Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 18, 2024

21,107 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 $241.18/cwt +2.34 vs last sale · ≈ $2,221/hd at 921 lb · 2,663 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $254.28/cwt -2.77 vs last sale · ≈ $2,116/hd at 832 lb · 1,579 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $284.98/cwt +4.33 vs last sale · ≈ $2,069/hd at 726 lb · 1,156 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 21,107 22,561 28,339
Feeder cattle 19,704 21,718 27,352
Slaughter cattle 1,403 843 987

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 500 lbs 10.00 to 15.00 higher, over 500 lbs 2.00 to 6.00 higher, instances to 8.00 higher on 1000-1050 lbs. Feeder heifers 2.00 to 6.00 higher. Very good demand for all weights of steers and heifers as cattle producers are feeling very bullish about the future prospects of the cattle markets. Cash fed cattle sales set new, all-time high record prices, Iowa up to 192.00. The futures contracts did not offer support but cattle feeders didn't let that deter them in their pursuit to own feeder cattle. The market was incredibly active, but again it was the most active for those light weight cattle to background and make yearlings of. Backgrounders have their eyes set on the fall months of the Feeder Cattle futures and are anxious to own cattle to sell during that time. Slaughter cows 2.00 to 3.00 higher, bulls 8.00 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
324–345 333 9 405.00–410.00 $407.70 $1,358 —
382–395 391 33 375.00–407.50 $399.67 $1,563 -1.65
415–448 434 73 357.50–411.00 $378.69 $1,644 -0.91
450–494 473 85 350.00–403.00 $376.55 $1,781 +14.09
506–546 527 422 335.00–374.00 $354.24 $1,867 +3.26
551–598 572 280 317.00–350.00 $332.11 $1,900 +2.53
566–581 576 44 290.00–297.50 $294.64 $1,697 -34.94
610 thin fleshed 610 11 328.00 $328.00 $2,001 —
600–648 626 714 282.50–329.00 $314.73 $1,970 +1.75
651–696 675 890 271.00–320.00 $301.43 $2,035 +6.32
701–710 thin fleshed 708 76 291.00–302.50 $300.10 $2,125 —
701–749 727 1,065 257.50–297.50 $284.26 $2,067 +3.73
722–749 735 15 254.00–266.00 $259.71 $1,909 -7.40
752 thin fleshed 752 35 289.50 $289.50 $2,177 —
750–794 774 646 243.50–282.50 $268.76 $2,080 +3.94
784–793 792 86 256.00–256.50 $256.45 $2,031 +8.25
815 thin fleshed 815 67 272.00 $272.00 $2,217 —
820–843 832 194 237.50–248.50 $243.57 $2,027 -14.25
805–848 833 1,318 247.50–259.50 $254.96 $2,124 -2.86
850–899 881 891 236.50–251.00 $244.80 $2,157 -2.16
854–895 882 42 230.50–250.00 $235.42 $2,076 -11.54
900–949 920 2,514 219.00–249.50 $242.02 $2,227 +2.69
922–936 934 149 211.00–230.00 $226.98 $2,120 +5.48
952–991 971 707 226.50–240.00 $233.49 $2,267 -0.54
976 976 11 217.50 $217.50 $2,123 -16.53
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
648 648 28 290.00 $290.00 $1,879 —
775 775 73 262.00 $262.00 $2,030 —
1005–1043 1024 779 225.00–238.50 $231.09 $2,366 +8.22
1109 1109 31 216.75 $216.75 $2,404 +4.50
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1164 1164 4 199.00 $199.00 $2,316 —
1424–1480 1441 10 185.00–189.00 $186.23 $2,684 +8.23
1451 1451 7 186.00 $186.00 $2,699 -3.00
1503–1653 1555 93 189.75–195.00 $190.68 $2,965 -1.38
1545–1590 1569 119 183.25–188.50 $186.94 $2,933 -5.12
1608–1690 1628 136 181.50–189.50 $184.48 $3,003 -7.19
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
422–438 427 20 320.00–340.00 $334.88 $1,430 +2.88
476 476 9 325.00 $325.00 $1,547 -4.83
505–545 519 27 311.00–327.00 $321.22 $1,667 —
580–594 588 9 289.00–307.50 $297.11 $1,747 -3.07
626–649 640 27 290.00–304.50 $299.25 $1,915 +14.20
686–693 692 47 268.00–271.00 $270.56 $1,872 +1.64
745 745 11 264.50 $264.50 $1,971 -0.59
772 772 3 241.00 $241.00 $1,861 +1.00
809 809 11 232.50 $232.50 $1,881 —
899 899 31 225.00 $225.00 $2,023 -8.75
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
374 374 10 345.00 $345.00 $1,290 —
493 493 25 320.00 $320.00 $1,578 —
945 945 23 235.50 $235.50 $2,225 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1011 1007 16 204.50–217.00 $209.20 $2,107 +10.20
1143 1143 10 195.50 $195.50 $2,235 —
1158 1158 3 190.00 $190.00 $2,200 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
634–648 638 10 200.00–230.00 $220.86 $1,409 —
801 801 7 217.50 $217.50 $1,742 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303–344 333 32 317.50–360.00 $346.78 $1,155 -17.65
360 thin fleshed 360 6 390.00 $390.00 $1,404 —
386–396 390 32 337.00–365.00 $350.74 $1,368 —
424 thin fleshed 424 7 377.50 $377.50 $1,601 —
403–443 429 109 310.00–363.00 $339.02 $1,454 -5.60
453–499 470 164 313.00–335.00 $320.72 $1,507 +4.30
500 fancy 500 41 332.00 $332.00 $1,660 —
502–542 526 344 286.00–320.00 $307.62 $1,618 +1.95
550–597 573 342 280.00–320.00 $294.51 $1,688 +3.39
592 592 9 258.00 $258.00 $1,527 -33.12
600–648 628 782 265.00–297.50 $283.24 $1,779 +2.31
651–699 673 1,063 253.00–286.00 $269.05 $1,811 +3.65
681–699 691 9 237.50–244.50 $241.43 $1,668 -5.16
701 701 17 275.00 $275.00 $1,928 +20.54
709 fancy 709 12 272.00 $272.00 $1,928 —
703–748 723 550 238.00–264.50 $254.64 $1,841 +0.18
750–792 766 663 227.00–267.00 $247.82 $1,898 -15.89
756–796 784 42 231.00–256.00 $238.47 $1,870 +19.30
804–849 821 523 210.00–243.00 $232.25 $1,907 +0.97
845 845 12 225.00 $225.00 $1,901 -6.28
851–894 867 84 213.00–214.00 $213.94 $1,855 -2.93
852–896 877 354 215.00–243.00 $227.60 $1,996 +4.80
903–947 923 674 208.25–232.75 $219.01 $2,021 +19.01
951 951 22 213.75 $213.75 $2,033 +8.69
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1302 1302 3 195.00 $195.00 $2,539 +4.57
1305 1305 3 185.00 $185.00 $2,414 -5.43
1369–1476 1453 102 187.00–194.00 $189.11 $2,748 —
1262–1589 1498 252 184.00–190.50 $187.72 $2,812 +7.72
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
377 377 5 330.00 $330.00 $1,244 -2.50
468–484 475 14 280.00–285.00 $282.18 $1,340 —
517–538 532 10 255.00–280.00 $262.29 $1,395 -17.71
575 575 8 270.00 $270.00 $1,552 -2.00
603–627 618 18 210.00–237.50 $227.06 $1,403 -16.94
657–695 670 55 247.50–260.00 $252.19 $1,690 +18.53
733–741 738 35 229.00–239.25 $235.68 $1,739 +0.45
754–791 782 54 195.00–241.50 $224.71 $1,757 -0.06
913 913 31 192.00 $192.00 $1,753 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
819 819 7 185.00 $185.00 $1,515 —
935 935 55 196.00 $196.00 $1,833 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
528 528 6 299.00 $299.00 $1,579 —
737 737 6 251.00 $251.00 $1,850 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
700 700 5 246.00 $246.00 $1,722 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
680 680 21 269.00 $269.00 $1,829 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1133–1920 1505 75-80% 161 118.00–130.00 $124.38 $1,872 —
1410–1865 1580 75-80% 6 132.00–136.00 $134.03 $2,118 —
1925 1925 75-80% 2 113.00 $113.00 $2,175 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945–1613 1319 80-85% 55 109.00–118.00 $113.97 $1,503 -2.03
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
899–1148 985 85-90% 11 81.00–87.50 $84.78 $835 —
930–1160 1048 85-90% 4 32.50–52.50 $44.62 $468 —
878–1655 1158 85-90% 23 90.00–101.00 $96.71 $1,120 +2.61
1215–1493 1351 85-90% 8 106.00–108.00 $107.00 $1,446 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1447–1965 1604 65-75% 46 128.00–139.00 $132.32 $2,122 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1615–1635 1625 2 114.00–126.00 $120.04 $1,951 —
1618–2278 1856 12 153.00–168.00 $161.68 $3,001 +11.75
1940–2358 2208 9 141.00–148.00 $144.35 $3,187 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1312 1312 25 178.50 $178.50 $2,342 —
1406–1440 1412 21 186.00–195.00 $187.75 $2,651 —
1407–1466 1436 35 181.50–186.50 $183.48 $2,635 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
324 324 38 325.00 $325.00 $1,053 —
355 355 32 320.00 $320.00 $1,136 —
557 557 5 255.00 $255.00 $1,420 —
698 698 5 210.00 $210.00 $1,466 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
294 294 4 280.00 $280.00 $823 —
338 338 21 290.00 $290.00 $980 —
376 376 32 330.00 $330.00 $1,241 —
482 482 7 291.00 $291.00 $1,403 —
530 530 6 250.00 $250.00 $1,325 —
681 681 7 247.00 $247.00 $1,682 —
843 843 6 243.00 $243.00 $2,048 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
418 418 8 295.00 $295.00 $1,233 —
484 484 19 325.00 $325.00 $1,573 —
575 575 43 325.00 $325.00 $1,869 —
760 760 11 273.00 $273.00 $2,075 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1398 1398 3 166.00 $166.00 $2,321 —
1447–1484 1474 27 182.00–191.00 $184.29 $2,716 —
1428–1622 1551 36 180.00–180.25 $180.16 $2,794 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1434–1475 1463 20 157.00–161.00 $159.82 $2,338 —

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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.