Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 24, 2023

18,097 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $193.82/cwt +0.62 vs last sale · ≈ $1,787/hd at 922 lb · 1,781 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $183.69/cwt -2.23 vs last sale · ≈ $1,592/hd at 867 lb · 1,497 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $199.88/cwt +0.03 vs last sale · ≈ $1,742/hd at 871 lb · 1,285 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 18,097 25,411 19,901
Feeder cattle 17,122 24,173 18,831
Slaughter cattle 975 1,238 1,070

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers steady to 5.00 lower. Good demand remains for all weights of steers and heifers but cattle feeders and backgrounders slowed in their pursuit in chasing the feeder market higher. Cash fed cattle were lower and now the front month of the Live Cattle futures is June, which is much lower than the cash market. Turnout time is quickly approaching, keeping demand for grass cattle red hot. The supply of light weight cattle to background, whether in a yard or on grass is very tight which is keeping that market supported as well. The Feeder Cattle futures contracts for the late summer/fall months at 235.00 are giving backgrounders much hope and optimism for the coming months. Corn planters were in the ground this week as the temps warmed up with great progress expected to be made as the forecast looks clear until the weekend. Slaughter cows 5.00 to 10.00 lower, bulls 5.00 to 6.00 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
365 365 22 275.00–297.50 $293.41 $1,071 +8.41
425 unweaned 425 6 268.00 $268.00 $1,139 —
418–434 430 35 280.00–292.00 $289.34 $1,244 +11.03
463 unweaned 463 9 267.00 $267.00 $1,236 —
455–492 471 89 274.00–297.50 $287.76 $1,355 +36.96
490 thin fleshed 490 6 311.00 $311.00 $1,524 —
505–511 thin fleshed 510 43 269.00–328.00 $282.60 $1,441 +13.60
510–530 unweaned 519 21 245.00–254.00 $250.06 $1,298 +20.06
505–549 531 152 247.50–280.00 $265.40 $1,409 +13.44
560–599 585 288 239.00–274.00 $258.53 $1,512 +13.53
595 unweaned 595 23 239.00 $239.00 $1,422 —
603–641 623 236 234.00–258.00 $242.82 $1,513 -13.09
625–643 633 7 202.50–215.00 $209.56 $1,327 -46.35
639 unweaned 639 25 225.00 $225.00 $1,438 —
644 fancy 644 6 257.00 $257.00 $1,655 —
646 thin fleshed 646 81 280.00 $280.00 $1,809 —
665 fancy 665 13 247.50 $247.50 $1,646 —
650–691 673 267 225.00–262.00 $244.45 $1,645 +1.36
701–739 719 248 219.50–246.00 $232.39 $1,671 +12.72
701–730 720 57 213.50–217.50 $214.28 $1,543 -5.39
752–799 777 729 204.50–232.00 $218.51 $1,698 -10.40
803 803 6 183.00 $183.00 $1,469 -14.58
800–847 828 666 196.00–218.00 $205.76 $1,704 -7.01
850–898 871 1,232 187.50–208.00 $200.38 $1,745 +0.76
865–884 881 53 181.00–189.25 $188.18 $1,658 -0.32
901–948 922 1,781 182.00–199.00 $193.82 $1,787 +0.21
961–998 981 603 180.00–193.75 $187.19 $1,836 -1.62
983–998 990 96 179.25–181.60 $180.47 $1,787 -8.34
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1001–1038 1010 714 180.75–188.25 $185.80 $1,877 +3.13
1056–1088 1071 196 170.00–181.00 $179.57 $1,923 -1.41
1104 1104 18 173.50 $173.50 $1,915 -1.89
1174 1174 57 173.85 $173.85 $2,041 +0.85
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368–395 379 17 274.00–283.00 $277.83 $1,053 +10.75
420 thin fleshed 420 9 276.00 $276.00 $1,159 —
448 448 13 255.00 $255.00 $1,142 -5.27
461–481 475 25 230.00–259.00 $243.84 $1,158 -6.60
508–520 513 57 240.00–252.00 $246.26 $1,263 -0.65
553–598 570 75 222.00–237.00 $228.82 $1,304 -1.88
602–648 632 94 211.00–228.50 $219.17 $1,385 -6.92
657–697 677 47 201.00–236.50 $222.28 $1,505 +3.67
733 733 6 215.00 $215.00 $1,576 -5.86
764–790 775 86 191.00–208.00 $201.85 $1,564 -3.78
817–849 826 29 188.50–194.00 $192.44 $1,590 -3.63
862–896 890 46 183.50–186.00 $183.98 $1,637 -3.26
944 944 6 178.00 $178.00 $1,680 -4.00
952 952 6 178.00 $178.00 $1,695 -8.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1424–1440 1439 77 184.00–186.00 $184.10 $2,649 +21.63
1446–1486 1463 193 185.00–188.00 $187.05 $2,737 —
1470 1470 4 179.00 $179.00 $2,631 —
1523–1567 1535 37 186.00–188.25 $187.63 $2,880 +2.80
1626 1626 4 180.50 $180.50 $2,935 -1.84
1655 1655 4 190.00 $190.00 $3,144 —
1695 1695 8 184.00 $184.00 $3,119 —
1741–1862 1792 19 177.00–186.00 $182.06 $3,263 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
501 501 7 205.00 $205.00 $1,027 —
659–661 660 24 187.00–195.00 $192.67 $1,272 +9.67
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
714 714 8 203.00 $203.00 $1,449 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1182 1182 6 153.50 $153.50 $1,814 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 13 256.00 $256.00 $858 -30.14
389 389 7 260.00 $260.00 $1,011 -0.94
415–440 unweaned 426 11 233.00–239.00 $236.19 $1,006 —
410–445 438 108 248.00–262.50 $256.60 $1,124 +18.29
473–495 488 114 238.00–254.00 $247.87 $1,210 +9.57
500–510 unweaned 504 50 226.00–228.00 $227.02 $1,144 —
520 520 7 227.00 $227.00 $1,180 -12.57
503–546 528 204 223.00–250.50 $239.66 $1,265 +0.09
555 unweaned 555 22 222.50 $222.50 $1,235 —
552–598 576 295 217.00–241.00 $230.16 $1,326 +5.32
604 thin fleshed 604 38 234.00 $234.00 $1,413 —
602–638 622 272 203.00–236.00 $216.84 $1,349 -5.13
638 638 11 204.00 $204.00 $1,302 +4.00
640 unweaned 640 10 205.00 $205.00 $1,312 —
650 650 60 231.50 $231.50 $1,505 +33.50
656 thin fleshed 656 95 228.00 $228.00 $1,496 —
658–697 676 298 193.00–227.00 $207.06 $1,400 +9.06
679 679 22 203.00 $203.00 $1,378 -16.22
702–749 734 667 195.00–212.00 $203.26 $1,492 +14.48
756–770 762 37 208.00 $208.00 $1,585 +6.25
750–796 775 570 182.00–204.50 $196.90 $1,526 -13.12
773–796 778 129 177.50–181.00 $180.09 $1,401 -29.93
821 821 10 177.50 $177.50 $1,457 +2.06
805–847 823 958 172.00–200.00 $184.97 $1,522 -2.98
863 863 8 196.50 $196.50 $1,696 +2.84
852–893 866 1,390 175.00–191.00 $184.03 $1,594 +9.73
878 878 99 177.85 $177.85 $1,562 -7.07
900–947 923 493 177.75–179.75 $178.40 $1,647 +1.29
950–989 972 195 171.50–179.60 $175.69 $1,708 +4.29
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
686 686 80 1,510.00 $1,510.00 —
701 701 78 1,520.00 $1,520.00 —
763–793 779 197 1,650.00–1,680.00 $1,668.52 —
818 818 20 1,660.00 $1,660.00 —
859–868 865 95 1,660.00 $1,660.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
331 331 7 267.00 $267.00 $884 —
364–395 376 10 252.50–275.00 $265.56 $999 +26.73
400–423 418 22 223.00–243.00 $235.96 $986 +0.23
492 492 14 230.00 $230.00 $1,132 +3.94
528–546 540 27 209.00–219.00 $214.83 $1,160 +9.39
553–595 585 58 193.00–222.00 $204.79 $1,198 -3.01
617–644 634 37 192.00–195.00 $192.95 $1,223 -9.94
661–679 672 15 188.00–194.00 $190.36 $1,279 -9.93
712–734 723 37 181.00–193.00 $186.71 $1,350 +3.25
777–794 783 19 180.00–183.00 $181.88 $1,424 +5.88
803–837 817 62 170.00–177.25 $176.69 $1,444 -3.41
883–897 888 53 160.00–173.50 $168.61 $1,497 +3.61
906–946 911 53 163.00–168.00 $166.35 $1,515 —
960 960 10 164.00 $164.00 $1,574 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1286–1318 1304 18 182.00–186.75 $184.08 $2,400 —
1322–1410 1354 85 185.25–188.00 $185.74 $2,515 +13.73
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
578–594 588 17 177.50–202.00 $193.02 $1,135 —
672–677 675 8 166.00–172.00 $168.24 $1,136 -11.98
732 732 4 155.00 $155.00 $1,135 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1025 1014 9 170.00 $170.00 $1,724 +1.51

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
434 434 9 246.00 $246.00 $1,068 -20.00
543 543 9 234.00 $234.00 $1,271 +6.50

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850–1630 1167 85-90% 13 32.50–55.00 $43.64 $509 -9.41
1001–1515 1207 85-90% 42 78.00–89.00 $83.91 $1,013 +5.05
870–1558 1227 85-90% 44 62.50–81.00 $71.41 $876 -7.45
1208–1665 1293 85-90% 8 90.00–92.00 $90.87 $1,175 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1233–1395 1274 80-85% 4 98.00–100.00 $99.45 $1,267 —
1158–1823 1417 80-85% 57 88.00–96.00 $92.73 $1,314 -9.85
1295–1533 1437 80-85% 8 70.00–87.00 $78.81 $1,132 -23.77
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1333–1895 1496 75-80% 35 96.00–104.00 $100.35 $1,501 —
1390–1710 1534 75-80% 18 79.00–96.00 $91.35 $1,401 —
1493–1750 1625 75-80% 8 105.00–111.00 $108.93 $1,770 +8.51
1490–1930 1713 75-80% 3 61.00–76.00 $70.98 $1,216 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1578 1578 65-75% 3 117.00 $117.00 $1,846 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1300–2090 1647 13 69.00–110.00 $90.08 $1,484 —
1745–2385 1920 10 112.00–125.00 $118.75 $2,280 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1213–1373 1270 14 129.00–135.00 $131.32 $1,668 —
1581–1710 1595 49 138.50–143.00 $139.38 $2,223 —
1598 1598 8 149.00 $149.00 $2,381 —

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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.