Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 18, 2023

17,535 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 $253.60/cwt -0.25 vs last sale · ≈ $2,211/hd at 872 lb · 1,914 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $239.02/cwt +0.02 vs last sale · ≈ $2,095/hd at 877 lb · 1,594 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $264.88/cwt +3.05 vs last sale · ≈ $2,191/hd at 827 lb · 1,543 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 17,535 23,503 10,580
Feeder cattle 16,009 22,019 8,945
Slaughter cattle 1,526 1,484 1,635

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling feeder steers steady to 5.00 higher, heifers unevenly steady. Very good demand for yearling steers and heifers, most notably on those coming straight off grass in that very desirable, light flesh condition. The market was active, however there wasn't the urgency to chase the market dollars higher as these big steers bring 2,300.00 per head and cattle feeders are having a hard time justifying giving any more than that as the Live Cattle futures contracts for the winter months are not at the 200.00 level. Cash fed cattle traded basically par to the Oct contract this week, 185.00-186.00. There were some spring born calves offered, the market was extremely active in spite of it being early and many cattle feeders aren't ready to receive calves yet. Slaughter cows steady to 3.00 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
300–331 321 21 343.00–420.00 $377.81 $1,213 +7.73
362–382 unweaned 375 9 365.00–370.00 $366.61 $1,375 —
383–399 395 40 325.00–392.50 $335.45 $1,325 -26.46
407–420 415 45 345.00–360.00 $354.02 $1,469 +9.47
416–442 unweaned 428 51 315.00–339.00 $331.63 $1,419 —
459–491 468 90 315.00–345.00 $327.24 $1,531 +4.02
459–494 unweaned 471 24 301.00–343.00 $328.31 $1,546 —
505 505 6 295.00 $295.00 $1,490 -25.34
502–546 unweaned 513 50 302.50–316.00 $311.99 $1,601 —
500–528 516 92 300.00–334.00 $317.39 $1,638 -2.95
557–598 574 46 280.00–303.00 $292.96 $1,682 -8.48
582 unweaned 582 18 298.00 $298.00 $1,734 —
601–647 631 52 290.00–301.00 $292.27 $1,844 +3.05
636 636 23 269.00 $269.00 $1,711 -20.22
658 unweaned 658 3 275.00 $275.00 $1,810 —
650–692 664 173 270.00–297.00 $292.05 $1,939 +9.59
693 693 32 267.50 $267.50 $1,854 -14.96
704–721 711 14 250.00–265.00 $256.52 $1,824 -15.94
700–742 727 311 265.00–287.00 $277.00 $2,014 +4.54
741 741 8 247.00 $247.00 $1,830 -25.46
764 764 31 255.00 $255.00 $1,948 -3.95
752–799 771 362 256.00–272.25 $268.95 $2,074 +10.00
801–823 814 76 251.00–258.00 $253.81 $2,066 -3.40
800–849 828 1,467 257.00–271.25 $265.45 $2,198 +8.24
851–897 872 1,681 246.50–260.00 $254.23 $2,217 +0.38
864–888 872 233 244.50–251.00 $249.08 $2,172 -4.77
900–948 923 1,397 241.00–255.25 $251.14 $2,318 +3.42
925 925 22 236.50 $236.50 $2,188 -11.22
951–998 973 1,193 228.75–251.50 $245.33 $2,387 +1.59
995 995 62 228.00 $228.00 $2,269 -2.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1279–1379 1352 15 183.00–188.00 $184.26 $2,491 +6.26
1336–1496 1443 216 181.00–187.75 $184.77 $2,666 -0.23
1426–1478 1459 16 187.00–190.00 $188.90 $2,756 +5.81
1476 1476 8 178.50 $178.50 $2,635 +0.59
1484 1484 10 180.00 $180.00 $2,671 +2.09
1507–1721 1551 491 181.00–185.00 $183.64 $2,848 —
1601 1601 17 182.00 $182.00 $2,914 +1.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1003 1003 62 234.00 $234.00 $2,347 +1.42
1001–1033 1010 241 215.00–240.25 $231.09 $2,334 -1.49
1055–1090 1070 310 212.00–237.00 $233.20 $2,495 +3.74
1104–1108 1105 29 209.50–217.00 $214.93 $2,375 -6.17
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
237 unweaned 237 3 320.00 $320.00 $758 —
325 325 3 360.00 $360.00 $1,170 —
334 unweaned 334 5 360.00 $360.00 $1,202 —
415 415 4 320.00 $320.00 $1,328 -25.00
497 497 9 280.00 $280.00 $1,392 +1.14
509–537 517 10 225.00–296.00 $247.11 $1,278 -35.81
528 unweaned 528 3 300.00 $300.00 $1,584 —
562–595 584 53 237.50–295.50 $281.10 $1,642 +7.40
653–676 664 25 255.00–275.00 $265.23 $1,761 +7.18
703–745 729 78 242.00–273.00 $255.81 $1,865 —
761–799 780 122 243.00–260.00 $253.41 $1,977 +5.75
822 822 59 255.00 $255.00 $2,096 +25.82
858–897 866 137 239.50–242.50 $241.22 $2,089 +8.66
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
952 952 34 193.00 $193.00 $1,837 —
1111 1111 50 180.50 $180.50 $2,005 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
722 722 7 231.00 $231.00 $1,668 —
790 790 10 231.00 $231.00 $1,825 —
1028 1028 6 218.00 $218.00 $2,241 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
668 668 10 229.00 $229.00 $1,530 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
376–390 380 41 295.00–352.50 $313.28 $1,190 +6.24
366–399 unweaned 383 14 325.00–329.00 $327.09 $1,253 —
405–443 unweaned 423 51 295.00–337.50 $308.98 $1,307 —
436 436 11 316.00 $316.00 $1,378 -20.24
452–478 454 61 295.00–325.00 $304.84 $1,384 —
474 unweaned 474 5 301.00 $301.00 $1,427 —
510–535 unweaned 516 58 288.00–302.50 $295.79 $1,526 —
516–528 527 64 297.50–305.00 $298.42 $1,573 +21.49
539 fancy 539 25 322.00 $322.00 $1,736 —
551 551 16 244.00 $244.00 $1,344 -6.00
557–568 564 29 275.00–300.00 $282.01 $1,591 +32.01
625 unweaned 625 3 257.00 $257.00 $1,606 —
630 630 14 244.00 $244.00 $1,537 -24.87
605–649 634 252 255.00–272.00 $267.32 $1,695 -1.55
654–693 673 137 243.00–273.00 $261.40 $1,759 -2.20
703–749 723 114 241.00–244.00 $242.23 $1,751 -13.99
706–748 729 330 242.00–257.00 $251.49 $1,833 -6.56
750–789 766 240 245.00–251.50 $247.55 $1,896 +0.23
796 796 6 221.00 $221.00 $1,759 -28.19
801–849 823 737 235.00–250.00 $244.60 $2,013 +2.56
818–846 833 179 230.50–231.00 $230.76 $1,922 +11.76
859–867 865 171 221.00–226.75 $225.82 $1,953 -3.68
851–897 878 1,423 227.00–246.00 $240.61 $2,113 +0.42
903–932 907 239 216.00–223.50 $220.98 $2,004 -17.91
900–947 921 752 221.50–242.50 $232.60 $2,142 -6.29
950–999 976 567 219.00–239.00 $229.59 $2,241 -5.37
974–991 981 182 211.00–216.50 $212.74 $2,087 -22.22
1034 1034 8 191.00 $191.00 $1,975 -33.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160 1160 7 184.00 $184.00 $2,134 —
1295–1374 1321 18 180.00 $180.00 $2,378 -6.74
1230–1498 1346 249 180.00–184.00 $181.94 $2,449 -1.25
1293–1407 1385 111 186.00–188.00 $187.52 $2,597 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
278–285 unweaned 282 8 317.50–337.50 $327.38 $923 —
311 311 9 312.50 $312.50 $972 +7.50
336 unweaned 336 7 325.00 $325.00 $1,092 —
405–443 434 43 250.00–305.00 $258.90 $1,124 -67.36
470–476 473 12 275.00–280.00 $277.10 $1,311 +41.10
503–517 514 113 235.00–275.00 $246.52 $1,267 -19.96
585 585 5 260.00 $260.00 $1,521 -2.52
605–647 623 36 231.00–246.00 $237.21 $1,478 -16.66
677–692 686 28 236.00–260.00 $250.70 $1,720 +11.36
720 720 12 236.00 $236.00 $1,699 -11.00
776–792 788 69 232.00–242.00 $237.13 $1,869 +1.63
806 806 10 225.00 $225.00 $1,814 +4.28
900–914 903 22 201.00–217.50 $213.71 $1,930 —
979 979 10 216.50 $216.50 $2,120 +3.08
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1006–1034 1025 136 213.00–231.00 $225.97 $2,316 +4.04
1089–1097 1090 19 199.00–201.00 $199.32 $2,173 -19.02
1108–1111 1109 14 206.00–216.00 $211.71 $2,348 +1.71
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
934 934 96 190.00 $190.00 $1,775 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
521 521 15 235.00 $235.00 $1,224 —
771 771 5 213.00 $213.00 $1,642 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565 565 6 182.50 $182.50 $1,031 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
417 417 5 310.00 $310.00 $1,293 —
478 478 4 245.00 $245.00 $1,171 —
556 556 8 240.00 $240.00 $1,334 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
557 557 5 260.00 $260.00 $1,448 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
742–1430 951 85-90% 20 32.50–80.00 $50.61 $481 —
880–1390 1218 85-90% 38 79.00–96.50 $87.55 $1,066 -1.73
1067–1440 1236 85-90% 25 94.50–105.00 $99.64 $1,232 +10.36
1273 1273 85-90% 2 110.00 $110.00 $1,400 +11.31
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1431–1760 1484 75-80% 7 94.00–115.00 $109.74 $1,629 —
1255–1890 1631 75-80% 35 112.00–119.00 $116.66 $1,903 —
1430–1890 1635 75-80% 33 119.00–128.00 $122.91 $2,010 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
990–1690 1375 80-85% 26 96.00–114.00 $105.01 $1,444 +4.91
1105–1895 1423 80-85% 18 80.00–99.00 $90.40 $1,286 -27.87
1370–1543 1458 80-85% 7 117.00–118.00 $117.56 $1,714 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1705 1705 65-75% 1 129.00 $129.00 $2,199 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1413–2045 1674 4 106.00–110.00 $107.40 $1,798 —
1445–2235 1788 23 114.00–129.00 $123.12 $2,201 —
1962–2330 2073 6 130.00–133.00 $131.07 $2,717 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1540–1653 1567 52 149.50–157.00 $153.78 $2,410 —

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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.