Cattle Market Pulse

South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

South Dakota · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 21, 2026

22,632 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest South Dakota Weekly Cattle Auction Summary report →

heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $333.79/cwt +1.35 vs last sale · ≈ $3,267/hd at 979 lb · 1,871 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $321.60/cwt +6.38 vs last sale · ≈ $2,803/hd at 872 lb · 1,593 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $307.73/cwt +9.90 vs last sale · ≈ $2,833/hd at 921 lb · 1,477 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 22,632 14,492 13,904
Feeder cattle 20,898 13,051 13,000
Slaughter cattle 1,734 1,441 904

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling feeder steers 5.00 to 8.00 lower, except 850-900 lbs and 950-1000 lbs steady to 3.00 higher. Yearling feeder heifers steady to 5.00 higher, except 800-850 lbs and 900-950 lbs 8.00 to 10.00 higher. Spring born steer calves under 500 lbs 15.00 to 20.00 higher, 500-650 lbs 7.00 to 8.00. Heifer calves not well compared, 400-450 lbs 13.00 lower, 500-550 lbs 20.00 higher. Good demand for yearling steers and heifers right off grass, more moderate for those heavier fleshed coming out of grow yards. Moderate demand for steer and heifer calves. Persistent rains in the eastern side of the region that have created terrible feedyard continues put a damper on the calf market. Cattle feeders are battling the mud as the rains and all day drizzles have created very sloppy yards as the sun hasn't been out for quite some time. Cash fed cattle below 220.00 again in Iowa is making cattle feeders rethink their approach to refiling their empty pens. The calf run is getting into full swing as the drought is making cow/calf producers pull calves a little earlier and ship to town.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–329 327 104 570.00–658.00 $644.98 $2,109 +36.07
357–385 369 163 540.00–655.00 $619.66 $2,287 +52.32
413–446 433 498 507.50–556.00 $541.92 $2,347 +17.21
453–498 473 672 450.00–538.00 $502.60 $2,377 +14.23
503–538 526 597 412.50–490.00 $473.17 $2,489 +7.53
567–595 587 210 434.00–437.50 $436.53 $2,562 +7.78
609–636 622 117 399.00–431.00 $417.67 $2,598 +14.11
666–695 682 53 373.00–408.00 $397.37 $2,710 +16.14
729–749 742 78 350.00–390.00 $373.04 $2,768 +7.81
760–797 772 252 353.00–389.00 $369.21 $2,850 +5.30
810–836 826 267 333.00–367.00 $349.76 $2,889 -13.55
854–896 875 877 332.00–360.00 $352.51 $3,084 +2.95
921 921 68 311.00 $311.00 $2,864 -37.32
915–948 929 1,028 326.00–355.00 $340.28 $3,161 -8.04
952–999 978 1,810 294.35–349.00 $334.86 $3,275 -1.00
999 999 61 302.00 $302.00 $3,017 -33.86
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1001–1048 1025 824 294.00–332.00 $311.66 $3,195 -14.72
1052 1052 64 285.50 $285.50 $3,003 -23.06
1052–1097 1073 854 286.50–322.25 $301.78 $3,238 -6.78
1106 1106 5 259.00 $259.00 $2,865 -40.01
1100–1147 1118 563 271.00–298.50 $291.78 $3,262 -7.23
1151–1189 1169 377 286.00–290.50 $288.83 $3,376 —
1205 1205 50 278.75 $278.75 $3,359 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1379 1379 15 230.00 $230.00 $3,172 —
1401 1401 5 222.00 $222.00 $3,110 -6.00
1414–1426 1421 59 223.50–227.50 $225.95 $3,211 -7.05
1388–1446 1427 30 227.00–230.50 $228.14 $3,256 -4.86
1553–1593 1564 172 219.00–223.50 $220.85 $3,454 +0.44
1589 1589 19 223.00 $223.00 $3,543 +2.59
1609–1704 1659 307 216.25–219.00 $217.11 $3,602 -2.78
1899 1899 7 206.00 $206.00 $3,912 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
281 281 35 642.50 $642.50 $1,805 —
358–383 373 124 515.00–608.00 $528.53 $1,971 +32.84
485–490 488 19 412.50–442.50 $431.52 $2,106 -18.82
516–524 520 10 415.00–445.00 $429.88 $2,235 -0.12
723–739 736 38 351.00–368.00 $354.52 $2,609 —
791–792 792 48 339.50–341.00 $340.56 $2,697 —
880 880 4 325.00 $325.00 $2,860 —
931 931 31 321.00 $321.00 $2,989 +11.00
965 965 15 297.00 $297.00 $2,866 -3.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020 1020 17 293.00 $293.00 $2,989 -7.00
1250 1250 6 229.00 $229.00 $2,862 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 14 620.00 $620.00 $2,108 +96.26
362–386 375 263 500.00–571.00 $544.39 $2,041 +38.20
401–448 435 397 446.00–492.50 $467.54 $2,034 -13.34
463–496 477 223 422.50–491.00 $471.28 $2,248 +32.13
502–535 511 168 405.00–440.00 $425.51 $2,174 +18.97
553–586 577 118 380.00–416.00 $389.68 $2,248 +23.39
602–648 623 79 343.00–377.50 $365.22 $2,275 -37.91
658–676 669 67 332.50–337.50 $334.68 $2,239 -28.18
660–691 680 36 365.00–392.00 $382.53 $2,601 +32.53
703–748 729 149 340.00–379.00 $357.94 $2,609 +22.11
740–741 740 81 357.00–363.00 $362.55 $2,683 +26.72
747 747 50 336.00 $336.00 $2,510 +0.17
769–773 769 47 309.50–312.50 $309.82 $2,383 -37.18
752–787 772 408 315.00–356.00 $349.06 $2,695 +17.37
763–798 781 286 340.00–346.00 $341.97 $2,671 +10.28
800–846 823 817 302.00–357.00 $330.24 $2,718 +9.55
829 829 8 301.00 $301.00 $2,495 -19.69
832 832 64 336.50 $336.50 $2,800 +15.81
850–899 867 932 286.00–345.00 $322.67 $2,798 +3.76
852–875 867 93 286.00–306.00 $299.03 $2,593 -19.88
854–896 880 568 313.50–332.00 $323.53 $2,847 +4.62
903–949 919 1,177 276.00–324.00 $308.43 $2,834 +7.88
907–931 921 218 308.00–316.00 $312.97 $2,882 +12.42
934 934 13 289.00 $289.00 $2,699 -11.55
943–947 947 69 282.50–286.00 $282.75 $2,678 -17.80
954–981 965 142 269.00–287.00 $279.02 $2,693 -27.31
950–998 971 688 280.00–313.00 $299.67 $2,910 -6.66
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1009–1025 1017 111 273.50–278.00 $275.75 $2,804 -10.69
1004–1049 1025 282 270.00–317.00 $292.64 $3,000 +6.20
1016–1048 1030 140 237.00–276.00 $272.40 $2,806 -14.04
1057–1091 1076 603 244.00–291.00 $277.84 $2,990 +2.53
1089–1095 1091 261 264.00–267.00 $265.80 $2,900 -9.51
1102–1136 1114 34 243.00–248.00 $246.20 $2,743 -26.34
1101–1149 1116 72 270.00–277.00 $272.79 $3,044 +0.25
1154–1183 1176 210 232.00–260.00 $244.13 $2,871 -5.37
1184 1184 5 251.00 $251.00 $2,972 +1.50
1202 1202 4 213.00 $213.00 $2,560 —
1316 1316 6 225.00 $225.00 $2,961 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1326 1326 7 216.00 $216.00 $2,864 —
1277–1557 1433 265 215.25–218.50 $216.95 $3,109 -5.26
1439–1456 1449 22 221.00–222.00 $221.59 $3,211 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
299 299 8 610.00 $610.00 $1,824 —
346 346 4 500.00 $500.00 $1,730 +38.33
352–383 371 24 470.00–487.50 $479.23 $1,778 —
441 441 6 445.00 $445.00 $1,962 -5.00
498–499 498 20 420.00–427.50 $423.38 $2,108 —
526 526 5 377.50 $377.50 $1,986 +26.50
712 712 22 322.00 $322.00 $2,293 —
749 749 44 338.00 $338.00 $2,532 —
868 868 9 290.00 $290.00 $2,517 -10.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
675 675 29 238.00 $238.00 $1,606 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
229 229 5 1,085.00 $1,085.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 7 685.00 $685.00 $2,089 —
416–418 417 14 527.50–537.50 $531.08 $2,215 —
533 533 6 405.00 $405.00 $2,159 —
642 642 9 372.00 $372.00 $2,388 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1362–1405 1379 20 216.00–217.25 $216.51 $2,986 -0.74

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1492–1562 1534 54 218.00–222.00 $220.46 $3,382 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1498–1515 1513 30 207.00–210.00 $207.30 $3,136 —

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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.