Feeder steers
$235 to $463
South Dakota Cattle Auction Prices
Feeder steer prices in South Dakota ran from about $235 to $463 per cwt this week, with lighter calves bringing more per hundredweight than heavy yearlings; feeder heifers ran about $245 to $445 per cwt. Prices are from the USDA weekly cattle auction summary for the week ending Aug 1, 2026. These are auction sale prices reported by USDA Market News; feeder cattle are quoted per hundredweight (cwt).
Feeder heifers
$245 to $445
Auction receipts
7,226 head
Week ending
Aug 1, 2026
South Dakota Feeder Steers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 450-500 lb | 465 lb | 10 | $235.00 | $235.00 | $235.00 |
| 500-550 lb | 512 lb | 6 | $397.50 | $397.50 | $397.50 |
| 550-600 lb | 599 lb | 42 | $437.50 | $437.50 | $437.50 |
| 550-600 lb | 578 lb | 10 | $380.00 | $380.00 | $380.00 |
| 550-600 lb | 572 lb | 9 | $462.50 | $462.50 | $462.50 |
| 650-700 lb | 679 lb | 62 | $397.00 | $415.00 | $401.01 |
| 650-700 lb | 681 lb | 5 | $352.50 | $352.50 | $352.50 |
| 700-750 lb | 744 lb | 68 | $349.00 | $349.00 | $349.00 |
| 700-750 lb | 747 lb | 15 | $370.00 | $385.00 | $377.00 |
| 750-800 lb | 756 lb | 9 | $340.00 | $340.00 | $340.00 |
| 750-800 lb | 789 lb | 439 | $373.00 | $381.00 | $374.48 |
| 800-850 lb | 809 lb | 18 | $335.00 | $347.00 | $343.00 |
| 850-900 lb | 880 lb | 554 | $344.00 | $374.00 | $362.19 |
| 900-950 lb | 925 lb | 255 | $322.00 | $341.00 | $336.22 |
| 900-950 lb | 913 lb | 28 | $321.00 | $322.00 | $321.53 |
| 950-1000 lb | 980 lb | 105 | $293.00 | $293.00 | $293.00 |
| 950-1000 lb | 983 lb | 1114 | $310.00 | $342.00 | $330.64 |
| 950-1000 lb | 987 lb | 64 | $311.00 | $311.00 | $311.00 |
| 1000-1050 lb | 1016 lb | 972 | $302.00 | $332.50 | $327.05 |
| 1050-1100 lb | 1079 lb | 84 | $296.50 | $300.00 | $298.92 |
| 1050-1100 lb | 1059 lb | 40 | $302.00 | $302.00 | $302.00 |
| 1100-1150 lb | 1138 lb | 31 | $271.50 | $271.50 | $271.50 |
South Dakota Feeder Heifers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500-550 lb | 521 lb | 14 | $420.00 | $445.00 | $428.76 |
| 550-600 lb | 550 lb | 31 | $393.00 | $393.00 | $393.00 |
| 550-600 lb | 582 lb | 45 | $407.50 | $407.50 | $407.50 |
| 600-650 lb | 637 lb | 10 | $355.00 | $355.00 | $355.00 |
| 600-650 lb | 602 lb | 67 | $427.00 | $427.00 | $427.00 |
| 600-650 lb | 634 lb | 43 | $392.50 | $398.00 | $395.52 |
| 600-650 lb | 622 lb | 11 | $330.00 | $330.00 | $330.00 |
| 650-700 lb | 696 lb | 72 | $414.00 | $414.00 | $414.00 |
| 650-700 lb | 671 lb | 50 | $368.00 | $368.00 | $368.00 |
| 650-700 lb | 681 lb | 124 | $366.00 | $372.00 | $370.14 |
| 700-750 lb | 702 lb | 86 | $369.00 | $369.00 | $369.00 |
| 700-750 lb | 714 lb | 138 | $347.00 | $347.00 | $347.00 |
| 700-750 lb | 707 lb | 29 | $357.50 | $357.50 | $357.50 |
| 700-750 lb | 717 lb | 18 | $331.00 | $331.00 | $331.00 |
| 750-800 lb | 763 lb | 183 | $335.00 | $345.00 | $342.32 |
| 800-850 lb | 831 lb | 644 | $314.00 | $330.00 | $324.06 |
| 850-900 lb | 879 lb | 118 | $294.00 | $299.00 | $296.45 |
| 850-900 lb | 879 lb | 81 | $309.50 | $312.50 | $309.99 |
| 900-950 lb | 935 lb | 553 | $294.00 | $320.00 | $305.77 |
| 900-950 lb | 927 lb | 6 | $289.00 | $289.00 | $289.00 |
| 950-1000 lb | 956 lb | 485 | $289.00 | $316.00 | $306.05 |
| 1000-1050 lb | 1018 lb | 30 | $282.50 | $311.00 | $299.17 |
| 1050-1100 lb | 1053 lb | 33 | $279.00 | $280.00 | $279.09 |
| 1200-1250 lb | 1205 lb | 7 | $245.00 | $245.00 | $245.00 |
South Dakota Feeder Bulls prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 700-750 lb | 735 lb | 41 | $380.00 | $380.00 | $380.00 |
South Dakota Slaughter Steers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1476 lb | 173 | $231.00 | $236.00 | $233.10 |
| N/A | 1616 lb | 17 | $243.00 | $243.00 | $243.00 |
| N/A | 1633 lb | 38 | $234.50 | $234.50 | $234.50 |
| N/A | 1245 lb | 14 | $227.50 | $228.00 | $227.68 |
| N/A | 1572 lb | 174 | $230.00 | $233.25 | $231.43 |
South Dakota Slaughter Heifers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1089 lb | 9 | $226.00 | $226.00 | $226.00 |
| N/A | 1438 lb | 13 | $243.00 | $243.00 | $243.00 |
| N/A | 1482 lb | 5 | $225.00 | $225.00 | $225.00 |
| N/A | 1485 lb | 142 | $231.00 | $235.50 | $233.56 |
South Dakota Slaughter Beef/Dairy Heifers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1318 lb | 14 | $228.00 | $228.00 | $228.00 |
South Dakota Slaughter Beef/Dairy Steers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1422 lb | 54 | $227.00 | $232.00 | $228.81 |
South Dakota Slaughter Dairy Steers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1428 lb | 11 | $216.00 | $226.00 | $221.89 |
Auction volume
@endif
South Dakota auctions reported 7,226 head this week@if ($report->receipts_week_ago), compared with 3,276 head last week@if ($report->receipts_year_ago) and 6,977 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: Higher undertones for feeder steers and heifers. Only 1 reported feeder cattle auction as the dangerous heat this week made livestock movement hazardous. Good demand for yearling steers and heifers off grass, albeit at lower price levels. Cattle feeders are faced with much adversity currently as the futures contracts have eroded to unexpected low levels, heat indexes of 120 plus resulting in loss of feedyard cattle, reduced performance and lower fat cattle trade. However, packers did have to raise bids to 235.00 by Friday to get cattle bought. Grass is becoming very short, crops have been severely stressed, making for a long summer.
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 Jul 27, 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 $235 to $463 per cwt this week, with lighter calves bringing more per hundredweight than heavy yearlings; feeder heifers ran about $245 to $445 per cwt. Prices are from the USDA weekly cattle auction summary for the week ending Aug 1, 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 Aug 4, 2026.
Cattle prices in other states
Alabama
Arkansas
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Wyoming