Cattle Market Pulse

St. Onge Livestock Auction Market Report

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

Sale of Friday, November 1, 2024

5,649 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $299.80/cwt -7.14 vs last sale · ≈ $1,448/hd at 483 lb · 601 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $317.81/cwt -2.75 vs last sale · ≈ $1,672/hd at 526 lb · 566 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $376.69/cwt -0.82 vs last sale · ≈ $1,654/hd at 439 lb · 528 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,649 7,436 6,849
Feeder cattle 5,649 7,436 6,849

Compared to last week: Steer Calves 350-400lbs, steady to 2.00 higher; 400-450lbs, 8.00 higher; 500-600lbs, 5.00 lower; 600-650lbs, 4.00 higher. Heifer Calves 350-400lbs, 2.00 lower; 400-450lbs, 6.00 higher; 450-500lbs, 5.00 lower; 500-600lbs, mostly steady. Today's offering was mixed, but buyers had some nice spring calves to choose from in the form of both large lots and full loads. While there weren't as many producers and buyers in the stands as we've had in the past weeks, demand remained good. Internet buyers made up for those not in the seats. Some calves were showing some tag from the recent, much needed storm that brought some moisture. There will be another Wednesday Calf Special on November 6 and a regular Calf Sale November 8.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
258 258 13 490.00 $490.00 $1,264
334–341 340 59 400.00–422.00 $418.98 $1,425
352–396 387 152 390.00–417.50 $404.58 $1,566 -5.03
403–449 439 528 365.00–399.00 $376.69 $1,654 -0.82
456–497 476 356 333.00–364.00 $344.84 $1,641 +4.09
503–542 526 566 297.00–330.00 $317.81 $1,672 -2.75
552–598 572 497 284.50–322.00 $305.50 $1,747 -6.56
600–649 627 308 279.00–308.50 $288.87 $1,811 -2.12
654–687 672 201 278.00–280.00 $278.39 $1,871 +7.84
710 710 9 270.00 $270.00 $1,917 +22.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375–396 389 20 370.00 $370.00 $1,439 -7.00
448 448 21 353.00 $353.00 $1,581 +13.00
461–496 476 48 298.00–322.00 $313.53 $1,492 -16.47
541 541 6 284.00 $284.00 $1,536 -6.83
553–572 556 86 286.00–297.00 $294.27 $1,636 -1.02

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
247 247 8 422.50 $422.50 $1,044
302–340 325 83 362.00–390.00 $377.07 $1,225 +17.07
332 thin fleshed 332 11 325.00 $325.00 $1,079
353–398 373 108 322.50–355.00 $339.63 $1,267 -2.67
403–448 424 396 312.50–341.00 $331.06 $1,404 +6.09
450–497 483 601 283.00–320.00 $299.80 $1,448 -7.14
505–547 522 468 274.00–310.00 $290.82 $1,518 -7.94
550–593 577 213 267.00–281.00 $274.71 $1,585 -4.64
614–638 620 95 270.00–270.50 $270.28 $1,676 +9.35
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
347 347 6 344.00 $344.00 $1,194
371–398 387 15 312.50–316.00 $313.84 $1,215
422–445 442 38 251.00–291.00 $282.48 $1,249
473–482 479 38 245.00–279.00 $269.29 $1,290 -18.17
506–544 529 25 268.00–273.50 $270.11 $1,429 -2.89
562–588 577 20 258.00–266.00 $261.96 $1,512 -25.36

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 36 329.00 $329.00 $1,530
637 637 11 250.00 $250.00 $1,592

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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.