Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 2, 2024

40,779 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $319.74/cwt +31.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,987/hd at 621 lb · 3,009 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $330.86/cwt +20.61 vs last sale · ≈ $1,897/hd at 573 lb · 2,831 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $354.27/cwt +14.88 vs last sale · ≈ $1,846/hd at 521 lb · 2,183 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 40,779 1,788 0
Feeder cattle 39,165 1,788 0
Slaughter cattle 1,614 — 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Only 1 reported auction last week, due to most auction markets not hosting a sale during the Thanksgiving week. Very good demand for all weights of feeder cattle as the fat cattle market rose up to 192.00, leaving a 5.00 basis over the Dec Live Cattle futures contract. Cattle feeders are very bullish and were willing to chase the market as they ignored the futures contracts and their lack of following the cash markets. More East River SD cattle producers selling calves this week, as is normal for them. Larger receipts expected throughout the rest of the month as cattle producers that want to sell before the end of the year only have a few more weeks to do so.

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
303–349 331 94 417.50–455.00 $441.69 $1,462 +1.69
350–399 381 382 390.00–445.00 $425.90 $1,623 +23.52
405–438 thin fleshed 422 269 420.00–471.00 $460.08 $1,942 —
401–445 424 588 360.00–432.50 $402.42 $1,706 +9.95
414–449 426 113 362.50–376.00 $370.53 $1,578 -21.94
456 thin fleshed 456 44 425.00 $425.00 $1,938 —
460 460 8 335.00 $335.00 $1,541 -21.45
451–499 477 1,145 345.00–392.00 $369.39 $1,762 +12.94
500–548 521 2,171 330.00–377.00 $354.43 $1,847 +15.04
548 548 12 326.00 $326.00 $1,786 -13.39
554 fancy 554 109 360.50 $360.50 $1,997 —
550–599 574 2,617 300.00–351.50 $330.55 $1,897 +20.30
580–581 580 67 290.50–300.50 $299.15 $1,735 -11.10
583 583 38 323.00 $323.00 $1,883 +12.75
601 fancy 601 91 339.25 $339.25 $2,039 —
600–649 622 2,908 290.00–340.00 $319.26 $1,986 +30.72
630 630 10 282.00 $282.00 $1,777 -6.54
657 fancy 657 78 326.00 $326.00 $2,142 —
651–699 671 1,429 272.00–321.00 $303.08 $2,034 +18.50
667–698 677 60 275.00–290.00 $287.42 $1,946 +2.84
688 688 93 286.50 $286.50 $1,971 +1.92
700–748 721 749 260.00–306.00 $287.01 $2,069 +13.04
703–745 726 55 254.00–268.50 $262.92 $1,909 -11.05
750–784 763 467 263.00–285.00 $274.06 $2,091 +17.24
793–796 794 37 234.50–260.00 $243.48 $1,933 -13.34
800–846 819 392 248.00–271.00 $260.85 $2,136 —
843 843 35 252.50 $252.50 $2,129 —
854–898 884 771 248.00–267.50 $263.06 $2,325 —
881–888 887 74 248.50–249.00 $248.55 $2,205 —
906–942 923 591 250.00–264.50 $261.42 $2,413 —
940–944 941 79 235.00 $235.00 $2,211 —
952–991 975 943 249.00–262.75 $256.89 $2,505 —
962–990 983 355 236.00–244.00 $240.27 $2,362 —
1050 1050 21 219.75 $219.75 $2,307 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
447 447 6 335.00 $335.00 $1,497 —
616 616 14 293.00 $293.00 $1,805 —
713 713 34 283.00 $283.00 $2,018 —
1001–1049 1018 711 247.25–259.00 $255.29 $2,599 +13.79
1019 1019 15 238.00 $238.00 $2,425 -3.50
1053–1085 1071 255 231.75–247.25 $239.34 $2,563 —
1075 1075 3 223.50 $223.50 $2,403 —
1108–1110 1109 171 226.85–234.25 $229.44 $2,544 —
1234 1234 140 219.00 $219.00 $2,702 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
251–290 271 8 410.00–415.00 $412.68 $1,118 —
313–346 326 30 405.00–435.00 $413.04 $1,347 —
350–398 386 48 335.00–405.00 $370.50 $1,430 —
404–449 434 110 300.00–385.00 $350.49 $1,521 —
454–499 480 116 315.00–352.50 $337.97 $1,622 +2.97
512–549 533 120 312.50–337.50 $327.60 $1,746 —
554–598 586 212 285.00–319.00 $310.02 $1,817 +13.01
607–639 622 121 261.00–305.00 $295.01 $1,835 —
676–695 687 75 260.00–277.50 $271.07 $1,862 —
702–719 709 21 244.00–260.00 $248.60 $1,763 -7.40
756–784 763 29 257.00–259.00 $258.50 $1,972 —
922 922 16 244.50 $244.50 $2,254 —
991 991 11 226.00 $226.00 $2,240 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1171–1323 1273 68 187.00–194.00 $190.86 $2,430 —
1405–1496 1450 45 195.00–197.75 $196.86 $2,854 —
1395–1475 1461 57 194.50–197.00 $196.63 $2,873 —
1507–1572 1530 59 194.75–197.50 $195.62 $2,993 —
1516–1705 1603 148 194.00–198.25 $196.59 $3,151 —
1608–1683 1643 149 195.00–199.50 $196.07 $3,221 —
1772 1772 36 189.00 $189.00 $3,349 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
381 381 14 385.00 $385.00 $1,467 —
486–487 487 40 325.00–345.00 $328.49 $1,600 +21.19
533–547 541 13 297.50–331.00 $312.75 $1,692 —
617 617 9 290.00 $290.00 $1,789 +43.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
416 416 15 390.00 $390.00 $1,622 —
543 543 10 311.00 $311.00 $1,689 —
1100 1100 6 185.00 $185.00 $2,035 —
1195 1195 35 208.50 $208.50 $2,492 —
1271 1271 7 187.50 $187.50 $2,383 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
292 292 6 380.00 $380.00 $1,110 —
300–346 322 91 350.00–402.50 $381.25 $1,228 —
351–398 378 427 335.00–400.00 $363.75 $1,375 -11.25
392 392 14 365.00 $365.00 $1,431 -10.00
400–432 thin fleshed 408 158 385.00–394.00 $391.59 $1,598 —
400–447 425 606 325.00–365.00 $341.53 $1,452 -0.20
443 443 13 326.00 $326.00 $1,444 -15.73
454 454 12 316.00 $316.00 $1,435 +10.20
459 thin fleshed 459 115 380.00 $380.00 $1,744 —
450–499 474 1,266 307.00–359.00 $335.27 $1,589 +29.47
505–544 509 77 330.00–352.00 $349.86 $1,781 +50.32
500–549 525 1,636 291.00–337.00 $319.10 $1,675 +19.56
536 536 4 306.00 $306.00 $1,640 +33.50
558–578 565 32 255.00–286.00 $265.90 $1,502 -17.14
553–578 568 443 321.50–368.00 $342.06 $1,943 +59.02
550–599 574 1,603 275.00–326.00 $300.14 $1,723 +17.10
603–648 613 111 315.50–320.00 $318.93 $1,955 +35.93
602–647 618 987 263.00–299.50 $284.53 $1,758 +1.53
622–638 631 22 265.00–268.00 $266.79 $1,683 -16.21
659 659 181 317.00 $317.00 $2,089 +62.75
650–698 671 535 251.00–286.50 $268.32 $1,800 +14.07
681–698 685 45 243.00–256.00 $251.72 $1,724 -2.53
701 701 75 286.00 $286.00 $2,005 —
703–747 708 203 237.50–271.00 $257.95 $1,826 +9.84
717 717 21 252.50 $252.50 $1,810 +4.39
720–749 743 29 226.00–250.50 $244.97 $1,820 -3.14
759 759 5 247.00 $247.00 $1,875 —
771 771 8 235.00 $235.00 $1,812 —
751–798 783 336 240.00–255.50 $245.83 $1,925 —
801–835 811 463 235.00–266.00 $255.35 $2,071 +31.35
818–822 819 45 229.00–237.00 $230.25 $1,886 +6.25
874 874 5 222.00 $222.00 $1,940 —
855–889 877 558 227.50–246.25 $234.28 $2,055 —
878 878 20 249.00 $249.00 $2,186 —
901 901 63 224.50 $224.50 $2,023 —
902–929 910 303 250.50–260.50 $256.75 $2,336 +35.46
901–938 917 965 233.00–257.25 $249.71 $2,290 +28.42
952–989 975 1,161 239.50–245.00 $243.65 $2,376 —
952–996 976 609 224.75–241.00 $234.35 $2,287 —
965–990 976 188 218.00–218.50 $218.16 $2,129 —
1039 1039 11 226.00 $226.00 $2,348 —
1069 1069 5 223.00 $223.00 $2,384 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–338 322 51 305.00–370.00 $344.96 $1,111 —
363–398 380 95 307.50–357.50 $329.56 $1,252 -7.94
403–447 429 89 295.00–332.50 $322.17 $1,382 —
453–498 474 179 260.00–317.50 $305.26 $1,447 —
510–546 532 57 262.00–302.50 $289.32 $1,539 +9.32
550–599 574 234 262.00–291.00 $275.87 $1,583 —
605–649 628 59 227.50–269.00 $252.63 $1,587 —
658–676 664 27 212.50–260.00 $240.14 $1,595 —
705–726 714 9 226.00–237.00 $232.03 $1,657 -0.47
763–783 778 118 227.00–229.00 $227.50 $1,770 —
805–808 807 9 195.00–218.00 $210.35 $1,698 —
866 866 39 237.00 $237.00 $2,052 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1054–1114 1066 39 192.50–204.00 $201.54 $2,148 —
1228 1228 33 190.50 $190.50 $2,339 —
1286 1286 4 190.00 $190.00 $2,443 —
1165–1491 1391 233 192.00–198.75 $195.69 $2,722 —
1205–1488 1427 202 191.00–198.00 $196.43 $2,803 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
597 597 22 284.00 $284.00 $1,695 —
680 680 12 252.00 $252.00 $1,714 —
1005–1048 1011 66 228.00–236.50 $235.47 $2,381 +24.47
1016 1016 30 214.00 $214.00 $2,174 +3.00
1053–1097 1070 231 213.00–234.25 $232.68 $2,490 —
1106–1110 1107 18 218.50–221.00 $218.92 $2,423 —
1218 1218 12 200.00 $200.00 $2,436 —
1253 1253 8 193.00 $193.00 $2,418 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
397 397 13 305.00 $305.00 $1,211 —
454–477 468 55 275.00–315.00 $296.33 $1,387 —
584 584 14 271.00 $271.00 $1,583 —
683 683 6 242.50 $242.50 $1,656 +0.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 383 5 210.00 $210.00 $804 —
648 648 17 267.00 $267.00 $1,730 —
672 672 3 216.00 $216.00 $1,452 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
487 487 11 318.00 $318.00 $1,549 —
504 504 5 282.00 $282.00 $1,421 —
Medium and Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 398 5 250.00 $250.00 $995 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 10 390.00 $390.00 $1,384 —
462–476 474 19 320.00–340.00 $323.08 $1,531 —
558 558 13 277.50 $277.50 $1,548 —
676 676 4 243.00 $243.00 $1,643 —
732 732 41 285.00 $285.00 $2,086 —
845 845 20 240.00 $240.00 $2,028 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1007 1007 37 227.50 $227.50 $2,291 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
577 577 3 255.00 $255.00 $1,471 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1378–1438 1402 10 185.00–187.00 $186.18 $2,610 —
1436–1586 1456 81 195.00–196.00 $195.15 $2,841 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1464 1464 11 191.00 $191.00 $2,796 —
1468 1468 9 185.00 $185.00 $2,716 —
1525–1558 1548 16 191.50–193.00 $192.54 $2,981 —
1623 1623 5 194.50 $194.50 $3,157 —

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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.