Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 9, 2024

31,270 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 $336.09/cwt +5.23 vs last sale · ≈ $1,940/hd at 577 lb · 2,492 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $321.83/cwt +2.09 vs last sale · ≈ $2,012/hd at 625 lb · 2,002 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $333.67/cwt -5.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,585/hd at 475 lb · 1,773 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 31,270 40,779 17,848
Feeder cattle 29,878 39,165 16,674
Slaughter cattle 1,392 1,614 1,174

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 600 lbs 8.00 to 10.00 higher, over 600 lbs 2.00 to 3.00 higher. Heifer calves under 450 lbs 12.00 to 15.00 higher, over 450 lbs 3.00 to 5.00 higher. Yearling steers steady to 5.00 higher, yearling heifers mostly steady. Very good demand for all weights of steer and heifer calves, improving as the week progressed, very good demand for yearling steers and heifers. Cash fed cattle market rose up to 196.00, the CME Live Cattle futures couldn't keep pace as it ended the week 3.00 under the cash. Cattle feeders and backgrounders are very bullish currently as the cash market is outperforming the futures, there is great hope that the cash market will continue at these levels. Very few sales remain before the end of the year and buyers want to make sure they get the cattle bought that they need.

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
303–349 337 77 420.00–460.00 $445.01 $1,500 +3.32
374 374 10 407.50 $407.50 $1,524 -18.40
350–399 383 230 390.00–445.00 $423.11 $1,621 -2.79
417 fancy 417 23 425.00 $425.00 $1,772 —
400–447 422 452 382.00–435.00 $411.53 $1,737 +9.11
442 442 9 381.00 $381.00 $1,684 +10.47
459 fancy 459 110 410.00 $410.00 $1,882 —
451–499 477 1,109 347.00–400.00 $376.99 $1,798 +7.60
484 484 34 351.00 $351.00 $1,699 -18.39
499 499 30 352.00 $352.00 $1,756 -17.39
510 510 6 313.00 $313.00 $1,596 -41.43
500–549 525 1,253 326.00–377.00 $356.31 $1,871 +1.88
520–539 533 33 320.00–327.50 $324.43 $1,729 -30.00
550–599 577 2,439 305.00–351.00 $336.63 $1,942 +6.08
577 577 13 315.00 $315.00 $1,818 -15.55
575–598 594 40 294.00–313.00 $309.78 $1,840 -13.22
600–647 625 1,968 292.00–344.50 $322.38 $2,015 +3.12
628–639 636 16 282.00–290.00 $287.53 $1,829 +5.53
649 649 18 292.00 $292.00 $1,895 +10.00
650–697 674 1,215 278.50–327.50 $304.87 $2,055 +1.79
681 681 5 261.00 $261.00 $1,777 -26.42
700–748 723 703 270.00–312.50 $287.11 $2,076 +0.10
725–749 740 14 252.50–268.00 $262.58 $1,943 -0.34
764 764 5 252.50 $252.50 $1,929 -21.56
750–794 772 900 258.00–303.00 $284.33 $2,195 +10.27
800–837 812 156 250.00–273.00 $265.55 $2,156 +4.70
846 846 18 246.00 $246.00 $2,081 -6.50
856–882 868 347 245.50–272.00 $263.92 $2,291 +0.86
904–928 919 654 251.50–267.50 $258.98 $2,380 -2.44
924–943 934 43 236.50–244.00 $240.12 $2,243 +5.12
952 952 52 246.00 $246.00 $2,342 -10.89
960–998 975 775 249.50–263.85 $257.18 $2,508 +0.29
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1044 1019 411 230.00–254.00 $246.11 $2,508 +8.11
1013–1045 1032 62 225.50–228.00 $226.33 $2,336 -11.67
1053–1081 1068 492 237.00–253.75 $247.88 $2,647 +8.54
1168–1181 1175 114 227.00–231.50 $229.24 $2,694 —
1206–1247 1222 31 200.00–222.25 $213.46 $2,608 -5.54
1244 1244 20 194.00 $194.00 $2,413 -25.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323–346 329 31 370.00–405.00 $377.80 $1,243 -35.24
350–391 379 20 375.00–440.00 $402.39 $1,525 +31.89
440–447 444 45 320.00–376.00 $353.93 $1,571 +3.44
451–499 478 159 325.00–355.00 $347.17 $1,659 +9.20
511–547 526 104 317.50–345.00 $325.84 $1,714 -1.76
555–592 581 134 236.50–314.00 $298.83 $1,736 -11.19
600–648 620 122 250.00–304.00 $287.53 $1,783 -7.48
637 637 46 296.00 $296.00 $1,886 +0.99
663–691 672 84 239.00–282.00 $268.21 $1,802 -2.86
702–740 712 19 245.00–269.50 $262.80 $1,871 +14.20
761–776 773 42 235.00–264.00 $258.99 $2,002 +0.49
937–940 937 63 246.50–247.00 $246.93 $2,314 +2.43
957–992 984 71 227.50–237.75 $236.12 $2,323 +10.12
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1335 1335 4 189.00 $189.00 $2,523 —
1353 1353 9 198.00 $198.00 $2,679 —
1383–1403 1392 7 185.00 $185.00 $2,575 —
1338–1499 1444 61 188.50–191.00 $190.30 $2,748 —
1348–1492 1454 88 189.00–194.00 $191.76 $2,788 -5.10
1470 1470 47 185.00 $185.00 $2,720 -11.63
1504–1606 1558 160 190.00–193.00 $191.49 $2,983 —
1513–1593 1565 106 187.00–190.50 $189.55 $2,966 —
1600–1662 1649 206 190.00–192.50 $190.73 $3,145 -5.34
1607–1679 1666 57 190.50–193.00 $192.58 $3,208 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
723 723 10 230.00 $230.00 $1,663 —
773 773 9 227.50 $227.50 $1,759 —
897 897 5 222.00 $222.00 $1,991 —
1266 1266 6 206.50 $206.50 $2,614 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
786 786 9 219.00 $219.00 $1,721 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1112 1112 3 199.00 $199.00 $2,213 +14.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
312–349 331 90 360.00–405.00 $379.04 $1,255 -2.21
351–399 374 408 349.00–420.00 $376.44 $1,408 +12.69
402–446 426 870 334.00–370.00 $357.46 $1,523 +15.93
452–498 475 1,767 301.00–365.00 $333.80 $1,586 -1.47
489 489 6 295.00 $295.00 $1,443 -40.27
504–545 513 31 294.00–299.00 $295.95 $1,518 -53.91
500–548 522 1,308 294.00–344.00 $323.91 $1,691 +4.81
531 531 8 302.00 $302.00 $1,604 -4.00
525–547 537 243 336.00–357.50 $345.16 $1,854 +39.16
550–597 571 1,084 280.00–324.00 $303.41 $1,732 +3.27
573–588 579 303 329.00–351.00 $338.02 $1,957 +37.88
578–596 587 37 267.50–284.00 $275.49 $1,617 -24.65
600–649 623 695 264.00–301.00 $286.67 $1,786 +2.14
647 647 20 267.00 $267.00 $1,727 +0.21
650–699 677 576 256.00–294.00 $271.80 $1,840 +3.48
661–689 681 31 250.00–253.00 $250.85 $1,708 -0.87
695 695 10 284.00 $284.00 $1,974 +32.28
700–747 724 236 245.00–265.50 $257.49 $1,864 +4.99
740 740 5 233.00 $233.00 $1,724 -11.97
763–771 766 37 235.00–245.00 $239.35 $1,833 +4.35
757–793 785 252 248.75–256.00 $252.32 $1,981 +6.49
801–803 802 28 225.00–236.00 $232.08 $1,861 -23.27
800–846 826 627 235.00–255.75 $244.49 $2,019 +14.24
843 843 20 239.00 $239.00 $2,015 +8.75
868 868 65 247.00 $247.00 $2,144 +25.00
865–899 872 83 227.50–230.00 $229.50 $2,001 +7.50
873–896 890 226 241.75–252.00 $248.10 $2,208 -0.90
910 910 54 234.50 $234.50 $2,134 -22.25
915–944 919 388 232.50–246.50 $237.52 $2,183 -12.19
934 934 61 229.00 $229.00 $2,139 -20.71
952–998 977 438 220.50–244.75 $228.80 $2,235 -5.55
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
261 261 18 390.00 $390.00 $1,018 —
302–347 331 36 340.00–370.00 $351.23 $1,163 +6.27
361–385 378 28 330.00–347.50 $337.37 $1,275 +7.81
420–448 441 76 305.00–331.00 $320.06 $1,411 -2.11
452–498 474 78 277.00–325.00 $307.45 $1,457 +2.19
513–548 527 243 265.00–304.00 $291.34 $1,535 +2.02
567–598 586 124 258.00–286.00 $277.02 $1,623 +1.15
617 617 7 279.50 $279.50 $1,725 +26.87
627–647 636 31 259.00–262.00 $260.56 $1,657 +7.93
681–692 685 38 236.00–253.50 $242.51 $1,661 +2.37
734 734 6 231.00 $231.00 $1,696 -1.03
767–783 780 27 243.00–250.00 $244.27 $1,905 +16.77
808–842 816 21 220.00–231.00 $225.28 $1,838 +14.93
866–882 867 49 230.50–231.00 $230.53 $1,999 -6.47
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1179 1179 19 185.00 $185.00 $2,181 —
1221 1221 6 187.00 $187.00 $2,283 -3.50
1214–1415 1266 19 185.00–195.00 $191.96 $2,430 +1.96
1278–1509 1430 161 189.00–193.00 $191.07 $2,732 -5.36
1430 1430 11 187.00 $187.00 $2,674 -9.43
1308–1537 1451 262 189.50–193.50 $191.32 $2,776 —
1346–1528 1484 41 192.25–193.00 $192.83 $2,862 —
1545–1617 1598 15 188.00–190.50 $189.86 $3,034 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1009–1045 1024 173 220.25–234.75 $227.85 $2,333 +13.85
1052–1080 1059 15 216.00–224.00 $218.17 $2,310 -14.51
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
507 507 12 275.00 $275.00 $1,394 —
577 577 6 265.00 $265.00 $1,529 -6.00
623 623 19 258.00 $258.00 $1,607 —
708–744 727 17 242.00–249.00 $245.21 $1,783 —
733 733 10 237.50 $237.50 $1,741 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1096 1096 4 207.00 $207.00 $2,269 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
302 302 9 455.00 $455.00 $1,374 —
403 403 113 437.50 $437.50 $1,763 —
487 487 77 351.00 $351.00 $1,709 +27.92
506–518 512 193 356.00–367.50 $361.65 $1,852 —
599 599 8 292.50 $292.50 $1,752 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
281 281 23 410.00 $410.00 $1,152 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1325 1325 2 178.00 $178.00 $2,358 —
1452 1452 29 185.00 $185.00 $2,686 -10.15

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1347 1347 5 174.00 $174.00 $2,344 —
1410–1659 1576 6 177.00–177.50 $177.15 $2,792 —
1606 1606 44 187.00 $187.00 $3,003 -7.50

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Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1738 1738 4 163.00 $163.00 $2,833 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1149 1149 8 161.00 $161.00 $1,850 —
1456 1456 10 167.00 $167.00 $2,432 —

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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.