Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 4, 2024

35,230 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 $329.43/cwt +2.97 vs last sale · ≈ $1,743/hd at 529 lb · 3,405 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $316.37/cwt +3.65 vs last sale · ≈ $1,822/hd at 576 lb · 3,135 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $298.29/cwt -3.72 vs last sale · ≈ $1,861/hd at 624 lb · 2,245 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 35,230 53,938 49,961
Feeder cattle 33,589 52,376 48,493
Slaughter cattle 1,641 1,562 1,468

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 450 lbs 5.00 to 8.00 higher, 450-700 lbs steady to 3.00 higher, except 600-650 lbs 5.00 to 6.00 lower. Heifer calves 4.00 to 5.00 higher. Yearling feeder steers steady to 3.00 higher, instances of 5.00 to 6.00 higher. Yearling feeder heifers unevenly steady. Very good demand for steer and heifer calves as the fall run continues and more farmer feeder and yearling operators show up in town to buy the light cattle they need. Good demand for yearling steers and heifers, yet there is some uncertainty in the air again as CME Live Cattle futures for the winter months are all well below the current cash fed cattle market. The true off grass yearlings are gone now, leaving those that have either been fed in a yard for a short time or the heavier fleshed cattle that have always been fed in a yard. Cattle feeders have much cheaper costs of gain, and phenomenal weather has created ideal feeding conditions, but with the yearling feeder cattle market so much higher than the fat market there is great concern that cattle might not be bought cheap enough.

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
310–338 326 60 385.00–422.50 $404.98 $1,320 -11.86
352–397 377 329 357.50–422.50 $399.41 $1,506 +4.88
410 410 18 360.00 $360.00 $1,476 -13.37
401–448 430 1,141 337.50–410.50 $381.40 $1,640 +8.03
450–499 476 2,065 302.50–369.00 $347.90 $1,656 -1.48
493 493 6 329.00 $329.00 $1,622 +3.34
513 513 10 305.00 $305.00 $1,565 +11.00
501–548 529 3,371 290.00–351.00 $329.67 $1,744 +3.10
528–549 541 24 304.00–312.00 $306.43 $1,658 -20.14
550–599 576 3,126 288.00–335.00 $316.46 $1,823 +3.53
595 595 9 285.00 $285.00 $1,696 -27.93
609 609 6 293.00 $293.00 $1,784 -10.30
600–649 623 1,644 273.00–312.50 $297.08 $1,851 -6.22
600–647 unweaned 626 595 288.00–312.50 $301.68 $1,889 +0.90
662 662 12 282.00 $282.00 $1,867 -3.72
650–696 666 600 269.00–304.25 $287.99 $1,918 +2.27
667 667 20 279.00 $279.00 $1,861 -6.72
674–693 unweaned 681 257 293.00–300.50 $297.95 $2,029 +3.20
706–724 unweaned 708 93 272.00–279.00 $278.31 $1,970 —
708–748 722 310 255.00–277.25 $269.42 $1,945 +1.63
729 729 11 240.00 $240.00 $1,750 -27.79
756–799 778 327 243.00–270.25 $262.57 $2,043 +1.35
822 822 29 231.00 $231.00 $1,899 -27.39
811–848 834 157 245.00–262.75 $258.35 $2,155 -0.04
856–896 878 357 246.00–264.00 $257.75 $2,263 +6.30
900–943 923 1,187 243.25–263.75 $255.87 $2,362 +3.06
950–998 969 1,206 225.00–263.25 $249.54 $2,418 +0.97
965–991 thin fleshed 988 369 244.00–246.25 $245.98 $2,430 —
994 994 6 220.50 $220.50 $2,192 +1.50
998 998 19 223.50 $223.50 $2,231 +4.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1014 thin fleshed 1014 60 245.50 $245.50 $2,489 ±0.00
1002–1048 1025 563 222.50–252.75 $239.23 $2,452 +4.83
1050–1069 1058 344 221.75–237.00 $231.55 $2,450 +5.62
1101–1146 1125 453 208.75–230.00 $226.39 $2,547 +7.04
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328–334 329 129 359.50–425.00 $414.97 $1,365 +8.77
357–392 374 89 342.00–390.00 $373.60 $1,397 +9.78
408–448 438 204 317.50–365.00 $349.59 $1,531 +12.77
452–493 482 211 295.00–336.00 $324.24 $1,563 +8.47
525–544 534 90 282.00–307.50 $291.82 $1,558 -4.13
566–599 584 110 270.00–284.00 $278.31 $1,625 -10.37
603–644 623 21 261.00–280.00 $270.64 $1,686 -3.38
672–676 675 11 245.00–250.00 $248.64 $1,678 —
843 843 6 235.00 $235.00 $1,981 +26.81
876 876 9 232.00 $232.00 $2,032 +6.00
918–949 924 35 224.00–245.00 $240.69 $2,224 +20.69
964 964 65 236.00 $236.00 $2,275 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1393–1445 1402 11 180.00–183.50 $181.90 $2,550 —
1309–1499 1408 29 181.75–184.00 $182.94 $2,576 —
1217–1470 1410 123 184.00–188.00 $186.29 $2,627 —
1386–1499 1420 86 184.00–189.00 $187.94 $2,669 —
1533–1571 1543 92 185.75–188.00 $187.37 $2,891 +2.39
1513–1630 1561 20 184.50–187.50 $186.14 $2,906 -4.86
1610–1725 1686 197 183.75–188.50 $185.51 $3,128 -4.31
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035–1048 1037 63 217.50–222.00 $219.86 $2,280 +7.86
1116 1116 15 217.50 $217.50 $2,427 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
362 362 9 285.00 $285.00 $1,032 —
801 801 5 218.00 $218.00 $1,746 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 10 267.50 $267.50 $1,271 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
814 814 7 229.00 $229.00 $1,864 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308 308 5 337.50 $337.50 $1,040 +22.50

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
287–295 292 14 345.00–415.00 $360.94 $1,054 -36.56
305–345 329 141 330.00–397.50 $352.26 $1,159 -10.16
343 thin fleshed 343 8 375.00 $375.00 $1,286 +50.00
350–398 377 304 300.00–370.00 $336.87 $1,270 -4.86
409 fancy 409 7 345.00 $345.00 $1,411 —
401–449 422 1,225 292.00–354.00 $330.83 $1,396 +4.09
424 424 138 349.00 $349.00 $1,480 +22.26
453 453 13 339.00 $339.00 $1,536 +31.01
451–497 479 1,670 287.00–333.00 $312.91 $1,499 +4.92
500–549 523 1,469 265.00–318.00 $294.84 $1,542 -25.99
509–541 526 348 296.00–324.00 $320.36 $1,685 +28.74
540 540 14 283.00 $283.00 $1,528 +3.32
550–596 566 995 261.00–296.00 $283.95 $1,607 -33.77
551–588 567 261 296.00–328.00 $312.88 $1,774 -4.84
600–647 625 353 245.00–281.00 $265.76 $1,661 +0.29
614–649 unweaned 639 190 272.00–280.00 $272.85 $1,744 -0.45
648 648 27 266.00 $266.00 $1,724 +0.53
653 653 8 252.00 $252.00 $1,646 +9.00
667 unweaned 667 93 269.00 $269.00 $1,794 —
668 thin fleshed 668 24 256.50 $256.50 $1,713 —
650–691 672 56 240.00–267.00 $251.53 $1,690 -1.02
704–743 720 154 242.00–253.50 $246.06 $1,772 -7.06
746 746 44 253.00 $253.00 $1,887 -0.12
766–798 786 137 235.00–245.00 $239.77 $1,885 -6.87
805–836 820 395 230.00–248.00 $241.22 $1,978 -5.67
847 847 66 243.00 $243.00 $2,058 +21.00
857–895 878 325 220.00–254.00 $243.65 $2,139 +11.98
876–898 887 175 216.75–218.75 $217.50 $1,929 -5.64
896 896 14 234.00 $234.00 $2,097 +10.86
901–936 920 495 216.00–236.00 $225.30 $2,073 -5.84
946 946 24 221.50 $221.50 $2,095 +3.40
952–987 967 424 209.00–234.50 $214.63 $2,075 +0.38
980 980 168 236.75 $236.75 $2,320 +1.85
1005 1005 55 232.75 $232.75 $2,339 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
806–848 815 24 233.00–239.00 $237.70 $1,937 —
998 998 7 219.00 $219.00 $2,186 —
1001–1044 1029 338 197.00–233.00 $213.17 $2,194 -3.00
1075–1096 1084 79 194.00–212.50 $204.20 $2,214 -0.80
1101–1130 1120 15 202.50–206.00 $204.85 $2,294 +6.81
1153–1167 1163 121 199.50–208.50 $204.37 $2,377 -0.13
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303–336 315 99 335.00–392.50 $384.81 $1,212 +45.39
371–389 383 43 315.00–343.00 $337.66 $1,293 +22.89
416–446 426 40 288.00–322.50 $311.25 $1,326 +15.74
450–499 480 143 281.00–312.50 $300.65 $1,443 +23.99
510–542 529 108 258.00–282.00 $272.60 $1,442 +4.43
551 551 8 222.00 $222.00 $1,223 -36.55
557–578 574 18 247.00–256.00 $249.96 $1,435 -8.59
642 642 7 241.00 $241.00 $1,547 -4.09
702 702 12 250.00 $250.00 $1,755 +9.15
779 779 18 240.00 $240.00 $1,870 —
807 807 5 212.00 $212.00 $1,711 -17.20
957 957 9 200.00 $200.00 $1,914 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1125–1220 1138 25 178.00–180.50 $179.84 $2,047 —
1188–1260 1224 6 180.00–181.00 $180.51 $2,209 —
1090–1506 1349 19 178.00–183.50 $180.06 $2,429 —
1341–1459 1384 11 182.00–184.00 $183.23 $2,536 -0.86
1323–1529 1421 154 184.50–189.00 $187.20 $2,660 -2.52
1343–1491 1434 251 187.00–190.00 $189.31 $2,715 -0.41
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 6 299.00 $299.00 $1,076 —
464 464 5 236.00 $236.00 $1,095 -29.00
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
283 283 6 350.00 $350.00 $990 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555 555 7 276.00 $276.00 $1,532 —
625–642 633 15 255.00–259.00 $257.11 $1,628 +7.11

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–1575 1090 85-90% 55 60.00–88.00 $78.12 $852 —
966–1617 1297 85-90% 94 89.00–112.00 $101.98 $1,323 —
1030–2070 1441 85-90% 65 112.00–124.00 $118.95 $1,714 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1108–2010 1439 80-85% 83 124.00–133.00 $128.84 $1,854 -0.67
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1800 1454 75-80% 6 147.00–150.00 $147.96 $2,151 —
1075–1826 1556 75-80% 18 134.00–144.00 $136.72 $2,127 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1615–1858 1768 65-75% 19 125.00–129.00 $127.70 $2,258 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1340–2440 1849 14 142.00–158.00 $147.48 $2,727 +12.29
1655–2415 1949 16 128.50–141.00 $136.30 $2,656 —

↑ Back to top

Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220 1220 22 179.50 $179.50 $2,190 —

↑ Back to top

Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1313–1532 1337 27 175.00–177.00 $176.75 $2,363 —
1366 1366 4 168.00 $168.00 $2,295 —
1711 1711 5 170.00 $170.00 $2,909 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1517 1517 3 168.00 $168.00 $2,549 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1558–1624 1597 12 164.00–168.00 $165.63 $2,645 —

↑ Back to top

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.