Cattle Market Stockmen's Livestock Exchange Market Report
Dickinson, North Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock
Sale of Tuesday, December 20, 20223,181 head sold ·Official USDA report
This is an archived report. See the latest Stockmen's Livestock Exchange report →
Receipts
| Head | This sale | Last sale | Last year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total receipts | 3,181 | 3,173 | 0 |
| Feeder cattle | 3,181 | 3,173 | 0 |
Market comments — USDA reporter
New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓
Feeder Steers
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 378 | 378 | 10 | 257.00 | $257.00 | $971 | -4.00 |
| 417–442 | 433 | 28 | 240.00–255.00 | $248.22 | $1,075 | -2.09 |
| 454–499 | 480 | 242 | 222.50–246.00 | $229.20 | $1,100 | -7.26 |
| 503–547 | 522 | 69 | 209.00–220.75 | $213.81 | $1,116 | -6.07 |
| 558–591 | 574 | 272 | 198.75–212.50 | $206.77 | $1,187 | -7.06 |
| 582 | 582 | 6 | 191.00 | $191.00 | $1,112 | -22.83 |
| 603–648 | 626 | 442 | 190.00–208.00 | $201.95 | $1,264 | +3.91 |
| 655–691 | 681 | 140 | 184.00–195.00 | $192.43 | $1,310 | +4.54 |
| 704–745 | 742 | 86 | 188.00–195.00 | $188.46 | $1,398 | +5.00 |
| 756 | 756 | 34 | 182.00 | $182.00 | $1,376 | +6.06 |
| 819 | 819 | 14 | 175.00 | $175.00 | $1,433 | +6.00 |
| 901 | 901 | 61 | 176.00 | $176.00 | $1,586 | — |
| 974 | 974 | 50 | 176.75 | $176.75 | $1,722 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1040 | 1040 | 58 | 177.25 | $177.25 | $1,843 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 366 | 366 | 11 | 242.00 | $242.00 | $886 | — |
Feeder Heifers
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 369–399 | 382 | 30 | 181.00–196.00 | $187.09 | $715 | -14.95 |
| 403–437 | 426 | 35 | 177.00–191.00 | $182.13 | $776 | -31.01 |
| 467–499 | 485 | 195 | 180.00–192.75 | $188.53 | $914 | -11.62 |
| 507–541 | 526 | 75 | 163.00–184.50 | $178.07 | $937 | -19.09 |
| 584–596 | 590 | 102 | 162.00–180.50 | $174.37 | $1,029 | -7.42 |
| 603–621 | 610 | 139 | 165.00–179.50 | $171.11 | $1,044 | -3.99 |
| 690 | 690 | 68 | 165.50 | $165.50 | $1,142 | -6.94 |
| 715 | 715 | 30 | 155.50 | $155.50 | $1,112 | — |
| 781 | 781 | 8 | 161.50 | $161.50 | $1,261 | — |
| 852–866 | 857 | 109 | 160.25–162.75 | $161.85 | $1,387 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 314 | 314 | 6 | 171.00 | $171.00 | $537 | -32.00 |
| 449 | 449 | 7 | 162.00 | $162.00 | $727 | -38.00 |
| 497 | 497 | 17 | 174.00 | $174.00 | $865 | — |
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.
Compared to two weeks ago: Feeder steers under 600 lbs steady to 5.00 lower, instances to 10.00 lower, over 600 lbs 2.00 to 5.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 lower, over 600 lbs steady to 5.00 lower. Moderate to good demand for feeder cattle this week, yet there was pressure on the lighter cattle as the weather has been so severe and making for plenty of work for producers who already have cattle at home to take care of and don't see any need to go and chase the market. Demand was good for the heavier cattle, especially so on the longer strings and full loads, that were bound for finishing yards as there were plenty of outlets for these cattle as there won't be many opportunities now for these cattle feeders to buy cattle before the start of the new year. Plus, these cattle feeders are generally better equipped to handle the weather as they have better facilities, more available labor and resources than a local backgrounder that is looking to buy light cattle to grow into yearlings. The next feeder cattle sale will be Jan 5, 2023.