Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 6, 2023

22,024 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $199.66/cwt +0.45 vs last sale · ≈ $1,554/hd at 778 lb · 2,528 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $190.96/cwt -0.41 vs last sale · ≈ $1,281/hd at 671 lb · 1,390 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $183.04/cwt -1.91 vs last sale · ≈ $1,325/hd at 724 lb · 1,367 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 22,024 35,147 31,021
Feeder cattle 20,584 33,437 29,832
Slaughter cattle 1,440 1,710 1,189

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers unevenly steady, except 650-700 lbs steers 7.00 to 9.00 higher and 450-500 lbs heifers to 15.00 higher. Good to very good demand for steers and heifers this week, the best demand is centered on light fleshed and light weight cattle that can be backgrounded, either in a feedyard or on grass. The supply of these light cattle is much tighter than the heavier cattle and with the CME Feeder Cattle contracts around 220.00 for the Fall months, and CME Corn contracts slipping near and under the 6.00 mark, there is a lot of optimism for this class of cattle. The heavier cattle are selling on a very active market as well, but there was some pressure evident this week as the advance on the Live Cattle futures stopped and rolled back a bit. Cattle feeders weren't able to sell cattle higher either as they were forced to accept pretty steady money. Another winter storm this week caused some auctions to completely cancel while others had some consignment cancelations. Slaughter cows uneven, Breakers 4.00 to 5.00 lower, Boners and Lean cows steady to 2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls steady.

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
317–339 330 31 275.00–305.00 $287.35 $948 —
381–394 393 129 260.00–294.00 $292.15 $1,148 +16.02
413–444 433 27 240.00–262.50 $254.45 $1,102 -5.01
461 461 13 216.00 $216.00 $996 -35.37
454–499 475 85 235.00–268.00 $252.17 $1,198 +0.80
504 thin fleshed 504 18 262.00 $262.00 $1,320 —
503–549 520 442 229.00–273.50 $247.76 $1,288 +27.76
523 523 11 211.00 $211.00 $1,104 -34.59
557–598 579 480 216.50–251.00 $233.47 $1,352 -3.94
600 600 24 206.00 $206.00 $1,236 -16.30
604–616 thin fleshed 607 74 232.00–234.00 $232.58 $1,412 +1.08
613 613 7 209.00 $209.00 $1,281 -13.30
605–648 624 641 211.00–236.00 $222.34 $1,387 +0.04
651–694 675 1,142 201.00–235.00 $218.47 $1,475 +7.51
704–709 fancy 706 27 217.00 $217.00 $1,532 —
700–748 725 1,118 190.00–213.50 $200.85 $1,456 -4.20
730 thin fleshed 730 7 218.00 $218.00 $1,591 —
740 740 11 186.00 $186.00 $1,376 -26.00
753 753 79 212.50 $212.50 $1,600 +22.57
763–787 773 30 188.50–193.00 $190.00 $1,469 -9.50
753–799 779 2,419 187.00–209.50 $199.36 $1,553 -0.14
800 thin fleshed 800 19 204.00 $204.00 $1,632 —
808–849 827 528 181.00–195.75 $188.89 $1,562 -1.27
824–829 827 148 205.25–206.50 $205.87 $1,703 +15.71
850–896 863 1,151 177.00–194.50 $190.51 $1,644 +0.67
872–880 878 26 175.00–179.50 $178.64 $1,568 -0.61
902 902 22 164.00 $164.00 $1,479 -16.87
900–949 930 562 174.50–189.50 $182.15 $1,694 +1.28
953–999 974 869 172.00–186.25 $175.28 $1,707 -1.23
992 992 46 163.00 $163.00 $1,617 -13.51
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
334 334 7 255.00 $255.00 $852 +15.00
393 393 18 226.00 $226.00 $888 -14.00
455–497 486 34 216.00–230.00 $218.35 $1,061 -12.14
514–547 531 64 216.00–232.50 $224.95 $1,194 -1.27
557–599 576 51 202.00–222.00 $210.80 $1,214 -3.57
614–640 633 115 182.00–221.00 $196.75 $1,245 -9.25
671–691 676 43 198.00–202.00 $199.87 $1,351 +5.07
715–744 732 31 166.00–194.00 $179.63 $1,315 -5.27
755–796 780 42 165.00–191.00 $181.57 $1,416 +6.96
822 822 5 174.00 $174.00 $1,430 -15.25
875–896 889 52 162.00–173.75 $170.04 $1,512 -4.02
909–916 912 27 160.00–175.00 $167.25 $1,525 —
970 970 4 167.00 $167.00 $1,620 -2.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845 845 21 176.50 $176.50 $1,491 -4.50
918 918 9 155.00 $155.00 $1,423 —
1015–1026 1021 194 170.00–177.35 $174.50 $1,782 +2.98
1050 1050 6 166.00 $166.00 $1,743 -6.03
1112–1148 1133 155 159.60–165.75 $163.20 $1,849 -0.45
1172–1199 1178 27 161.00–164.75 $163.90 $1,931 —
1222 1222 27 166.25 $166.25 $2,032 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1248 1248 6 158.00 $158.00 $1,972 —
1355 1355 14 169.00 $169.00 $2,290 +3.75
1434 1434 5 166.00 $166.00 $2,380 +20.00
1467–1484 1479 20 158.00–161.00 $158.89 $2,350 -1.58
1457–1515 1488 129 163.00–167.50 $166.05 $2,471 +5.58
1491–1584 1528 101 163.50–168.25 $165.71 $2,532 +1.42
1528 1528 5 161.00 $161.00 $2,460 -3.29
1530–1570 1550 31 160.50–162.00 $161.09 $2,497 -8.59
1521–1593 1553 77 170.00–173.50 $171.11 $2,657 +1.43
1631–1708 1637 37 164.00–168.00 $164.34 $2,690 -0.66
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
719 719 7 178.00 $178.00 $1,280 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 6 250.00 $250.00 $775 ±0.00
341 fancy 341 7 280.00 $280.00 $955 —
391–392 392 136 221.00–250.00 $248.09 $973 +21.47
404–442 418 52 230.00–240.00 $236.29 $988 +15.03
456–497 478 228 213.00–240.00 $232.52 $1,111 +15.04
495–499 497 12 201.00–211.00 $205.98 $1,024 -11.50
505–549 531 308 205.00–227.50 $214.72 $1,140 ±0.00
543 543 13 199.50 $199.50 $1,083 -15.22
552–597 573 544 191.00–220.00 $204.79 $1,173 -1.23
574 574 8 184.00 $184.00 $1,056 -22.02
605–643 625 31 181.00–184.00 $182.59 $1,141 -14.95
601–649 629 952 185.00–211.00 $197.02 $1,239 -0.52
657 657 45 180.00 $180.00 $1,183 -22.18
658–670 666 41 180.00–183.50 $182.49 $1,215 -19.69
650–697 671 1,127 172.00–203.00 $188.32 $1,264 -0.82
662–689 675 177 206.00–219.00 $212.48 $1,434 +23.34
703–745 723 1,227 169.50–188.00 $182.35 $1,318 -12.23
729 729 71 209.00 $209.00 $1,524 +25.48
727–735 734 69 166.00–169.00 $168.53 $1,237 -14.99
751–799 770 453 171.50–180.50 $176.50 $1,359 +0.98
775–783 779 66 186.25–193.00 $189.44 $1,476 +13.92
802–814 808 138 184.00–195.50 $189.71 $1,533 +3.71
800–849 823 589 168.00–177.75 $175.18 $1,442 +0.79
806–845 829 43 160.00–165.00 $162.26 $1,345 -12.13
852–896 864 268 154.00–175.00 $169.19 $1,462 +5.19
900–937 916 740 162.50–175.35 $171.88 $1,574 +3.91
951–967 955 201 166.00–168.75 $167.79 $1,602 +2.72
989 989 4 157.00 $157.00 $1,553 -8.07
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
208 208 7 255.00 $255.00 $530 —
293 293 11 280.00 $280.00 $820 —
342–348 344 15 207.00–243.00 $221.55 $762 +3.12
408–422 420 35 201.00–229.00 $221.50 $930 +21.72
469–494 480 78 167.50–212.00 $195.30 $937 -3.37
503–543 535 58 185.00–202.00 $193.56 $1,036 +0.57
572–593 583 51 183.50–187.00 $184.34 $1,075 -1.95
607–648 634 68 162.00–185.50 $177.91 $1,128 -3.59
664–690 682 72 160.00–179.00 $174.71 $1,192 +2.69
715–733 721 12 171.00–173.00 $172.32 $1,242 +19.17
790–794 791 19 170.00–172.00 $171.26 $1,355 -7.74
820–842 825 20 156.00–168.00 $161.87 $1,335 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1283–1493 1318 133 163.00–173.00 $166.96 $2,201 —
1338 1338 40 146.00 $146.00 $1,953 —
1365–1414 1386 47 157.00–161.00 $158.95 $2,203 -8.42
1443 1443 6 160.00 $160.00 $2,309 -10.61
1421–1496 1460 149 164.00–168.00 $166.59 $2,432 +5.59
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1008–1018 1014 47 153.75–159.50 $156.31 $1,585 +13.31
1076–1098 1088 64 154.00–162.50 $159.89 $1,740 —
1127 1127 43 161.75 $161.75 $1,823 +5.75
1154 1154 17 152.00 $152.00 $1,754 -2.90
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
711 711 15 158.00 $158.00 $1,123 —
839 839 10 149.00 $149.00 $1,250 —
854 854 12 147.00 $147.00 $1,255 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 14 205.00 $205.00 $1,117 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
499 unweaned 499 8 219.00 $219.00 $1,093 —

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Slaughter Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1652 1652 65-75% 5 98.50 $98.50 $1,627 —
1406–2115 1695 65-75% 95 90.00–103.00 $97.61 $1,654 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–2020 1529 75-80% 45 86.00–94.00 $90.89 $1,390 -4.02
1438–1745 1534 75-80% 6 95.00–103.00 $97.26 $1,492 +2.35
1270–1940 1570 75-80% 22 81.00–90.00 $84.34 $1,324 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160 1160 80-85% 1 93.00 $93.00 $1,079 —
1015–1740 1352 80-85% 57 81.00–92.00 $86.76 $1,173 -0.13
1338–1400 1353 80-85% 6 71.00–82.00 $77.63 $1,050 -9.26
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725 725 85-90% 1 36.00 $36.00 $261 —
890–1360 1193 85-90% 10 57.00–78.00 $69.52 $829 —
1120–1405 1257 85-90% 13 71.00–83.50 $80.07 $1,006 -4.93
1275 1275 85-90% 4 86.00 $86.00 $1,096 +20.16

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1245–2260 1744 12 76.00–114.00 $92.61 $1,615 —
1653–2570 1929 15 106.00–115.00 $109.84 $2,119 —
2058–2285 2138 4 118.00–124.00 $119.60 $2,557 —
YG3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2510 2510 2 106.00 $106.00 $2,661 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1385 1385 13 126.00 $126.00 $1,745 -5.00
1376–1544 1411 61 131.00–135.00 $133.67 $1,886 +22.67
1434–1617 1552 86 139.50–144.00 $142.26 $2,208 —

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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.