Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 26, 2024

31,687 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 heifers $239.43/cwt +4.58 vs last sale · ≈ $1,860/hd at 777 lb · 2,983 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $275.29/cwt +2.56 vs last sale · ≈ $1,982/hd at 720 lb · 2,316 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $248.39/cwt -0.73 vs last sale · ≈ $1,792/hd at 721 lb · 2,185 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 31,687 37,864 35,147
Feeder cattle 30,565 36,594 33,437
Slaughter cattle 1,122 1,270 1,710

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers steady to 5.00 higher. Very good demand for all weights of steers and heifers. Feeder cattle futures finished the week lower, but the Live Cattle contracts posted gains which helped to add support to the feeder cattle market. Cash fed cattle up to 185.00, and with April futures at 188.00 there is great hope amongst cattle feeders that the fat market can continue to climb. The feeder market is very active, however the most activity is centered on steers and heifers for backgrounding, either on grass or in a yard. The fall months of the Feeder Cattle contract are very enticing, and backgrounders want to make sure they have the cattle they need to sell during that time period. The weather remains mild, other than a quick cold blast early in the week, and cattle are wintering well. Auction receipts remain large as the high market prices are bringing cattle to town and calving time is now upon us and those producers need to sell last year's calf crop to make room for this year's. Slaughter cows 2.00 to 4.00 higher, bulls too few to compare.

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
286 286 4 460.00 $460.00 $1,316 —
313–336 327 17 415.00–435.00 $425.71 $1,392 +39.58
356–390 378 17 370.00–410.00 $396.70 $1,500 +14.40
404–449 433 72 330.00–405.00 $349.58 $1,514 -6.08
455–498 479 190 325.00–357.00 $342.55 $1,641 -2.92
503–549 528 313 319.00–352.00 $337.05 $1,780 +4.89
571 571 8 299.00 $299.00 $1,707 -20.09
550–597 572 727 297.00–339.00 $319.44 $1,827 +0.35
601–648 623 1,058 277.00–324.00 $306.39 $1,909 +1.27
604–641 632 32 270.00–293.00 $285.17 $1,802 +5.57
632 fancy 632 174 327.50 $327.50 $2,070 —
644–648 646 20 290.00–293.00 $291.50 $1,883 +11.90
651–698 677 1,089 268.00–300.00 $282.45 $1,912 -5.11
667–696 686 81 266.00–275.00 $272.61 $1,870 -14.95
700–713 fancy 705 134 285.75–295.50 $291.38 $2,054 —
719 719 17 263.00 $263.00 $1,891 +23.09
700–749 721 2,165 258.00–292.00 $274.39 $1,978 +34.48
755–799 778 1,959 247.50–268.50 $257.31 $2,002 +1.60
751–793 780 124 235.00–256.50 $245.87 $1,918 -9.84
801–848 822 1,387 239.00–255.75 $249.73 $2,053 +2.86
830–847 834 78 231.00–237.25 $235.83 $1,967 +0.56
860–888 868 60 232.00–234.00 $233.39 $2,026 -9.51
850–898 878 1,770 229.00–254.25 $242.32 $2,128 +5.68
902–942 920 1,106 226.00–245.00 $238.94 $2,198 +3.91
917–928 926 59 222.00–239.50 $223.76 $2,072 -11.27
950–997 968 557 214.00–237.50 $229.41 $2,221 +6.16
972 972 63 219.50 $219.50 $2,134 -3.75
1027 1027 63 213.00 $213.00 $2,188 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
434–439 436 27 320.00 $320.00 $1,395 -17.67
476–492 478 38 300.00–343.00 $305.82 $1,462 -16.20
508–537 527 28 306.00–311.00 $308.56 $1,626 +8.00
550–595 581 128 270.00–308.00 $295.12 $1,715 +0.34
603–649 642 65 261.00–288.00 $275.39 $1,768 -7.56
654–693 668 49 259.00–272.00 $267.69 $1,788 +14.42
717–734 722 35 243.50–266.00 $254.46 $1,837 +3.82
813 813 6 247.00 $247.00 $2,008 +22.50
889–891 890 44 228.50–233.50 $230.32 $2,050 +3.56
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
603 603 18 287.00 $287.00 $1,731 —
666 666 15 265.00 $265.00 $1,765 —
1003–1033 1016 153 224.25–232.50 $230.09 $2,338 +11.01
1058–1064 1063 226 216.60–220.00 $217.20 $2,309 +2.43
1162 1162 3 186.00 $186.00 $2,161 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1325–1383 1362 14 165.00–173.00 $170.90 $2,328 —
1381 1381 8 180.00 $180.00 $2,486 —
1399 1399 4 180.50 $180.50 $2,525 —
1412–1493 1486 48 175.50–180.00 $179.60 $2,669 +0.24
1549 1549 5 177.75 $177.75 $2,753 -5.28
1535–1571 1558 62 180.00–183.50 $182.24 $2,839 +3.00
1535–1573 1567 97 179.00–188.50 $180.28 $2,825 +1.04
1608–1770 1645 57 180.50–185.50 $183.39 $3,017 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625 625 9 281.00 $281.00 $1,756 —
726 726 89 264.25 $264.25 $1,918 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
847 847 5 181.00 $181.00 $1,533 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1078 1078 4 205.00 $205.00 $2,210 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 3 340.00 $340.00 $1,054 -17.51
354–397 382 18 345.00–365.00 $357.87 $1,367 -0.42
403–447 429 99 300.00–326.00 $318.01 $1,364 -1.59
465 465 14 322.00 $322.00 $1,497 +20.43
451–499 476 246 280.00–320.00 $300.02 $1,428 -1.55
488 488 8 277.50 $277.50 $1,354 -24.07
500–548 521 756 265.00–317.50 $295.70 $1,541 +4.73
524 thin fleshed 524 6 305.00 $305.00 $1,598 +5.00
533 533 15 260.00 $260.00 $1,386 -30.97
566–578 572 19 255.00–257.00 $256.01 $1,464 -22.44
550–598 577 675 264.00–296.00 $278.34 $1,606 -0.11
610–635 620 13 250.00–266.00 $259.69 $1,610 -12.77
601–648 626 1,062 256.50–280.00 $269.48 $1,687 +7.66
631 631 51 291.50 $291.50 $1,839 +29.68
641–645 641 47 245.00–252.50 $245.48 $1,574 -19.52
663 663 19 242.00 $242.00 $1,604 +3.00
650–699 677 1,941 237.00–278.00 $258.91 $1,753 +4.82
651–698 680 119 260.50–269.50 $263.76 $1,794 +9.67
689–696 690 56 216.00–249.00 $245.59 $1,695 -17.11
700 700 5 243.00 $243.00 $1,701 -14.51
715 715 160 258.50 $258.50 $1,848 +0.99
701–748 722 1,962 225.00–263.00 $248.09 $1,791 +2.13
710–740 722 58 225.50–235.00 $231.28 $1,670 -14.68
756–797 771 604 237.00–273.00 $251.22 $1,937 +17.13
755–796 778 2,320 220.00–258.00 $236.74 $1,842 +2.65
784–789 787 59 221.00–227.00 $224.46 $1,767 -7.54
807 807 82 219.50 $219.50 $1,771 -22.00
814–840 827 130 235.75–238.00 $236.89 $1,959 +11.87
804–849 828 806 215.00–233.75 $225.56 $1,868 +0.54
856 856 39 237.00 $237.00 $2,029 +17.20
851–898 873 727 208.50–228.00 $219.50 $1,916 -0.30
902–947 916 497 209.50–221.50 $214.78 $1,967 +6.71
955–996 974 110 194.50–214.00 $207.57 $2,022 +2.14
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
273 273 3 410.00 $410.00 $1,119 —
406–449 423 20 277.50–292.00 $283.74 $1,200 -7.26
459–486 464 42 261.00–305.00 $268.69 $1,247 -10.56
505 505 15 267.50 $267.50 $1,351 -8.90
563–596 575 79 241.00–277.00 $262.89 $1,512 +1.57
606–642 627 58 239.00–255.75 $249.47 $1,564 +8.03
669 669 7 223.00 $223.00 $1,492 -23.47
684–693 689 81 225.00–245.00 $235.50 $1,623 -10.97
741 741 9 219.25 $219.25 $1,625 -30.25
743 743 5 230.00 $230.00 $1,709 -19.50
757 757 19 226.00 $226.00 $1,711 —
807–824 813 93 214.00–217.00 $215.99 $1,756 +16.91
882 882 6 186.00 $186.00 $1,641 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220 1220 4 162.00 $162.00 $1,976 —
1298–1359 1326 24 172.00–178.00 $175.60 $2,328 —
1443 1443 3 176.50 $176.50 $2,547 -5.88
1398–1474 1450 182 177.00–183.50 $179.46 $2,602 +1.54
1474–1506 1490 87 175.00–179.00 $176.21 $2,626 —
1447–1537 1491 66 180.00–189.50 $182.79 $2,725 —
1553–1593 1563 12 178.00–180.00 $178.51 $2,790 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
519 519 5 292.00 $292.00 $1,515 —
676–698 691 46 246.00–250.00 $247.30 $1,709 —
1012 1012 17 191.50 $191.50 $1,938 -3.69
1059 1059 8 187.00 $187.00 $1,980 +4.11
1157–1178 1167 149 189.50 $189.50 $2,211 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
757–766 763 95 1,900.00–2,200.00 $2,009.70 —
807 807 58 2,100.00 $2,100.00 —
869–872 871 61 2,000.00–2,100.00 $2,073.84 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
404 404 11 275.00 $275.00 $1,111 —
737 737 21 192.00 $192.00 $1,415 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
431 431 23 325.00 $325.00 $1,401 —
536 536 17 297.50 $297.50 $1,595 -7.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
523 523 12 267.50 $267.50 $1,399 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–2165 1617 75-80% 214 102.00–125.00 $114.33 $1,849 -8.23
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
760–1180 935 85-90% 3 20.00–30.00 $25.79 $241 —
816–1395 999 85-90% 13 57.50–75.00 $70.69 $706 -8.37
873–1595 1147 85-90% 11 80.00–87.00 $82.70 $949 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1002–1978 1411 80-85% 23 88.00–100.00 $95.90 $1,353 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1655–2085 1767 65-75% 11 117.00–119.00 $118.18 $2,088 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1738–2083 1876 5 106.00–111.00 $108.22 $2,030 —
1785–2630 2105 4 123.00–129.00 $127.42 $2,682 —
2085–2250 2168 2 130.00–140.00 $134.81 $2,923 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1683 1683 10 152.00 $152.00 $2,558 -3.00

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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.