Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 18, 2023

11,355 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 $246.19/cwt -2.70 vs last sale · ≈ $2,154/hd at 875 lb · 968 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $257.57/cwt +2.45 vs last sale · ≈ $2,140/hd at 831 lb · 593 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $262.61/cwt +3.99 vs last sale · ≈ $2,027/hd at 772 lb · 547 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 11,355 13,939 11,747
Feeder cattle 9,739 12,942 9,699
Slaughter cattle 1,616 997 2,048

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, choice steers and heifers sold 2.00 to 3.00 lower. Feeder steers and heifers under 600 lbs sold 2.00 to 8.00 higher; 600 to 700 lbs 6.00 to 10.00 lower; 700 to 800 lbs 3.00 to 6.00 higher; over 800 lbs 1.00 to 3.00 lower.

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
247 247 5 340.00 $340.00 $840 —
269 unweaned 269 18 355.00 $355.00 $955 —
280 280 3 340.00 $340.00 $952 —
300–340 unweaned 320 6 352.50 $352.50 $1,128 -1.35
315–347 326 11 312.50–345.00 $333.38 $1,087 -63.02
355–395 unweaned 374 66 285.00–379.00 $337.30 $1,262 -21.25
361–397 386 105 315.00–363.00 $350.81 $1,354 -4.72
403–416 fancy 408 30 371.00–376.00 $374.17 $1,527 +8.76
404–443 423 77 322.00–350.00 $336.30 $1,423 +1.47
406–445 unweaned 437 47 315.00–338.00 $323.24 $1,413 -22.36
458–499 477 239 300.00–350.00 $326.30 $1,556 +2.13
453–494 unweaned 485 121 300.00–338.00 $332.93 $1,615 +5.45
502–513 fancy 512 67 347.00–351.00 $350.59 $1,795 -21.91
501–548 524 291 280.50–326.00 $306.48 $1,606 -14.61
504–535 unweaned 527 88 306.00–325.00 $311.91 $1,644 +8.03
544–549 548 33 274.00–275.00 $274.24 $1,503 -46.85
552–599 575 288 260.00–320.00 $295.82 $1,701 -4.10
552–588 unweaned 577 92 270.00–309.00 $300.50 $1,734 +11.43
600–606 unweaned 605 33 284.00–307.00 $301.47 $1,824 +28.63
601–641 622 321 264.00–306.00 $289.47 $1,801 +11.67
651–699 675 115 263.00–285.00 $270.37 $1,825 -10.67
685 685 10 227.00 $227.00 $1,555 -54.04
693 unweaned 693 9 262.00 $262.00 $1,816 +4.13
700–740 722 303 250.00–286.00 $276.79 $1,998 +6.17
752–799 772 547 250.00–272.75 $262.61 $2,027 +3.99
808–841 831 593 240.00–278.00 $257.57 $2,140 +2.45
864 864 4 210.00 $210.00 $1,814 -38.89
851–899 875 964 229.50–254.25 $246.34 $2,155 -2.55
900–943 922 410 229.00–249.75 $241.81 $2,229 -3.75
952 952 3 238.00 $238.00 $2,266 -2.35
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845–1201 1118 13 181.50–191.00 $183.73 $2,054 -13.51
965–1265 1119 16 150.00–180.00 $168.12 $1,881 -29.12
1121–1125 1122 5 176.50–178.00 $176.80 $1,984 -20.44
1128 1128 6 186.25 $186.25 $2,101 -10.99
1105–1600 1333 84 170.00–183.00 $176.94 $2,359 —
1115–1535 1368 4 165.50–169.00 $167.28 $2,288 +7.01
1204–1680 1421 616 180.00–189.50 $184.14 $2,617 -2.60
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 unweaned 215 3 300.00 $300.00 $645 —
332–343 336 8 300.00–310.00 $306.17 $1,029 -3.83
375 375 4 325.00 $325.00 $1,219 +25.00
408–445 426 14 200.00–300.00 $258.52 $1,101 -33.91
443 unweaned 443 6 302.50 $302.50 $1,340 +19.17
450 unweaned 450 12 274.00 $274.00 $1,233 -12.82
458–493 477 31 283.00–312.50 $291.27 $1,389 +12.01
508 unweaned 508 6 262.50 $262.50 $1,334 -3.08
501–548 519 74 200.00–290.00 $265.46 $1,378 -9.28
558–568 unweaned 563 15 240.00–267.50 $252.71 $1,423 -11.51
550–592 579 67 247.00–284.00 $272.14 $1,576 +3.45
612–634 632 51 210.00–265.00 $259.47 $1,640 +16.30
668–699 689 15 232.50–253.50 $244.76 $1,686 -7.93
703–746 722 46 195.00–251.00 $230.98 $1,668 +0.98
751–775 759 41 223.00–245.00 $230.07 $1,746 -26.93
807–818 811 15 230.00–248.25 $241.57 $1,959 —
853 853 5 217.50 $217.50 $1,855 —
904 904 13 219.50 $219.50 $1,984 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
503 unweaned 503 6 300.00 $300.00 $1,509 +1.00
540 540 17 280.00 $280.00 $1,512 —
636 636 18 265.25 $265.25 $1,687 —
1015–1023 1016 19 220.00–224.00 $220.64 $2,242 -11.75
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
879 879 50 243.50 $243.50 $2,140 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
297 297 3 1,000.00 $1,000.00 —
357–393 386 20 1,300.00–1,350.00 $1,318.78 —
450 450 5 1,325.00 $1,325.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
258 unweaned 258 14 317.50 $317.50 $819 —
300–348 329 33 301.00–350.00 $321.76 $1,059 +7.38
339 unweaned 339 17 305.00 $305.00 $1,034 +9.90
365–377 unweaned 370 18 282.50–340.00 $318.99 $1,180 +6.32
374 fancy 374 21 365.00 $365.00 $1,365 +20.00
365–398 387 83 299.00–325.00 $318.26 $1,232 +2.29
408–446 unweaned 429 52 260.00–287.50 $276.40 $1,186 -17.69
409–448 429 175 265.00–325.00 $309.19 $1,326 +14.34
452–488 471 212 252.00–313.00 $283.50 $1,335 +8.23
458–494 unweaned 478 125 247.50–300.00 $285.71 $1,366 +3.87
506–538 unweaned 518 33 241.00–282.50 $260.81 $1,351 -7.69
503–544 523 265 260.00–302.50 $275.04 $1,438 +2.15
551–593 575 310 230.00–274.50 $263.34 $1,514 -11.02
573–596 unweaned 581 23 215.00–247.50 $238.54 $1,386 -32.86
603–640 620 157 230.00–275.00 $256.14 $1,588 -6.34
650–698 673 152 224.50–266.00 $247.23 $1,664 -12.38
700–748 722 498 221.00–268.00 $248.12 $1,791 -0.72
752–789 762 158 220.00–250.00 $241.17 $1,838 +6.76
800–842 818 344 200.00–241.25 $236.32 $1,933 +1.81
851–875 859 57 220.00–233.00 $228.47 $1,963 -1.14
896 896 7 209.00 $209.00 $1,873 -20.61
912–941 925 77 190.00–232.50 $215.23 $1,991 -8.62
965 965 3 199.00 $199.00 $1,920 -21.59
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1025 1025 3 182.50 $182.50 $1,871 +5.24
800–1215 1055 24 157.00–181.00 $173.20 $1,827 —
965–1175 1056 8 168.00–176.00 $173.44 $1,832 —
820–1222 1145 55 177.50–184.00 $180.17 $2,063 -3.35
1045–1525 1249 72 170.00–183.75 $178.34 $2,227 -8.66
1125–1660 1320 395 178.00–189.85 $184.56 $2,436 -2.10
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308 unweaned 308 5 250.00 $250.00 $770 +10.00
379–389 unweaned 383 9 230.00–300.00 $268.44 $1,028 —
386–387 386 9 215.00–247.50 $229.47 $886 —
422–446 433 9 250.00–290.00 $268.33 $1,162 +18.38
468 unweaned 468 4 225.00 $225.00 $1,053 -28.03
460–497 482 25 202.50–260.00 $233.02 $1,123 -13.18
511–527 517 21 200.00–252.50 $239.79 $1,240 -15.07
565–588 577 21 218.00–250.00 $243.98 $1,408 +7.90
632 632 6 245.00 $245.00 $1,548 +34.03
655–698 678 22 211.00–231.00 $222.88 $1,511 +4.43
723–744 735 11 196.00–215.00 $209.72 $1,541 —
755–794 776 14 165.00–221.00 $201.14 $1,561 —
805–842 824 22 200.00–225.00 $212.22 $1,749 —
896 896 11 192.00 $192.00 $1,720 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 unweaned 398 8 237.50 $237.50 $945 —
500 500 26 268.00 $268.00 $1,340 —
584 584 7 230.00 $230.00 $1,343 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
248 248 6 875.00 $875.00 —
313–322 319 14 975.00–1,050.00 $1,001.30 —
378 378 8 1,100.00–1,150.00 $1,131.25 —
429–432 430 10 975.00–1,175.00 $1,114.71 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 8 345.00 $345.00 $1,183 —
453–496 478 7 247.50–252.50 $249.53 $1,193 -23.47
544 544 4 236.50 $236.50 $1,287 —
571–587 580 9 177.50–242.50 $205.95 $1,195 —
663 663 4 215.00 $215.00 $1,425 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 3 260.00 $260.00 $1,014 —
487–495 491 6 270.00–298.00 $283.89 $1,394 -18.61
515 515 1 257.50 $257.50 $1,326 —
633 633 6 227.50 $227.50 $1,440 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
876 876 4 190.00 $190.00 $1,664 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1225–1820 1457 75-80% 40 111.00–119.00 $115.74 $1,686 —
1370–1840 1517 75-80% 11 121.00–126.00 $124.30 $1,886 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840–1255 1066 85-90% 11 50.00–67.50 $58.61 $625 —
730–1590 1084 85-90% 33 70.00–91.00 $81.12 $879 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1125–1770 1314 80-85% 27 99.00–111.00 $106.35 $1,397 —
1140–1455 1316 80-85% 6 90.00–95.00 $92.82 $1,222 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1060 1060 1 95.00 $95.00 $1,007 —
1040–1140 1090 2 65.00 $65.00 $708 —
1240–1810 1530 7 121.00–128.00 $125.30 $1,917 —
1420–2105 1829 7 130.00–158.00 $139.76 $2,556 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
990–1240 1110 3 117.50–137.50 $129.59 $1,438 —
1375–1615 1464 4 151.00–158.00 $153.83 $2,252 +4.83
1415–1680 1535 21 159.00–170.00 $164.55 $2,526 —

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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.