Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 25, 2023

22,199 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 $246.87/cwt -4.04 vs last sale · ≈ $2,283/hd at 925 lb · 2,105 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $236.27/cwt -8.21 vs last sale · ≈ $2,294/hd at 971 lb · 1,689 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $235.00/cwt -4.02 vs last sale · ≈ $2,068/hd at 880 lb · 1,496 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 22,199 17,535 23,484
Feeder cattle 20,369 16,009 22,045
Slaughter cattle 1,830 1,526 1,439

Compared to last week: Feeder steers 5.00 to 7.00 lower, except over 1000 lbs steady to firm, heifers 2.00 to 5.00 lower. Very good demand for yearling steers and heifers but the sudden drop off in the cattle futures complex caused cattle feeders to slow down in their pursuit of yearlings. Cash fed cattle traded in the 184-185 range but the break in the futures really rattled producers and caused them to refigure breakeven prices at lower levels. Very good demand for the few spring born calves that have shown up in the auctions, many more to come in the coming weeks. Slaughter cows 1.00 to 4.00 lower, bulls 3.00 lower.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 3 420.00 $420.00 $1,281 +42.19
362 unweaned 362 4 330.00 $330.00 $1,195 -36.61
386–397 392 12 346.00–360.00 $351.74 $1,379 +16.29
430 fancy 430 11 355.00 $355.00 $1,526 —
407–440 433 15 325.00–380.00 $335.33 $1,452 -18.69
402–442 unweaned 438 54 315.50–322.50 $316.21 $1,385 -15.42
454 thin fleshed 454 8 375.00 $375.00 $1,702 —
464–491 477 140 320.00–356.00 $351.46 $1,676 +24.22
491 unweaned 491 19 302.00 $302.00 $1,483 -26.31
500–531 unweaned 510 48 301.00–312.50 $303.04 $1,546 -8.95
528 528 38 307.00 $307.00 $1,621 -10.39
550–575 557 43 295.00–302.00 $295.97 $1,649 +3.01
552–579 unweaned 575 63 280.50–297.50 $283.56 $1,630 -14.44
600 unweaned 600 25 283.00 $283.00 $1,698 —
612–632 617 171 275.50–300.00 $281.25 $1,735 -11.02
651 651 8 270.00 $270.00 $1,758 -22.05
653–691 679 164 262.00–290.00 $275.36 $1,870 +7.86
703 703 15 243.00 $243.00 $1,708 -13.52
702–743 723 463 254.00–290.00 $270.60 $1,956 -6.40
757–799 782 710 251.00–269.50 $263.17 $2,058 -5.78
800–847 821 513 243.50–263.00 $256.47 $2,106 -8.98
825 825 37 250.50 $250.50 $2,067 -14.95
837 837 7 239.00 $239.00 $2,000 -26.45
862–864 863 32 231.00–234.00 $231.84 $2,001 -22.39
859–876 868 15 241.00–243.00 $241.92 $2,100 -12.31
855–895 879 646 234.50–259.50 $248.99 $2,189 -5.24
904–949 924 1,967 234.25–257.50 $246.62 $2,279 -4.52
936 936 126 253.50 $253.50 $2,373 +17.00
945 945 12 219.00 $219.00 $2,070 -17.50
951–999 971 1,559 225.50–244.00 $237.25 $2,304 -8.08
953–984 972 130 220.00–228.00 $224.46 $2,182 -20.87
1008 1008 261 245.25 $245.25 $2,472 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1048 1015 1,342 224.50–240.50 $236.82 $2,404 +5.73
1048 1048 62 219.00 $219.00 $2,295 —
1054–1070 1064 164 223.50–238.50 $231.02 $2,458 -2.18
1100–1133 1124 180 208.00–233.50 $226.12 $2,542 +11.19
1227 1227 7 174.00 $174.00 $2,135 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1184 1184 13 181.00 $181.00 $2,143 —
1257 1257 13 175.50 $175.50 $2,206 —
1288 1288 46 180.00 $180.00 $2,318 —
1314 1314 8 185.00 $185.00 $2,431 —
1330–1438 1407 166 183.00–187.00 $184.68 $2,598 —
1393–1494 1464 411 175.25–185.00 $179.00 $2,621 -9.90
1502–1575 1532 185 178.75–184.00 $181.46 $2,780 —
1641 1641 19 180.00 $180.00 $2,954 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340–344 342 10 334.00–370.00 $348.30 $1,191 -11.70
377 unweaned 377 3 335.00 $335.00 $1,263 —
360–395 380 12 340.00–370.00 $348.83 $1,326 —
408–417 412 11 286.00–291.00 $288.30 $1,188 -31.70
430 430 13 322.00 $322.00 $1,385 +2.00
477–489 485 34 267.00–330.00 $283.57 $1,375 +3.57
535 unweaned 535 29 275.50 $275.50 $1,474 -24.50
535–536 536 13 280.00–295.00 $283.46 $1,519 +36.35
586 unweaned 586 22 268.00 $268.00 $1,570 —
592 592 4 282.00 $282.00 $1,669 +0.90
609–632 626 36 255.00–295.00 $271.33 $1,699 —
676–682 678 29 230.00–250.00 $238.32 $1,616 -26.91
712 thin fleshed 712 20 283.00 $283.00 $2,015 —
736–747 740 30 233.00–247.50 $241.65 $1,788 -14.16
763–796 786 217 220.00–251.00 $241.60 $1,899 -11.81
820–825 823 68 239.00–250.25 $244.28 $2,010 -10.72
853 853 3 235.00 $235.00 $2,005 -6.22
932–934 934 24 224.00–227.00 $226.63 $2,117 —
972–974 974 46 215.00–223.50 $222.58 $2,168 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1089 1088 64 170.00–197.75 $195.18 $2,124 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 391 4 340.00 $340.00 $1,329 —
795 795 13 210.00 $210.00 $1,670 —
838 838 19 229.00 $229.00 $1,919 —
888 888 12 197.25 $197.25 $1,752 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1125–1131 1130 30 179.00–189.00 $188.00 $2,124 —

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
336 unweaned 336 17 317.50 $317.50 $1,067 —
373 373 8 340.00 $340.00 $1,268 +26.72
407–437 423 18 331.00–337.50 $333.32 $1,410 +17.32
421–438 unweaned 424 89 295.00–298.00 $297.33 $1,261 -11.65
472–498 490 68 279.00–303.00 $287.56 $1,409 —
452–499 unweaned 492 72 272.50–280.00 $273.44 $1,345 -27.56
514–516 unweaned 514 31 272.00–293.60 $274.80 $1,412 -20.99
500–536 517 40 249.00–312.50 $282.90 $1,463 -15.52
545 545 12 271.00 $271.00 $1,477 -27.42
567–583 unweaned 576 31 261.00–261.25 $261.15 $1,504 —
550–598 583 43 261.00–280.00 $274.28 $1,599 -7.73
617–638 632 36 249.00–267.50 $256.70 $1,622 -10.62
651–695 672 440 241.00–276.00 $268.00 $1,801 +6.60
697 697 9 244.00 $244.00 $1,701 -17.40
702 702 62 270.50 $270.50 $1,899 +28.27
714–746 735 385 238.00–259.00 $251.92 $1,852 +0.43
757–763 762 155 258.50–259.00 $258.56 $1,970 +11.01
756–798 782 363 241.00–262.00 $251.76 $1,969 +30.76
770–793 783 145 231.00–234.00 $232.99 $1,824 +11.99
808 808 135 223.00 $223.00 $1,802 -21.60
801–849 828 787 230.00–249.00 $239.34 $1,982 -5.26
801–839 831 508 247.00–255.25 $252.46 $2,098 +21.70
850–899 880 1,496 226.00–250.00 $235.00 $2,068 -5.61
902–943 915 583 218.00–243.50 $227.21 $2,079 -5.39
919–947 937 618 209.00–218.50 $215.09 $2,015 -17.51
967 967 195 221.25 $221.25 $2,139 -8.34
950–996 972 735 216.00–237.50 $229.45 $2,230 -0.14
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
998 998 39 223.00 $223.00 $2,226 —
1006–1046 1024 247 212.00–229.75 $220.63 $2,259 -5.34
1050–1097 1070 93 198.00–216.00 $208.79 $2,234 +9.47
1152–1182 1176 300 186.75–191.50 $190.30 $2,238 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303 303 7 310.00 $310.00 $939 -2.50
339–348 unweaned 341 23 280.00–300.00 $284.44 $970 -40.56
350–398 368 46 240.00–335.00 $291.60 $1,073 —
377 unweaned 377 14 286.00 $286.00 $1,078 —
465–483 471 26 256.00–300.00 $269.90 $1,271 -7.20
472 unweaned 472 5 242.50 $242.50 $1,145 —
536 536 9 258.00 $258.00 $1,383 +11.48
542 unweaned 542 18 250.00 $250.00 $1,355 —
552–576 565 11 222.00–255.00 $236.65 $1,337 -23.35
602–620 606 13 225.00–231.00 $229.58 $1,391 -7.63
655–691 682 81 210.00–240.00 $230.87 $1,575 -19.83
724–733 727 24 240.00–249.00 $242.65 $1,764 +6.65
758–799 784 194 222.60–231.00 $224.82 $1,763 -12.31
807 807 16 219.00 $219.00 $1,767 -6.00
837 837 18 225.00 $225.00 $1,883 ±0.00
858–898 892 54 200.75–231.00 $217.70 $1,942 —
916 916 58 215.10 $215.10 $1,970 +1.39
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1239–1399 1310 198 183.00–185.00 $183.96 $2,410 +3.96
1325–1427 1375 205 175.50–184.25 $181.00 $2,489 -6.52
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1008–1036 1021 11 203.00–207.00 $205.15 $2,095 —
1066–1069 1068 37 182.00–198.00 $185.45 $1,981 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
876 876 9 152.00 $152.00 $1,332 —
1043 1043 31 187.00 $187.00 $1,950 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
786 786 8 161.00 $161.00 $1,265 —
1127 1127 3 157.00 $157.00 $1,769 —

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
675 675 4 216.00 $216.00 $1,458 —
824 824 7 211.00 $211.00 $1,739 —

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Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1339–1775 1531 75-80% 50 105.00–118.00 $112.09 $1,716 —
1245–1895 1597 75-80% 35 92.00–106.50 $98.02 $1,565 —
1478–1913 1600 75-80% 12 116.00–125.00 $120.80 $1,933 +4.14
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
868–1185 970 85-90% 14 51.00–81.00 $69.20 $671 +18.59
985–1492 1242 85-90% 43 71.00–96.00 $87.12 $1,082 -12.52
1165–1455 1301 85-90% 24 93.00–101.00 $96.36 $1,254 —
1415 1415 85-90% 4 106.00 $106.00 $1,500 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165–1458 1353 80-85% 31 95.00–111.00 $104.07 $1,408 -0.94
1093–1790 1438 80-85% 16 76.00–100.00 $89.33 $1,285 -1.07
1400–1485 1443 80-85% 2 112.00–114.00 $112.97 $1,630 +22.57
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1744–1883 1767 65-75% 13 123.00–126.00 $124.63 $2,202 —
1813 1813 65-75% 3 130.00 $130.00 $2,357 —

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1570–2275 1791 5 81.00–112.00 $103.26 $1,849 -19.86
1635–2320 1913 29 116.00–126.00 $120.60 $2,307 —
2135 2135 1 130.00 $130.00 $2,776 —

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Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035 1035 14 117.50 $117.50 $1,216 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1405 1405 3 148.00 $148.00 $2,079 —
1613–1722 1683 14 157.00–158.00 $157.66 $2,653 —

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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.