Kist Livestock Auction market report — October 21, 2026

Mandan, ND · Wednesday sale · USDA report published 10/21/2026 · Sale days

Head sold

2,181

Last week 1,782 (+399)
Last year 2,252

5-wt steers (500–599 lb)

$436.17 /cwt

$2,412 per head · 451 hd
vs last week −1.94

7-wt steers (700–799 lb)

$385.00 /cwt

$2,714 per head · 17 hd
vs last week −2.04

Compared to last week feeder steers 550 to 600 lbs. were 1.00 higher and 950 to 1000 lbs were 3.00 higher. Other weights of steers and heifers did not have the numbers for a comparison this week. Sale consisted of around 700 yearlings and the rest of the offering were spring calves. Buyers are bidding to fill orders for spring calves. Very good demand for today's offering. The numbers of yearlings offered this week may be near the end of supplies that are still out there.
USDA Market News reporter, October 21, 2026

Feeder steers — Oct 21

Steers, Medium and Large frame, No. 1 and 1–2 muscle, regular lots, head-weighted by 100-lb band. Last week = sale of Oct 14. Last year = sale of Oct 22.
Weight	Head	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	vs last week	vs last year
300–399 lb	6	331 lb	$490.00	$1,622	—	−95.04
400–499 lb	147	451 lb	$516.40	$2,329	−1.37	+6.30
500–599 lb	451	553 lb	$436.17	$2,412	−1.94	−19.07
600–699 lb	100	621 lb	$393.94	$2,446	−3.85	−0.26
700–799 lb	17	705 lb	$385.00	$2,714	−2.04	+17.50
800–899 lb	157	857 lb	$353.71	$3,032	+2.22	−13.06
900–999 lb	141	979 lb	$332.85	$3,259	+3.80	−4.25

Feeder heifers — Oct 21

Heifers, Medium and Large frame, No. 1 and 1–2 muscle, regular lots, head-weighted by 100-lb band. Last week = sale of Oct 14. Last year = sale of Oct 22.
Weight	Head	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	vs last week	vs last year
300–399 lb	26	390 lb	$490.00	$1,911	+71.44	−6.40
400–499 lb	104	467 lb	$424.20	$1,980	+16.74	−15.77
500–599 lb	211	545 lb	$390.35	$2,128	+27.59	−12.88
600–699 lb	31	628 lb	$352.29	$2,212	−5.21	−31.65
800–899 lb	74	852 lb	$317.13	$2,702	−9.66	—
900–999 lb	135	977 lb	$292.19	$2,855	−1.07	−40.50

Slaughter cows — Oct 21

No slaughter cows reported at the latest sale.

Price trends

Steers 500–599 lb Rising

Latest (week of October 19, 2026): $436.17/cwt
4-week average: $437.14
13-week average: $423.09
4-week vs 13-week: +3.3%

52-wk low $395.00high $508.10

Sales in 3 of the last 13 weeks.

Steers 700–799 lb Steady

Latest (week of October 19, 2026): $385.00/cwt
4-week average: $375.77
13-week average: $379.07
4-week vs 13-week: −0.9%

52-wk low $331.32high $403.85

Sales in 4 of the last 13 weeks.

Heifers 500–599 lb Steady

Latest (week of October 19, 2026): $390.35/cwt
4-week average: $376.55
13-week average: $376.04
4-week vs 13-week: +0.1%

52-wk low $351.14high $447.34

Sales in 3 of the last 13 weeks.

Direction compares the 4-week average with the 13-week average: Rising +1% or more, Steady within ±1%, Easing −1% to −3%, Falling −3% or more. Weekly prices are head-weighted averages of Medium and Large No. 1 and 1–2 feeder cattle, regular lots.

The label describes recent prices; it is not a forecast. In our backtest of every barn since 2019 (about 35,000 barn-weeks), barns labeled Falling went on to beat other barns' average move over the next 13 weeks 61% of the time, and barns labeled Rising trailed it 56% of the time.

Last 52 weeks

Weekly average $/cwt4-week average

Price history since 2019

Weekly average $/cwt

When to sell: the seasonal pattern

5-weight steers

Not enough history yet for a seasonal pattern.

7-weight steers

Not enough history yet for a seasonal pattern.

Recent sales

Last 13 weeks. Download the weekly history as CSV.
Sale	Head sold	Steers 500–599 $/cwt	Steers 700–799 $/cwt	Heifers 500–599 $/cwt
Wed Oct 21	2,181	$436.17	$385.00	$390.35
Wed Oct 14	1,782	$438.11	$387.04	$362.76
Wed Sep 30	697	—	$355.26	—
Wed Sep 23	852	$395.00	$389.00	$375.00

Nearby barns this week

Straight-line distance between towns. Barns tagged unweaned show unweaned-calf prices. Every North Dakota sale this week.
Barn	Distance	Sale	Steers 500–599	Steers 700–799
Napoleon Livestock Auction, Napoleon	58 mi	Oct 22	$423.24	$351.12
Stockmen's Livestock Exchange, Dickinson	90 mi	Oct 22	$446.69	$351.00

Sale days

Sale	Latest report	Head	Sales in 52 weeks	USDA report
Wednesday	October 21, 2026	2,181	21	AMS_2097

Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry and Grain Market News, “Kist Livestock Auction - Mandan, ND” (AMS_2097). See something wrong? Report a correction. Feeder prices are Medium and Large frame No. 1 and 1–2 cattle, $/cwt, grouped into 100-lb bands by average weight and weighted by head count. Value-added, unweaned and No. 2 lots are shown in their own columns; other lot types (fancy, fleshy, thin-fleshed, spayed, replacement) are left out. $/head = $/cwt × average weight ÷ 100.