Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 16, 2023

32,844 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $185.35/cwt -5.96 vs last sale · ≈ $1,331/hd at 718 lb · 2,227 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $204.26/cwt -2.12 vs last sale · ≈ $1,281/hd at 627 lb · 2,144 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $180.84/cwt -3.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,131/hd at 625 lb · 2,017 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 32,844 37,948 39,037
Feeder cattle 31,028 35,472 37,179
Slaughter cattle 1,816 2,476 1,858

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 600 lbs 5.00 to 10.00 lower, 600-800 lbs 2.00 to 5.00 lower, over 800 lbs steady to 3.00 lower. Feeder heifers 3.00 to 6.00 lower. Only moderate demand for steers and heifers as another winter storm rolled across the region, with Nebraska getting the worst of it, dropping 1-2 foot there while South Dakota saw lesser amounts. Cattle feeders are facing much adversity as they deal with the winter mess left behind. Feed efficiency has deteriorated drastically on the heavy, near market ready cattle and increased operation costs as feedyard pens have to be cleared of snow. Slaughter plants saw some shift cancelations this week as the storm struck, keeping feedyards from gaining any leverage over the packer. The cash fat market traded lower and has failed to push beyond the futures market. Flesh condition of feeder cattle is of utmost importance, currently as the costs of gain are so high, which results in a very active market when light fleshed feeders are offered. Slaughter cows steady to 3.00 higher, bulls 4.00 lower.

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
321–338 333 24 255.00–285.00 $273.58 $911 +19.56
368–399 380 51 222.50–254.00 $238.66 $907 -10.40
401–447 428 177 222.50–244.00 $230.91 $988 +1.17
452–499 475 458 214.00–240.50 $226.24 $1,075 -2.19
513–530 517 34 201.00–202.00 $201.79 $1,043 -28.66
505–547 522 580 211.00–237.00 $220.77 $1,152 -9.68
543–548 unweaned 544 33 201.00–203.50 $203.04 $1,105 —
558 thin fleshed 558 45 231.00 $231.00 $1,289 —
568 unweaned 568 20 190.00 $190.00 $1,079 —
560–596 571 42 185.00–200.00 $191.47 $1,093 -8.49
550–596 572 1,319 184.00–228.50 $208.99 $1,195 +9.03
603–635 621 42 185.00–193.00 $186.58 $1,159 -0.27
600–649 627 2,095 181.00–221.00 $204.68 $1,283 -2.00
642 unweaned 642 7 185.00 $185.00 $1,188 —
654 unweaned 654 24 182.00 $182.00 $1,190 —
660–696 663 137 176.00–184.00 $177.87 $1,179 -4.16
667 667 34 185.50 $185.50 $1,237 +3.47
650–698 670 1,774 183.00–207.00 $195.07 $1,307 -2.30
702–737 717 101 165.00–176.00 $173.65 $1,245 -17.66
700–745 718 2,111 170.50–195.50 $186.06 $1,336 -5.25
725 unweaned 725 15 163.50 $163.50 $1,185 —
758 fancy 758 48 189.50 $189.50 $1,436 —
760–780 762 88 166.00–168.50 $168.21 $1,282 -9.92
750–799 773 1,838 168.50–186.00 $178.56 $1,380 -4.98
801–843 827 1,338 170.00–182.50 $177.15 $1,465 -0.92
814–849 839 43 165.50–170.00 $167.56 $1,406 -10.51
853–899 875 397 168.00–179.50 $174.54 $1,527 -0.26
920 920 41 168.50 $168.50 $1,550 -6.32
903–948 925 314 168.00–175.25 $171.36 $1,585 -3.46
965–983 975 127 160.00–174.00 $170.59 $1,663 +0.10
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
316–321 318 12 222.00–245.00 $232.30 $739 -10.20
351–399 379 70 181.00–228.00 $206.05 $781 -20.30
411 unweaned 411 6 209.00 $209.00 $859 —
430–443 434 29 189.00–208.00 $202.90 $881 -1.28
451–496 484 180 190.00–219.00 $207.15 $1,003 -3.77
485 unweaned 485 33 192.00 $192.00 $931 —
503–546 527 162 193.00–213.00 $206.11 $1,086 -1.77
559–599 580 347 180.00–205.00 $194.37 $1,127 -6.41
596 unweaned 596 23 181.00 $181.00 $1,079 —
612–649 634 152 177.00–195.25 $188.38 $1,194 -1.16
666 666 8 166.00 $166.00 $1,106 -6.63
655–697 682 121 161.00–183.00 $176.31 $1,202 +3.68
708–737 724 117 171.00–177.00 $173.96 $1,259 +1.99
763–779 768 94 150.00–174.00 $165.19 $1,269 -8.54
802–837 833 101 161.00–180.35 $177.39 $1,478 +6.59
1041 1041 9 130.00 $130.00 $1,353 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1381 1381 12 150.00 $150.00 $2,072 —
1396 1396 10 147.00 $147.00 $2,052 —
1433–1476 1445 114 152.50–157.00 $155.67 $2,249 +6.20
1426–1487 1448 59 152.00–158.00 $157.38 $2,279 +7.91
1503–1637 1530 193 157.00–159.00 $157.73 $2,413 -0.16
1519–1595 1559 57 147.00–153.00 $150.45 $2,346 -7.71
1545–1599 1578 175 153.00–157.00 $154.00 $2,430 -4.16
1615–1644 1638 167 150.00–155.00 $153.54 $2,515 -1.46
1705 1705 81 154.50 $154.50 $2,634 -8.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1042 1028 149 155.00–169.00 $160.59 $1,651 -6.51
1073 1073 20 159.00 $159.00 $1,706 -6.76
1118–1141 1130 90 158.50–159.00 $158.77 $1,794 +5.92
1152–1168 1153 100 155.00–161.35 $160.96 $1,856 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
414 414 7 162.00 $162.00 $671 —
491 491 6 169.00 $169.00 $830 —
637 637 14 146.00 $146.00 $930 —
653 653 5 121.00 $121.00 $790 —
825 825 12 136.00 $136.00 $1,122 -7.00
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
888 888 8 146.00 $146.00 $1,296 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
313–349 332 50 197.50–218.00 $211.70 $703 -11.30
350–395 373 63 196.00–211.00 $204.53 $763 -3.45
400–448 424 425 183.00–211.00 $197.49 $837 -6.92
450–499 475 692 182.00–207.50 $195.95 $931 -3.72
513 thin fleshed 513 43 191.00 $191.00 $980 —
517 unweaned 517 8 174.00 $174.00 $900 —
500–549 525 1,192 175.00–202.00 $190.43 $1,000 -3.74
555–564 560 12 170.00–171.00 $170.59 $955 -20.16
570 thin fleshed 570 98 215.00 $215.00 $1,226 —
571 571 31 176.00 $176.00 $1,005 -14.75
550–599 577 1,659 167.00–207.00 $185.93 $1,073 -4.82
590 unweaned 590 9 165.50 $165.50 $976 —
614 fancy 614 8 191.00 $191.00 $1,173 —
616 616 45 169.50 $169.50 $1,044 -14.74
600–649 625 1,753 166.00–190.00 $179.26 $1,120 +15.26
619–645 630 159 197.50–214.00 $204.41 $1,288 +40.41
614–642 631 52 165.00–173.00 $170.41 $1,075 +6.41
665 665 12 169.00 $169.00 $1,124 -33.56
671 unweaned 671 22 150.00 $150.00 $1,006 —
650–699 672 1,086 160.00–180.00 $172.28 $1,158 +7.51
655–695 673 310 190.00–207.00 $198.20 $1,334 +33.43
700–749 726 1,378 164.00–178.00 $169.37 $1,230 -2.82
720–737 729 150 181.00–190.50 $188.35 $1,373 +16.16
732–748 736 67 159.50–163.25 $162.32 $1,195 +8.75
766 766 71 188.50 $188.50 $1,444 +20.45
750–798 768 416 160.50–171.50 $165.69 $1,272 -2.36
820 820 4 162.50 $162.50 $1,332 -5.49
807–840 824 326 159.00–165.50 $162.52 $1,339 -5.47
864–890 879 204 156.50–168.00 $164.19 $1,443 -1.49
903–944 925 639 146.50–164.00 $159.59 $1,476 -4.82
960–995 974 177 151.50–163.25 $159.66 $1,555 -6.87
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
276 276 6 190.00 $190.00 $524 —
326 326 5 223.00 $223.00 $727 +21.12
366–394 384 29 184.00–200.00 $193.70 $744 -4.17
401–446 420 56 176.00–199.00 $184.35 $774 +0.20
470–499 490 74 172.00–188.00 $180.55 $885 +4.16
500–537 517 99 167.00–180.50 $174.96 $905 -2.11
538 unweaned 538 39 165.00 $165.00 $888 —
550–595 579 140 158.00–177.00 $169.95 $984 -1.32
600–649 621 124 155.00–172.50 $165.00 $1,025 +0.33
660–678 674 86 148.00–167.00 $154.14 $1,039 —
705–743 718 46 153.00–164.50 $160.46 $1,152 -5.20
753–778 770 9 140.00–164.75 $156.68 $1,206 -4.82
857 857 5 139.00 $139.00 $1,191 -12.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1037 1011 63 151.00–162.75 $158.57 $1,603 +4.14
1059–1080 1074 304 152.50–159.50 $153.79 $1,652 -3.71
1105–1107 1106 144 150.75–163.00 $156.73 $1,733 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1247–1385 1310 95 152.00–158.00 $156.29 $2,047 +4.29
1266–1407 1361 285 150.00–155.00 $153.21 $2,085 +3.42
1362–1518 1438 59 145.00–152.00 $146.88 $2,112 -12.48
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423 423 9 170.00 $170.00 $719 —
489–491 490 22 159.00–162.00 $160.09 $784 —
689 689 6 136.00 $136.00 $937 —
735 735 21 135.00 $135.00 $992 -16.00
777 777 9 136.00 $136.00 $1,057 -13.50
953 953 8 121.00 $121.00 $1,153 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 4 172.50 $172.50 $630 —
440 440 9 158.00 $158.00 $695 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1262 1262 8 119.00 $119.00 $1,502 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
630 630 4 166.50 $166.50 $1,049 —
671 671 9 165.00 $165.00 $1,107 —
726 726 9 157.50 $157.50 $1,143 —
826 826 7 155.00 $155.00 $1,280 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1183–1470 1341 80-85% 5 61.00–65.00 $63.42 $850 -12.07
1178–1745 1377 80-85% 65 66.00–75.00 $70.64 $973 —
1748 1748 80-85% 2 77.00 $77.00 $1,346 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1585 1263 85-90% 38 57.00–64.50 $61.06 $771 -3.47
1210–1278 1264 85-90% 5 41.00 $41.00 $518 -23.53
1360 1360 85-90% 2 67.50 $67.50 $918 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1355 1355 75-80% 1 88.00 $88.00 $1,192 —
1397–2040 1587 75-80% 27 75.50–84.00 $80.23 $1,273 —
1405–1830 1640 75-80% 3 56.00–57.00 $56.37 $924 -30.29
1720–1750 1735 75-80% 2 73.00 $73.00 $1,267 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1684 1684 65-75% 8 98.00 $98.00 $1,650 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1500–2280 1888 9 25.00–86.00 $69.18 $1,306 —
1670–2485 1949 7 90.00–95.00 $91.43 $1,782 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1395–1461 1410 25 126.00–132.00 $128.01 $1,805 +1.93
1402–1523 1499 41 135.75–144.00 $137.47 $2,061 —

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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.