Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 17, 2022

48,922 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 $221.61/cwt +1.62 vs last sale · ≈ $1,168/hd at 527 lb · 6,111 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $213.86/cwt +6.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,219/hd at 570 lb · 5,283 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $208.01/cwt +5.10 vs last sale · ≈ $1,285/hd at 618 lb · 3,728 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 48,922 33,167 57,525
Feeder cattle 47,812 32,369 56,390
Slaughter cattle 1,110 798 1,135

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 450 lbs 10.00 higher, 450-700 lbs 2.00 to 6.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs steady to 2.00 lower, over 500 lbs 2.00 to 5.00 higher. Yearling feeder steers 2.00 to 5.00 higher, heifers 2.00 to 5.00 higher except 700-750 lbs 2.00 lower. Good demand for spring born calves this week as the big strings have arrived at the auctions and farmer feeders are nearing completion of their corn harvest and are ready to receive calves. The drought is forcing calves to town a bit earlier as ranchers are needing to stretch their feed supplies. Farmer feeders are willing to take on these calves now that they have some feed put up. Very good demand remains for the yearlings that were offered as cattle feeders greatly prefer feeding yearlings vs. calves. The temps have been rather volatile as there were two mornings of 15 degrees but then the week ended with daytime highs in the low 80s, which makes for unhealthy freshly weaned calves. The drought is on every cattle producers mind as many had to sell cows to match their feed supplies. Cash fed cattle market continues to strengthen, up to 152.00, and the futures contracts are slowing following along. Slaughter cows steady to 2.00 higher, bulls not well tested.

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
329–345 338 54 246.00–273.00 $260.52 $881 +8.62
350–399 377 317 247.00–275.00 $258.16 $973 +10.34
418 thin fleshed 418 35 266.00 $266.00 $1,112 +15.50
400–449 427 704 222.00–268.00 $254.28 $1,086 +14.46
443 443 16 235.00 $235.00 $1,041 +24.00
450–499 473 3,261 218.00–253.00 $238.10 $1,126 +3.82
489 489 8 201.00 $201.00 $983 -33.28
500–549 527 6,111 186.00–239.00 $221.61 $1,168 +1.56
553 fancy 553 26 246.00 $246.00 $1,360 —
557 557 33 210.00 $210.00 $1,170 +2.44
550–599 570 5,185 190.50–229.50 $213.91 $1,219 +6.35
586–599 593 39 187.00–196.00 $189.68 $1,125 -17.88
615 615 52 192.50 $192.50 $1,184 +3.50
601–646 618 3,676 180.00–218.50 $208.23 $1,287 +19.23
671 unweaned 671 7 169.00 $169.00 $1,134 —
650–694 672 1,005 182.50–209.50 $198.06 $1,331 +3.52
687 687 24 176.50 $176.50 $1,213 -18.04
703–748 728 456 179.00–200.00 $193.10 $1,406 +0.69
750–786 775 200 175.00–194.00 $182.12 $1,411 -2.07
778 unweaned 778 14 165.50 $165.50 $1,288 —
800–845 820 967 170.50–195.75 $190.50 $1,562 +10.55
854–897 882 801 168.00–190.75 $181.50 $1,601 +1.48
920 920 13 160.50 $160.50 $1,477 -17.68
900–947 923 1,068 169.10–190.75 $185.33 $1,711 +7.15
941 thin fleshed 941 100 185.25 $185.25 $1,743 —
955–994 978 538 168.00–186.00 $181.48 $1,775 +5.41
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311–338 333 41 227.00–260.00 $231.71 $772 +19.24
355–399 374 68 220.00–247.50 $237.88 $890 +17.19
400–443 418 277 190.00–239.00 $227.07 $949 +2.07
457–496 481 395 200.00–231.50 $225.43 $1,084 +10.82
525–549 533 207 205.50–210.50 $209.30 $1,116 +6.61
550–595 569 313 185.00–208.00 $197.66 $1,125 +17.10
663–674 667 22 166.00–172.00 $170.07 $1,134 +0.76
733 733 8 176.50 $176.50 $1,294 -2.88
771 771 13 156.00 $156.00 $1,203 -15.68
883–891 888 46 150.50–170.00 $157.67 $1,400 —
947 947 11 168.25 $168.25 $1,593 -0.24
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
483–491 487 26 213.00–215.00 $214.09 $1,043 -5.91
595 595 19 185.00 $185.00 $1,101 -11.00
628–648 645 33 190.00–192.50 $190.37 $1,228 -1.63
1006–1032 1017 211 172.10–185.25 $178.10 $1,811 +4.92
1052–1080 1069 411 161.00–174.60 $168.80 $1,804 —
1107–1130 1122 158 165.75–166.75 $166.07 $1,863 +1.05
1164–1187 1168 29 144.00–165.25 $161.53 $1,887 -2.97
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1162 1162 8 143.75 $143.75 $1,670 —
1185–1224 1198 19 144.00–147.50 $145.44 $1,742 —
1216 1216 5 148.00 $148.00 $1,800 —
1249 1249 7 153.00 $153.00 $1,911 —
1258 1258 5 143.00 $143.00 $1,799 —
1234–1312 1264 21 148.00–154.50 $151.93 $1,920 —
1313 1313 4 145.00 $145.00 $1,904 -0.50
1431–1479 1450 42 141.50–145.00 $143.88 $2,086 +4.88
1494–1499 1496 23 146.00–146.50 $146.28 $2,188 +7.28
1511–1518 1511 154 139.00–142.00 $141.80 $2,143 +4.40
1518 1518 10 147.00 $147.00 $2,231 +9.60
1619–1668 1642 43 143.00–147.00 $144.89 $2,379 —
1763 1763 61 145.25 $145.25 $2,561 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
429 429 84 230.50 $230.50 $989 +50.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
333 333 15 207.50 $207.50 $691 —
608 608 6 171.50 $171.50 $1,043 —
1056 1056 10 158.00 $158.00 $1,668 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
302–347 331 165 193.00–234.00 $217.92 $721 +8.51
355–393 377 400 182.50–235.00 $210.80 $795 -0.16
403–449 426 1,043 182.00–227.00 $206.99 $882 -1.42
432 fancy 432 46 259.00 $259.00 $1,119 +27.00
434–445 442 442 220.00–226.00 $222.61 $984 +37.61
450–499 475 2,488 177.00–214.00 $201.61 $958 +9.51
480–488 483 453 216.00–238.50 $227.09 $1,097 -9.91
502–515 511 304 213.00–238.50 $220.91 $1,129 +28.84
500–549 523 2,442 180.00–207.00 $193.75 $1,013 +1.68
533 unweaned 533 42 175.50 $175.50 $935 —
550–555 553 436 223.00 $223.00 $1,233 +19.00
562 562 20 174.00 $174.00 $978 -30.00
550–598 574 2,327 175.00–204.50 $190.37 $1,093 +5.36
581 581 45 175.50 $175.50 $1,020 -9.51
605 unweaned 605 3 158.50 $158.50 $959 —
600–648 623 643 170.00–192.50 $184.23 $1,148 +4.21
627 627 5 155.00 $155.00 $972 -25.02
651–665 656 134 167.50–181.50 $177.44 $1,164 -1.15
737 737 36 168.00 $168.00 $1,238 -11.04
708–748 739 381 168.00–183.50 $174.10 $1,287 -4.94
743 unweaned 743 12 160.00 $160.00 $1,189 —
754–785 773 224 166.50–180.00 $174.33 $1,348 +1.82
802–849 832 633 162.75–180.75 $171.58 $1,428 +16.58
850–891 875 806 160.75–178.25 $171.68 $1,502 -5.72
901–947 926 1,509 157.75–177.75 $169.88 $1,573 -6.60
950–990 963 456 155.60–173.00 $165.99 $1,598 -0.74
966 966 21 158.00 $158.00 $1,526 -8.73
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
309–348 333 72 192.50–223.00 $203.82 $679 +5.52
355–385 377 53 175.00–227.00 $189.04 $713 +0.89
422–445 438 202 182.50–190.00 $187.64 $822 -0.26
453–498 474 507 161.00–194.00 $184.28 $873 +13.99
540–545 543 91 168.00–183.50 $176.62 $959 +1.63
572–596 577 82 164.00–177.00 $167.93 $969 -2.96
600–641 631 37 130.00–166.00 $161.38 $1,018 -4.74
675–699 683 44 152.50–169.50 $168.19 $1,149 +5.51
705–717 710 26 162.00–175.00 $167.55 $1,190 -0.95
751–790 771 33 142.00–163.50 $156.78 $1,209 +2.59
821–837 828 29 120.00–159.50 $146.06 $1,209 -10.86
973 973 6 138.50 $138.50 $1,348 -8.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1138–1335 1260 21 144.00 $144.00 $1,814 +1.00
1234–1434 1369 131 143.00–145.00 $144.44 $1,977 +6.44
1221–1432 1373 131 140.00–144.00 $143.12 $1,965 +5.12
1349–1470 1383 32 135.50–138.50 $138.10 $1,910 -3.20
1555 1555 10 135.00 $135.00 $2,099 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
396 396 11 205.00 $205.00 $812 +25.00
468–492 477 24 175.00–186.00 $181.20 $864 -5.80
526 526 31 181.50 $181.50 $955 +1.50
555–595 589 82 175.00–181.50 $179.03 $1,054 +6.03
1038–1047 1044 16 155.00–155.50 $155.34 $1,622 -8.33
1059–1092 1074 99 152.50–160.00 $155.05 $1,665 -5.95
1091 1091 13 136.50 $136.50 $1,489 -24.50
1106–1142 1124 14 136.00–148.75 $142.27 $1,599 -13.73
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1065 1065 5 141.50 $141.50 $1,507 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840 840 5 143.50 $143.50 $1,205 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
736 736 5 110.00 $110.00 $810 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
632 632 12 159.00 $159.00 $1,005 -8.50

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900–1185 1045 85-90% 10 40.00–50.00 $47.56 $497 —
1105–1305 1199 85-90% 17 56.00–62.50 $59.51 $714 —
1297 1297 85-90% 3 70.00 $70.00 $908 +5.69
1110–1790 1322 85-90% 25 63.00–69.00 $66.04 $873 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1224–1443 1352 80-85% 15 74.00–78.00 $76.06 $1,028 —
1168–1495 1378 80-85% 6 61.00–73.00 $68.32 $941 —
1080–1492 1441 80-85% 8 80.00 $80.00 $1,153 +11.27
1470 1470 80-85% 1 35.00 $35.00 $514 -40.41
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1365–1618 1557 75-80% 10 82.00–88.00 $86.46 $1,346 +2.20
1640 1640 75-80% 1 71.00 $71.00 $1,164 —
1540–1793 1673 75-80% 6 92.00–96.00 $94.45 $1,580 +5.14

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1580–2005 1739 4 100.00–106.00 $101.96 $1,773 —
1230–2235 1823 8 73.00–99.00 $95.27 $1,737 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1457–1496 1488 50 125.25–127.00 $125.59 $1,869 —

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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.