Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 26, 2020

10,482 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $135.77/cwt ≈ $1,176/hd at 866 lb · 556 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $138.87/cwt ≈ $1,075/hd at 774 lb · 527 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $158.41/cwt ≈ $893/hd at 564 lb · 305 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 10,482 1,962 10,337
Feeder cattle 7,951 — 8,943
Slaughter cattle 2,531 1,962 1,394

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, Choice steers and heifers sold1.00 lower. No feeder cattle reported last week for a price comparison.

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
337–348 342 19 166.00–194.00 $180.01 $616 —
366–390 383 46 158.00–190.00 $175.62 $673 —
405–449 427 64 169.00–185.00 $177.33 $757 —
457–497 470 210 153.00–182.25 $172.86 $812 —
511 unweaned 511 15 164.00 $164.00 $838 —
504–546 524 90 148.00–160.00 $153.43 $804 —
550–594 563 294 144.00–163.50 $158.79 $894 —
583–595 unweaned 588 11 145.00–151.00 $148.24 $872 —
610 fancy 610 46 150.00 $150.00 $915 —
601–641 619 254 135.75–157.00 $145.54 $901 —
666 fancy 666 40 156.25 $156.25 $1,041 —
661–676 unweaned 671 19 132.00–134.00 $132.62 $890 —
653–696 688 211 134.00–150.00 $143.41 $987 —
707 unweaned 707 6 134.00 $134.00 $947 —
701–749 723 267 127.00–147.00 $138.91 $1,004 —
751–791 774 527 130.00–145.10 $138.87 $1,075 —
802–849 830 303 127.00–148.00 $137.65 $1,142 —
851–893 866 556 121.00–148.00 $135.77 $1,176 —
913–945 929 133 120.00–130.75 $128.08 $1,190 —
956–998 968 291 120.00–133.75 $128.08 $1,240 —
1009–1017 1011 51 117.75–123.00 $121.45 $1,228 —
1065 1065 4 111.00 $111.00 $1,182 —
1107 1107 8 104.50 $104.50 $1,157 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
885–1443 1167 90 92.50–117.25 $107.50 $1,255 —
1000–1273 1180 7 96.50–100.00 $97.43 $1,150 —
1240 1240 1 90.50 $90.50 $1,122 —
1238–1643 1415 61 90.00–99.50 $96.15 $1,361 +1.22
1015–1801 1423 118 85.00–102.50 $99.44 $1,415 +4.51
1145–1670 1455 700 97.00–108.00 $103.29 $1,503 -0.98
1640–1955 1747 16 81.00–99.50 $94.00 $1,642 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
402–440 430 38 155.00–168.00 $159.47 $686 —
441 unweaned 441 7 154.00 $154.00 $679 —
451–499 476 63 148.00–157.00 $155.39 $740 —
461–485 unweaned 477 26 142.00–155.50 $146.52 $699 —
507–543 525 29 142.00–149.00 $145.48 $764 —
554–561 unweaned 558 14 142.00–143.50 $142.75 $797 —
565–596 584 48 137.00–145.00 $140.99 $823 —
601–632 612 68 125.00–136.00 $129.98 $795 —
625–628 unweaned 626 17 126.00–130.50 $127.86 $800 —
655–697 678 52 129.50–135.00 $133.48 $905 —
682 unweaned 682 11 125.50 $125.50 $856 —
738–742 741 49 105.00–110.00 $108.78 $806 —
780–796 788 6 125.00 $125.00 $985 —
835–846 842 111 114.00–133.00 $119.18 $1,003 —
863–894 868 24 113.00–122.50 $114.63 $995 —
963 963 11 107.00 $107.00 $1,030 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
272 unweaned 272 4 520.00 $520.00 —
310–338 unweaned 322 12 600.00–610.00 $605.62 —
360–370 unweaned 365 6 500.00–680.00 $591.23 —
501 unweaned 501 3 600.00 $600.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323–346 334 28 167.50–174.00 $170.77 $570 —
358–394 367 16 149.00 $149.00 $547 —
400–448 432 70 139.00–161.50 $152.52 $659 —
451–499 467 178 125.00–164.00 $151.28 $706 —
496 unweaned 496 15 139.00 $139.00 $689 —
500–547 532 265 134.50–145.50 $141.40 $752 —
541 unweaned 541 5 135.00 $135.00 $730 —
554 unweaned 554 14 144.00 $144.00 $798 —
551–599 578 237 129.00–145.00 $135.65 $784 —
603 unweaned 603 33 138.25 $138.25 $834 —
609–646 632 194 127.00–139.25 $136.22 $861 —
665 fancy 665 35 141.50 $141.50 $941 —
651–691 669 78 125.00–135.00 $131.77 $882 —
700–745 718 131 124.00–136.50 $130.04 $934 —
751–786 757 60 122.25–132.75 $125.14 $947 —
801–846 826 188 122.00–134.00 $129.53 $1,070 —
856–898 865 189 108.00–126.10 $121.04 $1,047 —
903–942 922 80 110.00–125.50 $123.00 $1,134 —
952–979 966 124 106.00–124.10 $122.12 $1,180 —
1012–1040 1034 66 95.00–120.10 $117.85 $1,219 —
1064 1064 9 103.00 $103.00 $1,096 —
1170 1170 7 97.00 $97.00 $1,135 —
1217 1217 5 101.00 $101.00 $1,229 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
886–1265 1009 30 74.00–113.00 $99.23 $1,001 —
1010–1195 1121 4 85.50–94.00 $89.44 $1,003 -3.52
975–1292 1158 21 98.50–105.00 $100.18 $1,160 —
1045–1565 1282 120 92.00–103.75 $100.44 $1,288 +1.90
1035–1549 1311 543 95.25–108.00 $103.12 $1,352 -1.47
1175–1470 1374 43 74.00–99.50 $93.47 $1,284 —
1575–1620 1595 3 82.00–90.00 $86.52 $1,380 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
333 333 3 145.00 $145.00 $483 —
394 394 4 153.00 $153.00 $603 —
404–449 431 40 133.00–152.50 $144.89 $624 —
461–480 472 20 126.00–136.00 $128.89 $608 —
507–538 531 14 127.00–129.00 $128.01 $680 —
564–596 574 50 123.00–131.00 $125.54 $721 —
596 unweaned 596 3 116.00 $116.00 $691 —
638–643 641 14 126.50–127.00 $126.68 $812 —
706–735 732 76 111.00–116.00 $111.57 $817 —
755–783 759 24 110.00–116.00 $110.77 $841 —
800 800 13 106.50 $106.50 $852 —
942 942 3 115.00 $115.00 $1,083 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
258–287 unweaned 277 9 375.00–380.00 $378.45 —
316–329 unweaned 324 8 480.00–590.00 $549.78 —
370–381 unweaned 375 26 550.00–630.00 $605.65 —
520 unweaned 520 3 525.00 $525.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
405 unweaned 405 4 660.00 $660.00 —
511 unweaned 511 3 730.00 $730.00 —
563 unweaned 563 9 788.00 $788.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
538 unweaned 538 4 130.00 $130.00 $699 —
613 613 3 121.00 $121.00 $742 —
683 683 3 106.00 $106.00 $724 —
704 704 4 112.00 $112.00 $788 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010–1750 1331 80-85% 79 50.00–59.00 $55.29 $736 —
1470–1560 1500 80-85% 4 45.00–49.50 $47.35 $710 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1185–1880 1461 75-80% 63 60.00–69.50 $62.75 $917 —
1310–1900 1513 75-80% 9 70.00–87.00 $77.06 $1,166 +13.37
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865–1465 1194 85-90% 18 21.00–41.00 $33.63 $402 —
990–1525 1233 85-90% 39 42.00–51.00 $47.29 $583 +15.87

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1370–1810 1586 7 65.00–68.00 $66.34 $1,052 —
1165–2425 1781 34 70.00–90.00 $78.42 $1,397 -1.39
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1281 1281 4 82.00 $82.00 $1,050 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1360 1163 8 72.00–88.00 $78.62 $914 —
1028–1400 1192 29 71.00–79.00 $76.01 $906 —
1170–1796 1419 160 80.00–89.00 $86.52 $1,228 —
1213–1805 1483 87 90.00–98.50 $92.60 $1,373 -1.21
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
175–193 184 20 100.00–115.00 $105.62 $194 —
240 240 5 115.00 $115.00 $276 —
264–285 272 28 125.00 $125.00 $340 —
307–325 320 20 107.50–117.00 $112.89 $361 —
365–387 379 23 105.00–116.00 $113.91 $432 —
400–423 414 51 100.00–117.00 $109.43 $453 —
464–469 466 14 95.00–97.50 $96.42 $449 —
520–546 539 15 87.50–91.00 $88.40 $476 —
560–584 575 11 85.00–89.00 $86.42 $497 —
607–624 618 19 75.00–89.00 $82.93 $513 —
657 657 3 83.00 $83.00 $545 —
754–760 758 17 80.00–82.00 $81.30 $616 —
805–835 820 6 78.00–79.00 $78.51 $644 —
868 868 5 71.00 $71.00 $616 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
99 99 6 215.00 $215.00 $213 —
195 195 3 107.50 $107.50 $210 —
258–294 285 13 122.50–145.00 $129.57 $369 —
347–348 347 18 120.00–126.00 $125.33 $435 —
368–395 382 8 129.00–137.50 $133.40 $510 —
432–447 435 38 127.00–131.00 $127.73 $556 —
460 460 4 131.00 $131.00 $603 —
500–514 512 19 117.50–127.50 $119.04 $609 —
553–565 557 9 117.50–121.00 $118.68 $661 —
613–615 614 7 110.00–117.00 $113.99 $700 —
717 717 8 104.00 $104.00 $746 —
791 791 9 105.00 $105.00 $831 —
811–828 817 14 100.00–105.00 $101.81 $832 —
908 908 18 97.00 $97.00 $881 —
1114 1114 6 92.50 $92.50 $1,030 —
1266 1266 5 97.50 $97.50 $1,234 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
125 125 3 60.00 $60.00 $75 —
180–198 192 28 80.00–100.00 $85.25 $164 —
235 235 3 67.50 $67.50 $159 —
258–286 272 33 70.00–110.00 $78.35 $213 —
300–340 331 16 82.00–105.00 $92.02 $305 —
370–393 382 24 76.00–96.00 $85.55 $327 —
428–446 441 15 80.00–85.00 $83.71 $369 —
464–480 466 21 70.00–82.50 $76.10 $355 —
505–518 512 8 69.00–70.00 $69.51 $356 —
575 575 9 77.50 $77.50 $446 —
664 664 5 67.50 $67.50 $448 —
704 704 5 70.00 $70.00 $493 —
750–773 762 8 56.00–62.50 $59.30 $452 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 10 123.00 $123.00 $461 —
425–439 430 23 121.00–122.50 $121.90 $524 —
478–482 481 14 107.00–107.50 $107.14 $515 —
507 507 16 102.50 $102.50 $520 —
578–587 583 15 95.00–97.00 $96.21 $561 —
606 606 14 99.00 $99.00 $600 —
713 713 21 93.00 $93.00 $663 —
830–848 844 12 80.00–85.00 $81.23 $686 —
871 871 8 81.00 $81.00 $706 —
979 979 8 85.00 $85.00 $832 —
1202 1202 4 78.00 $78.00 $938 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
843–846 846 36 90.00–99.00 $98.00 $829 —
868–898 895 53 94.50–96.25 $96.06 $860 —
908–934 929 17 91.00–93.00 $91.52 $850 —
1140 1140 3 83.00 $83.00 $946 —
1341 1341 6 84.00 $84.00 $1,126 —

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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.