Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 28, 2022

36,082 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 heifers $152.25/cwt -6.12 vs last sale · ≈ $1,106/hd at 726 lb · 2,839 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $144.59/cwt -2.54 vs last sale · ≈ $1,192/hd at 824 lb · 2,160 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $144.97/cwt -8.24 vs last sale · ≈ $1,129/hd at 779 lb · 2,025 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 36,082 13,109 32,240
Feeder cattle 34,088 12,485 29,295
Slaughter cattle 1,994 624 2,945

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 600 lbs 10.00 to 14.00 lower, 600-900 lbs 3.00 to 5.00 lower, over 900 lbs 7.00 to 10.00 lower. Feeder heifers 5.00 to 8.00 lower. Demand mostly moderate this week as the downward trend in the futures contracts continued again this week. Cattle producers are extremely uncertain of how to proceed as the corn market has shot straight up and April Live Cattle collapsed. Yearling operators are still wanting, and needing to, get their light cattle bought which is keeping demand for that class of cattle much higher than those that have to go to finishing yards. This unexpected down turn in the market caught everyone flat footed as we are entering the time of year where the fat market posts it highs for the year. Cattle feeders still want to have cattle to feed and market for these coming months, but now with feed cost rising to a level where the cost of gain per lbs will exceed what the futures is predicting the fat market will be they are asking themselves how much can they really afford to risk? Auction receipts remain large as cattle producers need to sell last year’s calves as this year’s are starting to hit the ground. Feed cost affect all cattle producers and rising corn price affects their decisions as well. Slaughter cows steady to 1.00 higher, bulls 2.00 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
256 256 4 277.50 $277.50 $710 —
347–348 348 24 217.50–243.00 $230.16 $801 -26.32
370 370 8 220.00 $220.00 $814 -14.51
401–440 423 110 195.50–231.00 $214.28 $906 -19.19
450–498 470 198 192.50–229.00 $215.99 $1,015 -10.31
501–545 529 452 179.00–225.00 $208.34 $1,102 +7.34
531 531 15 199.00 $199.00 $1,057 -2.00
550–598 575 724 183.75–206.00 $199.41 $1,147 -10.87
600–645 624 1,184 180.00–202.00 $192.52 $1,201 -5.93
660 660 9 160.00 $160.00 $1,056 -25.99
650–699 675 1,091 166.00–191.50 $181.01 $1,222 -4.98
716 thin fleshed 716 68 180.25 $180.25 $1,291 -5.79
718–730 723 31 153.00–157.00 $154.82 $1,119 -19.89
700–748 726 1,658 159.50–179.75 $169.42 $1,230 -5.29
752–799 774 1,328 146.00–181.00 $163.85 $1,268 -5.27
775 thin fleshed 775 18 172.00 $172.00 $1,333 —
792 792 52 147.75 $147.75 $1,170 -8.32
800–849 829 1,827 149.00–168.25 $156.92 $1,301 +3.92
803–849 841 141 141.00–148.60 $146.74 $1,234 -6.26
850–898 872 1,651 147.00–159.00 $153.01 $1,334 -1.04
863–897 875 97 143.25–149.00 $144.68 $1,266 -9.37
906 906 27 144.00 $144.00 $1,305 ±0.00
900–949 919 842 140.00–156.00 $146.61 $1,347 -11.03
955–997 977 972 139.00–151.00 $145.14 $1,418 -7.07
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 6 230.00 $230.00 $789 —
350 350 7 205.00 $205.00 $718 —
419–441 427 11 201.00–218.00 $211.62 $904 +2.36
450–494 463 39 188.00–210.00 $195.45 $905 -16.21
508–548 525 80 159.00–201.00 $180.59 $948 -15.93
561–595 576 58 169.00–199.00 $185.22 $1,067 -5.03
601–648 632 178 158.00–182.00 $174.03 $1,100 -4.36
651–696 681 171 161.50–175.50 $168.41 $1,147 +2.98
711–747 721 79 149.00–166.00 $159.27 $1,148 -3.25
754–797 778 263 142.00–163.00 $153.51 $1,194 +3.00
835–842 837 17 145.50–151.00 $147.45 $1,234 -6.80
918–925 921 17 137.00–143.00 $140.52 $1,294 +2.02
972–991 979 20 125.00–135.50 $131.78 $1,290 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1337 1337 29 138.50 $138.50 $1,852 -3.00
1409 1409 6 135.50 $135.50 $1,909 —
1351–1468 1448 58 145.00–149.00 $148.42 $2,149 —
1401–1479 1449 276 137.25–141.50 $139.88 $2,027 —
1539–1677 1560 122 142.00–151.00 $147.26 $2,297 -4.97
1506–1596 1565 155 135.00–140.50 $139.27 $2,180 -12.96
1628 1628 19 138.25 $138.25 $2,251 -2.75
1727 1727 5 137.50 $137.50 $2,375 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1001–1044 1020 369 139.25–145.25 $142.41 $1,453 -8.31
1050–1065 1059 169 139.00–145.00 $142.77 $1,512 -6.98
1146 1146 8 130.00 $130.00 $1,490 -20.43
1179 1179 28 139.00 $139.00 $1,639 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845 845 80 66.00 $66.00 $558 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
521 521 7 156.00 $156.00 $813 —
572 572 10 157.00 $157.00 $898 —
668 668 29 156.50 $156.50 $1,045 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1154 1154 14 134.00 $134.00 $1,546 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
288 288 6 240.00 $240.00 $691 +15.00
338 338 6 207.00 $207.00 $700 -25.50
351–399 376 84 181.00–218.00 $194.11 $730 -22.84
400–446 432 164 172.00–204.00 $185.49 $801 +4.01
465 thin fleshed 465 89 193.50 $193.50 $900 —
450–496 477 316 167.50–200.00 $182.24 $869 -4.82
510–526 thin fleshed 512 67 158.00–187.00 $183.44 $939 —
500–548 527 682 163.00–190.00 $177.94 $938 -3.47
573 thin fleshed 573 6 156.00 $156.00 $894 —
550–598 578 1,230 160.50–183.50 $173.55 $1,003 -5.54
600–648 624 1,487 152.00–180.50 $165.04 $1,030 -1.95
624–647 638 32 145.00–146.00 $145.60 $929 -21.39
635–640 640 99 150.50 $150.50 $963 -16.49
658 658 14 170.00 $170.00 $1,119 +6.39
650–698 669 1,808 146.50–164.00 $157.11 $1,051 -6.50
650–690 675 133 142.00–147.00 $144.65 $976 -18.96
700–748 726 2,385 137.75–161.50 $150.88 $1,095 -8.00
701–745 728 437 153.00–168.00 $160.05 $1,165 +1.17
740 740 17 144.00 $144.00 $1,066 -0.82
771 771 57 137.50 $137.50 $1,060 -14.21
761–785 778 178 146.00–166.50 $162.37 $1,263 +10.66
752–798 779 1,742 134.00–155.00 $143.58 $1,118 -8.13
768–795 781 48 132.50–142.00 $139.58 $1,090 -16.42
806 806 7 136.00 $136.00 $1,096 -10.75
800–849 824 1,279 132.00–150.50 $140.69 $1,159 -6.48
814–848 825 874 147.00–160.00 $150.37 $1,241 +3.20
850–895 868 200 138.00–162.00 $149.47 $1,297 +5.22
856–894 871 1,066 130.50–146.00 $138.51 $1,206 -7.25
900–940 917 311 134.00–140.00 $138.11 $1,266 -6.96
902–944 920 20 134.50–135.00 $134.62 $1,239 -10.45
961–985 966 79 133.25–137.50 $134.24 $1,297 -9.76
982 982 17 130.00 $130.00 $1,277 -14.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
316 316 8 198.00 $198.00 $626 —
375–398 385 14 182.50–195.00 $188.04 $724 —
402–447 427 72 151.00–193.00 $173.23 $740 —
451–499 473 44 156.50–181.50 $173.46 $820 +9.46
502–546 532 83 152.00–172.00 $161.74 $860 -5.67
555–599 583 136 139.00–171.00 $155.84 $909 -1.16
618–645 633 65 141.00–155.00 $148.09 $937 -1.78
669–698 689 96 145.00–152.00 $148.19 $1,021 -2.20
704–746 729 83 138.50–147.00 $141.24 $1,030 -3.26
750–799 774 150 131.00–143.00 $139.99 $1,084 -2.01
806–821 817 64 131.00–145.25 $136.95 $1,119 -4.05
850–890 860 45 118.00–135.50 $128.07 $1,101 —
922 922 15 126.00 $126.00 $1,162 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1304 1304 16 135.00 $135.00 $1,760 —
1311 1311 17 135.25 $135.25 $1,773 -8.52
1228–1433 1329 103 142.75–147.50 $145.71 $1,936 +1.94
1246–1510 1431 230 137.00–142.50 $139.83 $2,001 -6.33
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
690 690 46 1,025.00 $1,025.00 —
770 770 78 1,280.00 $1,280.00 —
808 808 61 1,390.00 $1,390.00 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030 1030 13 124.00 $124.00 $1,277 -25.00
1176 1176 38 131.50 $131.50 $1,546 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
487 487 14 147.00 $147.00 $716 +36.00
634 634 5 126.00 $126.00 $799 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
961 961 8 118.00 $118.00 $1,134 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
658 658 3 157.00 $157.00 $1,033 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
757 757 24 135.00 $135.00 $1,022 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–2055 1373 75-80% 33 80.00–86.50 $82.39 $1,131 —
1164–1845 1557 75-80% 180 77.00–83.50 $80.27 $1,250 -4.03
1580 1580 75-80% 1 62.00 $62.00 $980 -22.30
1330–1880 1593 75-80% 53 71.00–78.50 $76.68 $1,222 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1591–1637 1606 65-75% 9 95.00–103.50 $100.61 $1,616 —
1439–2285 1637 65-75% 88 86.00–90.00 $88.28 $1,445 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1900 1358 80-85% 13 78.00–83.50 $80.15 $1,088 —
1080–1830 1480 80-85% 70 71.50–79.50 $76.47 $1,132 —
1610–1985 1735 80-85% 4 63.00–72.00 $68.95 $1,196 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
880–1150 1038 85-90% 3 20.00–59.00 $39.77 $413 —
1200 1200 85-90% 3 73.00 $73.00 $876 +2.86
945–1690 1207 85-90% 38 45.00–63.50 $57.39 $693 -12.75
1000–1718 1331 85-90% 35 62.00–72.00 $66.84 $890 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–2360 1885 10 91.00–100.00 $96.56 $1,820 —
1705–2310 1981 14 101.00–107.00 $104.20 $2,064 —
1825–2360 2107 3 108.50–111.50 $110.05 $2,319 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1385–1543 1483 24 111.00–116.50 $114.62 $1,700 —
1552 1552 11 126.50 $126.50 $1,963 —
1379–1658 1565 84 118.00–123.50 $120.80 $1,891 —

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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.