Cattle Market Pulse

Stockmen's Livestock Exchange Market Report

Dickinson, North Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 14, 2023

5,300 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Stockmen's Livestock Exchange report →

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $250.35/cwt +8.35 vs last sale · ≈ $2,208/hd at 882 lb · 839 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $240.01/cwt -0.68 vs last sale · ≈ $1,994/hd at 831 lb · 501 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $272.31/cwt +10.31 vs last sale · ≈ $2,084/hd at 765 lb · 481 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,300 974 2,188
Feeder cattle 5,300 974 2,188

Compared to 2 weeks ago: Much larger sale this week, making a complete price comparison difficult, Feeder steers and heifers sold with firm to higher undertones. Very active sale for this years anniversary BBQ sale. A very large offering of yearling steers and heifers off grass, the flesh condition was very light and attractive. Many long strings, including the feature consignment of 2000 steers and heifers from 1 outfit. Numerous full loads and multiple load lots allowing cattle buyers to make full feed yard pens of cattle from a single source. Demand was very good as cattle feeders are willing to chase the market in order to get their grass yearling cattle bought. The next feeder special is Sept. 28th.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
639 thin fleshed 639 22 291.00 $291.00 $1,859
646 646 8 282.00 $282.00 $1,822
690 690 74 273.00–283.00 $282.19 $1,947
715 thin fleshed 715 7 273.00 $273.00 $1,952
731–749 737 174 272.50–279.25 $276.72 $2,039 +11.72
751–798 765 387 258.00–276.25 $272.38 $2,084 +10.38
761–777 thin fleshed 766 94 272.00 $272.00 $2,084
824–847 835 406 250.00–263.00 $258.03 $2,155 +3.72
854–898 882 839 240.50–253.75 $250.35 $2,208 +8.35
910–939 923 355 236.00–250.50 $245.22 $2,263 +8.41
952–990 970 357 235.75–241.75 $238.71 $2,315 -7.04
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
552 552 8 260.00 $260.00 $1,435 +12.50
594 594 21 290.00 $290.00 $1,723
655–664 659 36 266.00–279.00 $272.18 $1,794
718 718 72 270.50 $270.50 $1,942
746–749 749 42 249.00–257.00 $255.86 $1,916
772 772 6 245.00 $245.00 $1,891
818–848 837 133 244.00–250.25 $249.04 $2,084
880 880 53 235.00 $235.00 $2,068 +35.00

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
631 631 7 259.00 $259.00 $1,634
660–668 665 57 255.00–262.00 $259.32 $1,724 +4.90
702–744 730 203 245.00–259.00 $251.54 $1,836 +5.29
752–783 759 220 235.00–248.00 $243.80 $1,850 -2.43
803–843 831 501 237.00–247.00 $240.01 $1,994 -0.68
856–891 874 342 226.00–245.00 $234.23 $2,047 -1.27
912–946 933 258 223.00–237.00 $231.49 $2,160 +1.99
970–983 973 67 226.50–230.50 $227.34 $2,212 +15.20
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
576 576 13 257.00 $257.00 $1,480 +28.00
600 600 19 268.00 $268.00 $1,608
732 732 11 240.00 $240.00 $1,757

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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.