Feeder steers
$272 to $590
South Dakota Cattle Auction Prices
Feeder steer prices in South Dakota ran from about $272 to $590 per cwt this week, with lighter calves bringing more per hundredweight than heavy yearlings; feeder heifers ran about $264 to $580 per cwt. Prices are from the USDA weekly cattle auction summary for the week ending Sep 12, 2026. These are auction sale prices reported by USDA Market News; feeder cattle are quoted per hundredweight (cwt).
Feeder heifers
$264 to $580
Auction receipts
9,402 head
Week ending
Sep 12, 2026
South Dakota Feeder Steers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300-350 lb | 305 lb | 17 | $505.00 | $555.00 | $536.87 |
| 350-400 lb | 374 lb | 155 | $500.00 | $590.00 | $536.61 |
| 400-450 lb | 424 lb | 165 | $490.00 | $577.50 | $560.71 |
| 450-500 lb | 466 lb | 123 | $450.00 | $484.00 | $454.44 |
| 450-500 lb | 479 lb | 5 | $450.00 | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| 500-550 lb | 516 lb | 92 | $438.00 | $449.00 | $446.35 |
| 550-600 lb | 585 lb | 88 | $431.00 | $431.00 | $431.00 |
| 600-650 lb | 645 lb | 23 | $410.00 | $410.00 | $410.00 |
| 650-700 lb | 667 lb | 24 | $376.00 | $380.00 | $378.16 |
| 800-850 lb | 831 lb | 536 | $356.00 | $372.75 | $369.60 |
| 850-900 lb | 879 lb | 463 | $333.00 | $371.75 | $360.71 |
| 850-900 lb | 869 lb | 5 | $330.00 | $330.00 | $330.00 |
| 900-950 lb | 941 lb | 642 | $313.00 | $350.50 | $343.29 |
| 950-1000 lb | 981 lb | 111 | $289.00 | $303.50 | $295.52 |
| 950-1000 lb | 965 lb | 574 | $299.00 | $342.25 | $331.85 |
| 1000-1050 lb | 1028 lb | 210 | $302.00 | $312.00 | $310.99 |
| 1000-1050 lb | 1016 lb | 61 | $287.25 | $287.25 | $287.25 |
| 1050-1100 lb | 1062 lb | 320 | $292.00 | $309.50 | $305.66 |
| 1100-1150 lb | 1147 lb | 102 | $272.25 | $272.25 | $272.25 |
South Dakota Feeder Heifers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250-300 lb | 271 lb | 9 | $450.00 | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| 300-350 lb | 334 lb | 4 | $475.00 | $475.00 | $475.00 |
| 350-400 lb | 373 lb | 198 | $444.00 | $580.00 | $526.31 |
| 350-400 lb | 377 lb | 11 | $500.00 | $500.00 | $500.00 |
| 400-450 lb | 426 lb | 104 | $427.00 | $427.00 | $427.00 |
| 450-500 lb | 468 lb | 101 | $401.00 | $414.00 | $404.42 |
| 500-550 lb | 547 lb | 10 | $359.00 | $359.00 | $359.00 |
| 600-650 lb | 626 lb | 28 | $392.50 | $392.50 | $392.50 |
| 650-700 lb | 684 lb | 28 | $359.00 | $359.00 | $359.00 |
| 700-750 lb | 708 lb | 40 | $334.00 | $344.00 | $339.11 |
| 750-800 lb | 770 lb | 228 | $320.00 | $354.00 | $341.17 |
| 800-850 lb | 841 lb | 7 | $300.00 | $300.00 | $300.00 |
| 800-850 lb | 843 lb | 570 | $310.00 | $330.00 | $326.43 |
| 800-850 lb | 845 lb | 5 | $324.00 | $324.00 | $324.00 |
| 850-900 lb | 881 lb | 63 | $327.00 | $327.00 | $327.00 |
| 850-900 lb | 870 lb | 869 | $297.00 | $329.00 | $321.37 |
| 900-950 lb | 918 lb | 1084 | $293.00 | $319.50 | $312.62 |
| 950-1000 lb | 972 lb | 613 | $278.00 | $314.00 | $302.25 |
| 1000-1050 lb | 1024 lb | 371 | $278.00 | $307.00 | $292.13 |
| 1000-1050 lb | 1003 lb | 15 | $298.00 | $298.00 | $298.00 |
| 1050-1100 lb | 1067 lb | 59 | $280.00 | $280.00 | $280.00 |
| 1100-1150 lb | 1113 lb | 39 | $264.00 | $284.00 | $270.35 |
South Dakota Feeder Bulls prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 850-900 lb | 864 lb | 22 | $310.00 | $310.00 | $310.00 |
South Dakota Slaughter Steers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1565 lb | 66 | $216.00 | $217.50 | $217.02 |
| N/A | 1631 lb | 236 | $215.75 | $217.50 | $216.57 |
| N/A | 1440 lb | 19 | $215.25 | $216.50 | $216.06 |
South Dakota Slaughter Heifers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1302 lb | 6 | $222.00 | $222.00 | $222.00 |
| N/A | 1398 lb | 182 | $216.00 | $221.75 | $219.03 |
| N/A | 1220 lb | 32 | $218.00 | $225.00 | $220.19 |
South Dakota Slaughter Dairy Steers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1174 lb | 15 | $200.00 | $200.00 | $200.00 |
Auction volume
@endif
South Dakota auctions reported 9,402 head this week@if ($report->receipts_week_ago), compared with 6,100 head last week@if ($report->receipts_year_ago) and 11,843 head a year ago@endif.
South Dakota cattle markets
South Dakota is a major cow-calf state and also supports stocker and feedlot activity, particularly where crop production and feed resources complement grazing land. Large ranching areas lie in the western and central parts of the state, while eastern and central sale-barn markets handle substantial feeder-cattle movement. Spring calving and fall weaning are common, making autumn a key period for ranch calf marketings and placements into backgrounding or feedlot channels.
South Dakota cattle market commentary
Compared to last week: Yearling feeder steers and heifers 10.00 to 20.00 higher, instances to 30.00 higher on 900-950 lbs steers. Very good demand for yearling steers and heifers, especially by late week as the futures contracts rallied and reports of cash fed cattle at 225.00. Cattle feeders are ready to take on these good, light fleshed yearlings right off grass, and know they will have to compete heavily as the yearling supply is tight this year. However, with outgoing fed cattle losing money and the futures not supporting the cash markets as breakeven prices are much higher than the level the futures are at. Few strings of spring born calves coming to town already, as the drought has been severe and grass is very short. Moderate demand for those calves as most cattle feeders aren't ready to take on a bawling calf yet.
Market commentary above is quoted from the USDA Market News report.
About this data
These are auction sale prices reported by USDA Market News from livestock auctions across South Dakota, summarized weekly. Feeder cattle are quoted per hundredweight (cwt); breeding and replacement cattle are often quoted per head or per pair. Prices move with the futures market, feed costs, and demand, so confirm current values at your local auction.
Source: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, report AMS_2027, published Sep 7, 2026. Original USDA report (PDF). This page is informational and is not market or investment advice.
South Dakota cattle price frequently asked questions
How much are feeder steers in South Dakota right now?
Feeder steer prices in South Dakota ran from about $272 to $590 per cwt this week, with lighter calves bringing more per hundredweight than heavy yearlings; feeder heifers ran about $264 to $580 per cwt. Prices are from the USDA weekly cattle auction summary for the week ending Sep 12, 2026. Exact prices depend on weight, frame, and quality, shown in the tables above.
Why do lighter cattle cost more per hundredweight?
Buyers usually pay a higher price per pound for lighter calves than for heavy yearlings, a pattern often called the price slide, because lighter cattle have more weight left to gain. That is why a 5-weight steer can post a higher per-cwt price than an 8-weight steer at the same auction.
How often are these cattle prices updated?
USDA Market News publishes South Dakota auction summaries weekly, and this page refreshes after each new report. Auction prices can change from week to week, so check the report date shown above.
Page updated Sep 19, 2026.
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