Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 2, 2022

13,743 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $153.58/cwt +5.22 vs last sale · ≈ $1,424/hd at 927 lb · 1,104 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $163.50/cwt +11.48 vs last sale · ≈ $1,403/hd at 858 lb · 1,071 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $150.48/cwt +8.84 vs last sale · ≈ $1,163/hd at 773 lb · 994 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 13,743 19,901 14,986
Feeder cattle 12,873 18,831 13,871
Slaughter cattle 870 1,070 1,115

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers 5.00 to 10.00 higher, heifers 3.00 to 6.00 higher with instances of 7.00 to 10.00 higher. Cash fed cattle maintained a large positive basis over the futures again this week, cash trades mostly around 146.00 in Iowa and Nebraska which is greatly helping the cattle feeder to maintain a positive outlook. Cattle feeders are faced with very high costs of gain, which has pushed breakeven prices higher, and are very cautious not to buy cattle that look to be inefficient gainers. The moisture received across a good portion of South Dakota has greatly improved the outlook for the growing season, however there are still areas that missed the rains and are extremely dry. The light cattle market remains very stout as turnout time is upon us and the fall months of the feeder cattle board are much higher than the front month. Corn planting is well underway, as the rains finally came bringing the moisture needed to plant a crop and get it growing. Slaughter cows 1.00 to 2.00 lower, bulls sold with higher undertones.

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
418–432 428 25 197.50–220.00 $214.76 $919 +0.43
456–493 481 19 202.00–216.00 $209.15 $1,006 -11.63
517–545 526 53 190.00–210.00 $205.64 $1,082 +0.74
553–587 572 274 180.00–213.00 $201.75 $1,154 +6.94
625–634 thin fleshed 628 34 192.00–212.00 $206.06 $1,294 —
607–646 632 155 173.00–204.00 $186.23 $1,177 +9.63
653 thin fleshed 653 21 180.50 $180.50 $1,179 —
658–698 677 250 159.00–195.00 $184.38 $1,248 +2.31
702–740 719 113 157.75–178.50 $168.32 $1,210 -4.70
729–743 739 19 157.00–157.50 $157.13 $1,161 +2.13
752–796 769 403 152.00–179.00 $173.65 $1,335 +14.55
770 770 12 152.00 $152.00 $1,170 -7.10
780–788 787 153 150.00–154.00 $150.34 $1,183 -8.76
814–844 824 191 154.00–162.75 $158.76 $1,308 +3.42
850–897 858 1,071 147.00–167.00 $163.50 $1,403 +11.48
906–949 927 1,104 141.75–161.50 $153.58 $1,424 +5.22
950–999 964 339 141.00–152.25 $148.83 $1,435 +7.51
999 999 11 135.00 $135.00 $1,349 -6.32
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1006–1046 1032 368 134.00–149.75 $145.47 $1,501 +5.72
1052–1087 1075 490 134.85–152.35 $141.29 $1,519 +5.40
1117–1140 1121 69 134.25–143.75 $141.93 $1,591 +11.43
1155–1161 1158 129 142.00–147.00 $144.40 $1,672 +10.40
1229 1229 12 136.50 $136.50 $1,678 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1218 1218 6 110.00 $110.00 $1,340 —
1233 1233 4 145.00 $145.00 $1,788 —
1282–1347 1315 22 142.50–144.75 $144.12 $1,895 —
1363–1482 1426 78 147.00–149.00 $147.80 $2,108 +4.44
1353–1486 1446 28 150.00–152.00 $151.03 $2,184 +7.67
1499 1499 14 143.50 $143.50 $2,151 -9.33
1506 1506 8 144.00 $144.00 $2,169 —
1535–1638 1562 19 147.50–153.00 $151.48 $2,366 -4.52
1577 1577 9 146.50 $146.50 $2,310 -9.50
1676 1676 7 146.00 $146.00 $2,447 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
373 373 5 185.00 $185.00 $690 -41.97
454–496 473 9 183.00–185.00 $184.07 $871 -2.93
503–544 520 22 166.00–198.00 $184.30 $958 +5.89
610–637 621 17 161.00–171.00 $165.22 $1,026 -6.83
682–683 682 20 153.00–163.00 $154.50 $1,054 -11.08
734–735 734 11 152.50–154.50 $153.05 $1,123 +5.29
760 760 10 148.00 $148.00 $1,125 -4.57
802–833 821 43 138.50–148.25 $141.01 $1,158 -5.43
863 863 23 149.50 $149.50 $1,290 +9.25
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765 765 11 133.00 $133.00 $1,017 +9.50
837 837 5 120.50 $120.50 $1,009 -10.50
929 929 14 125.00 $125.00 $1,161 +3.00
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
894–897 896 18 123.50–127.50 $125.05 $1,120 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1048 1048 8 133.25 $133.25 $1,396 —
1065 1065 8 136.75 $136.75 $1,456 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423–447 438 27 166.00–177.00 $174.04 $762 -7.55
468–497 479 62 171.00–179.00 $177.05 $848 +1.85
505–549 530 298 165.00–180.00 $173.89 $922 +0.02
549 549 5 151.00 $151.00 $829 -22.87
561–586 571 287 154.00–178.00 $169.66 $969 +3.17
602–643 627 378 154.50–173.50 $165.04 $1,035 +9.51
631–646 639 24 151.00–153.00 $151.91 $971 -3.62
659 thin fleshed 659 89 172.00 $172.00 $1,133 —
653–675 668 31 141.00–149.50 $146.82 $981 -5.61
653–695 677 494 149.00–169.00 $161.29 $1,092 +25.29
684 684 18 145.50 $145.50 $995 +9.50
706–748 730 746 142.50–162.00 $152.45 $1,113 +1.12
751–799 772 843 139.50–157.00 $149.02 $1,150 +7.38
770–786 777 151 156.50–160.50 $158.65 $1,233 +17.01
800–845 816 233 149.00–156.00 $152.20 $1,242 +14.17
800–847 826 730 132.00–150.00 $143.81 $1,188 +5.78
858–868 861 190 144.00–146.50 $145.66 $1,254 -6.24
856–898 878 564 132.75–142.25 $138.92 $1,220 +2.26
900–949 921 476 131.00–143.00 $138.20 $1,273 +12.70
951–996 975 204 132.25–138.00 $136.73 $1,333 +3.89
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1007–1039 1026 29 135.00–138.25 $136.32 $1,399 +5.00
1072–1097 1082 229 130.25–133.50 $132.63 $1,435 +5.90
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1271 1271 17 140.50 $140.50 $1,786 -8.57
1253–1472 1292 131 143.50–148.00 $145.48 $1,880 +8.48
1304 1304 33 140.00 $140.00 $1,826 —
1295–1466 1322 55 153.50–157.25 $156.48 $2,069 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
819–826 824 113 1,175.00–1,260.00 $1,230.08 +0.08
861 861 6 1,235.00 $1,235.00 +35.00
908 908 20 1,320.00 $1,320.00 +80.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
441 441 8 176.00 $176.00 $776 —
463–489 482 11 157.00–178.00 $162.50 $783 -6.50
530 530 4 146.00 $146.00 $774 -13.86
608–649 626 20 141.00–151.00 $145.02 $908 -0.29
655–668 661 30 141.00–147.00 $145.14 $959 +9.26
701–736 722 28 137.00–150.00 $141.52 $1,022 +0.54
764–783 773 13 126.00–138.00 $131.61 $1,017 -6.39
810 810 4 135.00 $135.00 $1,094 +1.87
913 913 18 133.00 $133.00 $1,214 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075 1075 3 126.50 $126.50 $1,360 —
1146–1149 1147 12 116.50–122.50 $120.00 $1,376 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 5 152.00 $152.00 $798 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
702 702 5 136.00 $136.00 $955 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1303 1303 80-85% 2 79.00 $79.00 $1,029 -2.81
980–1803 1407 80-85% 61 73.00–78.50 $75.61 $1,064 —
1345–1685 1438 80-85% 8 61.00–72.00 $70.13 $1,008 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175–1705 1436 75-80% 9 87.00–89.00 $88.50 $1,271 +4.01
1175–2365 1523 75-80% 43 80.00–86.00 $83.08 $1,265 —
1375–1985 1592 75-80% 15 64.00–78.50 $75.37 $1,200 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
605–1535 906 85-90% 19 5.00–51.00 $30.11 $273 —
815–1500 1164 85-90% 24 60.00–67.00 $63.68 $741 —
820–1715 1275 85-90% 20 69.00–73.00 $70.88 $904 —
1180–1555 1368 85-90% 2 72.50–73.00 $72.72 $995 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1237–1563 1433 65-75% 12 87.00–96.00 $90.76 $1,301 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1425–1945 1655 6 86.00–100.00 $93.52 $1,548 —
1565–2008 1889 5 102.00–107.50 $105.90 $2,000 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1386–1484 1424 51 118.50–122.00 $120.82 $1,720 —

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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.