Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 28, 2024

53,938 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $326.46/cwt -0.25 vs last sale · ≈ $1,724/hd at 528 lb · 5,697 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $312.72/cwt -1.51 vs last sale · ≈ $1,798/hd at 575 lb · 5,452 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $302.01/cwt +1.15 vs last sale · ≈ $1,880/hd at 623 lb · 3,708 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 53,938 47,830 54,880
Feeder cattle 52,376 46,066 53,821
Slaughter cattle 1,562 1,764 1,059

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 400 lbs 3.00 to 8.00 lower, over 400 lbs steady to 4.00 higher. Heifer calves under 400 lbs sold with lower undertones, over 400 lbs steady to 3.00 higher. Yearling feeder steers 2.00 to 5.00 higher, yearling heifers steady to 5.00 higher. Good demand for steer and heifer calves as the calf run is in full swing, there are ample buyers ready to buy these high quality light calves while they are available. There is great interest in those cattle weighing 3 weight and 4 weight calves, yearling operators had a profitable year and want to get these cattle bought while they can. Good demand for the yearlings, these cattle are harder to find as the run of yearlings off grass ends and buyers are willing to compete heavily to secure the yearlings they need. Cash fed cattle at 190.00 helped to support the feeder cattle market but those back months in the 178.00 to 180.00 range is concerning. Slaughter cows steady to 2.00 higher, 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
258–290 270 26 400.00–490.00 $451.94 $1,220 +53.33
313–346 334 173 400.00–445.00 $416.84 $1,392 +8.78
352–399 380 704 352.50–430.00 $394.53 $1,499 -3.85
400–449 432 2,130 325.00–402.00 $373.37 $1,613 +3.92
450–499 474 3,602 315.00–375.00 $349.38 $1,656 +1.00
483 483 5 282.50 $282.50 $1,364 -65.88
493–498 495 94 321.00–336.00 $325.66 $1,612 +49.66
517 517 9 294.00 $294.00 $1,520 +3.00
517–540 526 25 311.00–315.00 $313.73 $1,650 +15.46
500–549 528 5,663 296.00–346.00 $326.57 $1,724 +28.30
563–592 573 71 291.00–299.50 $296.57 $1,699 -18.03
551–599 575 5,381 274.00–335.50 $312.93 $1,799 +25.43
600–649 621 2,937 279.00–318.00 $303.30 $1,883 +4.17
606–648 unweaned 628 669 292.00–308.50 $300.78 $1,889 -6.47
629 629 8 275.00 $275.00 $1,730 -24.13
630–639 636 94 271.00–277.00 $272.71 $1,734 -26.42
659–660 unweaned 660 156 291.00–297.50 $294.75 $1,945 —
650–694 673 1,072 267.00–302.50 $285.72 $1,923 +1.30
704–747 727 200 254.00–272.00 $267.79 $1,947 +1.07
755–790 778 77 253.00–266.00 $261.22 $2,032 +3.22
813–848 829 502 248.00–267.00 $258.39 $2,142 +4.91
850–899 888 389 235.00–262.25 $251.45 $2,233 +1.88
901–948 920 1,093 222.00–262.25 $252.81 $2,326 +5.14
931 thin fleshed 931 62 257.50 $257.50 $2,397 —
945 945 27 236.00 $236.00 $2,230 -11.67
952–994 973 1,137 229.00–260.50 $248.57 $2,419 +2.94
990 990 15 219.00 $219.00 $2,168 -5.75
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475–480 477 48 325.00–327.00 $326.58 $1,558 +0.58
585 585 24 302.00 $302.00 $1,767 —
612–636 unweaned 632 30 277.00–289.50 $287.48 $1,817 +12.48
652 unweaned 652 20 279.00 $279.00 $1,819 —
1022 thin fleshed 1022 58 245.50 $245.50 $2,509 —
1000–1045 1027 756 224.00–249.25 $234.40 $2,407 -2.21
1039 1039 22 217.00 $217.00 $2,255 -19.61
1051–1077 1064 905 216.00–246.00 $225.93 $2,404 -5.36
1101–1144 1114 303 209.10–227.00 $219.35 $2,444 +2.10
1167–1183 1172 303 216.35–218.00 $217.47 $2,549 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–288 275 14 370.00–390.00 $378.98 $1,042 -20.34
341–346 345 30 387.50–410.00 $406.20 $1,401 +38.14
360–396 379 115 345.00–387.50 $363.82 $1,379 -6.95
404–448 435 221 242.50–355.00 $336.82 $1,465 +10.89
455–498 485 246 298.00–332.00 $315.77 $1,531 +4.97
513–544 530 113 281.00–313.00 $295.95 $1,569 -1.93
553–584 565 196 279.00–297.00 $288.68 $1,631 +0.30
627–644 635 64 252.00–288.00 $274.02 $1,740 +7.80
706–748 712 39 242.00–267.00 $245.40 $1,747 —
769–775 771 21 236.00–241.00 $238.53 $1,839 -13.47
835–836 836 17 192.50–237.00 $208.19 $1,740 —
894 894 14 226.00 $226.00 $2,020 —
935 935 3 220.00 $220.00 $2,057 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1323–1338 1330 11 192.00–193.50 $192.81 $2,564 —
1346 1346 9 186.50 $186.50 $2,510 —
1341–1445 1397 39 184.00–189.00 $187.25 $2,616 —
1352–1500 1461 111 189.00–194.75 $192.18 $2,808 -1.00
1506–1547 1527 16 189.50–192.75 $191.10 $2,918 +2.74
1518–1588 1542 15 184.00–186.50 $184.98 $2,852 +0.24
1506–1596 1546 264 188.00–192.50 $191.30 $2,957 +6.56
1552 1552 11 191.00 $191.00 $2,964 +3.63
1643–1751 1651 150 187.00–190.50 $189.82 $3,134 +4.35
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311 311 39 315.00 $315.00 $980 +5.00
416 416 53 310.00 $310.00 $1,290 +25.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1003 1003 5 212.00 $212.00 $2,126 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
339 339 5 355.00 $355.00 $1,203 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
247 247 8 422.50 $422.50 $1,044 —
284 284 9 397.50 $397.50 $1,129 +28.56
302–349 328 217 332.50–390.00 $362.42 $1,189 +19.67
332 thin fleshed 332 11 325.00 $325.00 $1,079 —
350–399 374 654 320.00–367.50 $341.73 $1,278 -2.94
400–448 427 2,069 290.00–344.00 $326.74 $1,395 +2.27
438–447 445 23 305.00 $305.00 $1,357 +23.00
446 446 42 303.00 $303.00 $1,351 +21.00
450–498 479 3,229 275.00–337.50 $307.99 $1,475 +0.65
480–481 480 23 285.00–298.00 $293.47 $1,409 -13.87
505 fancy 505 105 321.00 $321.00 $1,621 —
504–548 521 366 308.50–342.50 $320.83 $1,672 +1.74
501–549 527 3,129 262.50–310.00 $291.62 $1,537 +39.62
522–538 532 46 279.00–281.00 $279.68 $1,488 +27.68
554–591 567 436 296.00–337.00 $317.72 $1,801 +40.54
550–598 571 1,556 254.00–304.00 $280.28 $1,600 -22.85
600–607 606 216 282.00–320.50 $317.68 $1,925 +4.68
601–626 unweaned 621 241 271.00–280.00 $273.30 $1,697 —
611–642 621 408 247.00–278.00 $265.47 $1,649 -47.53
657 657 17 243.00 $243.00 $1,597 -14.90
657–693 673 111 247.00–260.00 $252.55 $1,700 -5.35
701–742 724 446 241.00–260.50 $253.12 $1,833 -2.48
754–799 774 338 238.00–257.50 $246.64 $1,909 +0.80
801–846 826 760 228.75–255.50 $246.89 $2,039 -0.61
849 849 60 222.00 $222.00 $1,885 -15.64
851–891 871 694 223.50–247.00 $231.67 $2,018 -4.08
885–892 888 113 221.00–225.25 $223.14 $1,981 -12.61
900–944 920 1,082 211.00–244.25 $231.14 $2,126 +4.72
914–947 932 168 214.25–221.00 $218.10 $2,033 -3.40
962 962 55 214.25 $214.25 $2,061 -2.88
951–999 978 681 210.00–246.75 $234.90 $2,297 +29.55
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 6 380.00 $380.00 $855 —
293 293 6 365.00 $365.00 $1,069 +41.99
326–347 335 22 330.00–345.00 $339.42 $1,137 +25.64
351–399 380 64 295.00–330.00 $314.77 $1,196 -15.05
402–445 429 91 251.00–308.00 $295.51 $1,268 -4.73
465–487 476 102 245.00–295.00 $276.66 $1,317 -2.26
505–544 529 78 257.00–274.00 $268.17 $1,419 -2.22
562–597 578 83 245.00–272.00 $258.55 $1,494 -14.48
632–644 638 27 216.00–263.00 $245.09 $1,564 -19.48
664–699 682 46 240.00–259.00 $252.61 $1,723 +34.50
711–738 726 28 236.00–244.00 $240.85 $1,749 +26.23
802–845 828 33 221.00–233.00 $229.20 $1,898 -0.80
883 883 24 216.50 $216.50 $1,912 —
930 930 3 217.00 $217.00 $2,018 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170–1207 1187 19 186.50–190.50 $189.64 $2,251 +5.04
1115–1474 1274 22 183.00–186.50 $185.07 $2,358 +0.75
1286–1559 1378 32 182.00–186.00 $184.09 $2,537 -4.84
1296–1537 1432 376 187.75–193.50 $189.72 $2,717 +0.65
1260–1499 1458 125 188.50–190.75 $190.39 $2,776 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
472–494 482 63 275.00–292.00 $284.66 $1,372 —
509–524 520 56 284.00–285.00 $284.24 $1,478 —
566–593 582 79 270.50–279.00 $272.63 $1,587 —
918 918 6 232.00 $232.00 $2,130 —
1007–1046 1016 77 200.00–228.00 $216.17 $2,196 -9.75
1056 1056 22 205.00 $205.00 $2,165 +1.00
1101–1134 1111 36 195.00–200.00 $198.04 $2,200 —
1191 1191 13 204.50 $204.50 $2,436 +10.18
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311 311 35 240.00 $240.00 $746 —
421 421 50 266.00 $266.00 $1,120 +16.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
314–328 324 14 290.00–321.00 $312.42 $1,012 —
405 405 13 260.00 $260.00 $1,053 —
490 490 4 265.00 $265.00 $1,298 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1078 1078 3 192.00 $192.00 $2,070 —
1149 1149 6 190.00 $190.00 $2,183 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
346 346 25 410.00 $410.00 $1,419 —
352 352 14 410.00 $410.00 $1,443 —
441 441 7 365.00 $365.00 $1,610 —
465 465 36 329.00 $329.00 $1,530 —
510 510 6 320.00 $320.00 $1,632 +26.00
637 637 11 250.00 $250.00 $1,592 —
713 713 3 217.00 $217.00 $1,547 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795–1330 1013 85-90% 26 60.00–88.00 $76.70 $777 +4.56
933–1905 1343 85-90% 92 90.00–111.00 $102.99 $1,383 +0.09
770–1785 1401 85-90% 64 112.00–124.00 $117.63 $1,648 +0.01
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135–1745 1428 80-85% 35 125.00–134.00 $129.51 $1,849 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
995–1405 1131 75-80% 10 134.00–144.00 $138.47 $1,566 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1475–1825 1625 65-75% 10 123.00–133.00 $126.21 $2,051 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1478–2270 1829 24 142.00–156.00 $148.52 $2,716 +8.97
1565–2430 1840 7 128.00–139.00 $135.19 $2,487 -4.36

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1882 1882 3 173.00 $173.00 $3,256 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1313–1510 1474 11 180.00–182.50 $182.10 $2,684 —

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Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1370 1370 8 165.00 $165.00 $2,260 —
1908 1908 6 160.00 $160.00 $3,053 —

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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.