —
400–448 428 230 171.00–198.00 $182.28 $780 -13.72
450–495 477 511 167.00–195.50 $182.32 $870 -2.68
502–549 522 415 163.00–196.00 $176.03 $919 -5.18
528 528 21 155.00 $155.00 $818 -26.21
545 unweaned 545 13 163.00 $163.00 $888 —
550–598 578 1,527 155.00–187.00 $169.93 $982 +0.08
585 585 17 158.50 $158.50 $927 -11.35
576–591 586 22 142.50–151.00 $145.54 $853 -24.31
592 unweaned 592 26 155.50 $155.50 $921 —
600–649 626 1,573 141.50–175.00 $164.30 $1,029 +18.30
615–649 642 119 144.00–159.00 $155.22 $997 +9.22
651–675 663 35 143.00–145.50 $144.43 $958 -14.24
654–699 675 1,746 147.50–169.50 $159.94 $1,080 +1.27
675 unweaned 675 30 145.50 $145.50 $982 —
700–748 720 1,097 144.50–163.00 $154.47 $1,112 -2.41
751–799 776 991 142.50–162.00 $149.74 $1,162 -6.82
781–788 785 10 148.00–149.00 $148.50 $1,166 -8.06
800–849 824 1,129 138.75–154.25 $149.65 $1,233 +5.46
846 846 72 151.00 $151.00 $1,277 -3.64
850–898 877 388 140.50–151.00 $148.54 $1,303 -3.05
898 898 4 139.50 $139.50 $1,253 -12.09
901–941 911 428 132.50–152.00 $147.26 $1,342 -6.04
955 955 6 141.00 $141.00 $1,347 -6.00
954–995 982 79 135.00–147.50 $145.32 $1,427 -1.68
1000 1000 9 134.50 $134.50 $1,345 —
1185 1185 5 130.50 $130.50 $1,546 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
304–346 328 24 184.00–196.00 $187.80 $616 -9.70
390–397 393 53 161.00–180.00 $174.47 $686 +4.47
401–433 419 38 132.50–174.00 $164.75 $690 -8.25
474–495 486 75 151.00–181.00 $172.35 $838 +6.35
507–546 528 53 150.00–169.00 $163.90 $865 +8.04
546 546 6 152.00 $152.00 $830 —
554–595 584 102 152.00–159.00 $155.77 $910 -1.57
604–646 629 88 135.00–154.50 $149.36 $939 -4.64
655–698 686 74 141.00–151.00 $148.26 $1,017 —
708–737 723 55 142.00–150.25 $147.69 $1,068 +0.69
760–775 770 16 145.00–146.50 $145.46 $1,120 —
805–822 816 21 122.00–146.75 $130.25 $1,063 —
942 thin fleshed 942 8 102.00 $102.00 $961 —
981 981 8 136.50 $136.50 $1,339 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170 1170 10 119.00 $119.00 $1,392 —
1190–1248 1215 14 134.00–137.00 $135.32 $1,644 —
1226 1226 33 130.00 $130.00 $1,594 —
1315 1315 7 143.00 $143.00 $1,880 —
1316–1465 1372 220 138.00–142.50 $139.70 $1,917 -0.30
1315–1496 1414 140 136.50–139.00 $138.06 $1,952 —
1612 1612 6 136.25 $136.25 $2,196 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1017 1017 33 135.00 $135.00 $1,373 —
1088–1090 1090 24 137.75–138.50 $137.87 $1,503 —
1110–1145 1142 98 136.50–141.85 $141.43 $1,615 —
1154–1199 1165 29 126.00–142.50 $137.56 $1,603 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
528 528 10 148.00 $148.00 $781 —
655 655 17 152.50 $152.50 $999 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
467 467 5 161.00 $161.00 $752 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930 930 5 110.00 $110.00 $1,023 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1265 1130 80-85% 4 65.00–68.00 $66.30 $749 —
1140 1140 80-85% 1 46.00 $46.00 $524 —
1173–1593 1354 80-85% 50 58.00–64.00 $61.15 $828 —
1273–1785 1453 80-85% 38 51.00–57.00 $55.77 $810 -1.92
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865–1307 1176 85-90% 12 21.00–36.00 $26.90 $316 —
875–1545 1238 85-90% 30 32.00–54.00 $47.80 $592 —
950–1402 1276 85-90% 38 54.50–59.00 $56.30 $718 +9.98
1400 1400 85-90% 4 57.50 $57.50 $805 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1790 1418 75-80% 18 65.00–70.00 $66.11 $937 —
1515–1715 1551 75-80% 9 59.00–64.00 $61.21 $949 —
1380–1870 1641 75-80% 28 72.00–77.00 $75.00 $1,231 —
1610–1705 1658 75-80% 2 56.00–58.00 $57.03 $946 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1415–2255 1835 2 73.00–83.50 $79.45 $1,458 —
1770–2125 1948 2 94.00–95.00 $94.45 $1,840 —
1645–2325 1956 11 85.00–90.50 $87.41 $1,710 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1430 1430 14 114.50 $114.50 $1,637 —
1439–1650 1470 51 117.50–122.50 $120.42 $1,770 —

↑ Back to top

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.