Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 4, 2024

27,316 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $254.59/cwt +5.60 vs last sale · ≈ $2,120/hd at 833 lb · 2,238 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $263.47/cwt +6.84 vs last sale · ≈ $2,039/hd at 774 lb · 1,929 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $262.88/cwt +4.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,768/hd at 673 lb · 1,817 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 27,316 31,687 22,024
Feeder cattle 26,265 30,565 20,584
Slaughter cattle 1,051 1,122 1,440

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers 2.00 to 6.00 higher, instances of 6.00 to 10.00 higher. Feeder heifers 3.00 to 6.00 higher. Very good demand for feeder cattle this week. The market for light cattle to background and grow into yearlings remains very stout as the fall months of the Feeder Cattle futures are 20.00 premium to the front month. Cash fed cattle topped at 186.00, a nice rally, which helped to add support to the feeder market. Cattle feeders are anxiously watching the April Live Cattle contract, hoping it will reach the 190.00 mark and pull the cash trade higher along with it. There is much optimism, yet that high of a market remains elusive as cattle feeders were planning on that point being reached back in Dec but it never materialized. Warm, above average temps remain in the forecast, allowing cattle to stay comfortable and gain easily. Cow/calf producers are starting to calve and have been selling last year's calves as they need room to bring cows into calve. Slaughter cows Fleshy cows, Breakers and Premium Whites, steady to firm. Boner cows 5.00 to 10.00 higher, Lean cows sharply higher. Slaughter bulls 5.00 to 10.00 higher.

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
324 324 6 440.00 $440.00 $1,426 +14.29
360–399 372 50 370.00–395.00 $389.57 $1,449 -7.13
400–442 426 88 343.00–410.00 $372.08 $1,585 +22.50
472 thin fleshed 472 110 383.00 $383.00 $1,808 —
478 478 14 320.00 $320.00 $1,530 -22.55
466–498 483 245 322.00–372.50 $353.55 $1,708 +11.00
517 517 17 325.00 $325.00 $1,680 -12.05
500–549 521 336 322.00–367.00 $341.29 $1,778 +4.24
552–555 thin fleshed 554 59 345.00–346.00 $345.65 $1,915 —
575 575 4 292.50 $292.50 $1,682 -26.94
578 578 6 307.00 $307.00 $1,774 -12.44
552–598 582 741 310.00–341.50 $327.34 $1,905 +7.90
608–619 612 34 290.00–294.00 $292.57 $1,791 -13.82
600–649 622 944 282.50–333.50 $308.27 $1,917 +1.88
603–646 633 42 291.00–302.50 $299.98 $1,899 +14.81
641 thin fleshed 641 85 334.00 $334.00 $2,141 —
650–699 674 1,240 270.00–310.00 $292.12 $1,969 +9.67
673–685 678 28 262.50–287.00 $276.39 $1,874 -6.06
704–708 705 29 250.00–255.00 $254.13 $1,792 -8.87
703–749 729 1,369 261.00–286.50 $275.54 $2,009 +1.15
750–799 774 1,929 235.00–276.00 $263.47 $2,039 +6.16
805 805 25 230.00 $230.00 $1,852 -19.73
804–848 833 2,213 239.00–263.00 $254.87 $2,123 +19.04
850–896 869 1,321 223.00–256.00 $247.34 $2,149 +13.95
854–898 872 70 226.00–237.00 $232.35 $2,026 -1.04
902–945 926 873 219.50–246.00 $240.19 $2,224 +16.43
948 948 10 209.00 $209.00 $1,981 -14.76
950–979 966 528 215.50–241.75 $233.62 $2,257 +4.21
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403–446 423 41 337.50–370.00 $347.62 $1,470 +27.62
460–479 464 24 318.00–342.50 $337.23 $1,565 +31.41
515–535 528 23 307.00–325.00 $319.23 $1,686 +10.67
555–597 586 74 295.00–312.00 $305.14 $1,788 +10.02
605–649 624 50 250.00–286.00 $281.00 $1,753 +5.61
650–697 673 114 244.00–287.00 $276.29 $1,859 +8.60
752–792 766 118 242.00–255.00 $249.06 $1,908 —
861–877 876 94 221.00–235.50 $234.26 $2,052 +3.94
909 909 20 216.00 $216.00 $1,963 —
972 972 6 200.00 $200.00 $1,944 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
640 640 33 270.00 $270.00 $1,728 —
769 769 44 252.25 $252.25 $1,940 —
1000–1048 1015 157 200.50–239.50 $220.56 $2,239 -9.53
1076–1091 1083 55 205.00–211.75 $209.29 $2,267 -7.91
1167 1167 30 183.00 $183.00 $2,136 -3.00
1220 1220 3 189.00 $189.00 $2,306 —
1293 1293 3 190.00 $190.00 $2,457 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350 1350 7 176.00 $176.00 $2,376 +5.10
1424 1424 6 180.00 $180.00 $2,563 —
1453 1453 3 186.50 $186.50 $2,710 +6.90
1459–1484 1468 54 183.00–185.50 $183.95 $2,700 +4.35
1517 1517 3 185.00 $185.00 $2,806 +7.25
1553–1588 1577 124 181.75–184.00 $182.52 $2,878 +2.24
1577–1617 1591 24 187.50–188.00 $187.78 $2,988 +7.50
1607–1637 1623 86 180.00–184.50 $182.28 $2,958 -1.11
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030 1030 33 181.00 $181.00 $1,864 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
711 711 4 191.00 $191.00 $1,358 —
817 817 21 201.00 $201.00 $1,642 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
896 896 20 236.50 $236.50 $2,119 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
282–286 285 18 360.00–375.00 $370.88 $1,057 —
310–338 321 17 340.00–350.00 $344.58 $1,106 +4.58
351–398 378 60 330.00–360.00 $345.48 $1,306 -12.39
401–449 429 153 310.00–345.00 $322.55 $1,384 +4.54
458 458 9 290.00 $290.00 $1,328 -32.00
470 470 23 287.00 $287.00 $1,349 -35.00
452–498 484 402 292.50–335.00 $313.04 $1,515 +35.54
502–548 525 464 272.00–310.00 $298.49 $1,567 +2.79
539–540 540 27 270.00–276.00 $272.00 $1,469 +12.00
550–599 577 767 267.00–295.00 $282.90 $1,632 +4.56
600–649 620 1,285 259.00–292.50 $275.06 $1,705 +15.37
631–644 636 70 257.00–259.00 $258.51 $1,644 -32.99
633–647 644 33 250.00–253.00 $252.28 $1,625 +6.80
651–696 672 1,733 244.00–275.00 $263.79 $1,773 +4.88
662–694 685 25 242.00–247.00 $244.10 $1,672 -19.66
670–698 686 59 240.00–247.00 $243.97 $1,674 -1.62
716 716 75 267.00 $267.00 $1,912 +8.50
701–749 725 1,495 232.00–256.00 $245.83 $1,782 -2.26
712–748 740 52 235.00–238.00 $237.19 $1,755 -10.90
758–781 765 234 242.00–257.50 $254.70 $1,948 +3.48
753–794 774 123 225.00–239.75 $236.56 $1,831 -14.66
751–799 776 1,356 220.50–256.50 $240.65 $1,867 +3.91
801–804 802 142 242.25–248.00 $245.16 $1,966 +25.66
806–848 827 857 213.00–234.25 $229.08 $1,894 -7.81
830 830 32 223.00 $223.00 $1,851 -2.56
856–893 871 630 199.00–232.25 $222.87 $1,941 +3.37
853–899 896 132 208.00–211.00 $209.96 $1,881 -9.54
911–945 923 171 204.50–217.00 $208.87 $1,928 -5.91
957–999 975 233 197.50–208.00 $202.42 $1,974 -5.15
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
389 389 11 320.00 $320.00 $1,245 —
448 448 4 290.00 $290.00 $1,299 +6.26
478–499 497 31 275.00–290.00 $276.40 $1,374 +7.71
517–547 532 6 262.00–275.00 $268.68 $1,429 +1.18
581–583 582 10 264.00–267.00 $265.20 $1,543 +2.31
629–649 638 90 248.50–262.25 $253.86 $1,620 +4.39
670–692 683 76 232.00–246.00 $239.59 $1,636 +4.09
701–727 716 122 238.00–238.50 $238.21 $1,706 +18.96
770–787 777 165 216.00–238.00 $226.72 $1,762 +0.72
823–824 824 24 220.00–220.50 $220.06 $1,813 +4.07
852–898 873 31 204.00–216.00 $207.72 $1,813 +21.72
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1246–1329 1292 9 176.00 $176.00 $2,274 —
1328–1540 1403 39 183.00–189.50 $184.86 $2,594 —
1371–1480 1452 168 180.00–183.75 $183.04 $2,658 +3.58
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
584 584 16 264.00 $264.00 $1,542 —
674 674 35 238.00 $238.00 $1,604 -9.30
1056 1056 18 198.00 $198.00 $2,091 +11.00
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
697 697 7 217.00 $217.00 $1,512 —
792 792 20 191.00 $191.00 $1,513 —

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Slaughter Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1420–2013 1776 65-75% 80 119.00–128.00 $123.01 $2,185 +4.83
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290–1983 1607 75-80% 47 101.00–116.00 $110.94 $1,783 -3.39
1458–1970 1707 75-80% 21 116.00–121.00 $117.04 $1,998 —
1749–1960 1840 75-80% 10 96.00–108.50 $105.81 $1,947 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
695–800 790 85-90% 10 40.00–60.00 $58.24 $460 —
1124–1153 1142 85-90% 16 108.50–113.00 $111.34 $1,272 +28.64
1045–1435 1174 85-90% 20 92.00–108.00 $104.17 $1,223 —
1055–1345 1201 85-90% 7 77.50–94.00 $83.16 $999 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1550 1293 80-85% 7 112.00–117.50 $115.42 $1,492 —
1020–1785 1363 80-85% 17 97.00–113.00 $108.33 $1,477 —
1562–1685 1593 80-85% 4 96.00–99.00 $96.79 $1,542 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1480–1495 1488 2 125.00 $125.00 $1,860 —
1805–2625 2114 11 135.00–153.00 $140.97 $2,980 +13.55
1705–2690 2127 6 124.00–138.00 $130.35 $2,773 +2.93

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
449 449 9 322.50 $322.50 $1,448 —
571 571 17 272.50 $272.50 $1,556 —
669–683 676 12 207.00–215.00 $212.65 $1,438 —
748 748 3 205.00 $205.00 $1,533 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1353 1353 2 188.50 $188.50 $2,550 —
1449–1510 1468 36 182.25–184.50 $182.96 $2,686 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1338 1338 9 186.00 $186.00 $2,489 —
1383 1383 14 180.00 $180.00 $2,489 —
1589 1589 6 173.00 $173.00 $2,749 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
434 434 8 280.00 $280.00 $1,215 —
731 731 9 240.00 $240.00 $1,754 —
758–782 765 11 227.50–238.00 $235.07 $1,798 —

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Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1476 1476 7 154.00 $154.00 $2,273 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1189 1189 5 131.00 $131.00 $1,558 —
1258 1258 5 139.00 $139.00 $1,749 —
1427–1627 1500 25 150.00–155.00 $152.05 $2,281 —
1602 1602 8 157.00 $157.00 $2,515 —

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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.