Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 23, 2023

49,333 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $288.07/cwt -12.48 vs last sale · ≈ $1,645/hd at 571 lb · 5,645 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $300.51/cwt -11.22 vs last sale · ≈ $1,581/hd at 526 lb · 5,033 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $270.26/cwt -10.15 vs last sale · ≈ $1,426/hd at 528 lb · 3,633 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 49,333 51,170 52,259
Feeder cattle 48,404 50,177 50,781
Slaughter cattle 929 993 1,478

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves 10.00 to 20.00 lower. Yearling feeder steers 4.00 to 8.00 lower, except 900-950 lbs 20.00 lower, yearling heifers 700-900 lbs 2.00 to 3.00 lower, over 900 lbs 10.00 to 15.00 lower. Demand much lighter this week as the cattle futures contracts imploded at the start of the week. Limit losses on Monday, followed up with expanded limit losses during the trading session Tuesday caused cattle producers to stop and rethink their strategy to approaching the feeder market. Losses for the week were 5.00 to 7.00 for Feeder Cattle and only 2.40 for Dec Live Cattle but the damage was already done for the mindset of cattle buyers. Cash fed cattle managed to trade up to 186.00, leaving a strong basis in the north which is counter seasonal from what normally happens. The weather turned poor at midweek as a large snow storm moved across the region giving cattle feeders one more reason to not to want chase the calf market. Slaughter cows 5.00 to 9.00 lower, bulls 5.00 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
285 285 72 367.50 $367.50 $1,047 -35.29
300–349 320 112 316.00–374.00 $361.79 $1,158 +11.50
355–398 371 459 308.00–380.00 $350.30 $1,300 -5.01
375 thin fleshed 375 43 377.00 $377.00 $1,414 -23.00
405–406 thin fleshed 406 15 342.50–373.00 $366.91 $1,490 —
402–449 429 1,452 285.00–354.00 $332.98 $1,428 +4.52
443 443 12 310.00 $310.00 $1,373 -18.46
452–475 fancy 460 110 337.00–346.00 $341.22 $1,570 -19.78
468 468 28 298.00 $298.00 $1,395 -36.70
450–499 476 2,970 288.00–348.00 $317.96 $1,513 -16.74
524 fancy 524 110 325.50 $325.50 $1,706 —
500–547 526 4,814 282.00–318.00 $300.38 $1,580 -11.96
526–543 529 104 273.00–283.00 $281.13 $1,487 -31.21
546 546 5 282.00 $282.00 $1,540 -2.00
558 558 15 273.50 $273.50 $1,526 +61.00
550–599 571 5,558 257.00–305.00 $288.46 $1,647 -12.73
564–599 588 72 251.00–264.00 $260.83 $1,534 -7.81
600–645 unweaned 617 1,200 258.00–287.00 $275.12 $1,697 -18.02
601–646 621 1,898 231.00–290.50 $277.17 $1,721 -10.00
630–637 632 76 244.00–257.00 $254.39 $1,608 +7.73
652–699 666 456 242.00–270.00 $261.33 $1,740 -13.92
671–678 674 35 235.00–243.00 $240.01 $1,618 -35.24
652–697 unweaned 677 141 257.50–270.00 $262.32 $1,776 -22.82
699 699 9 249.00 $249.00 $1,741 -2.00
719–731 724 72 246.50–249.50 $248.68 $1,800 -10.41
750–797 764 440 220.00–260.00 $246.55 $1,884 -8.38
808–843 817 349 236.50–254.00 $243.16 $1,987 -8.59
855–899 877 1,314 219.00–251.75 $245.83 $2,156 +4.09
872–883 880 36 210.00–228.00 $223.54 $1,967 -18.20
901 901 7 213.00 $213.00 $1,919 -32.74
900–948 930 1,110 213.50–242.00 $226.90 $2,110 -18.84
950–998 969 920 210.00–242.75 $232.34 $2,251 -3.82
976 976 55 207.00 $207.00 $2,020 -25.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
419–443 436 53 309.00–311.00 $310.21 $1,353 —
524–549 543 241 272.00–281.00 $280.31 $1,522 -15.02
559–588 567 41 269.00–271.00 $270.39 $1,533 -15.61
1001–1048 1025 858 210.00–234.25 $219.77 $2,253 -5.93
1065–1098 1083 952 209.25–216.25 $213.55 $2,313 -8.05
1100–1138 1113 820 201.60–216.00 $209.42 $2,331 -12.33
1163–1169 1167 173 199.35–205.85 $201.56 $2,352 +18.71
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
219–235 231 38 290.00–315.00 $295.61 $683 —
296 296 6 305.00 $305.00 $903 -23.34
304–342 319 25 333.00–347.00 $340.88 $1,087 +1.08
355–397 378 80 290.00–347.50 $324.12 $1,225 -13.47
403–442 429 83 251.50–316.00 $288.83 $1,239 -39.75
473 thin fleshed 473 12 280.00 $280.00 $1,324 —
456–498 477 152 222.50–314.00 $257.17 $1,227 -54.17
516–546 525 51 263.00–283.00 $269.65 $1,416 -20.58
564–598 587 123 240.00–276.00 $264.24 $1,551 -21.00
602–647 617 42 226.00–255.00 $243.20 $1,501 -1.38
676–697 681 36 196.00–250.50 $236.56 $1,611 -21.41
727–739 735 28 180.00–229.00 $197.32 $1,450 -38.68
763 763 5 200.00 $200.00 $1,526 -38.78
774–793 776 93 200.00–229.00 $225.86 $1,753 -12.92
800–848 815 120 217.50–235.50 $229.46 $1,870 -15.75
898 898 7 195.00 $195.00 $1,751 —
903–909 906 23 213.00–215.50 $214.30 $1,942 +13.30
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1288–1343 1297 39 176.00–185.00 $182.42 $2,366 —
1436 1436 12 169.00 $169.00 $2,427 -4.78
1452 1452 7 177.00 $177.00 $2,570 -8.22
1423–1498 1462 37 182.50–186.00 $184.49 $2,697 -0.73
1516 1516 7 178.50 $178.50 $2,706 -5.50
1508–1560 1548 21 175.00–176.00 $175.77 $2,721 -7.23
1522–1581 1549 86 178.75–184.25 $181.51 $2,812 -1.49
1543–1603 1563 13 181.00–186.00 $185.21 $2,895 +2.59
1600–1720 1645 18 178.50–185.00 $181.19 $2,981 —
1645 1645 18 175.00 $175.00 $2,879 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
379 379 37 250.00 $250.00 $948 -17.69
439 439 5 240.00 $240.00 $1,054 +62.35
491 491 39 240.00 $240.00 $1,178 —
541 541 4 175.00 $175.00 $947 -31.00
599 599 5 186.00 $186.00 $1,114 —
618 618 3 231.00 $231.00 $1,428 +1.00
694 694 10 189.00 $189.00 $1,312 -18.00
725 725 6 213.00 $213.00 $1,544 —
769 769 14 182.00 $182.00 $1,400 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
468 468 9 292.00 $292.00 $1,367 —
578 578 8 252.00 $252.00 $1,457 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040 1040 6 150.00 $150.00 $1,560 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
296 296 52 341.00 $341.00 $1,009 +3.33
315–348 339 151 251.00–340.00 $312.80 $1,060 -9.45
351–396 372 584 262.00–328.00 $300.10 $1,116 -16.32
403 fancy 403 8 308.00 $308.00 $1,241 —
409–433 427 26 262.50–270.00 $268.34 $1,146 -37.02
402–448 428 1,162 253.00–307.00 $287.97 $1,233 -17.39
435–446 438 23 262.50–269.00 $266.99 $1,169 -77.01
457 457 51 295.00 $295.00 $1,348 -33.15
472 472 44 250.00 $250.00 $1,180 -78.15
450–498 474 2,732 215.00–310.00 $277.41 $1,315 +15.66
481–494 489 17 265.00 $265.00 $1,296 -22.32
501–549 527 3,133 220.00–299.00 $269.02 $1,418 -27.65
519–544 532 477 266.00–293.50 $279.80 $1,489 -16.87
531–544 535 12 195.00–263.00 $239.97 $1,284 +10.97
540 540 11 242.50 $242.50 $1,310 +13.50
550–587 562 305 300.00–323.00 $314.47 $1,767 +73.47
551–598 570 1,271 207.00–275.00 $260.39 $1,484 -9.22
553–578 570 96 243.00–247.00 $245.26 $1,398 -24.35
582–596 591 34 230.00–235.50 $233.59 $1,381 -36.02
603–615 unweaned 607 249 250.00–259.00 $255.27 $1,549 -27.73
602–633 612 85 257.00–328.00 $306.37 $1,875 +50.71
603–649 627 400 222.00–280.00 $246.14 $1,543 +26.14
628 628 26 235.00 $235.00 $1,476 +15.00
653–698 669 396 210.00–258.50 $241.62 $1,616 -1.10
705 705 8 221.00 $221.00 $1,558 -23.36
703–731 717 472 205.00–255.00 $248.01 $1,778 +3.65
752–795 776 437 221.00–237.25 $231.65 $1,798 -4.76
775–790 782 280 200.00–221.00 $209.18 $1,636 -51.56
803 803 36 198.00 $198.00 $1,590 -35.35
801–848 828 329 218.00–242.00 $230.03 $1,905 +7.03
854–899 865 586 204.50–242.00 $230.09 $1,990 -3.43
852–895 870 273 195.00–218.50 $202.01 $1,757 -31.51
888 888 248 235.50 $235.50 $2,091 +1.98
900 900 187 234.00 $234.00 $2,106 -3.75
905–942 928 333 203.00–216.75 $209.92 $1,948 -14.14
957–992 977 71 207.00–217.00 $211.02 $2,062 -11.03
987 987 62 206.00 $206.00 $2,033 -16.05
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230–234 231 27 280.00–287.50 $284.97 $658 —
275 275 82 315.00 $315.00 $866 +45.00
312–346 328 77 240.00–314.00 $290.29 $952 -11.64
360–397 385 31 227.00–280.00 $262.29 $1,010 -10.46
409–447 438 108 240.00–271.00 $259.81 $1,138 -18.59
465 thin fleshed 465 12 230.00 $230.00 $1,070 —
450–497 473 152 200.00–263.00 $238.99 $1,130 -20.43
500–545 535 80 232.50–264.00 $252.44 $1,351 +2.72
552–597 572 125 217.00–239.50 $229.27 $1,311 +3.88
637–643 641 14 182.50–199.00 $193.14 $1,238 -37.38
653–673 668 100 180.00–190.50 $187.76 $1,254 -39.27
675 thin fleshed 675 6 227.50 $227.50 $1,536 —
716–719 717 49 212.50–235.50 $217.08 $1,556 -7.61
759–779 775 58 205.00–205.50 $205.11 $1,590 —
882 882 6 206.00 $206.00 $1,817 —
917–939 929 24 196.00–204.50 $200.65 $1,864 -8.25
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 28 255.00 $255.00 $1,390 -7.00
1047 1047 286 202.00 $202.00 $2,115 -9.65
1059 1059 13 195.50 $195.50 $2,070 -16.45
1103 1103 16 196.50 $196.50 $2,167 -4.81
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200 1200 15 177.50 $177.50 $2,130 —
1183–1476 1337 82 180.00–186.00 $183.38 $2,452 +7.88
1313–1400 1338 14 185.00–186.00 $185.70 $2,485 +10.20
1350–1478 1442 129 178.00–184.00 $181.59 $2,619 —
1514 1514 7 177.75 $177.75 $2,691 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 37 217.50 $217.50 $740 -65.50
363 363 3 237.50 $237.50 $862 +112.50
421 421 20 223.00 $223.00 $939 +28.00
450 450 55 235.00 $235.00 $1,058 +26.00
510 510 10 210.00 $210.00 $1,071 +24.00
660–684 673 11 170.00–220.00 $197.71 $1,331 —
746 746 9 193.00 $193.00 $1,440 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 31 262.00 $262.00 $1,415 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
512 512 8 224.00 $224.00 $1,147 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1008 1008 8 154.00 $154.00 $1,552 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
609 609 5 180.00 $180.00 $1,096 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
788–1405 1094 85-90% 29 20.00–62.00 $45.92 $502 -8.78
892–1452 1250 85-90% 86 70.00–94.00 $84.17 $1,052 -8.43
870–1631 1257 85-90% 53 65.00–78.00 $72.38 $910 -20.22
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1630 1471 75-80% 21 94.00–108.00 $100.67 $1,481 —
1430–1658 1568 75-80% 13 108.00–110.00 $109.00 $1,709 -6.00
1635–1865 1723 75-80% 13 86.00–98.00 $93.10 $1,604 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
988–1635 1327 80-85% 11 76.00–87.00 $81.22 $1,078 -15.24
1164–1655 1404 80-85% 32 81.00–99.00 $91.08 $1,279 —
1865 1865 80-85% 1 30.00 $30.00 $560 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1333–1898 1616 65-75% 4 108.00–115.00 $112.11 $1,812 -1.90

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1450–1970 1655 4 85.00–100.00 $90.34 $1,495 —
1770–2215 2027 7 103.00–108.00 $106.15 $2,152 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1343 1343 4 146.00 $146.00 $1,961 —
1462–1509 1493 9 146.00–148.00 $146.65 $2,189 —
1499 1499 4 142.00 $142.00 $2,129 —
1623 1623 5 160.00 $160.00 $2,597 +6.92

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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.