Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 17, 2023

25,411 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 $227.11/cwt -0.83 vs last sale · ≈ $1,753/hd at 772 lb · 2,214 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $199.85/cwt -1.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,752/hd at 877 lb · 2,026 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $200.03/cwt -2.58 vs last sale · ≈ $1,558/hd at 779 lb · 1,690 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 25,411 28,387 22,466
Feeder cattle 24,173 27,226 21,484
Slaughter cattle 1,238 1,161 982

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 750 lbs 3.00 to 7.00 higher, over 750 lbs unevenly steady. Feeder heifers steady to 4.00 lower. Very good demand remains for all weights of steers and heifers, yet the market eased back a bit on the bigger cattle as the futures contracts fail to follow the cash market higher and added pressure to the market instead. Packers lowered their bids this week and got few cattle bought, as cattle feeders know they retain all the leverage yet they slowed in their pursuit of feeder cattle. Flesh remains a major factor in how much cattle feeders will pay for a set of cattle. Colder than average temps for much of this week along with rain/snow continue to make for poor feeding conditions. Slaughter cows 2.00 to 4.00 higher, bulls 5.00 higher.

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
339 339 8 300.00 $300.00 $1,017 —
372 372 5 285.00 $285.00 $1,060 -16.58
407–448 439 34 267.50–289.00 $278.31 $1,222 +3.90
456–486 479 30 245.00–272.50 $250.80 $1,201 -25.48
501–534 517 69 236.00–265.00 $251.96 $1,303 +9.46
528 thin fleshed 528 6 269.00 $269.00 $1,420 -0.82
538 unweaned 538 4 230.00 $230.00 $1,237 —
553 553 6 220.00 $220.00 $1,217 -36.28
550–591 567 254 240.00–267.00 $257.93 $1,462 +1.65
593 593 16 245.00 $245.00 $1,453 +16.00
602–647 621 267 238.00–266.50 $255.91 $1,589 +15.64
668–672 thin fleshed 669 117 261.00–266.50 $265.46 $1,776 —
650–699 673 451 224.00–260.00 $243.09 $1,636 +21.09
675 675 33 241.00 $241.00 $1,627 +19.00
690 690 77 228.25 $228.25 $1,575 +2.25
717 717 14 213.00 $213.00 $1,527 -17.73
717–721 720 18 219.00–220.00 $219.67 $1,582 -11.06
700–746 725 573 225.00–250.50 $240.74 $1,745 +10.01
754 thin fleshed 754 69 239.00 $239.00 $1,802 —
751–799 771 1,917 207.00–239.00 $228.91 $1,765 +0.79
783 783 95 224.75 $224.75 $1,760 +16.25
788 788 133 196.60 $196.60 $1,549 -11.90
803–847 810 104 194.00–198.00 $197.58 $1,600 -16.19
812–845 828 1,462 200.00–223.75 $212.77 $1,762 -1.00
866 fancy 866 52 211.75 $211.75 $1,834 —
850–898 877 1,959 188.50–209.00 $199.62 $1,751 -1.44
882 882 15 188.50 $188.50 $1,663 -12.56
900–945 917 1,430 185.50–203.75 $193.61 $1,775 -4.00
908–945 941 85 184.50–186.60 $186.27 $1,753 -11.34
952–998 969 908 172.00–193.60 $188.81 $1,830 +1.13
969 fancy 969 34 196.00 $196.00 $1,899 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1049 1024 967 176.60–187.00 $182.67 $1,871 +3.08
1047 1047 60 175.25 $175.25 $1,835 -4.34
1059–1098 1069 242 176.00–188.00 $180.98 $1,935 +0.76
1101–1114 1104 77 172.50–176.50 $175.39 $1,936 —
1196 1196 11 173.00 $173.00 $2,069 -2.36
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353–394 376 25 245.00–285.00 $267.08 $1,004 -22.29
420–443 434 47 245.00–264.00 $260.27 $1,130 +8.98
460–471 465 25 234.00–260.00 $250.44 $1,165 -2.85
511–526 518 65 221.00–252.50 $246.91 $1,279 +6.11
560–589 581 50 205.00–244.00 $230.70 $1,340 +10.13
616–637 627 74 202.50–239.00 $226.09 $1,418 +6.59
657–667 663 42 215.00–221.00 $218.61 $1,449 +6.28
703–748 723 190 206.00–224.50 $220.86 $1,597 +8.86
765–792 777 141 200.00–218.00 $205.63 $1,598 +4.93
828–849 841 22 195.00–198.00 $196.07 $1,649 +9.07
874–898 886 35 175.00–189.75 $187.24 $1,659 +3.44
907 907 18 160.00 $160.00 $1,451 -28.00
944 944 12 182.00 $182.00 $1,718 —
954 954 7 186.00 $186.00 $1,774 +11.72
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1241–1384 1316 19 143.00–167.00 $156.28 $2,057 +5.28
1342–1449 1399 45 184.50–185.00 $184.72 $2,584 —
1419–1460 1426 123 180.00–186.25 $181.59 $2,589 +2.70
1421–1487 1446 27 158.50–167.00 $162.47 $2,349 -12.13
1504–1578 1537 198 183.00–185.25 $184.83 $2,841 —
1538 1538 6 187.00 $187.00 $2,876 —
1534–1598 1570 26 172.00–175.50 $173.39 $2,722 -6.83
1636–1642 1641 27 180.00–182.75 $182.34 $2,992 +2.13
1647 1647 45 187.00 $187.00 $3,080 +6.79
1737 1737 5 175.00 $175.00 $3,040 -2.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
713 713 20 182.00 $182.00 $1,298 —
1004–1045 1011 17 149.00–175.50 $170.67 $1,725 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413 413 6 205.00 $205.00 $847 —
465–483 474 18 195.00–215.00 $204.81 $971 —
595 595 9 172.00 $172.00 $1,023 +2.00
680 680 4 183.00 $183.00 $1,244 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1124 1124 10 160.00 $160.00 $1,798 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318–328 322 19 260.00–300.00 $286.14 $921 +21.66
350–386 371 28 248.00–267.50 $260.94 $968 +13.11
424–437 429 57 225.00–246.00 $238.31 $1,022 -10.74
460–486 476 58 234.00–245.00 $238.30 $1,134 -6.01
495 unweaned 495 5 215.00 $215.00 $1,064 —
501–545 525 407 219.00–248.50 $239.57 $1,258 -0.99
551–594 572 236 216.00–231.00 $224.84 $1,286 -4.83
602–634 617 624 207.00–233.00 $221.97 $1,370 +2.96
630 630 35 200.00 $200.00 $1,260 -28.50
674 674 15 198.00 $198.00 $1,335 -17.34
679–685 682 156 217.50–221.00 $219.22 $1,495 +3.88
656–699 683 504 198.00–220.00 $211.18 $1,442 -4.16
689 fancy 689 79 225.25 $225.25 $1,552 —
703–742 712 339 210.50–224.00 $215.31 $1,533 +5.05
700–748 720 964 189.50–218.50 $206.69 $1,488 -3.57
711–731 721 82 184.00–193.00 $188.78 $1,361 -21.48
733 fancy 733 81 214.00 $214.00 $1,569 —
765 765 72 201.75 $201.75 $1,543 +1.69
756–792 777 479 203.00–222.00 $210.02 $1,632 +23.38
751–799 780 1,039 182.00–205.75 $196.71 $1,534 +10.07
775–795 786 100 180.00–188.00 $185.45 $1,458 -1.19
801–836 811 217 189.00–207.00 $199.50 $1,618 +12.01
811–817 815 69 165.00–177.00 $175.44 $1,430 -12.05
802–844 828 662 181.25–194.50 $187.95 $1,556 -8.81
850–893 856 296 187.00–197.50 $193.66 $1,658 +7.96
861–887 870 112 169.25–177.00 $174.30 $1,516 -11.40
851–899 872 994 174.00–191.25 $184.92 $1,613 -0.78
900–913 909 55 168.50–176.00 $173.06 $1,573 -15.19
908–940 916 230 173.00–189.00 $177.11 $1,622 -4.43
923–944 930 79 182.00–184.50 $182.69 $1,699 +1.15
955 955 32 172.50 $172.50 $1,647 -1.00
956–994 987 26 170.00–177.50 $171.40 $1,692 -2.10
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
372–386 375 55 212.50–267.50 $238.83 $896 +6.39
426–447 437 14 226.00–245.00 $235.73 $1,030 +17.78
450–492 477 174 215.00–241.00 $226.06 $1,078 +3.66
503–535 521 28 195.00–219.00 $205.44 $1,070 -13.56
551–599 563 20 205.00–211.00 $207.80 $1,170 +2.81
601–625 612 54 193.00–208.50 $202.89 $1,242 +3.18
671–696 676 103 189.00–202.50 $200.29 $1,354 +9.78
710–746 716 92 181.00–191.00 $183.46 $1,314 +6.48
787 787 10 176.00 $176.00 $1,385 -6.42
816–829 822 52 178.00–181.00 $180.10 $1,480 +12.85
882 882 6 165.00 $165.00 $1,455 -12.42
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195 1195 16 176.00 $176.00 $2,103 —
1282 1282 113 185.25 $185.25 $2,375 —
1305–1438 1362 50 166.00–176.00 $172.01 $2,343 —
1287–1488 1410 171 180.00–187.00 $183.62 $2,589 +22.62
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
864 864 118 177.75 $177.75 $1,536 —
1027–1040 1037 156 165.00–170.50 $168.49 $1,747 —
1160 1160 50 167.25 $167.25 $1,940 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1107 1107 54 162.00 $162.00 $1,793 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
462–486 471 21 175.00–196.00 $188.49 $888 —
544 544 22 186.00 $186.00 $1,012 —
683–698 692 10 177.50–182.00 $180.22 $1,247 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
354 354 8 280.00 $280.00 $991 —
415 415 14 266.00 $266.00 $1,104 —
472 472 90 286.00 $286.00 $1,350 —
516 516 5 227.50 $227.50 $1,174 —
568–586 570 61 229.00–244.00 $242.48 $1,382 +14.48
745 745 80 225.00 $225.00 $1,676 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
745–1725 1157 85-90% 35 22.50–66.00 $53.05 $614 —
930–1660 1233 85-90% 46 65.00–88.00 $78.86 $972 —
1315 1315 85-90% 2 99.00 $99.00 $1,302 +8.38
970–1748 1329 85-90% 51 86.00–101.00 $92.45 $1,229 +1.83
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1240 1240 80-85% 1 109.00 $109.00 $1,352 —
1155–1725 1421 80-85% 33 99.00–105.00 $102.58 $1,458 +9.97
1263–1733 1523 80-85% 25 84.00–96.00 $92.32 $1,406 —
1560 1560 80-85% 1 82.00 $82.00 $1,279 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1598–1620 1605 75-80% 3 117.00–120.00 $118.99 $1,910 —
1545–1890 1633 75-80% 4 99.00–103.00 $100.42 $1,640 —
1275–2030 1650 75-80% 20 107.00–114.00 $110.44 $1,822 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230–2195 1704 10 75.00–117.50 $105.74 $1,802 —
1820–2525 2113 6 121.00–128.00 $124.95 $2,640 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1374 1374 8 120.00 $120.00 $1,649 —
1476 1476 4 142.00 $142.00 $2,096 —

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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.