Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Direct Cattle Report

Iowa · USDA-reported Direct Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 18, 2023

2,444 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Iowa Direct Cattle Report report →

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $262.68/cwt +6.58 vs last sale · ≈ $2,233/hd at 850 lb · 2,012 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $270.00/cwt ≈ $1,620/hd at 600 lb · 166 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $258.25/cwt ≈ $1,686/hd at 653 lb · 154 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Head itemized in priced lots 2,444

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850 850 1,006 256.00–270.00 $262.68 $2,233 +6.58
850 850 1,006 256.00–270.00 $262.68 $2,233 +6.58
900 900 56 250.00 $250.00 $2,250
900 900 56 250.00 $250.00 $2,250

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
600 600 83 270.00 $270.00 $1,620
600 600 83 270.00 $270.00 $1,620
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
653 653 77 258.25 $258.25 $1,686
653 653 77 258.25 $258.25 $1,686

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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.