Cattle Market Stockmen's Livestock Exchange Market Report
Dickinson, North Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock
Sale of Thursday, October 19, 20233,992 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 | 3,992 | 1,714 | 3,573 |
| Feeder cattle | 3,992 | 1,714 | 3,573 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 350–396 | 379 | 38 | 355.00–372.50 | $362.36 | $1,373 | -33.77 |
| 410 | 410 | 27 | 365.00 | $365.00 | $1,496 | — |
| 421–448 | 433 | 154 | 319.50–353.00 | $333.85 | $1,446 | -20.97 |
| 453–496 | 483 | 338 | 298.25–321.00 | $312.43 | $1,509 | -13.33 |
| 502–544 | 525 | 332 | 293.00–321.00 | $302.63 | $1,589 | +14.82 |
| 552–563 | 558 | 185 | 300.50–304.00 | $302.11 | $1,686 | — |
| 551–594 | 579 | 258 | 274.00–289.00 | $283.41 | $1,641 | -10.10 |
| 601–648 | 610 | 448 | 269.50–294.50 | $287.33 | $1,753 | +17.16 |
| 656–666 | 663 | 135 | 269.00–283.50 | $273.90 | $1,816 | +23.40 |
| 710–713 | 710 | 60 | 256.00–265.75 | $264.77 | $1,880 | +19.35 |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 346 | 346 | 5 | 355.00 | $355.00 | $1,228 | — |
| 381 | 381 | 5 | 335.00 | $335.00 | $1,276 | +6.71 |
| 405–446 | 433 | 46 | 285.00–310.00 | $299.39 | $1,296 | +21.24 |
| 462 | 462 | 8 | 290.00 | $290.00 | $1,340 | -16.33 |
| 529–549 | 538 | 53 | 252.00–279.00 | $270.94 | $1,458 | +22.94 |
Feeder Heifers
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 323 | 323 | 14 | 317.50–321.00 | $318.75 | $1,030 | -8.52 |
| 364–383 | 373 | 30 | 290.00–304.00 | $292.28 | $1,090 | -21.80 |
| 409 | 409 | 23 | 300.00 | $300.00 | $1,227 | — |
| 400–443 | 419 | 51 | 277.00–286.00 | $281.76 | $1,181 | +3.54 |
| 450–499 | 478 | 191 | 259.00–277.00 | $267.81 | $1,280 | -3.17 |
| 453–499 | 493 | 86 | 284.75–286.50 | $284.97 | $1,405 | +13.99 |
| 506–544 | 523 | 136 | 245.00–267.00 | $256.56 | $1,342 | +12.73 |
| 550–593 | 568 | 132 | 246.00–258.00 | $250.62 | $1,424 | +23.58 |
| 570–571 | 571 | 77 | 264.00–269.00 | $267.51 | $1,527 | +40.47 |
| 603–630 | 615 | 79 | 244.00–254.75 | $250.45 | $1,540 | -1.66 |
| 852–883 | 877 | 34 | 220.00–223.50 | $222.99 | $1,956 | -7.59 |
| 908 | 908 | 8 | 221.50 | $221.50 | $2,011 | +6.50 |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 418 | 418 | 14 | 270.00 | $270.00 | $1,129 | +50.00 |
| 470 | 470 | 9 | 249.00 | $249.00 | $1,170 | +51.50 |
| 538 | 538 | 25 | 246.00 | $246.00 | $1,323 | — |
Feeder Bulls
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 328–336 | 333 | 26 | 355.00–377.50 | $363.53 | $1,211 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 591 | 591 | 10 | 201.00 | $201.00 | $1,188 | — |
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 last week: A much larger offering this week as the fall marketing season is in full swing, steer calves under 500 lbs 10.00 to 15.00 lower, over 500 lbs sold with higher undertones compared to last week's limited test. Heifer calves under 400 lbs sold with lower undertones, over 400 lbs steady to firm. Moderate to good demand for this large offering of high quality spring born calves offered right off the cow. Many long strings of these attractive calves, including several full load lots. The market was fairly active, but there is some pressure on the market as the futures complex weakened from outside market uncertainty. Calves with two rounds of preconditioning shots are much easier to sell, and buyers are willing to compete to get those cattle, while those without sell towards the bottom of the market as the auctioneers have to start these cattle quite a ways back to find bids. Cash fed cattle market was higher, up to 187.00, but cattle feeders are getting more leery as the futures contracts don't follow along.