Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 18, 2022

22,466 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $142.42/cwt +2.04 vs last sale · ≈ $1,172/hd at 823 lb · 2,112 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $159.44/cwt +4.39 vs last sale · ≈ $1,387/hd at 870 lb · 1,439 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $146.97/cwt +1.58 vs last sale · ≈ $1,146/hd at 780 lb · 1,284 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 22,466 9,519 23,794
Feeder cattle 21,484 8,617 22,413
Slaughter cattle 982 902 1,381

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers 3.00 to 6.00 higher, feeder heifers unevenly steady. Demand remains very good for all weights of steers, but the issue of feed cost is hanging heavily on the minds of cattle producers. There is much greater demand for steers than for heifers, due to the high cost of gain as the heifers can't reach the finished weights that a steer can, which is resulting in wide spreads between the steers and heifers. There has been some moisture around this month, but not nearly enough yet as the incessant winds keep sucking it back out of the ground and drought conditions persist. There is rain in the forecast by the end of the week, along with somewhat warmer temps, which will help grass to start growing. The temps have been too cold at night to really get things greened up and growing. The cash fed cattle market popped a bit this week, up to 147.00 in Iowa this week, but still at a level lower than most cattle feeders' expectations. 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
375–390 383 14 200.00–231.00 $213.24 $817 —
411–438 423 60 209.00–232.00 $222.09 $939 +1.15
454–491 474 112 179.00–226.00 $216.97 $1,028 +14.70
505–548 530 125 191.00–217.00 $203.89 $1,081 +6.02
532 532 49 185.50 $185.50 $987 -12.37
558 thin fleshed 558 18 216.50 $216.50 $1,208 —
554–597 585 283 182.00–208.00 $196.80 $1,151 +7.21
607 unweaned 607 17 173.50 $173.50 $1,053 —
610 610 6 176.00 $176.00 $1,074 -11.76
618 618 12 173.00 $173.00 $1,069 -14.76
610–649 628 268 172.00–197.50 $190.18 $1,194 +2.42
654–693 671 429 170.00–190.50 $179.02 $1,201 +3.09
671–697 674 95 188.00 $188.00 $1,267 +12.07
694 694 6 152.00 $152.00 $1,055 -23.93
700–748 721 457 163.50–184.50 $173.54 $1,251 +5.45
736 unweaned 736 7 153.00 $153.00 $1,126 —
747 747 5 135.00 $135.00 $1,008 -33.09
758–788 778 66 155.50–156.00 $155.84 $1,212 -6.94
750–798 780 528 147.00–171.75 $162.09 $1,264 -0.69
805 805 19 152.00 $152.00 $1,224 -5.32
801–849 833 1,068 140.00–166.00 $161.91 $1,349 +4.59
862–882 867 47 146.25–153.00 $151.25 $1,311 -4.11
852–896 870 1,392 141.50–165.25 $159.72 $1,390 +4.36
900 900 20 134.00 $134.00 $1,206 -15.48
904 904 7 137.00 $137.00 $1,238 -12.48
903–949 931 1,129 146.50–163.25 $154.29 $1,436 +4.81
952–993 972 447 146.50–155.00 $151.00 $1,468 +4.25
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1013 1013 56 138.75 $138.75 $1,406 -6.28
1000–1044 1025 762 136.25–148.00 $144.69 $1,483 -0.34
1056–1088 1070 260 136.50–148.75 $144.37 $1,545 +3.08
1106–1141 1126 413 136.60–147.25 $143.29 $1,613 +11.29
1155–1189 1162 367 135.00–143.50 $139.67 $1,623 +2.89
1244 1244 16 139.50 $139.50 $1,735 +2.75
1258 1258 49 141.25 $141.25 $1,777 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378–382 379 15 186.00–200.00 $190.70 $723 -4.30
406 406 12 154.00 $154.00 $625 —
487 487 20 185.00 $185.00 $901 -1.50
521 521 42 195.00 $195.00 $1,016 —
618–636 628 52 153.50–177.00 $162.60 $1,021 -2.10
635 635 6 155.00 $155.00 $984 -9.70
693–698 696 16 146.00–167.50 $162.11 $1,128 +1.06
708 708 4 131.00 $131.00 $927 -28.15
722–723 723 16 147.00–147.50 $147.22 $1,064 -11.93
771–797 783 63 147.00–155.50 $153.36 $1,201 +3.04
835–849 844 35 151.75–152.00 $151.88 $1,282 +5.99
885 885 34 147.75 $147.75 $1,308 —
890 890 5 135.00 $135.00 $1,202 —
909–945 931 18 143.50–145.00 $144.43 $1,345 -7.82
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1314–1316 1315 17 142.00–146.00 $143.88 $1,892 +6.25
1384 1384 8 147.00 $147.00 $2,034 —
1455 1455 17 156.00 $156.00 $2,270 —
1455 1455 6 145.00 $145.00 $2,110 —
1420–1491 1459 53 149.50–152.00 $150.40 $2,194 —
1554 1554 10 151.00 $151.00 $2,347 +12.00
1610 1610 11 144.00 $144.00 $2,318 —
1635–1641 1640 49 147.00–151.50 $150.49 $2,468 +9.12
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
664 664 7 159.00 $159.00 $1,056 —
1046 1046 13 137.00 $137.00 $1,433 +0.50
1089 1089 13 134.25 $134.25 $1,462 —
1102 1102 39 135.75 $135.75 $1,496 —
1228 1228 3 125.00 $125.00 $1,535 —
1288 1288 3 133.75 $133.75 $1,723 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 38 159.50 $159.50 $941 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
521 521 9 130.00 $130.00 $677 —
606 606 7 121.00 $121.00 $733 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
712 712 6 120.00 $120.00 $854 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 6 125.00 $125.00 $531 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378–385 382 20 180.00–205.00 $193.86 $741 +0.86
402–448 433 117 174.00–197.00 $189.65 $821 +14.22
461–496 475 99 177.50–195.00 $184.64 $877 +9.70
516 unweaned 516 14 161.50 $161.50 $833 —
501–539 520 221 156.50–185.00 $177.02 $921 +3.98
546 546 100 183.50 $183.50 $1,002 +10.46
559–595 581 434 157.00–176.50 $169.47 $985 +1.12
603–648 621 578 148.00–170.00 $161.33 $1,002 +0.21
644 644 10 147.00 $147.00 $947 -14.12
650 650 8 145.00 $145.00 $942 -5.50
652–696 674 810 144.00–162.75 $154.58 $1,042 -2.82
714–726 720 17 138.50–143.00 $140.64 $1,013 -9.36
701–747 726 986 139.00–157.00 $151.24 $1,098 +1.24
746 746 156 163.50 $163.50 $1,220 +13.50
751–799 779 1,213 136.00–159.50 $146.79 $1,143 +1.40
797 797 71 150.00 $150.00 $1,196 +4.61
800–843 822 581 145.00–150.50 $147.52 $1,213 +2.52
800–844 823 1,531 133.50–149.00 $140.48 $1,156 -4.52
858 858 3 125.50 $125.50 $1,077 -9.16
850–896 863 592 130.00–142.50 $137.46 $1,186 +2.80
893 893 31 142.00 $142.00 $1,268 +7.34
913 913 11 129.00 $129.00 $1,178 -4.49
905–936 915 523 126.00–143.75 $135.68 $1,241 +2.19
952–953 953 121 145.00–146.50 $145.76 $1,389 +10.92
956–991 966 569 131.00–133.85 $132.91 $1,284 -1.93
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
801–847 815 89 1,150.00–1,245.00 $1,199.58 +21.66
860–893 871 244 1,200.00–1,370.00 $1,268.28 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1255 1255 4 142.00 $142.00 $1,782 +5.00
1271–1494 1343 140 144.00–149.00 $145.61 $1,956 +4.38
1334–1421 1358 24 140.00–143.50 $142.07 $1,929 —
1279–1588 1383 52 144.00–153.00 $148.05 $2,048 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
346 thin fleshed 346 40 217.00 $217.00 $751 —
351–392 377 11 170.00 $170.00 $641 -21.50
468–488 483 23 168.00–173.50 $172.11 $831 +10.82
540 540 10 158.00 $158.00 $853 —
564–590 586 37 146.00–158.50 $156.75 $919 +10.88
600–632 621 19 144.00–155.00 $150.50 $935 +4.81
658 658 5 136.00 $136.00 $895 -2.00
684 684 4 151.50 $151.50 $1,036 +13.50
715–740 720 22 134.00–142.00 $136.87 $985 +5.87
776 776 8 135.50 $135.50 $1,051 +0.51
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845 845 13 136.00 $136.00 $1,149 —
1000–1046 1010 136 125.50–133.00 $129.57 $1,309 +0.65
1103–1130 1112 29 131.75–132.00 $131.84 $1,466 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
537 537 29 135.00 $135.00 $725 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1034 1034 4 120.00 $120.00 $1,241 —
1068 1068 6 126.00 $126.00 $1,346 —
1130 1130 3 122.00 $122.00 $1,379 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
424 424 7 127.50 $127.50 $541 —
562 562 6 122.50 $122.50 $688 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
488 488 8 141.00 $141.00 $688 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378 unweaned 378 9 240.00 $240.00 $907 —
420 420 5 197.00 $197.00 $827 —
478 unweaned 478 16 224.00 $224.00 $1,071 —
518 518 28 195.00–211.00 $205.86 $1,066 +17.86
558 unweaned 558 19 197.00 $197.00 $1,099 —
605–642 622 16 156.00–167.00 $160.68 $999 —
821 821 7 138.00 $138.00 $1,133 —
906 906 8 128.50 $128.50 $1,164 —
1155 1155 4 111.50 $111.50 $1,288 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1428–1790 1540 75-80% 16 86.00–88.00 $87.21 $1,343 —
1205–1925 1559 75-80% 73 80.00–85.00 $82.59 $1,288 +6.17
1330–2155 1708 75-80% 7 73.00–79.00 $76.52 $1,307 —
1670–1855 1745 75-80% 3 62.00–66.00 $64.34 $1,123 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
763–1385 1006 85-90% 11 31.00–54.00 $42.91 $432 —
1067–1250 1140 85-90% 5 75.00–77.50 $76.10 $868 +2.48
935–1416 1164 85-90% 22 52.50–69.00 $61.61 $717 —
1040–1540 1296 85-90% 22 70.00–75.00 $73.08 $947 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1125–1793 1425 80-85% 34 76.00–79.50 $77.87 $1,110 —
1290–1670 1462 80-85% 9 70.00–78.00 $72.89 $1,066 —
1433–1575 1469 80-85% 4 80.00–81.00 $80.27 $1,179 —
1525 1525 80-85% 1 61.00 $61.00 $930 -16.36
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1616–1764 1670 65-75% 11 87.00–91.00 $89.46 $1,494 —
1636–1850 1690 65-75% 8 93.00–96.00 $95.18 $1,609 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1460–2365 1913 10 91.00–102.00 $97.85 $1,872 —
1440–2650 1926 11 100.00–110.00 $106.32 $2,048 —
1970–2565 2249 5 111.00–124.00 $116.12 $2,612 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1446–1451 1449 28 120.00–122.00 $120.93 $1,752 —
1478–1569 1519 27 116.50–117.00 $116.73 $1,773 -3.31

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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.