500–600 lb steer prices this week
National sale barn average, head-weighted, from USDA reports
MARKET REPORT - WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2026- 500–600 lb Medium & Large 1 steers averaged $428.26/cwt across 11,528 head at reporting barns this week.
- At that average, a 550 lb steer brings about $2,355 a head before commission and yardage.
- That is 10.13 higher than the week before ($418.13/cwt).
By state this week
| State | Avg price ($/cwt) | On (head) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $378.41 | 56 |
| Arkansas | $379.74 | 244 |
| Florida | $383.19 | 127 |
| Georgia | $374.95 | 174 |
| Iowa | $435.37 | 309 |
| Indiana | $393.97 | 351 |
| Kansas | $426.96 | 358 |
| Missouri | $420.05 | 1,133 |
| Mississippi | $378.57 | 128 |
| Montana | $432.24 | 189 |
| North Carolina | $367.11 | 78 |
| North Dakota | $445.58 | 337 |
| Nebraska | $464.36 | 2,681 |
| New Mexico | $402.14 | 91 |
| Oklahoma | $404.46 | 2,145 |
| South Carolina | $357.78 | 72 |
| South Dakota | $452.20 | 1,242 |
| Tennessee | $373.65 | 299 |
| Texas | $392.68 | 220 |
| Utah | $425.12 | 492 |
| Virginia | $389.21 | 208 |
| West Virginia | $383.68 | 29 |
| Wyoming | $465.18 | 565 |
Recent weeks
Common questions
How much is a 550 lb steer worth right now?
At this week's national sale barn average of $428.26/cwt, a 550 lb Medium & Large 1 steer brings about $2,355 before commission and yardage. Your local barn's average may differ; check the state table on this page.
Why do lighter cattle bring more per pound?
Because the buyer is paying for the pounds still to be added: a 450 lb calf has more cheap gain ahead of it than an 850 lb feeder. Price per cwt slides down as weight goes up even while total dollars per head go up.
What is this average based on?
Every 500-600 lb Medium & Large 1 steer line in the USDA reports of our 242 tracked barns, weighted by the head count of each line. Small, untested runs move the number less than big runs, by design.
Other classes: 400–500 lb · 600–700 lb · 700–800 lb · 800–900 lb · all weights · cull cows
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