Cattle Market Pulse

St. Onge Livestock Auction Market Report

St. Onge, South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, February 9, 2024

2,411 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest St. Onge Livestock Auction report →

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $258.42/cwt ≈ $1,734/hd at 671 lb · 305 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $277.65/cwt -5.50 vs last sale · ≈ $1,716/hd at 618 lb · 270 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $299.17/cwt -1.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,577/hd at 527 lb · 182 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,411 1,700 2,669
Feeder cattle 2,411 1,700 2,669

Compared to two weeks ago: Steers 500 - 550lbs, sharply higher; 550 - 600lbs, 4.00 higher; 600 - 650lbs, 12.00 higher; 650 - 700lbs 15.00 higher; over 700 lbs mostly steady. Heifers 450 - 500lbs, 5.00 lower; 500 - 600lbs 8.00 - 10.00 higher; 600 - 650lbs, 5.00 lower, on a light test from last week's smaller showing. Good demand for load lots and large packages. Optimism in the markets showed with order buyers and producers in the stands and on the internet bidding actively. Several large packages of heifers, bangs vaccinated, were likely headed back to a breeding program; F1 Baldies brought premium prices. Flesh condition varied, with most light to moderate. Almost spring like conditions in the area for the last few weeks showed on cattle coming from feed yards, as the mud has set in.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
357–394 376 10 355.00–367.50 $360.94 $1,357 +18.53
432–447 438 13 337.50–345.00 $342.05 $1,498 -5.95
451–497 483 49 328.00–338.00 $335.10 $1,619 -9.23
505–537 519 119 320.00–338.00 $327.16 $1,698 +15.76
555–593 588 104 299.00–328.00 $324.66 $1,909 +14.37
609–649 628 56 291.50–316.00 $304.51 $1,912 +15.11
664–689 675 45 279.00–293.00 $285.82 $1,929 +18.21
701–725 718 84 246.00–274.00 $264.75 $1,901 +3.12
772 772 55 248.00 $248.00 $1,915
806 806 75 246.00 $246.00 $1,983 -0.75
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
539 539 6 245.00 $245.00 $1,321 -26.00
633–644 636 47 260.00–283.00 $277.05 $1,762
730 730 19 251.00 $251.00 $1,832

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 383 19 318.00 $318.00 $1,218 ±0.00
406–427 418 39 308.00–321.00 $317.14 $1,326 -1.61
464–496 482 126 283.50–315.50 $297.75 $1,435 -10.26
509–544 527 182 289.00–306.00 $299.17 $1,577 -1.30
556–595 584 126 274.00–291.50 $285.82 $1,669 +1.02
610–645 618 270 260.00–290.00 $277.65 $1,716 -5.50
650–696 671 305 240.50–270.50 $258.42 $1,734
714 714 11 218.50 $218.50 $1,560
784–788 785 26 214.00–240.00 $220.02 $1,727
850 850 8 205.00 $205.00 $1,742
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
483 483 6 308.00 $308.00 $1,488
568 568 13 246.00 $246.00 $1,397

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
364 364 17 351.00 $351.00 $1,278
448 448 40 318.00 $318.00 $1,425

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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.