Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 27, 2023

22,163 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $192.11/cwt +4.17 vs last sale · ≈ $1,683/hd at 876 lb · 1,542 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $189.02/cwt +6.50 vs last sale · ≈ $1,743/hd at 922 lb · 1,493 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $205.84/cwt +2.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,593/hd at 774 lb · 1,241 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 22,163 28,339 19,274
Feeder cattle 20,361 27,352 17,973
Slaughter cattle 1,802 987 1,301

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 600 lbs mostly steady, over 600 lbs 3.00 to 7.00 higher. Feeder heifers 4.00 to 8.00 higher, instances of 10.00-11.00 higher on 550-600 lbs. Very good demand for all weights of steers and heifers as the cash fat cattle market reached 172.00. Cattle feeders are very feeling very optimistic now, as the cash market soared beyond the futures contracts leaving a positive basis of 5.00, cash over futures. The Feeder Cattle contracts are extremely attractive, which is keeping the fire lit under the feeder market, but the cash fat market really fanned the flames this week. Corn futures are working their way back towards 7.00, and costs of gain have been much higher this winter due to the severity of the weather, but that had little effect on the feeder market as cattle feeders came to town ready to buy cattle. Slaughter cows 3.00 to 4.00 lower, 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
379 379 6 250.00 $250.00 $948 -25.00
403–438 429 47 249.00–272.00 $265.87 $1,141 -2.90
475 unweaned 475 4 200.00 $200.00 $950 -35.37
450–496 476 119 244.00–261.00 $253.58 $1,207 -0.09
501–543 514 196 235.00–271.50 $249.15 $1,281 +14.15
550–596 574 443 227.50–252.00 $238.32 $1,368 -5.16
593–599 596 16 225.00–226.50 $225.75 $1,345 -17.73
598 unweaned 598 6 174.00 $174.00 $1,041 —
600–648 619 513 216.00–243.50 $229.71 $1,422 +3.73
620 620 30 245.50 $245.50 $1,522 +19.52
643 643 8 207.00 $207.00 $1,331 +2.78
654–684 668 473 209.00–232.50 $225.52 $1,506 +2.61
665–671 668 78 205.00–211.50 $207.74 $1,388 -15.17
700–747 715 1,020 186.00–225.50 $211.69 $1,514 +2.87
710–735 725 77 191.50–199.00 $193.14 $1,400 -15.68
763 thin fleshed 763 278 219.75 $219.75 $1,677 —
750–797 777 946 191.00–215.00 $202.15 $1,571 +21.42
782 782 17 184.00 $184.00 $1,439 -19.18
800–847 823 1,094 189.00–209.00 $200.58 $1,651 +4.92
850–898 876 1,504 183.50–204.50 $192.53 $1,687 +4.51
856–884 877 38 175.50–176.00 $175.62 $1,540 -12.40
900–948 922 1,483 176.50–194.25 $189.15 $1,744 +6.25
930 930 10 170.00 $170.00 $1,581 -12.90
950–998 968 989 173.50–197.50 $183.15 $1,773 +6.79
962–995 976 35 170.70–173.00 $172.00 $1,679 -4.36
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1200 1174 35 144.00–147.00 $145.69 $1,710 —
1296 1296 16 168.00 $168.00 $2,177 +18.00
1271–1363 1332 12 155.00–163.00 $157.54 $2,098 -5.46
1331–1333 1333 32 165.00–166.00 $165.22 $2,202 +2.22
1388–1496 1444 224 167.00–174.00 $169.01 $2,441 +10.92
1436–1465 1445 25 154.00–158.00 $155.81 $2,251 -2.28
1382–1480 1447 77 170.00–174.50 $172.78 $2,500 +14.69
1460 1460 5 159.00 $159.00 $2,321 -7.95
1444–1482 1471 14 171.00–172.00 $171.72 $2,526 +4.77
1545 1545 7 145.00 $145.00 $2,240 —
1518–1587 1570 273 169.00–175.00 $170.74 $2,681 +2.54
1501–1697 1596 96 165.00–177.00 $174.73 $2,789 +2.73
1649 1649 6 156.00 $156.00 $2,572 -12.00
1691 1691 34 173.00 $173.00 $2,925 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1003–1045 1017 311 172.00–181.25 $179.52 $1,826 +2.33
1055–1096 1074 127 170.35–177.25 $173.63 $1,865 +4.98
1109 1109 19 176.75 $176.75 $1,960 +7.85
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
367–380 376 11 240.00–255.00 $251.01 $944 —
411–440 426 42 227.50–250.00 $237.20 $1,010 +7.50
451–496 472 23 200.00–230.00 $217.79 $1,028 -7.38
500–547 521 63 205.00–235.00 $229.08 $1,194 +4.63
568–599 587 41 187.00–207.50 $195.59 $1,148 -17.50
611–645 630 48 195.00–219.00 $207.49 $1,307 +1.31
652–674 659 34 198.00–210.00 $205.14 $1,352 +14.14
703–748 730 80 189.50–203.00 $197.52 $1,442 +3.58
754–771 766 45 180.00–198.00 $190.15 $1,457 +2.83
809 809 6 183.00 $183.00 $1,480 -5.00
861–889 882 21 175.50–178.00 $177.42 $1,565 +2.42
915 915 5 166.00 $166.00 $1,519 -9.61
979 979 15 158.00 $158.00 $1,547 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
452 452 6 170.00 $170.00 $768 —
613 613 7 185.00 $185.00 $1,134 +21.50
676 676 7 176.00 $176.00 $1,190 —
705–713 710 12 133.00–168.00 $144.58 $1,027 —
842 842 19 170.00 $170.00 $1,431 -2.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305 1305 5 145.00 $145.00 $1,892 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
674 674 4 133.00 $133.00 $896 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
409–445 430 109 223.00–257.00 $232.77 $1,001 +12.12
450–495 476 163 216.00–241.00 $227.92 $1,085 -1.91
518 unweaned 518 4 203.00 $203.00 $1,052 —
504–545 531 389 200.00–230.00 $222.53 $1,182 +9.44
559 fancy 559 9 219.00 $219.00 $1,224 —
569–576 thin fleshed 572 93 218.50–226.00 $221.59 $1,267 —
553–590 574 583 197.50–236.00 $223.41 $1,282 +11.56
605 thin fleshed 605 23 219.00 $219.00 $1,325 +5.00
603–649 625 819 186.00–209.00 $199.84 $1,249 +0.89
628–636 631 115 214.00–219.00 $216.85 $1,368 +17.90
641 641 7 188.00 $188.00 $1,205 -10.95
651–699 677 1,081 182.00–202.75 $193.28 $1,309 +2.13
699 699 5 170.00 $170.00 $1,188 -21.15
700–749 726 976 178.00–197.50 $190.77 $1,385 -7.58
735–748 746 76 167.50–175.00 $169.15 $1,262 -29.20
748 748 18 186.00 $186.00 $1,391 -12.35
751–789 764 678 170.00–193.00 $185.64 $1,418 -7.03
760–792 776 108 164.00–178.50 $174.42 $1,353 -6.66
776–798 786 297 188.75–194.50 $190.23 $1,495 +27.73
803–815 811 105 188.75–204.50 $193.65 $1,571 +13.65
800–849 826 722 171.00–184.50 $179.61 $1,484 +5.13
858–896 871 788 168.00–180.25 $173.84 $1,514 +4.42
871–899 875 123 151.00–168.00 $164.16 $1,436 -5.26
913–949 920 134 165.00–174.85 $170.32 $1,567 +1.31
903–942 923 29 162.00–164.00 $162.94 $1,504 -6.07
950–963 956 71 166.00–169.50 $167.89 $1,605 +4.49
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
359–370 366 21 190.00–220.00 $204.99 $750 —
432–440 438 27 203.00–218.00 $212.23 $930 +1.70
452–475 458 31 207.00–220.00 $217.20 $995 +4.20
512–540 525 72 185.00–210.00 $194.60 $1,022 -2.46
561–598 576 47 188.00–210.00 $201.49 $1,161 +16.78
600–645 614 34 174.00–211.00 $186.80 $1,147 -2.75
652–698 684 53 155.00–183.50 $177.16 $1,212 +4.32
711–748 722 70 170.00–182.00 $179.93 $1,299 +11.11
752–797 772 100 167.00–177.00 $173.39 $1,339 +17.39
804–832 825 44 148.00–173.50 $167.79 $1,384 -1.07
877 877 7 154.00 $154.00 $1,351 —
901 901 901 150.00 $150.00 $1,352 -16.00
997 997 5 158.00 $158.00 $1,575 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1229 1229 4 164.00 $164.00 $2,016 +20.00
1258 1258 4 155.00 $155.00 $1,950 ±0.00
1296–1389 1364 89 167.00–172.00 $169.19 $2,308 +13.76
1328–1508 1380 34 151.00–164.00 $157.93 $2,179 +2.50
1388 1388 6 171.00 $171.00 $2,373 +15.57
1394 1394 14 150.00 $150.00 $2,091 -5.43
1244–1487 1435 139 165.00–173.00 $172.00 $2,468 +6.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1002–1015 1009 35 159.50–166.75 $164.18 $1,657 —
1038 1038 41 162.10 $162.10 $1,683 —
1056–1076 1069 22 159.00–161.25 $160.04 $1,711 +4.04
1182 1182 7 159.50 $159.50 $1,885 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
242 242 11 195.00 $195.00 $472 —
453 453 6 180.00 $180.00 $815 —
540 540 10 172.00 $172.00 $929 —
749 749 17 143.00 $143.00 $1,071 —
898 898 4 132.00 $132.00 $1,185 —
938 938 5 131.00 $131.00 $1,229 —

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1018 1018 17 153.50 $153.50 $1,563 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
417 417 3 214.00 $214.00 $892 -27.00
929–946 938 9 154.00–155.00 $154.44 $1,449 -2.56

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110–1435 1233 80-85% 8 93.00–102.00 $97.81 $1,206 —
1170–1580 1367 80-85% 24 71.00–91.00 $83.06 $1,135 -10.46
1305–1565 1448 80-85% 3 20.00–56.00 $32.85 $476 —
1200–1860 1469 80-85% 85 83.00–96.00 $89.11 $1,309 +19.11
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890–1415 1141 85-90% 14 15.00–51.00 $32.62 $372 -39.86
1100–1225 1162 85-90% 8 83.50–86.00 $84.81 $985 -8.15
913–1505 1191 85-90% 29 55.00–80.00 $69.58 $829 -23.38
1013–1442 1221 85-90% 41 73.00–88.00 $82.32 $1,005 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315–1790 1554 75-80% 19 71.00–97.00 $90.90 $1,413 —
1300–1928 1569 75-80% 37 92.00–103.00 $98.08 $1,539 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1545–2030 1727 65-75% 9 104.00–112.00 $107.16 $1,851 -1.84

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1550 1550 1 95.00 $95.00 $1,472 —
1580–2380 2003 13 106.00–123.00 $115.45 $2,312 -0.63

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1433 1433 15 115.00 $115.00 $1,648 —
1420–1665 1549 82 135.00–141.00 $137.27 $2,126 -4.59

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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.