Cattle Market Pulse

St. Onge Livestock Auction Market Report

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

Sale of Friday, August 30, 2024

1,105 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $226.68/cwt -5.82 vs last sale · ≈ $1,979/hd at 873 lb · 161 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $219.53/cwt -3.97 vs last sale · ≈ $2,138/hd at 974 lb · 117 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $240.56/cwt -4.44 vs last sale · ≈ $2,093/hd at 870 lb · 77 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,105 1,150 1,370
Feeder cattle 1,105 1,150 1,370

Compared to two weeks ago; Steers and Heifers were too lightly tested to make a market comparison; however, there were slightly lower to steady undertones. Demand was good for this nice offering of mostly yearling steers and heifers, coming straight from grass. Quality was mostly attractive, with most of the open tested heifers very attractive. There were several large packages that sold on a moderate to active market. Drought in the area continues, with pastures drying up. Several destructive grass fires have left some producers looking for fall feed options.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
643 643 6 253.50 $253.50 $1,630
738–739 739 17 252.00–252.50 $252.24 $1,864 -1.76
755–763 758 21 240.00–249.50 $243.19 $1,843 -4.81
856–890 870 77 234.50–245.00 $240.56 $2,093 -4.44
916 916 16 229.50 $229.50 $2,102 -12.33
952 952 37 234.50 $234.50 $2,232 +6.25
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
913 913 24 237.00 $237.00 $2,164 +3.36
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1013–1029 1023 10 225.00–225.50 $225.20 $2,304 -0.05
1052 1052 5 220.00 $220.00 $2,314

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
708–738 716 33 237.00–242.50 $240.56 $1,722 -3.63
751–773 766 13 239.50–241.00 $239.95 $1,838 -5.05
802–846 818 51 225.00–238.00 $234.68 $1,920 -2.53
872 872 5 219.50 $219.50 $1,914 -13.00
864–892 873 156 225.00–229.25 $226.91 $1,981 -5.59
900–942 923 56 215.00–225.50 $219.84 $2,029 -6.36
956–996 974 117 218.00–220.50 $219.53 $2,138 -3.97
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1032 1032 4 213.50 $213.50 $2,203 -9.50

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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.