Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 20, 2024

11,683 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $292.96/cwt -2.99 vs last sale · ≈ $1,668/hd at 569 lb · 739 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $316.95/cwt +9.29 vs last sale · ≈ $1,964/hd at 620 lb · 705 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $328.99/cwt -8.35 vs last sale · ≈ $1,895/hd at 576 lb · 669 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 11,683 7,134 8,269
Feeder cattle 10,627 6,892 7,291
Slaughter cattle 1,056 242 978

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 700 lbs 4.00 to 6.00 higher, instances of 10.00 to 12.00 higher, over 700 lbs steady to 4.00 higher, instances to 8.00 higher on 800-850 lbs. Feeder heifers 8.00 to 10.00 higher. Very good demand for all weights of steers and heifers, however the best demand is centered on those lighter cattle that will reach finished weights during the late winter/early spring next year. Cash fed cattle up to 193.00, keeping a positive 10.00 basis over the futures, is really keeping a fire lit underneath the feeder cattle as cattlemen are very hopeful for the future months of the market.

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
323–346 340 12 412.00–432.00 $427.25 $1,453 —
352–389 thin fleshed 373 43 415.00–430.00 $425.06 $1,585 —
367–391 unweaned 373 26 381.00–412.00 $403.26 $1,504 —
370–399 389 81 362.50–416.00 $398.38 $1,550 +5.88
411–445 429 123 356.00–397.50 $381.70 $1,637 -2.98
417–447 unweaned 436 8 350.00–387.50 $363.46 $1,585 -37.04
450–488 fancy 468 133 380.00–405.00 $388.81 $1,820 —
455–498 479 328 341.00–390.00 $368.83 $1,767 +11.96
479–494 unweaned 483 85 322.50–359.00 $347.11 $1,677 —
498 498 11 322.50 $322.50 $1,606 -34.37
504–530 fancy 519 61 364.00–370.00 $366.29 $1,901 —
508–548 532 306 317.50–370.00 $344.66 $1,834 -14.04
517–547 unweaned 542 17 326.00–332.50 $331.41 $1,796 -36.87
551–594 unweaned 575 80 290.00–325.00 $313.29 $1,801 —
551–596 576 589 306.00–348.00 $331.12 $1,907 -3.78
601–612 fancy 609 126 327.00–340.00 $336.64 $2,050 —
600–648 622 579 290.00–328.00 $312.66 $1,945 +6.17
662–689 unweaned 667 37 266.00–285.00 $280.60 $1,872 +0.42
666–668 thin fleshed 667 28 315.00–316.00 $315.36 $2,103 —
652–699 680 510 276.00–316.00 $293.50 $1,996 +3.01
703 fancy 703 5 299.00 $299.00 $2,102 —
702–747 731 411 250.00–282.50 $274.00 $2,003 -1.71
760 760 8 240.00 $240.00 $1,824 -11.00
760 unweaned 760 6 245.00 $245.00 $1,862 —
751–796 765 279 245.00–282.50 $270.52 $2,069 +19.52
802–848 824 179 240.00–265.00 $260.07 $2,143 +8.01
852–895 881 274 239.00–254.85 $252.16 $2,222 +4.12
895 895 6 234.50 $234.50 $2,099 -13.54
915 fancy 915 64 248.25 $248.25 $2,271 —
916–922 920 22 237.00–240.00 $237.95 $2,189 -3.92
984 984 13 217.00 $217.00 $2,135 -5.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330–338 333 8 300.00–390.00 $341.64 $1,138 —
364–390 376 36 355.00–382.50 $365.13 $1,373 —
393 unweaned 393 3 357.50 $357.50 $1,405 —
413–443 430 35 317.00–358.00 $348.42 $1,498 -20.58
454–499 484 77 312.50–360.00 $342.60 $1,658 +17.62
526 unweaned 526 5 310.00 $310.00 $1,631 -3.00
504–546 531 120 300.00–330.00 $316.92 $1,683 +17.48
550–597 579 183 270.00–319.00 $316.02 $1,830 +4.66
605–645 624 79 270.00–291.00 $282.20 $1,761 -5.63
660–698 677 22 260.00–273.00 $265.52 $1,798 —
748 748 3 244.00 $244.00 $1,825 —
783 783 4 246.00 $246.00 $1,926 +12.00
807–849 828 10 210.00–217.00 $213.59 $1,769 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1195 1129 4 156.00–171.00 $163.45 $1,845 —
1205–1605 1323 35 182.00–189.00 $187.10 $2,475 +5.10
1298–1364 1347 14 187.00–187.50 $187.25 $2,522 —
1375 1375 4 191.50 $191.50 $2,633 —
1379 1379 4 189.00 $189.00 $2,606 —
1220–1690 1469 85 190.00–197.00 $194.19 $2,853 —
1534–1592 1556 57 187.50–192.00 $189.98 $2,956 -1.82
1568–1581 1576 8 190.50–193.00 $192.07 $3,027 +0.27
1623–1738 1683 31 188.50–193.50 $190.83 $3,212 —
1930 1930 3 183.00 $183.00 $3,532 —
1785–2031 1984 21 182.00–187.75 $182.99 $3,631 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
519 519 25 311.00 $311.00 $1,614 —
618–628 626 21 281.00–299.00 $285.23 $1,786 —
663 663 23 309.75 $309.75 $2,054 —
824 824 27 257.00 $257.00 $2,118 —
987 987 6 216.00 $216.00 $2,132 —
1018 1018 37 227.00 $227.00 $2,311 +4.72
1108 1108 11 196.00 $196.00 $2,172 -10.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
299 299 5 375.00 $375.00 $1,121 —
337 thin fleshed 337 3 377.50 $377.50 $1,272 —
332–348 343 35 357.50–372.00 $361.91 $1,241 -9.18
357–381 fancy 367 32 392.00–394.00 $392.84 $1,442 —
369 unweaned 369 7 355.00 $355.00 $1,310 —
364–388 376 74 321.00–385.00 $348.46 $1,310 +2.46
413–429 unweaned 416 19 322.00–341.00 $336.88 $1,401 +2.88
400–448 419 193 310.00–359.00 $338.90 $1,420 +15.92
450–494 469 422 300.00–345.00 $323.03 $1,515 -0.70
472–495 unweaned 474 96 294.00–313.00 $309.48 $1,467 -13.52
519 thin fleshed 519 48 324.00 $324.00 $1,682 +7.00
500–547 527 445 277.50–320.00 $302.11 $1,592 +9.94
528–536 unweaned 532 25 286.00–297.50 $291.56 $1,551 +9.89
554–569 thin fleshed 562 97 303.50–320.00 $306.89 $1,725 +4.39
550–592 unweaned 563 49 262.50–285.00 $274.88 $1,548 -25.12
552–599 571 593 270.00–307.50 $292.17 $1,668 -3.31
612 612 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,530 -24.27
600–649 619 444 267.00–308.50 $287.15 $1,777 +12.88
632–648 unweaned 635 34 249.00–264.00 $259.71 $1,649 +9.71
652–659 unweaned 656 22 241.50–256.00 $248.71 $1,632 —
650–680 658 206 251.00–285.00 $269.71 $1,775 +9.42
700–744 718 396 235.00–265.00 $255.11 $1,832 +7.70
752–783 770 166 224.00–248.50 $242.61 $1,868 -0.18
813–840 837 82 230.00–241.00 $230.77 $1,932 -2.34
850–899 875 21 215.00–229.00 $222.12 $1,944 +6.03
902–907 903 44 216.75–220.50 $219.64 $1,983 +4.06
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
995–1190 1117 3 140.00–173.00 $156.41 $1,747 -1.09
1158–1260 1200 11 182.00–189.00 $184.65 $2,216 —
1040–1440 1219 41 177.00–189.00 $183.36 $2,235 —
1248–1465 1332 54 183.00–188.00 $186.11 $2,479 —
1173–1610 1379 113 189.00–198.00 $192.97 $2,661 +2.49
1327–1437 1430 82 188.00–192.50 $189.39 $2,708 —
1565 1565 2 185.00 $185.00 $2,895 —
1550–1720 1651 8 188.50–191.00 $190.35 $3,143 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
349 349 8 285.00 $285.00 $995 —
429–448 440 67 277.50–317.50 $310.31 $1,365 —
457–498 479 109 240.00–312.50 $302.20 $1,448 +7.20
500–546 529 51 262.50–286.00 $279.01 $1,476 -5.79
578–597 590 27 251.00–277.50 $263.45 $1,554 -2.62
608–638 622 28 254.00–272.00 $263.91 $1,642 +17.04
655 655 5 240.00 $240.00 $1,572 -3.49
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
446 446 4 306.00 $306.00 $1,365 —
498 498 14 295.00 $295.00 $1,469 —
515 515 5 252.00 $252.00 $1,298 —
586 586 12 270.00 $270.00 $1,582 —
600 600 34 253.00 $253.00 $1,518 —
701–748 712 58 239.00–253.00 $249.70 $1,778 —
1068 1068 8 191.00 $191.00 $2,040 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490–495 492 9 260.00–310.00 $287.65 $1,415 —
511 511 4 280.00 $280.00 $1,431 -2.80
641 641 5 272.00 $272.00 $1,744 —
691 691 5 255.00 $255.00 $1,762 +10.00
694 unweaned 694 5 249.00 $249.00 $1,728 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1455 1266 75-80% 15 140.00–159.00 $148.23 $1,877 —
1165–1845 1463 75-80% 28 130.00–137.00 $134.07 $1,961 —
1250–1905 1565 75-80% 34 139.00–151.00 $145.26 $2,273 —
1390–1830 1577 75-80% 3 120.00–130.00 $125.65 $1,982 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900–990 955 80-85% 3 122.00–140.00 $131.42 $1,255 —
1010–1420 1136 80-85% 19 125.00–136.00 $130.58 $1,483 —
1010–1385 1184 80-85% 4 140.00–152.00 $147.26 $1,744 +15.55
1035–1635 1318 80-85% 11 103.00–124.00 $114.95 $1,515 —
1130–1580 1334 80-85% 21 119.00–130.00 $124.60 $1,662 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835–980 911 85-90% 8 102.50–122.00 $113.23 $1,032 —
975–985 980 85-90% 2 95.00–98.00 $96.51 $946 —
1045–1545 1213 85-90% 3 105.00–118.00 $109.60 $1,329 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1280 1236 5 129.00–170.00 $152.16 $1,881 —
1325–1985 1654 11 159.00–175.00 $165.13 $2,731 —
1380–2365 1882 5 130.00–152.00 $145.08 $2,730 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1207–1440 1300 11 183.00–186.25 $184.67 $2,401 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1383–1403 1393 4 181.50–187.25 $184.40 $2,569 —
1386–1655 1480 52 182.75–189.75 $185.24 $2,742 —
1495–1565 1523 5 181.00–181.50 $181.21 $2,760 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1300 1300 10 159.00 $159.00 $2,067 —
1165–1590 1370 4 130.00–140.00 $132.81 $1,819 —
1400–1623 1563 28 157.00–165.50 $163.32 $2,553 —
1330–1700 1618 30 165.00–186.50 $173.69 $2,810 —

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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.