Cattle Market Pulse

St. Onge Livestock Auction Market Report

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

Sale of Friday, August 16, 2024

1,150 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $237.21/cwt ≈ $1,945/hd at 820 lb · 212 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $241.83/cwt ≈ $2,230/hd at 922 lb · 97 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $253.50/cwt +37.50 vs last sale · ≈ $2,152/hd at 849 lb · 72 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,150 1,366 1,480
Feeder cattle 1,150 1,366 1,480

First reported sale of the late summer marketing season, good demand for this offering of yearling steers and heifers off grass. A couple of long strings, along with part loads and packages, sold readily as cattle feeders want to get these yearlings bought while they are available. Another day of steep losses in the cattle futures complex, leaving cattle producers wondering where the bearish tone of the board is coming from as cash fed cattle still trade up to 191.00. Very dry conditions across western SD and into eastern WY and MT is causing producers to ship their preg open heifers as they try to stretch their grass for their cowherds. Next special feeder cattle auction will be Aug. 30, 2024.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
714 714 6 254.00 $254.00 $1,814
758 758 8 248.00 $248.00 $1,880
768 768 41 256.00 $256.00 $1,966
849 849 72 253.50 $253.50 $2,152 +37.50
860 860 8 245.00 $245.00 $2,107
901–931 922 97 234.50–245.00 $241.83 $2,230
966 966 38 228.25 $228.25 $2,205
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1027 1027 17 225.25 $225.25 $2,313
1035 1035 15 229.75 $229.75 $2,378
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765 765 5 250.00 $250.00 $1,912
915–923 916 21 231.50–234.00 $233.64 $2,140

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
682 682 9 256.00 $256.00 $1,746 -16.70
717–747 725 23 242.00–245.00 $244.19 $1,770 -24.63
756 756 23 245.00 $245.00 $1,852 +2.82
808–833 820 212 233.50–241.50 $237.21 $1,945
890 890 4 232.50 $232.50 $2,069
909–941 930 44 222.50–232.50 $226.20 $2,104
960 960 17 223.50 $223.50 $2,146
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1007 1006 12 222.50–223.50 $223.00 $2,243

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
756 756 5 214.00 $214.00 $1,618

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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.