Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 15, 2024

9,604 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 $246.27/cwt +6.87 vs last sale · ≈ $1,758/hd at 714 lb · 442 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $278.74/cwt +11.38 vs last sale · ≈ $1,600/hd at 574 lb · 384 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $326.74/cwt -2.78 vs last sale · ≈ $1,704/hd at 522 lb · 383 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 9,604 12,206 8,623
Feeder cattle 8,119 11,691 7,394
Slaughter cattle 1,485 515 1,229

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Limited comparable sales, feeder steers and heifers sold with higher undertones. Very good demand remains for light steers and heifers, weaning status means little as cattle producers want to buy these cattle, weaned or not, as their cost per head is lower than a yearling. Feeder cattle auctions are becoming more sporadic as the feeder cattle marketing season winds down. Cash fed cattle at 184.00 in the country, a disappointing level as many cattle have breakeven prices at 190.00.

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
208 208 12 405.00 $405.00 $842 —
315–346 337 10 395.00–402.50 $397.10 $1,338 —
344–345 unweaned 345 11 415.00–425.00 $419.54 $1,447 —
386 386 19 395.00 $395.00 $1,525 +17.22
383–399 unweaned 388 13 394.00–412.50 $406.65 $1,578 +11.65
402 thin fleshed 402 10 416.00 $416.00 $1,672 —
423–449 436 31 335.00–369.00 $356.45 $1,554 -18.06
413–448 unweaned 437 57 367.50–397.50 $372.21 $1,627 -4.01
454–499 471 206 330.00–365.00 $352.84 $1,662 +10.00
466–495 unweaned 475 36 307.00–363.00 $348.42 $1,655 +21.50
486 fancy 486 5 330.00 $330.00 $1,604 —
502–548 unweaned 521 152 311.50–339.00 $329.04 $1,714 +2.26
501–545 522 231 308.00–337.00 $325.23 $1,698 -6.04
552–588 564 156 295.00–327.50 $310.07 $1,749 +1.30
572–595 unweaned 583 54 282.00–310.00 $298.27 $1,739 +3.07
604–606 thin fleshed 606 39 317.00–319.75 $319.40 $1,936 —
600–644 619 231 275.00–312.00 $296.49 $1,835 +8.19
630–640 unweaned 638 8 267.50–293.00 $286.70 $1,829 +3.66
642 642 16 281.00 $281.00 $1,804 -7.30
650–669 664 11 254.00–264.00 $256.67 $1,704 -23.28
655–677 unweaned 668 48 252.00–267.00 $254.12 $1,698 +0.81
652–692 670 93 270.00–294.50 $284.10 $1,903 +4.15
705–738 710 125 252.00–283.50 $273.44 $1,941 +9.41
757–784 775 54 245.00–266.50 $257.95 $1,999 +8.05
805–843 826 178 242.00–260.50 $256.25 $2,117 +7.80
855–884 873 142 237.85–244.25 $241.08 $2,105 +1.21
905–906 906 126 240.50–244.75 $242.66 $2,198 +12.69
953 953 13 222.00 $222.00 $2,116 +4.14
1012 1012 54 212.00 $212.00 $2,145 -12.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
357 357 7 367.00 $367.00 $1,310 +9.67
420–445 432 45 265.00–357.50 $331.19 $1,431 —
455–495 485 62 310.00–328.00 $320.58 $1,555 -5.48
487 unweaned 487 5 310.00 $310.00 $1,510 ±0.00
509–521 unweaned 514 12 287.50–305.00 $297.61 $1,530 —
500–546 530 53 299.00–313.00 $303.45 $1,608 +39.68
560–599 589 67 260.00–305.00 $294.89 $1,737 +4.68
601–649 625 39 258.00–289.00 $274.96 $1,718 -3.27
651–699 675 43 240.00–260.00 $249.67 $1,685 +27.17
703 703 29 258.00 $258.00 $1,814 +36.85
796 796 5 249.50 $249.50 $1,986 +57.10
804 804 8 236.50 $236.50 $1,901 +43.87
966 966 5 197.00 $197.00 $1,903 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1007–1130 1065 7 167.00–175.00 $170.23 $1,813 —
1122–1247 1133 13 180.00–185.00 $184.27 $2,088 —
1175–1336 1232 13 168.00–180.00 $174.44 $2,149 -4.29
1225–1585 1390 104 170.00–183.50 $179.31 $2,492 —
1318–1555 1398 33 179.00–186.75 $183.75 $2,569 —
1409–1459 1432 17 185.00–186.00 $185.65 $2,659 +3.52
1337–1598 1475 107 184.00–188.00 $185.70 $2,739 —
1510–1575 1543 2 179.00–184.50 $181.81 $2,805 -4.02
1538–1665 1604 17 181.00–188.00 $185.40 $2,974 —
1615–1790 1739 23 173.50–183.50 $180.15 $3,133 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
613 613 10 250.00 $250.00 $1,532 -4.00
709–741 731 19 230.00–235.00 $231.53 $1,692 -5.87
766 766 7 232.00 $232.00 $1,777 -3.00
833 833 6 230.00 $230.00 $1,916 +2.00
1063 1063 6 158.00 $158.00 $1,680 -29.00
1138 1138 6 162.50 $162.50 $1,849 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
309 309 6 390.00 $390.00 $1,205 —
386 386 18 387.00 $387.00 $1,494 —
521 521 9 319.00 $319.00 $1,662 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 15 315.00 $315.00 $1,433 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
531 531 9 293.00 $293.00 $1,556 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
213 213 6 370.00 $370.00 $788 —
329–347 344 33 360.00–365.00 $361.99 $1,245 +31.99
353–388 unweaned 374 31 337.50–346.00 $343.42 $1,284 —
350–387 377 41 330.00–390.00 $367.76 $1,386 +49.28
410–448 428 77 315.00–341.00 $322.40 $1,380 +10.20
420–447 unweaned 432 48 307.00–336.00 $322.10 $1,391 -6.74
450–494 468 112 290.00–330.00 $314.81 $1,473 +5.21
461–499 unweaned 487 87 280.00–326.00 $303.85 $1,480 —
501–549 518 189 280.00–313.00 $293.46 $1,520 +4.33
506–547 unweaned 524 70 268.00–309.00 $289.44 $1,517 -11.41
532–549 thin fleshed 540 19 305.00–314.00 $309.67 $1,672 —
553–574 thin fleshed 560 13 297.50–307.00 $300.58 $1,683 —
550–597 unweaned 570 64 256.00–270.00 $265.06 $1,511 +8.08
553–596 575 296 260.00–297.50 $281.70 $1,620 +13.91
593 593 11 253.00 $253.00 $1,500 -14.79
608–613 unweaned 611 26 245.00–256.00 $249.70 $1,526 —
601–644 617 168 250.00–288.00 $272.14 $1,679 +16.67
615–649 640 19 243.50–246.00 $245.37 $1,570 -10.10
651 unweaned 651 11 223.00 $223.00 $1,452 —
652–697 673 155 220.00–262.00 $251.04 $1,689 +9.99
698 698 12 215.00 $215.00 $1,501 -69.75
704–732 714 442 233.00–256.50 $246.27 $1,758 +40.27
757–796 788 28 212.50–225.00 $222.43 $1,753 +4.79
800–839 823 68 216.50–221.75 $219.48 $1,806 -3.35
998 998 6 195.00 $195.00 $1,946 +4.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080–1140 1103 6 164.00–177.00 $173.81 $1,917 —
1055–1395 1206 10 165.00–176.00 $172.75 $2,083 —
1175–1505 1329 48 175.00–185.00 $180.38 $2,397 —
1340 1340 14 173.25 $173.25 $2,322 —
1204–1598 1359 53 180.00–186.25 $184.12 $2,502 -0.74
1193–1536 1363 225 181.00–190.00 $186.23 $2,538 +1.37
1301–1424 1364 33 172.50–180.75 $176.29 $2,405 -8.57
1240–1535 1422 16 159.00–172.00 $165.10 $2,348 -16.87
1595 1595 9 177.00 $177.00 $2,823 —
1643 1643 4 183.50 $183.50 $3,015 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 338 6 352.50 $352.50 $1,191 +80.21
342 unweaned 342 5 337.50 $337.50 $1,154 —
389–397 393 18 310.00–335.00 $321.11 $1,262 —
410–443 430 51 300.00–316.00 $312.02 $1,342 +4.52
451–468 unweaned 457 20 282.50–310.00 $300.80 $1,375 +26.23
487–499 493 33 269.00–297.50 $283.96 $1,400 +24.09
503–534 519 42 255.00–276.00 $265.70 $1,379 -7.73
557–593 573 45 250.00–266.00 $260.80 $1,494 +18.16
618 618 25 242.00 $242.00 $1,496 +40.29
735 735 9 217.00 $217.00 $1,595 +14.92
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
571–579 575 18 258.00–265.00 $261.12 $1,501 +3.01
664–671 667 26 227.00–245.00 $237.34 $1,583 -3.08
720 720 5 216.00 $216.00 $1,555 —
1105 1105 6 166.00 $166.00 $1,834 —
1155 1155 22 178.00 $178.00 $2,056 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
414 414 19 300.00 $300.00 $1,242 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
504 504 10 255.00 $255.00 $1,285 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
486 486 8 280.00 $280.00 $1,361 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413 413 6 210.00 $210.00 $867 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
292 292 3 340.00 $340.00 $993 —
292 292 3 340.00 $340.00 $993 —
375 375 6 235.00 $235.00 $881 —
440 440 10 315.00 $315.00 $1,386 —
578 578 6 287.50 $287.50 $1,662 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
547 547 6 280.00 $280.00 $1,532 —
597 597 6 272.00 $272.00 $1,624 —
794 794 6 209.00 $209.00 $1,659 —
886 886 7 200.00 $200.00 $1,772 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1295 1246 75-80% 6 140.00–157.50 $145.10 $1,808 —
1335–1690 1443 75-80% 14 136.00–146.00 $139.58 $2,014 —
1135–1865 1473 75-80% 74 125.00–135.50 $129.77 $1,912 —
1330–1675 1556 75-80% 16 115.00–124.50 $120.17 $1,870 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045–1270 1152 80-85% 16 120.00–145.00 $128.72 $1,483 —
1200–1345 1270 80-85% 8 124.00–139.00 $131.15 $1,666 —
1115–1620 1352 80-85% 22 103.00–114.00 $110.11 $1,489 —
1090–1590 1353 80-85% 36 114.00–123.00 $118.44 $1,602 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
905–970 938 85-90% 2 60.00–65.00 $62.41 $585 —
915–1000 958 85-90% 2 114.00–115.00 $114.48 $1,097 —
965–995 979 85-90% 4 108.00–112.00 $109.26 $1,070 —
1095–1175 1135 85-90% 2 112.00–114.00 $112.96 $1,282 +11.98
1040–1550 1230 85-90% 15 97.00–110.00 $103.85 $1,277 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970–1205 1087 3 110.00–115.00 $112.97 $1,228 —
1110–1275 1219 7 125.00–168.00 $141.66 $1,727 —
1425 1425 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,639 —
1365–2160 1672 17 159.00–174.00 $164.68 $2,753 —
1545–2655 1937 18 130.00–155.00 $144.74 $2,804 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 14 235.00 $235.00 $1,269 —
627–642 633 38 200.00–220.00 $211.46 $1,339 —
766 766 48 210.00 $210.00 $1,609 —
903–933 924 62 160.00–185.00 $162.44 $1,501 —
987 987 78 185.00 $185.00 $1,826 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1036 1036 10 147.50 $147.50 $1,528 —
1106 1106 34 137.50 $137.50 $1,521 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1126–1215 1148 5 162.50–165.00 $163.53 $1,877 —
1208–1300 1234 8 175.00–178.50 $176.22 $2,175 —
1474 1474 4 158.00 $158.00 $2,329 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
958 958 16 135.00 $135.00 $1,293 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
445 445 6 230.00 $230.00 $1,024 —
601 601 16 205.00 $205.00 $1,232 —
691–692 691 22 195.00–210.00 $205.90 $1,423 —
823–829 828 26 185.00–200.00 $196.56 $1,628 —
964 964 16 190.00 $190.00 $1,832 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1340–1540 1433 3 168.00–170.00 $169.38 $2,427 —
1515–1540 1535 5 155.00–167.00 $157.37 $2,416 —
1250–1745 1553 13 175.00–183.50 $177.44 $2,756 —
1598 1598 8 173.00 $173.00 $2,765 —
1590–1720 1653 12 166.00–167.00 $166.17 $2,747 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1218 1218 10 185.00 $185.00 $2,253 —

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Dairy Heifers

Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
735 735 36 110.00 $110.00 $808 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
531 531 8 150.00 $150.00 $796 —
728 728 5 125.00 $125.00 $910 —
1157 1157 14 155.00 $155.00 $1,793 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1517–1620 1543 4 157.00–159.00 $157.53 $2,431 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
167–197 172 17 300.00–350.00 $339.91 $585 —
211 211 12 310.00 $310.00 $654 —
405–439 430 11 260.00–265.00 $261.29 $1,124 —
498 498 26 272.50 $272.50 $1,357 —
543 543 14 250.00 $250.00 $1,358 —
686 686 8 205.00 $205.00 $1,406 —
783 783 11 185.00 $185.00 $1,449 —
809 809 14 207.50 $207.50 $1,679 —
932 932 24 193.00 $193.00 $1,799 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170–1250 1191 4 125.00–151.00 $134.03 $1,596 —
1325–1370 1348 3 164.00–172.00 $168.65 $2,273 —
1493 1493 4 165.50 $165.50 $2,471 —
1120–1781 1589 45 148.00–162.00 $156.60 $2,488 —
1410–1910 1621 45 160.00–175.00 $166.41 $2,698 —

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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.