Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 18, 2024

16,061 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 $247.25/cwt -5.52 vs last sale · ≈ $1,798/hd at 727 lb · 908 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $245.03/cwt -1.64 vs last sale · ≈ $2,140/hd at 873 lb · 894 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $290.11/cwt +10.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,665/hd at 574 lb · 675 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 16,061 4,040 14,000
Feeder cattle 14,777 3,254 12,783
Slaughter cattle 1,284 786 1,217

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week's thin test of the market. Steers under 500 lbs sold sharply higher, 5 weights sold 10.00 higher, 6 weights sold 4.00 lower and over 700 lbs sold steady to 2.00 higher. Heifers less than 600 lbs sold sharply higher on the week, 600 to 800 lbs sold 5.00 to 7.00 lower and over 800 lbs sold 8.00 higher. Slaughter steers sold 2.00 higher, slaughter heifers sold 6.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold 6.00 to 7.00 higher with slaughter bulls 10.00 higher. Demand was good to very good for all offerings. Quite a few bawling and weaned fall calves hitting the market across the state. Along with other longtime weaned cattle. Bulk of the calves and feeder cattle carried a vaccination tag or a wean/vac tag from their local veterinarians. Planting season right around the corner had farmer/feeders hitting the seats to fill their pastures for summer turnout. Along with a large supply of order buyers on the seats sending cattle to surrounding states for summer turnout or into the feedlot.

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
313 313 3 390.00 $390.00 $1,221 —
301–343 unweaned 319 12 400.00–440.00 $422.05 $1,346 —
354–397 378 60 372.50–408.00 $392.54 $1,484 +8.26
363–390 unweaned 380 30 365.00–425.00 $403.99 $1,535 —
409 fancy 409 10 445.00 $445.00 $1,820 —
427 thin fleshed 427 10 386.00 $386.00 $1,648 —
400–447 430 147 330.00–412.00 $386.10 $1,660 +32.57
439–444 unweaned 443 34 310.00–370.00 $359.71 $1,594 —
452–498 478 307 247.00–399.75 $362.53 $1,733 -3.93
478–488 unweaned 483 29 302.50–342.00 $327.35 $1,581 —
500–549 528 468 305.00–370.50 $346.38 $1,829 -9.33
521–548 unweaned 541 19 317.00–325.00 $322.97 $1,747 -7.03
557 thin fleshed 557 17 362.00 $362.00 $2,016 —
550–582 unweaned 561 26 250.00–325.00 $294.14 $1,650 —
550–594 578 473 301.50–352.00 $330.67 $1,911 -9.52
600–649 621 480 282.50–332.00 $315.51 $1,959 -1.94
651 unweaned 651 16 251.00 $251.00 $1,634 —
654 thin fleshed 654 25 314.50 $314.50 $2,057 —
650–696 677 618 266.00–319.00 $298.23 $2,019 -4.50
683 fancy 683 9 300.00 $300.00 $2,049 —
700–748 721 400 253.00–308.00 $280.41 $2,022 +1.78
734–749 740 31 243.00–269.00 $254.03 $1,880 -24.60
750–797 773 596 250.50–275.00 $265.77 $2,054 +2.38
787 787 25 256.00 $256.00 $2,015 -7.39
817 fancy 817 14 259.00 $259.00 $2,116 —
820 820 11 253.50 $253.50 $2,079 -0.07
802–846 825 609 240.00–260.75 $253.18 $2,089 -0.39
850–889 872 818 220.00–250.50 $246.15 $2,146 -0.52
854–896 887 76 230.00–235.50 $233.03 $2,067 -13.64
901–948 922 507 221.00–242.75 $238.23 $2,196 +2.23
924 924 25 227.50 $227.50 $2,102 -8.50
960–968 965 247 223.50–241.50 $234.37 $2,262 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
297 unweaned 297 8 430.00 $430.00 $1,277 —
366–398 381 9 360.00–385.00 $371.76 $1,416 —
426–448 437 39 320.00–355.00 $334.17 $1,460 -13.33
452–496 473 97 325.00–357.00 $346.30 $1,638 +2.89
508–540 525 39 303.00–335.00 $322.41 $1,693 -11.23
508–547 thin fleshed 538 25 337.00–339.00 $337.45 $1,815 —
552–596 585 110 294.00–329.00 $314.75 $1,841 +14.98
588 unweaned 588 9 270.00 $270.00 $1,588 —
596 thin fleshed 596 18 303.00 $303.00 $1,806 —
604–640 621 32 270.00–317.00 $293.79 $1,824 +8.26
612–646 thin fleshed 622 30 309.50–312.50 $311.57 $1,938 —
663–694 684 100 254.00–295.00 $279.36 $1,911 +13.36
710–747 739 107 270.50–276.00 $272.88 $2,017 +17.88
798 798 17 248.00–253.00 $251.24 $2,005 —
805–814 810 29 236.00–244.50 $239.79 $1,942 —
886 886 28 240.00 $240.00 $2,126 —
942 942 9 211.50 $211.50 $1,992 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965–1225 1103 8 145.00–175.00 $158.09 $1,744 —
1212 1212 9 190.00 $190.00 $2,303 —
1150–1302 1264 4 181.50–183.00 $181.84 $2,298 -2.79
1170–1625 1307 74 176.00–185.50 $182.68 $2,388 —
1317 1317 5 185.50 $185.50 $2,443 +5.00
1430 1430 1 172.00 $172.00 $2,460 -7.40
1255–1520 1472 15 181.00–188.50 $186.58 $2,746 —
1215–1681 1495 276 185.00–195.00 $190.06 $2,841 —
1550 1550 1 188.00 $188.00 $2,914 -0.59
1580 1580 11 188.10 $188.10 $2,972 +5.60
1655–1725 1697 5 187.75–187.85 $187.81 $3,187 +7.18
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
570–584 572 45 282.50–292.00 $288.30 $1,649 —
647 647 9 274.00 $274.00 $1,773 —
724 724 5 247.00 $247.00 $1,788 —
1030 1030 15 200.00 $200.00 $2,060 -11.50
1168 1168 5 185.00 $185.00 $2,161 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 unweaned 290 5 340.00 $340.00 $986 —
297–298 297 5 320.00–327.50 $324.49 $964 —
308–349 330 19 300.00–380.00 $358.04 $1,182 -19.46
331–337 unweaned 335 21 335.00–352.50 $345.91 $1,159 —
373 unweaned 373 16 372.50 $372.50 $1,389 —
350–396 380 67 318.00–382.00 $356.29 $1,354 +15.56
412–423 unweaned 418 21 317.50–337.00 $325.73 $1,362 —
400–448 425 229 298.00–375.00 $343.42 $1,460 +1.48
450–496 473 273 281.00–350.00 $318.17 $1,505 -11.65
460–484 unweaned 475 42 260.00–320.00 $300.49 $1,427 —
511 unweaned 511 9 280.00 $280.00 $1,431 —
500–547 521 389 277.00–330.00 $303.58 $1,582 +0.10
554–570 unweaned 563 33 252.00–286.00 $268.27 $1,510 —
550–599 574 625 261.00–312.00 $292.05 $1,676 +12.15
596 596 17 261.00 $261.00 $1,556 -18.90
601 601 15 260.00–265.00 $262.33 $1,577 -10.45
610–626 thin fleshed 615 15 290.00–293.00 $291.02 $1,790 —
600–648 622 506 255.00–281.00 $267.09 $1,661 -5.69
656 unweaned 656 5 241.00 $241.00 $1,581 —
650–698 662 329 245.00–272.00 $258.73 $1,713 +8.54
695 695 8 234.50 $234.50 $1,630 -15.69
700–747 727 908 226.00–272.50 $247.25 $1,798 -5.52
750–779 755 49 232.00–237.25 $236.26 $1,784 +4.02
762 fancy 762 12 233.75 $233.75 $1,781 +1.25
753–764 763 52 247.00 $247.00 $1,885 +14.76
750–796 769 526 232.00–252.00 $242.44 $1,864 +10.20
806–808 807 16 215.00–224.00 $217.81 $1,758 -3.82
803–817 810 29 233.25–235.00 $234.16 $1,897 +12.53
800–836 820 556 205.00–238.00 $229.94 $1,886 +8.31
857–885 865 31 186.00–218.50 $205.00 $1,773 -12.00
852–891 872 379 203.00–238.50 $228.44 $1,992 +11.44
913–948 939 13 205.50–227.00 $214.63 $2,015 —
969–980 970 65 198.00–231.00 $228.43 $2,216 +18.43
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318 318 5 320.00 $320.00 $1,018 —
377–398 unweaned 388 6 327.00–335.00 $331.11 $1,285 —
388–390 390 14 337.00–337.50 $337.11 $1,315 —
405–445 431 58 280.00–318.00 $302.33 $1,303 -1.76
461–498 476 71 261.00–316.00 $295.04 $1,404 +9.16
519–548 540 65 250.00–287.00 $268.46 $1,450 +3.46
551–599 580 58 245.00–269.00 $256.88 $1,490 +1.45
581–584 thin fleshed 582 40 277.50–289.00 $284.96 $1,658 —
628–646 642 26 243.00–252.00 $248.31 $1,594 -6.69
650–699 679 86 236.00–247.00 $242.86 $1,649 —
703–734 712 33 235.00–237.00 $236.00 $1,680 —
761–789 770 32 232.00–240.00 $235.88 $1,816 +18.33
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860–1225 1053 3 141.00–173.00 $155.42 $1,637 —
1085–1517 1308 33 174.00–185.00 $183.29 $2,397 —
1145–1690 1352 293 185.00–195.00 $190.90 $2,581 +13.91
1415 1415 3 172.00 $172.00 $2,434 —
1213–1633 1426 58 185.00–189.00 $188.02 $2,681 —
1795 1795 1 185.00 $185.00 $3,321 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
566–586 572 28 241.00–284.50 $271.76 $1,554 —
639 639 17 246.00 $246.00 $1,572 —
784 784 23 232.00 $232.00 $1,819 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403 unweaned 403 5 300.00 $300.00 $1,209 —
436 436 3 360.00 $360.00 $1,570 —
464 464 4 330.00 $330.00 $1,531 —
522 unweaned 522 4 294.00 $294.00 $1,535 —
769 769 10 235.00 $235.00 $1,807 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1095–1915 1427 75-80% 71 114.00–128.00 $122.77 $1,752 —
1220–2100 1533 75-80% 60 125.00–139.50 $131.58 $2,017 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
955–1730 1249 80-85% 62 104.00–118.00 $113.02 $1,412 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
680–1175 958 85-90% 3 30.00–68.00 $55.74 $534 —
755–1450 1073 85-90% 9 80.00–105.00 $91.36 $980 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1450–1775 1562 65-75% 3 140.00–150.00 $143.28 $2,238 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–1370 1275 2 97.50–110.00 $104.22 $1,329 —
1465–2640 1804 19 141.00–171.00 $157.75 $2,846 —
1430–2740 1987 15 112.00–142.00 $130.34 $2,590 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
516 516 6 273.00 $273.00 $1,409 —
641 641 29 254.25 $254.25 $1,630 —
676 676 11 231.00 $231.00 $1,562 —
758 758 43 224.75 $224.75 $1,704 —
832 832 13 196.50 $196.50 $1,635 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
560 560 4 234.00 $234.00 $1,310 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
630 630 4 260.00 $260.00 $1,638 —
667 667 22 259.00 $259.00 $1,728 —
710 710 11 242.00 $242.00 $1,718 —
783 783 44 231.25 $231.25 $1,811 —
843 843 14 227.00 $227.00 $1,914 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1325–1705 1474 5 153.00–158.00 $155.80 $2,296 +3.34
1320–1710 1510 27 155.00–168.00 $163.49 $2,469 —

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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.