Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 21, 2024

47,830 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 $314.23/cwt +2.67 vs last sale · ≈ $1,795/hd at 571 lb · 5,920 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $326.71/cwt +1.45 vs last sale · ≈ $1,712/hd at 524 lb · 4,387 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $294.32/cwt +3.58 vs last sale · ≈ $1,524/hd at 518 lb · 3,701 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 47,830 48,211 49,333
Feeder cattle 46,066 46,888 48,404
Slaughter cattle 1,764 1,323 929

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves 2.00 to 4.00 higher, heifer calves steady to 5.00 lower. Yearling steers and heifers unevenly steady. Very good demand for steer and heifer calves, but there is more interest in steers currently. As the cash fed cattle market spiked up to 192.00, and the CME Live Cattle contracts rose as well, yearling operators and cattle feeders became very bullish in their approach to the calf market. Dry weather is pushing calves to town and there are plenty of buyers on the seats eager to own these high quality calves. The market is very active, it seems to be most active on those light calves that will make yearlings. Yearling operators are competing heavily to buy these light weight cattle while they can, as they had a profitable year and want to get as many bought as early as possible. Good demand for yearlings, but that supply is getting tight as the grass is dried out and short. Slaughter cows steady to 1.00 higher, bulls 3.00 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
271–297 282 46 387.50–407.50 $398.61 $1,124 -6.39
302–348 332 160 367.50–430.00 $408.06 $1,355 +10.00
350–399 378 733 360.00–436.00 $398.38 $1,506 +3.98
395–398 396 19 387.50–390.00 $388.16 $1,537 -6.24
400–447 426 1,319 327.00–398.50 $369.45 $1,574 -3.80
443 443 6 357.50 $357.50 $1,584 -15.75
456 456 13 315.00 $315.00 $1,436 -31.48
451–499 476 3,505 318.00–375.00 $348.38 $1,658 +11.38
492 492 123 276.00 $276.00 $1,358 -61.00
492 492 9 307.00 $307.00 $1,510 -30.00
523 523 6 291.00 $291.00 $1,522 -34.56
501–549 524 4,358 299.00–352.00 $326.91 $1,713 +1.35
508–534 525 23 285.00–305.00 $298.27 $1,566 -27.29
550–599 571 5,841 285.00–334.00 $314.60 $1,796 +2.82
575 575 31 287.50 $287.50 $1,653 -24.28
585–586 585 27 278.00–279.00 $278.41 $1,629 -11.10
552–599 588 21 296.00–297.00 $296.78 $1,745 +7.27
601–649 621 2,266 275.00–314.50 $299.13 $1,858 -1.98
618–625 fancy 622 184 314.25 $314.25 $1,955 —
612–635 unweaned 627 228 296.50–310.50 $307.25 $1,926 +9.79
651 651 5 255.00 $255.00 $1,660 -29.62
651–693 669 633 251.00–310.00 $284.42 $1,903 -0.20
707–735 716 140 246.00–278.00 $266.72 $1,910 +2.60
719–743 unweaned 733 16 259.00–260.00 $259.57 $1,903 —
752–796 767 174 235.50–270.50 $258.94 $1,986 +3.44
776 776 33 258.00 $258.00 $2,002 +2.50
816–848 837 480 239.00–262.50 $253.48 $2,122 -11.90
838 838 12 246.00 $246.00 $2,061 -19.38
852–899 887 553 233.00–258.25 $249.57 $2,214 +12.55
901–942 921 965 224.00–263.25 $247.67 $2,281 -1.73
952–998 974 845 227.00–255.00 $245.63 $2,392 +7.41
991 991 55 224.75 $224.75 $2,227 +0.25
1135 1135 7 200.00 $200.00 $2,270 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
469 469 17 326.00 $326.00 $1,529 —
628 unweaned 628 5 275.00 $275.00 $1,727 +6.00
942 942 7 227.50 $227.50 $2,143 —
1001 1001 55 215.25 $215.25 $2,155 -21.88
1001–1049 1024 751 220.00–252.75 $236.61 $2,423 -0.52
1053–1089 1069 308 223.75–236.25 $231.29 $2,472 +3.41
1103–1123 1113 108 217.25 $217.25 $2,418 -7.23
1112–1141 1131 106 200.00–227.00 $220.20 $2,490 -4.28
1231 1231 50 209.00 $209.00 $2,573 +2.25
1265 1265 4 194.50 $194.50 $2,460 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
258–277 268 22 382.50–421.00 $399.32 $1,070 +9.32
300–336 316 29 355.00–380.00 $368.06 $1,163 +7.89
374 374 4 342.50 $342.50 $1,281 -12.31
353–397 379 142 337.50–377.50 $370.77 $1,405 +15.96
412–448 438 187 300.00–348.00 $325.93 $1,428 -14.88
453–499 486 207 269.00–342.50 $310.80 $1,510 -8.75
513–549 528 254 273.00–311.00 $297.88 $1,573 —
551–597 574 221 267.00–299.00 $288.38 $1,655 +1.62
629–646 637 60 260.00–271.00 $266.22 $1,696 -16.09
677 677 17 266.50 $266.50 $1,804 +9.96
786 786 16 252.00 $252.00 $1,981 +0.35
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1198–1255 1229 20 184.50 $184.50 $2,268 —
1381–1467 1437 104 186.50–190.75 $187.99 $2,701 +0.59
1255–1477 1450 55 185.00–188.50 $186.56 $2,705 +0.63
1413–1486 1455 79 192.50–195.00 $193.18 $2,811 +7.25
1460–1491 1476 52 184.50–185.00 $184.75 $2,727 -1.18
1498 1498 3 189.50 $189.50 $2,839 +3.57
1505–1585 1530 44 186.50–189.50 $188.36 $2,882 +1.75
1526–1558 1540 21 184.50–185.00 $184.74 $2,845 -1.87
1539–1593 1559 287 186.50–190.50 $187.37 $2,921 +2.83
1621–1711 1653 147 184.00–186.75 $185.47 $3,066 -1.03
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
342 342 5 310.00 $310.00 $1,060 —
418 418 5 285.00 $285.00 $1,191 —
470 470 35 265.00 $265.00 $1,246 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 24 307.50 $307.50 $1,353 +45.50
547 547 10 299.00 $299.00 $1,636 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
484 484 6 326.00 $326.00 $1,578 +10.00
609 unweaned 609 9 292.00 $292.00 $1,778 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 391 7 315.00 $315.00 $1,232 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
262–297 287 123 322.50–390.00 $368.94 $1,059 —
315–348 339 263 326.00–366.00 $342.75 $1,162 -21.61
351–399 376 731 310.00–375.00 $344.67 $1,296 -9.61
386–394 387 64 322.50–330.00 $328.69 $1,272 -25.59
397 397 19 314.00 $314.00 $1,247 -40.28
400–449 428 1,934 293.50–358.00 $324.47 $1,389 -6.24
441 441 8 282.00 $282.00 $1,244 -35.00
451–499 477 2,520 275.00–331.00 $307.34 $1,466 -0.58
486 486 90 307.00 $307.00 $1,492 +21.00
496 496 8 270.00 $270.00 $1,339 -16.00
500–548 517 3,211 251.00–308.25 $291.02 $1,505 -17.16
501–547 523 467 300.50–348.00 $319.09 $1,669 +29.41
528 528 23 252.00 $252.00 $1,331 -1.00
550 550 8 241.00 $241.00 $1,326 -36.35
551–599 570 1,209 246.00–290.00 $277.18 $1,580 -0.17
555–597 571 494 284.00–332.50 $303.13 $1,731 +25.78
608 thin fleshed 608 117 273.00 $273.00 $1,660 —
617 617 64 313.00 $313.00 $1,931 +47.03
601–648 630 448 248.00–283.00 $262.13 $1,651 -3.84
663–668 unweaned 666 13 256.00–266.00 $261.40 $1,741 —
654–699 678 155 245.00–264.50 $257.90 $1,749 -4.18
688 688 10 237.50 $237.50 $1,634 -24.58
705 unweaned 705 5 242.00 $242.00 $1,706 —
700–746 722 419 232.00–262.00 $255.60 $1,845 +4.78
754–798 781 356 234.00–254.00 $245.84 $1,920 -0.16
826 826 50 247.50 $247.50 $2,044 +10.94
800–846 829 585 227.00–249.75 $237.64 $1,970 +1.08
852–890 866 385 224.25–249.75 $235.75 $2,042 +23.52
900–946 922 1,244 214.00–244.50 $226.42 $2,088 -3.73
938–942 940 18 220.00–223.00 $221.50 $2,082 -8.65
950–994 969 268 212.00–240.00 $217.13 $2,104 +1.43
975–984 978 90 205.00–205.50 $205.35 $2,008 -10.35
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270–295 285 43 275.00–340.00 $323.01 $921 -54.83
301–302 301 16 301.00–335.00 $313.78 $944 —
366–395 380 83 290.00–382.50 $329.82 $1,253 +1.40
406–448 442 93 261.00–313.00 $300.24 $1,327 -6.42
463–499 483 187 256.00–298.00 $278.92 $1,347 +1.05
504–531 509 67 269.00–273.00 $270.39 $1,376 +20.69
570–599 589 48 235.00–296.00 $273.03 $1,608 +12.53
624–637 630 59 260.00–268.00 $264.57 $1,667 +32.07
650–679 666 11 215.00–222.00 $218.11 $1,453 -10.93
718–736 725 11 210.00–222.50 $214.62 $1,556 —
763 763 5 225.00 $225.00 $1,717 +3.65
826 826 8 230.00 $230.00 $1,900 —
975–980 978 35 207.50–209.00 $208.40 $2,038 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1017–1039 1025 258 212.75–233.25 $225.92 $2,316 +11.38
1043–1044 1044 65 196.00–207.50 $206.26 $2,153 -8.28
1057 1057 58 204.00 $204.00 $2,156 -15.56
1050–1094 1072 135 198.00–218.00 $207.89 $2,229 -11.67
1176–1183 1180 24 184.00–203.00 $194.32 $2,293 +3.28
1213 1213 55 195.25 $195.25 $2,368 —
1253 1253 12 191.50 $191.50 $2,399 —
1295 1295 3 187.00 $187.00 $2,422 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1054–1196 1164 22 184.00–184.75 $184.60 $2,149 +4.60
1241–1488 1296 40 182.00–185.00 $184.32 $2,389 —
1314–1426 1377 143 187.75–195.00 $188.93 $2,602 +8.18
1347–1474 1407 208 186.50–194.50 $189.07 $2,660 +1.91
1498 1498 2 186.50 $186.50 $2,794 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
369 369 7 240.00 $240.00 $886 —
448 448 42 250.00 $250.00 $1,120 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
472–484 475 23 266.00–278.00 $274.81 $1,305 —
503 503 5 274.00 $274.00 $1,378 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1012 1012 6 200.00 $200.00 $2,024 +2.42

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
523 523 7 294.00 $294.00 $1,538 +51.50

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
740–1610 1040 85-90% 24 50.00–87.50 $72.14 $750 —
790–1960 1337 85-90% 43 87.50–111.00 $102.90 $1,376 -14.02
1160–2095 1420 85-90% 57 112.00–123.50 $117.62 $1,670 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1960 1633 80-85% 73 125.00–133.50 $130.89 $2,137 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110–1255 1183 75-80% 2 146.00–147.50 $146.80 $1,737 —
1070–1705 1378 75-80% 25 134.00–142.00 $136.57 $1,882 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1688–1996 1874 65-75% 20 134.00–140.00 $135.05 $2,531 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1505 1505 1 172.50 $172.50 $2,596 —
1581–2220 1789 27 144.00–161.00 $153.89 $2,753 +18.09
1600–1960 1814 5 138.00–141.00 $139.55 $2,531 -10.72

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Beef Dairy Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
676 676 6 257.50 $257.50 $1,741 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1377 1377 102 161.00 $161.00 $2,217 —
1532–1759 1672 15 164.50–167.50 $166.32 $2,781 —

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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.