Cattle Market Stockmen's Livestock Exchange Market Report
Dickinson, North Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock
Sale of Thursday, October 17, 20242,553 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 | 2,553 | 1,162 | 3,992 |
| Feeder cattle | 2,553 | 1,162 | 3,992 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 336–341 | 340 | 22 | 406.00–407.50 | $406.27 | $1,381 | +8.77 |
| 351–396 | 378 | 44 | 370.00–400.00 | $382.41 | $1,446 | -7.68 |
| 410–445 | 425 | 179 | 357.00–381.00 | $375.77 | $1,597 | +9.52 |
| 452–494 | 478 | 272 | 325.00–353.00 | $337.89 | $1,615 | +1.59 |
| 500–540 | 523 | 329 | 305.00–334.50 | $318.15 | $1,664 | -3.10 |
| 556–598 | 577 | 267 | 291.00–310.00 | $303.60 | $1,752 | +14.09 |
| 604–643 | 624 | 253 | 282.50–301.75 | $291.21 | $1,817 | +9.62 |
| 657–692 | 666 | 132 | 271.00–290.00 | $285.29 | $1,900 | +23.29 |
| 716–749 | 722 | 68 | 259.50–276.00 | $270.60 | $1,954 | +13.47 |
| 783 | 783 | 12 | 256.50 | $256.50 | $2,008 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 352 | 352 | 3 | 375.00 | $375.00 | $1,320 | — |
| 519 | 519 | 9 | 301.00 | $301.00 | $1,562 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 425 | 425 | 7 | 335.00 | $335.00 | $1,424 | -6.00 |
Feeder Heifers
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 308–343 | 331 | 22 | 344.00–367.00 | $360.67 | $1,194 | +6.12 |
| 373–391 | 380 | 25 | 330.00–339.00 | $332.78 | $1,265 | +0.07 |
| 404–427 | 416 | 107 | 299.00–337.00 | $310.61 | $1,292 | -8.87 |
| 452–489 | 469 | 192 | 278.00–309.00 | $295.94 | $1,388 | -3.80 |
| 503–547 | 530 | 178 | 269.00–284.00 | $279.13 | $1,479 | -2.87 |
| 554–595 | 574 | 131 | 257.00–263.00 | $261.10 | $1,499 | — |
| 606–639 | 624 | 33 | 243.00–257.00 | $250.85 | $1,565 | +15.85 |
| 676–697 | 687 | 22 | 244.00–247.50 | $245.56 | $1,687 | — |
| 819 | 819 | 6 | 237.00 | $237.00 | $1,941 | -1.00 |
| 850–880 | 870 | 16 | 233.00–239.50 | $234.59 | $2,041 | -0.41 |
| 910–921 | 916 | 7 | 227.50–231.00 | $228.99 | $2,098 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 394 | 394 | 7 | 284.00 | $284.00 | $1,119 | — |
| 462 | 462 | 3 | 290.00 | $290.00 | $1,340 | — |
| 656 | 656 | 6 | 238.50 | $238.50 | $1,565 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1003–1018 | 1013 | 9 | 215.00–222.00 | $219.69 | $2,225 | +7.19 |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 408 | 408 | 8 | 316.00 | $316.00 | $1,289 | — |
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: Steer calves steady to 5.00 higher, instances to 10.00 higher. Heifer calves sold with steady to higher undertones, offering too limited last week to make full dollar comparisons. Yearling feeder steers and heifers not well compared. Very good demand for steer and heifer calves, the quality was very attractive and there were more buyers on the seats this week ready to buy. The market was very active as buyers were eager to get these cattle bought as they are carrying plenty of orders. Farmer feeders have made enough harvest progress to be able to now take on a set of calves and start them on feed. Cash fed cattle at 188.00-189.00, so far this week, is helping to lend support to the feeder market. as cattle feeders are able to sell cattle higher than the spot futures month. Next reported sale will be Oct 24, 2024 expecting 4,500 head.