Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 5, 2021

13,875 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $138.40/cwt +4.60 vs last sale · ≈ $1,001/hd at 724 lb · 796 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $144.52/cwt +3.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,187/hd at 821 lb · 754 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $172.33/cwt +2.23 vs last sale · ≈ $1,001/hd at 581 lb · 744 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 13,875 10,152 4,495
Feeder cattle 12,255 8,619 4,253
Slaughter cattle 1,620 1,533 242

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Choice steers and heifers 4.75 to 5.25 higher. Feeder steers under 600 lbs 2.00 lower to 2.00 higher, 600/749 lbs 1.00 to 3.00 higher, 750/849 lbs 3.00 to 6.00 lower, over 850 lbs 2.00 to 7.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs 4.00 to 9.00 higher, 600/749 lbs 4.00 to 5.00 higher, over 750 lbs 1.00 lower to 2.00 higher.

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
345 345 2 197.50 $197.50 $681 +16.87
350–391 unweaned 376 24 194.00–210.00 $198.88 $748 +3.18
351–399 382 116 187.50–220.00 $208.01 $795 +13.59
405–421 unweaned 418 29 188.00–215.00 $197.27 $825 -1.50
400–448 432 219 181.00–215.00 $199.30 $861 +5.80
459 fancy 459 5 222.50 $222.50 $1,021 —
450–495 unweaned 466 48 173.50–194.00 $187.21 $872 -1.94
450–498 484 257 176.00–205.00 $190.56 $922 +0.79
507–513 thin fleshed 511 18 188.75–191.00 $190.16 $972 —
508–546 unweaned 523 98 170.00–180.00 $175.25 $917 -3.49
500–549 528 567 165.00–202.00 $186.30 $984 +5.92
561–590 unweaned 577 32 160.00–170.50 $164.98 $952 -4.59
550–599 581 712 150.00–183.00 $172.66 $1,003 +2.46
600–649 621 304 150.00–185.00 $166.60 $1,035 +3.06
625 625 5 144.00 $144.00 $900 -19.54
626–645 unweaned 633 25 148.50–160.50 $158.13 $1,001 +10.13
636 thin fleshed 636 7 173.50 $173.50 $1,103 —
652–696 677 464 135.00–166.00 $158.27 $1,071 -0.96
700–746 719 299 137.00–160.50 $153.35 $1,103 +0.31
722 unweaned 722 15 136.50 $136.50 $986 -4.25
750–795 765 343 131.00–156.75 $147.96 $1,132 +2.39
800–845 821 754 125.00–150.25 $144.52 $1,187 +3.86
852–898 878 360 129.50–143.85 $139.21 $1,222 +5.48
904–945 924 461 124.00–137.00 $135.93 $1,256 +3.97
952–986 963 70 124.00–137.00 $130.86 $1,260 +13.36
1011–1025 1018 113 128.50 $128.50 $1,308 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1195 1130 3 104.00–112.25 $107.60 $1,216 -0.25
1035–1330 1189 7 106.00–112.50 $110.41 $1,313 —
1086–1350 1227 26 114.00–124.00 $118.58 $1,455 —
1000–1495 1264 8 94.00–108.00 $98.94 $1,251 -17.06
1260–1270 1267 10 118.00–123.50 $122.50 $1,552 +6.50
1075–1695 1294 27 111.00–119.00 $115.49 $1,494 -0.51
1300–1463 1389 20 111.00–118.00 $114.02 $1,584 —
1371–1478 1411 38 120.00–124.50 $123.03 $1,736 +5.21
1154–1710 1423 311 117.00–127.85 $124.95 $1,778 +7.13
1378–1492 1480 28 125.50–126.50 $126.40 $1,871 —
1501–1640 1529 22 111.00–117.00 $114.85 $1,756 —
1525–1695 1633 19 121.00–127.00 $123.20 $2,012 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–330 315 3 172.50–182.50 $178.49 $562 —
365–380 370 22 167.50–186.00 $181.29 $671 +9.08
404 unweaned 404 10 178.00 $178.00 $719 +1.62
405–441 423 8 163.00–187.50 $174.73 $739 +1.43
450–499 475 53 132.00–182.50 $171.81 $816 +0.66
514 unweaned 514 13 153.50 $153.50 $789 —
507–545 529 45 154.00–176.00 $164.67 $871 +0.85
553–598 574 28 146.00–165.50 $154.25 $885 -4.69
580 unweaned 580 4 156.00 $156.00 $905 —
610–645 626 47 131.00–157.50 $149.28 $934 +2.78
633 unweaned 633 2 145.00 $145.00 $918 —
655–698 688 50 120.00–150.00 $142.42 $980 -0.59
701–735 716 25 127.00–146.00 $139.84 $1,001 +9.14
782 782 6 130.00 $130.00 $1,017 -2.00
805–848 841 20 119.50–134.25 $129.28 $1,087 —
927 927 7 118.00 $118.00 $1,094 —
985–996 995 13 115.00–115.50 $115.46 $1,149 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
989 989 5 119.75 $119.75 $1,184 —
1014–1040 1022 10 121.00–132.00 $128.64 $1,315 +15.84
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
798 798 5 127.00 $127.00 $1,013 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
306–337 317 34 160.00–195.00 $173.40 $550 +4.86
333–342 unweaned 340 13 167.00–177.50 $169.37 $576 -3.63
359–380 unweaned 361 19 154.00–179.00 $176.99 $639 +5.99
356–399 378 76 160.00–180.00 $173.18 $655 +11.54
403–435 unweaned 415 32 156.00–166.00 $159.22 $661 -2.71
401–448 427 159 145.00–183.00 $164.77 $704 +1.52
452 fancy 452 39 179.00 $179.00 $809 —
460–492 unweaned 474 52 148.00–161.00 $154.61 $733 -1.80
453–499 481 397 149.00–177.00 $163.15 $785 +8.32
500–549 522 547 135.00–172.00 $157.72 $823 +7.30
502–537 unweaned 524 67 141.00–152.00 $149.66 $784 -0.93
530 thin fleshed 530 80 161.50 $161.50 $856 —
551–599 577 326 132.00–160.00 $146.64 $846 +1.09
580 fancy 580 32 149.75 $149.75 $869 —
609 unweaned 609 4 132.00 $132.00 $804 -8.00
616–621 thin fleshed 621 228 150.00–154.50 $154.30 $958 —
601–649 626 446 131.00–156.00 $143.20 $896 -1.22
650–699 679 597 121.00–150.00 $140.42 $953 +3.27
707 unweaned 707 12 123.00 $123.00 $870 —
700–745 722 69 140.75–147.50 $142.53 $1,029 +9.54
700–748 724 715 124.00–147.00 $138.26 $1,001 +5.27
750–797 775 535 120.00–150.00 $134.00 $1,038 -15.40
788 788 30 169.00 $169.00 $1,332 +19.60
807–831 822 86 134.50–137.00 $135.36 $1,113 +6.58
802–847 826 262 118.00–139.75 $132.00 $1,090 +3.22
854–894 865 115 119.00–140.00 $130.10 $1,125 —
942 942 30 124.00 $124.00 $1,168 +11.46
974–980 976 8 110.00–119.50 $117.11 $1,143 -0.39
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930–1175 1027 21 94.00–111.00 $102.38 $1,051 —
1040–1165 1120 7 102.50–108.00 $104.56 $1,171 +0.75
903–1393 1152 18 112.00–119.00 $115.26 $1,328 +8.29
1138–1270 1216 9 105.00–113.00 $107.93 $1,312 —
1030–1385 1230 7 96.00–106.50 $102.21 $1,257 —
980–1525 1292 46 110.00–119.50 $114.69 $1,482 +2.45
1200–1397 1292 46 114.00–124.00 $118.54 $1,532 +6.30
1060–1585 1308 204 118.25–128.35 $124.58 $1,630 +4.65
1314 1314 12 126.00 $126.00 $1,656 +6.07
1408–1540 1428 28 113.00–122.00 $119.10 $1,701 —
1435–1482 1462 29 120.00–125.00 $122.69 $1,794 +5.70
1595 1595 3 96.00 $96.00 $1,531 -19.92
1702 1702 6 117.00 $117.00 $1,991 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
262 262 3 175.00 $175.00 $458 —
308–338 318 6 146.00–156.00 $149.54 $476 —
363–392 375 29 141.00–174.00 $165.30 $620 —
405–440 426 13 158.00–160.00 $158.73 $676 -2.27
438–442 unweaned 440 10 150.00–166.00 $158.04 $695 —
473 unweaned 473 3 145.00 $145.00 $686 -5.00
453–497 478 32 151.50–160.00 $153.86 $735 +13.83
500–545 532 90 125.00–147.50 $139.03 $740 +4.09
552–599 577 81 126.00–140.00 $136.86 $790 +3.32
604–628 unweaned 617 15 124.50–131.00 $127.47 $786 -3.03
604–627 625 14 109.00–136.00 $128.99 $806 -4.36
655–686 672 30 128.00–136.00 $133.97 $900 +11.81
700–748 730 37 114.00–129.50 $123.23 $900 +3.39
768–778 774 12 111.00–125.00 $122.43 $948 +3.20
867 867 7 109.50 $109.50 $949 -5.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
557 557 15 137.00 $137.00 $763 —
681 681 107 136.00 $136.00 $926 —
792 792 63 132.75 $132.75 $1,051 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
610 610 6 125.00 $125.00 $762 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
463 463 2 167.50 $167.50 $776 -1.90
541–547 544 7 150.00–165.00 $158.53 $862 —
555–566 564 11 154.00–160.50 $159.34 $899 -0.66
615 unweaned 615 14 153.50 $153.50 $944 —
648 648 3 146.00 $146.00 $946 —
715 715 2 130.00 $130.00 $930 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1255–1810 1474 75-80% 18 80.00–85.00 $81.30 $1,198 +9.17
1110–2155 1483 75-80% 96 68.00–79.00 $74.47 $1,104 +2.34
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855–1880 1310 80-85% 58 56.00–69.00 $65.63 $860 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555–1230 986 85-90% 10 21.00–49.00 $35.16 $347 -4.87
780–1640 1081 85-90% 42 45.00–62.00 $56.20 $608 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1415–1995 1613 65-75% 13 75.00–81.00 $76.22 $1,229 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1190–1780 1474 7 66.00–79.00 $73.72 $1,087 —
1070–2265 1635 27 80.00–99.00 $90.93 $1,487 —
1630–2120 1871 8 100.00–109.00 $104.06 $1,947 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
940–1297 1030 59 76.00–88.00 $80.13 $825 —
895–1375 1204 11 73.00–100.00 $83.16 $1,001 —
1418 1418 3 92.50 $92.50 $1,312 -11.88
1235–1865 1463 6 90.00–98.00 $95.04 $1,390 —
1175–1755 1469 60 92.00–110.50 $102.87 $1,511 —
1366–1705 1486 77 103.50–110.00 $107.18 $1,593 —

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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.