Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 7, 2022

31,021 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $161.86/cwt -1.50 vs last sale · ≈ $1,253/hd at 774 lb · 2,865 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $145.18/cwt +0.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,117/hd at 769 lb · 2,165 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $140.14/cwt -4.45 vs last sale · ≈ $1,156/hd at 825 lb · 2,089 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 31,021 36,082 32,856
Feeder cattle 29,832 34,088 31,010
Slaughter cattle 1,189 1,994 1,846

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers 2.00 to 6.00 lower, except 550-600 lbs 2.00 higher. Feeder heifers 2.00 to 5.00 lower, except 700-850 lbs steady to 1.00 lower. Moderate to good demand, best demand remains on light cattle to make yearlings out of as fewer of this class of cattle offered. Cattle producers face many obstacles to profitability as the corn market climbs to unforeseen heights and the front months of the Live Cattle futures dropped to a level that was completely unexpected. There remains great hope for the feeder cattle market for the fall marketing season as the Feeder Cattle futures contracts for that time period are nearly 30.00 higher than they are for the front month. There aren’t many light cattle around still that are in light enough flesh to run as yearlings which results in a very active market when these cattle come in the ring. Everyone has their eye on the Corn futures, wondering where it will all end and why should they buy cattle that look to finish at a price level that could be below the cost per pound of gain. This fact has added considerable pressure to the feeder market. Auction receipts remain large as cattle producers need to sell last year’s calf crop to make way for this year’s that are/will be hitting the ground. Slaughter cows steady to 1.00 lower. 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
328–336 330 20 216.00–230.00 $218.85 $722 -11.31
396 396 4 216.00 $216.00 $855 -4.00
410–441 426 53 207.00–226.00 $219.34 $934 +5.06
450–494 480 154 185.00–218.00 $202.63 $973 -13.36
502–548 528 508 186.50–219.00 $204.85 $1,082 -3.49
535 535 9 194.00 $194.00 $1,038 -5.00
550–596 575 824 186.00–213.50 $201.23 $1,157 +1.82
601–649 630 1,038 171.00–199.00 $187.00 $1,178 -5.52
641 641 21 175.00 $175.00 $1,122 -17.52
648 fancy 648 85 194.50 $194.50 $1,260 —
651–686 666 16 160.00–164.00 $161.80 $1,078 +1.80
650–699 681 872 163.00–187.75 $177.04 $1,206 -3.97
700–749 727 1,463 155.00–177.75 $166.60 $1,211 -2.82
725–746 737 12 136.50–155.50 $147.71 $1,089 -21.71
753–798 774 2,842 152.50–169.50 $161.95 $1,253 -1.90
751–797 789 23 148.00–162.00 $150.32 $1,186 +2.57
808–827 811 85 137.50–148.00 $147.37 $1,195 -9.55
800–847 824 1,663 145.50–161.75 $155.65 $1,283 -1.27
851–896 869 1,603 139.50–156.00 $147.67 $1,283 -5.34
892 892 22 143.25 $143.25 $1,278 -1.43
917 917 13 140.00 $140.00 $1,284 -6.61
901–948 923 1,237 139.25–149.75 $145.13 $1,340 -1.48
950–989 967 515 132.75–149.75 $142.24 $1,375 -2.90
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368 368 12 204.00 $204.00 $751 -1.00
390–391 391 20 194.00–199.00 $196.50 $768 —
414–439 422 15 175.00–197.00 $189.38 $799 -22.24
468–497 487 146 172.00–205.00 $194.43 $947 -1.02
500–545 527 73 157.00–196.00 $178.04 $938 -2.55
550–595 583 207 150.00–185.50 $178.58 $1,041 -6.64
605–649 629 43 141.50–166.50 $157.28 $989 -16.75
655–699 683 101 156.00–170.00 $164.13 $1,121 -4.28
692 692 9 166.00 $166.00 $1,149 -2.41
704–744 725 71 141.00–184.50 $156.96 $1,138 -2.31
759–788 779 98 140.50–153.00 $143.53 $1,118 -9.98
803–836 818 91 131.50–146.50 $139.51 $1,141 -7.94
850–885 874 131 133.00–140.00 $136.55 $1,193 —
906–925 915 29 131.00–137.00 $135.65 $1,241 -4.87
990 990 10 128.50 $128.50 $1,272 -3.28
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
671 671 12 142.00 $142.00 $953 —
808 808 30 140.00 $140.00 $1,131 —
1001–1049 1010 309 136.00–142.75 $140.95 $1,424 -1.46
1096–1097 1097 61 132.50–137.00 $136.41 $1,496 —
1104–1121 1111 231 135.75–138.10 $137.57 $1,528 +7.57
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1319 1319 5 139.75 $139.75 $1,843 +1.25
1432 1432 8 132.00 $132.00 $1,890 -16.42
1451–1458 1454 47 140.00–140.50 $140.25 $2,039 —
1405–1497 1462 71 135.00–139.25 $136.84 $2,001 —
1511–1567 1529 61 135.00–139.25 $138.32 $2,115 —
1524–1563 1540 21 140.00–143.00 $140.96 $2,171 —
1643 1643 8 140.00 $140.00 $2,300 +1.75
1710 1710 6 131.00 $131.00 $2,240 -6.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
373 373 19 145.00 $145.00 $541 —
662 662 9 149.00 $149.00 $986 -7.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005 1005 3 121.00 $121.00 $1,216 —
1195 1195 11 118.00 $118.00 $1,410 —
1244 1244 7 126.00 $126.00 $1,567 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1111 1111 15 110.00 $110.00 $1,222 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
359 359 13 199.00 $199.00 $714 +4.89
400–449 424 248 170.00–202.50 $194.56 $825 +9.07
451–499 477 204 162.00–193.00 $177.32 $846 -4.92
501–549 532 560 161.00–186.50 $176.93 $941 -1.01
549 549 6 158.00 $158.00 $867 -19.94
550–599 581 786 150.50–178.50 $168.26 $978 -5.29
614 614 6 148.00 $148.00 $909 -17.04
615 615 24 181.00 $181.00 $1,113 +15.96
618 618 20 148.00 $148.00 $915 -17.04
602–649 628 862 153.50–176.00 $163.32 $1,026 -1.72
650–698 672 1,111 145.00–161.50 $154.84 $1,041 -2.27
694 694 10 146.00 $146.00 $1,013 +1.35
700–745 719 1,906 139.00–165.00 $149.52 $1,075 -1.36
718–725 722 130 157.50–158.00 $157.78 $1,139 +6.90
750–799 769 1,700 135.25–158.00 $144.39 $1,110 +6.89
758–788 771 459 146.50–152.00 $148.27 $1,143 +10.77
792 792 6 132.00 $132.00 $1,045 -7.58
809–825 814 191 143.00–145.50 $144.18 $1,174 +8.18
800–848 826 1,898 133.00–146.00 $139.73 $1,154 -10.64
855 855 68 152.00 $152.00 $1,300 +2.53
850–897 875 658 126.75–138.50 $134.74 $1,179 -3.77
908–946 928 419 126.00–138.75 $135.35 $1,256 +0.73
961–988 968 100 127.00–132.25 $130.48 $1,263 -3.76
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385–398 393 31 170.00–189.00 $182.13 $716 -5.91
424 424 19 172.00 $172.00 $729 -1.23
464–486 474 45 147.50–174.00 $162.10 $768 -11.36
502–544 523 144 136.00–168.00 $157.67 $825 -4.07
554–598 579 72 148.00–156.50 $153.74 $890 -2.10
610–646 633 94 143.00–156.50 $149.13 $944 +1.04
650–699 674 110 134.00–153.00 $145.76 $982 -2.43
701–743 723 117 133.00–147.00 $140.02 $1,012 -1.22
760–786 774 30 125.00–137.50 $133.96 $1,037 -6.03
826 826 9 118.00 $118.00 $975 -18.95
960 960 4 120.50 $120.50 $1,157 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
725–749 735 64 1,130.00–1,150.00 $1,138.28 —
766–790 780 218 1,060.00–1,230.00 $1,192.55 -87.45
800–819 806 182 1,240.00–1,285.00 $1,250.56 -139.44
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1051 1051 9 131.00 $131.00 $1,377 —
1262 1262 7 134.00 $134.00 $1,691 —
1294–1482 1376 275 134.50–139.00 $137.65 $1,894 —
1296–1505 1460 120 139.85–143.50 $140.21 $2,047 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
543 543 10 166.00 $166.00 $901 —
674 674 32 136.00 $136.00 $917 —
781–791 782 79 136.75–139.50 $136.93 $1,071 —
1011–1045 1027 34 126.00–128.00 $126.96 $1,304 +2.96
1127 1127 12 121.50 $121.50 $1,369 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 350 14 130.00 $130.00 $455 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1098 1098 6 105.50 $105.50 $1,158 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
481 481 14 201.00 $201.00 $967 —
596 596 8 170.00 $170.00 $1,013 —
627 627 88 177.50 $177.50 $1,113 —
753 753 6 144.00 $144.00 $1,084 +9.00

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1803 1524 75-80% 81 77.00–82.00 $79.88 $1,217 —
1305–1883 1633 75-80% 39 76.00–78.00 $77.10 $1,259 —
1413–2018 1670 75-80% 21 83.00–84.00 $83.55 $1,395 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645–1515 980 85-90% 4 27.50–40.00 $32.12 $315 —
790–1965 1261 85-90% 31 50.00–65.00 $59.02 $744 —
1055–1933 1307 85-90% 61 66.00–72.50 $70.54 $922 +3.70
1052–1696 1466 85-90% 22 73.00–73.50 $73.14 $1,072 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1256–1545 1317 80-85% 15 77.50–80.00 $78.00 $1,027 —
1185–1720 1435 80-85% 16 64.00–73.00 $71.30 $1,023 —
1100–1803 1497 80-85% 76 71.00–78.00 $75.13 $1,125 -1.34
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1810 1810 65-75% 2 85.00 $85.00 $1,538 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–2540 1857 9 74.00–103.00 $96.96 $1,801 +0.40
1880–2235 1981 4 113.50–114.50 $113.90 $2,256 +9.70
1743–2440 1991 10 103.00–110.50 $105.64 $2,103 +1.44

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1498 1498 9 106.00 $106.00 $1,588 -8.62

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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.