Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 3, 2022

20,229 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $223.16/cwt +9.64 vs last sale · ≈ $1,169/hd at 524 lb · 1,839 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $178.56/cwt -0.10 vs last sale · ≈ $1,648/hd at 923 lb · 1,193 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $186.81/cwt +4.67 vs last sale · ≈ $1,636/hd at 876 lb · 1,009 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 20,229 23,484 34,459
Feeder cattle 18,791 22,045 33,043
Slaughter cattle 1,438 1,439 1,416

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves 4.00 to 8.00 higher, yearling feeder steers steady to 2.00 lower, yearling heifers unevenly steady. Good demand for this large offering of spring born calves, very good demand for yearlings. Calves started moving to the auctions this week as producers in central and western South Dakota are short of feed and needing to wean and sell calves. Farmer feeders have their soybean harvest pretty much wrapped up and are working on corn and are willing to take on some of these long strings of these calves when they are offered. The pace of harvest has been pretty fast, as the weather remains very mild and dry. Pen conditions are dry, which greatly helps to reduce stress on these newly arriving calves. Cattle feeders were able to sell fat cattle up to 148.00 in Iowa this week, keeping a positive basis over the board which is helping to keep them feeling good about the coming months. Slaughter cows 2.00 to 5.00 lower, bulls 5.00 to 6.00 lower.

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Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 323 7 217.50 $217.50 $703 —
355–392 381 150 209.00–263.00 $250.47 $954 +23.28
402–444 421 411 215.00–261.00 $248.02 $1,044 +13.29
450–496 475 495 204.00–247.50 $235.08 $1,117 +3.45
504 fancy 504 223 246.00 $246.00 $1,240 —
500–549 526 1,501 178.00–235.50 $221.84 $1,167 +8.32
525–548 536 115 185.00–204.00 $196.15 $1,051 -17.37
554–595 571 809 186.00–224.50 $211.30 $1,207 +8.11
604–647 622 491 181.00–225.50 $203.74 $1,267 +0.75
650–688 674 258 187.50–202.50 $195.90 $1,320 +1.24
711–743 719 51 187.00–192.50 $189.01 $1,359 -12.36
753–799 772 273 174.50–192.50 $188.00 $1,451 -2.26
800–848 825 406 167.50–192.00 $180.81 $1,492 -2.13
855 thin fleshed 855 176 190.00 $190.00 $1,624 —
856–896 880 833 180.00–187.50 $186.14 $1,638 +4.00
900–949 923 1,186 163.00–187.50 $178.62 $1,649 -0.51
934 934 7 168.00 $168.00 $1,569 +1.00
950–997 972 914 165.25–183.25 $175.73 $1,708 -0.50
1006 1006 16 165.50 $165.50 $1,665 +1.00
1067 1067 5 165.50 $165.50 $1,766 —
1139 1139 62 157.50 $157.50 $1,794 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
447 447 5 200.00 $200.00 $894 —
781 781 15 162.00 $162.00 $1,265 —
1001–1032 1011 438 158.00–175.00 $171.80 $1,737 -1.81
1051–1095 1074 730 156.75–171.75 $165.65 $1,779 +4.09
1116–1138 1127 101 165.00–166.25 $165.63 $1,867 +5.04
1151–1192 1168 148 153.75–164.25 $157.82 $1,843 +15.32
1251 1251 40 154.00 $154.00 $1,927 —
1382 1382 9 148.00 $148.00 $2,045 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1128–1288 1241 17 143.00–143.50 $143.37 $1,779 —
1333–1383 1349 26 142.00–144.00 $142.89 $1,928 +5.64
1355–1489 1410 48 146.00–149.00 $146.46 $2,065 -0.85
1422–1435 1427 10 138.00–138.50 $138.30 $1,974 -9.01
1426–1496 1478 80 140.00–142.00 $140.33 $2,074 -0.48
1511 1511 35 149.50 $149.50 $2,259 +5.20
1504–1550 1522 15 137.00–139.50 $138.02 $2,101 -6.28
1521–1580 1561 80 140.00–142.00 $141.25 $2,205 -7.02
1601 1601 10 145.00 $145.00 $2,321 —
1627 1627 8 142.50 $142.50 $2,318 —
1817 1817 22 137.00 $137.00 $2,489 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
339 339 15 235.00 $235.00 $797 —
425–445 430 112 212.00–232.00 $226.75 $975 +38.08
485–487 486 18 158.50–209.00 $192.21 $934 —
536–540 538 12 192.00–197.00 $194.91 $1,049 -8.06
573–592 578 26 171.50–187.00 $182.73 $1,056 +26.73
613 613 14 177.00 $177.00 $1,085 -2.63
656–680 672 34 168.50–175.00 $170.74 $1,147 -4.98
768–769 768 13 142.00–154.00 $150.30 $1,154 -0.70
867 867 3 155.00 $155.00 $1,344 +19.00
925 925 7 163.00 $163.00 $1,508 -2.70
956 956 33 165.50 $165.50 $1,582 -1.94
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
412–445 429 10 205.00–232.00 $217.98 $935 —
529 529 28 190.00 $190.00 $1,005 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
253–259 255 17 192.50–200.00 $196.87 $502 —
447 447 8 165.00 $165.00 $738 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1306 1306 16 128.00 $128.00 $1,672 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
406 406 6 153.00 $153.00 $621 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–349 330 49 184.00–218.00 $202.67 $669 -3.93
356–399 379 185 183.00–211.00 $195.02 $739 -7.96
403–448 430 360 187.00–216.50 $207.35 $892 +3.36
450–498 470 894 185.00–221.00 $207.73 $976 +17.79
476–483 478 46 179.00–183.00 $179.88 $860 -10.06
501–547 519 586 164.00–203.00 $191.31 $993 -0.68
549 549 90 232.00 $232.00 $1,274 +23.00
550–591 573 288 166.00–192.50 $181.98 $1,043 +10.98
609–644 634 308 175.00–192.00 $186.47 $1,182 -5.03
674–699 692 168 174.00–185.00 $180.94 $1,252 +3.84
713 713 11 167.00 $167.00 $1,191 -11.91
700–741 727 271 168.00–188.50 $178.44 $1,297 -0.47
733 733 6 175.00 $175.00 $1,283 -3.91
772–793 785 346 167.00–180.75 $173.88 $1,365 +2.48
789 789 48 171.25 $171.25 $1,351 -0.15
803–849 834 379 166.50–177.25 $173.51 $1,447 +0.95
850–892 865 511 166.25–174.00 $169.68 $1,468 +1.25
900–947 918 611 160.00–172.25 $164.22 $1,508 +8.63
950–995 980 511 160.00–168.00 $163.85 $1,606 +11.02
1092 1092 14 156.50 $156.50 $1,709 +1.50
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1241 1241 5 147.00 $147.00 $1,824 +12.00
1219–1298 1279 34 136.00–138.00 $137.55 $1,759 -6.35
1249–1314 1282 79 140.00–147.00 $143.45 $1,839 -0.45
1291–1356 1319 14 135.00–138.00 $136.32 $1,798 -2.18
1301–1509 1365 363 140.00–146.75 $145.37 $1,984 +3.69
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
551 551 5 174.00 $174.00 $959 —
965 965 28 159.25 $159.25 $1,537 —
1001–1048 1018 186 150.00–166.00 $162.57 $1,655 -3.91
1052–1094 1082 88 147.25–160.00 $153.06 $1,656 -1.62
1104–1129 1121 47 148.00–158.50 $150.32 $1,685 —
1160 1160 4 148.00 $148.00 $1,717 +0.70
1204–1240 1235 54 139.50–148.00 $146.93 $1,815 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
262–264 263 22 175.00 $175.00 $460 +35.00
325–345 333 17 179.00–194.00 $185.39 $617 —
382–399 393 27 189.00–195.00 $192.84 $758 +46.84
415–444 432 21 173.00–186.00 $180.10 $778 -9.90
458–474 467 19 137.50–178.00 $161.29 $753 -26.52
500 500 4 177.00 $177.00 $885 -4.56
577–594 584 25 140.00–157.00 $149.06 $871 -16.66
635–648 641 33 131.00–171.50 $151.44 $971 -18.56
663 663 5 167.00 $167.00 $1,107 -1.76
866 866 30 163.50 $163.50 $1,416 +7.41
857–873 869 23 160.50 $160.50 $1,395 +4.41
964 964 12 156.50 $156.50 $1,509 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
471–491 479 57 172.00–186.00 $181.19 $868 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
546 546 22 155.00 $155.00 $846 —
606 606 10 152.00 $152.00 $921 —
654 654 9 151.00 $151.00 $988 —
725 725 6 161.50 $161.50 $1,171 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1082 1082 3 143.00 $143.00 $1,547 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
466 466 7 180.00 $180.00 $839 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
848–1660 1133 85-90% 28 27.00–54.00 $47.01 $533 —
1090–1190 1159 85-90% 5 75.00–79.00 $77.23 $895 —
835–1555 1228 85-90% 51 48.00–69.00 $64.81 $796 +13.00
1125–1750 1331 85-90% 28 70.00–75.00 $71.82 $956 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1283–2040 1463 75-80% 17 87.00–96.00 $92.04 $1,347 —
1460–1687 1604 75-80% 18 74.00–84.00 $80.81 $1,296 —
1325–1875 1634 75-80% 57 82.50–92.00 $87.50 $1,430 —
1825 1825 75-80% 1 75.00 $75.00 $1,369 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1494 1343 80-85% 25 81.00–91.00 $83.84 $1,126 —
1313–1540 1416 80-85% 10 66.00–75.00 $71.93 $1,019 -3.21
1175–1645 1424 80-85% 42 75.00–82.00 $77.90 $1,109 +2.76
1460–2115 1897 80-85% 3 52.00–68.00 $63.89 $1,212 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1560 1560 65-75% 1 104.00 $104.00 $1,622 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–2605 1788 21 45.00–95.00 $84.90 $1,518 —
1605–2380 1960 10 95.50–102.00 $98.48 $1,930 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1336–1601 1480 20 125.50–130.00 $126.47 $1,872 —

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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.