Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 29, 2024

9,305 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $223.10/cwt +4.94 vs last sale · ≈ $2,165/hd at 970 lb · 563 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $308.90/cwt +5.40 vs last sale · ≈ $1,611/hd at 522 lb · 403 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $347.39/cwt +7.69 vs last sale · ≈ $1,818/hd at 523 lb · 367 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 9,305 6,764 8,315
Feeder cattle 7,700 5,909 7,369
Slaughter cattle 1,605 855 946

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers 4.00 to 8.00 higher, heifers 5.00 to 10.00 higher. Very good demand for steers and heifers, especially at those auctions that hosted a large sale where buyers could make full loads of uniform cattle. Turnout time is upon us and cattle producers are eager to have some light cattle to run on grass and sell in the fall as a yearling. The best demand remains for those cattle under 600 lbs, as those cattle have so many options as to when they can be marketed. The cash fed cattle market topped at 187.00 in the country, yet the summer months of the CME Live Cattle contracts are only in the 170s which is keeping a lid on the feeder cattle market from advancing much further.

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
340 340 4 380.00 $380.00 $1,292 —
364–385 374 39 370.00–392.50 $383.67 $1,435 -49.12
363–391 unweaned 379 23 370.00–425.00 $409.68 $1,553 —
401–443 420 133 348.00–400.50 $378.20 $1,588 +18.77
411–442 unweaned 433 25 365.00–397.50 $385.40 $1,669 —
478 unweaned 478 6 356.00 $356.00 $1,702 +18.24
451–498 481 196 342.50–384.75 $364.27 $1,752 +24.58
500–531 unweaned 512 90 310.00–352.50 $339.63 $1,739 +16.20
501–548 527 267 335.00–367.50 $349.20 $1,840 +9.97
527 thin fleshed 527 10 369.00 $369.00 $1,945 —
550–593 569 243 300.00–338.00 $321.74 $1,831 +3.36
554–586 unweaned 570 71 300.25–320.00 $309.23 $1,763 -10.95
573–596 580 16 292.50–310.00 $304.38 $1,765 -14.00
605–615 unweaned 611 16 287.00–299.00 $293.78 $1,795 —
601–645 616 185 293.00–327.50 $313.85 $1,933 +7.97
631 thin fleshed 631 9 331.00 $331.00 $2,089 —
666–697 673 36 262.00–295.00 $287.40 $1,934 -1.96
651–698 674 253 263.00–313.50 $291.21 $1,963 +1.85
672–688 unweaned 683 16 264.00–267.00 $266.08 $1,817 —
703–748 723 69 258.00–285.00 $268.34 $1,940 -0.72
745 unweaned 745 11 250.00 $250.00 $1,862 —
751 751 5 256.00 $256.00 $1,923 -1.17
760–798 781 316 237.00–271.50 $257.47 $2,011 +0.30
818–844 827 323 236.25–262.50 $251.50 $2,080 +7.21
857 unweaned 857 6 220.00 $220.00 $1,885 —
850–898 882 222 226.00–238.00 $232.84 $2,054 -3.33
930 fancy 930 73 234.50 $234.50 $2,181 —
902–939 934 65 200.00–222.00 $219.06 $2,046 -19.25
954–995 970 554 202.50–230.00 $223.25 $2,166 +5.09
984 984 9 214.00 $214.00 $2,106 -4.16
1080 1080 46 202.50 $202.50 $2,187 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1345 1241 7 150.00–174.00 $164.53 $2,042 —
1268–1325 1287 11 170.00–181.00 $176.71 $2,274 —
1110–1608 1370 31 175.00–183.00 $179.42 $2,458 +0.82
1305–1490 1439 39 180.00–185.00 $183.09 $2,635 -1.85
1220–1685 1476 285 183.00–192.00 $187.59 $2,769 —
1552–1571 1556 48 183.50–188.25 $187.35 $2,915 —
1529–1680 1590 39 184.25–186.25 $185.61 $2,951 —
1600–1703 1667 46 182.00–186.75 $184.25 $3,071 +6.13
1710–1825 1746 4 186.00–190.00 $188.21 $3,286 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–445 423 85 300.00–358.00 $342.57 $1,449 —
449 unweaned 449 12 338.00 $338.00 $1,518 —
480–498 485 22 329.00–349.00 $342.14 $1,659 —
514 unweaned 514 9 314.00 $314.00 $1,614 —
501–546 534 40 265.00–332.00 $303.47 $1,621 +18.30
585–597 592 43 285.00–307.50 $297.02 $1,758 -11.98
626–638 633 11 285.00–288.00 $286.65 $1,814 —
651–693 673 29 239.00–274.00 $265.63 $1,788 +8.60
761 761 4 249.00 $249.00 $1,895 +9.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
397 397 5 372.00 $372.00 $1,477 —
404–433 413 14 322.50–340.00 $329.13 $1,359 —
542 542 20 335.00 $335.00 $1,816 —
561–581 574 25 279.00–304.00 $295.20 $1,694 —
603–619 608 12 267.50–288.00 $281.05 $1,709 —
662 662 6 274.00 $274.00 $1,814 —
718 718 12 263.00 $263.00 $1,888 —
761 761 16 264.50 $264.50 $2,013 —
1004 1004 7 215.00 $215.00 $2,159 -6.66
1005 1005 12 204.00 $204.00 $2,050 -17.66

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318–348 337 18 325.00–385.00 $359.21 $1,211 —
352–397 unweaned 373 23 322.50–355.00 $337.05 $1,257 —
362–398 382 103 337.50–364.00 $346.86 $1,325 -11.47
389 thin fleshed 389 26 335.00 $335.00 $1,303 —
400–435 416 106 302.50–360.00 $330.03 $1,373 -10.06
423 unweaned 423 10 357.00 $357.00 $1,510 —
460–473 unweaned 465 45 317.00–339.00 $328.41 $1,527 +10.91
454–487 473 188 301.00–347.50 $325.50 $1,540 +8.82
464–499 thin fleshed 484 31 323.00–324.00 $323.60 $1,566 —
494 494 7 318.00 $318.00 $1,571 +28.00
505–513 fancy 508 26 330.50–336.00 $332.64 $1,690 +18.64
503–539 517 12 295.00–312.00 $301.56 $1,559 -0.03
517 thin fleshed 517 13 329.00 $329.00 $1,701 —
519–521 unweaned 520 18 295.00–296.00 $295.61 $1,537 -8.81
501–546 523 334 276.00–322.00 $307.25 $1,607 +5.66
571–577 unweaned 575 22 269.00–285.00 $274.17 $1,576 -16.83
552–598 577 282 261.00–304.00 $281.57 $1,625 +2.15
610–646 637 245 245.00–283.00 $264.49 $1,685 -4.92
650–696 669 298 230.00–275.00 $262.75 $1,758 -6.50
682 682 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,671 -9.16
701–747 723 285 225.00–258.00 $247.00 $1,786 +9.46
750–785 774 240 226.00–245.00 $236.74 $1,832 +1.17
826 826 5 214.00 $214.00 $1,768 -15.08
813–844 828 180 215.00–245.00 $225.09 $1,864 -3.99
859–899 868 99 201.00–216.75 $212.96 $1,848 -3.54
890 890 13 233.50 $233.50 $2,078 +17.00
916–935 924 18 203.00–213.00 $208.71 $1,928 —
976 976 11 194.00 $194.00 $1,893 +4.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
960–1275 1154 11 141.00–173.00 $169.14 $1,952 —
1141–1193 1167 10 174.50–181.00 $176.49 $2,060 —
1125–1595 1261 43 177.00–184.00 $181.69 $2,291 +2.54
1122–1574 1387 266 182.25–194.25 $186.66 $2,589 —
1402 1402 22 180.00 $180.00 $2,524 -4.44
1260–1485 1444 16 182.50–185.50 $184.86 $2,669 +0.42
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
422–438 433 13 300.00–322.50 $309.72 $1,341 +12.22
452–486 468 25 250.00–295.00 $285.24 $1,335 -8.76
517–543 526 40 252.50–287.00 $275.10 $1,447 +1.92
576–599 592 48 256.00–269.00 $263.62 $1,561 +24.81
688–693 690 9 224.00–225.00 $224.33 $1,548 —
734 734 11 211.00 $211.00 $1,549 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
439 439 10 334.00 $334.00 $1,466 —
458 458 4 320.00 $320.00 $1,466 —
515–544 540 39 287.50–288.00 $287.94 $1,555 —
579 579 16 279.00 $279.00 $1,615 —
656 656 7 256.00 $256.00 $1,679 —
728 728 10 245.00 $245.00 $1,784 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
533 533 8 300.00 $300.00 $1,599 —
699 699 11 236.00 $236.00 $1,650 —
965 965 7 186.00 $186.00 $1,795 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 unweaned 435 4 366.00 $366.00 $1,592 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1505 1301 75-80% 31 135.00–158.00 $143.36 $1,865 —
1110–1800 1499 75-80% 55 124.00–135.00 $130.30 $1,953 +0.21
1150–1820 1505 75-80% 19 111.00–125.00 $120.89 $1,819 -0.51
1235–1860 1524 75-80% 47 135.00–150.00 $139.96 $2,133 +18.56
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–950 933 80-85% 2 135.00–142.00 $138.57 $1,293 —
1055–1385 1183 80-85% 22 124.00–165.00 $135.04 $1,598 —
1020–1550 1245 80-85% 36 115.00–128.00 $119.26 $1,485 —
1025–1665 1356 80-85% 23 100.00–115.00 $110.21 $1,494 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
670–980 825 85-90% 5 110.00–117.00 $114.14 $942 —
695–985 919 85-90% 7 85.00–118.00 $101.27 $931 +8.37
1045–1340 1150 85-90% 6 80.00–92.50 $85.90 $988 -19.04
920–1590 1173 85-90% 17 95.00–111.00 $104.43 $1,225 -0.51

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920–1295 1117 12 122.00–165.50 $136.07 $1,520 —
1340–1345 1343 2 113.00–121.00 $117.01 $1,571 —
1310–2420 1777 36 129.00–158.00 $145.78 $2,591 -16.43
1515–2440 1911 16 158.00–172.00 $164.56 $3,145 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1302–1392 1347 6 174.00–178.00 $176.07 $2,372 —
1334–1406 1370 10 170.00–170.50 $170.24 $2,332 —
1379–1410 1389 6 175.00–177.00 $176.32 $2,449 —
1585–1670 1613 3 180.00–187.75 $185.08 $2,985 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1458 1458 2 176.00 $176.00 $2,566 —
1308–1793 1612 60 171.00–188.50 $180.12 $2,904 —
1643–1715 1689 11 172.00–175.50 $173.87 $2,937 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1335–1873 1603 80 159.00–174.00 $164.85 $2,643 —
1400–1715 1626 16 154.00–163.00 $155.67 $2,531 —

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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.