Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 30, 2024

9,695 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $241.67/cwt +5.21 vs last sale · ≈ $2,252/hd at 932 lb · 574 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $307.64/cwt +6.56 vs last sale · ≈ $1,640/hd at 533 lb · 562 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $287.90/cwt -0.74 vs last sale · ≈ $1,646/hd at 572 lb · 548 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 9,695 6,021 9,690
Feeder cattle 8,643 4,188 8,154
Slaughter cattle 1,052 1,833 1,536

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Spring born steer and heifer calves sold with higher undertones, compared to last week's limited offering. Yearling feeder steers and heifers steady to 5.00 higher. Moderate to good demand for spring born calves as more of these calves are showing up in town. Good demand for yearling steers and heifers as the cash fed cattle market moves higher again and the cattle futures complex has found a support level and moved higher as well.

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
303–340 327 19 346.00–387.50 $364.69 $1,193 —
335–338 unweaned 337 12 335.00–385.00 $363.31 $1,224 —
355–396 370 20 345.00–375.00 $354.79 $1,313 —
362–387 unweaned 370 12 360.00–387.50 $376.03 $1,391 -6.51
400–442 unweaned 420 35 322.50–353.00 $343.22 $1,442 +23.66
403–443 426 203 292.50–378.00 $345.06 $1,470 —
453–498 472 206 286.00–346.00 $324.91 $1,534 —
453–497 unweaned 480 178 304.00–332.50 $324.88 $1,559 +11.95
485–488 fancy 486 33 309.75–320.00 $313.80 $1,525 -17.20
512–545 unweaned 522 84 288.50–322.00 $308.62 $1,611 +5.64
501–549 535 478 281.00–324.00 $307.47 $1,645 +12.34
553 553 6 255.00 $255.00 $1,410 -22.84
550–573 unweaned 560 132 277.00–302.00 $291.79 $1,634 +5.67
569 fancy 569 10 292.00 $292.00 $1,661 -13.00
550–598 576 400 271.00–301.50 $287.01 $1,653 +9.17
600–609 fancy 604 35 278.00–288.25 $283.23 $1,711 —
603–647 623 405 258.00–295.00 $280.32 $1,746 -2.25
626 thin fleshed 626 32 280.00 $280.00 $1,753 —
622–629 unweaned 627 20 265.00–284.50 $277.72 $1,741 +7.05
650 unweaned 650 6 275.00 $275.00 $1,788 +5.04
650–699 672 145 243.50–273.00 $260.41 $1,750 +2.77
716–723 unweaned 721 15 227.00–245.50 $239.37 $1,726 —
703–748 730 317 238.50–274.00 $262.33 $1,915 +3.76
745 fancy 745 14 242.00 $242.00 $1,803 —
750–799 764 280 235.50–267.75 $257.24 $1,965 +2.58
818–842 833 462 246.50–263.00 $258.33 $2,152 +5.85
855–886 873 273 229.50–248.25 $243.24 $2,123 -2.53
908–945 932 574 233.00–247.50 $241.67 $2,252 +5.21
955–994 974 158 213.50–235.75 $231.94 $2,259 +5.61
1046 1046 8 203.50 $203.50 $2,129 —
1108 1108 4 200.00 $200.00 $2,216 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
905–1252 1129 18 143.00–190.00 $169.87 $1,918 —
1000–1240 1171 6 177.50–190.50 $182.57 $2,138 —
945–1295 1237 6 180.00–188.00 $181.02 $2,239 -0.72
1190–1445 1338 45 175.50–189.50 $185.04 $2,476 +3.18
1230–1495 1383 27 179.00–184.25 $182.22 $2,520 —
1110–1695 1468 289 188.00–196.50 $192.55 $2,827 —
1477 1477 2 183.25 $183.25 $2,707 —
1576 1576 9 184.10 $184.10 $2,901 -1.80
1600–1690 1669 5 180.25–182.50 $181.04 $3,022 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
331–349 unweaned 342 10 295.00–312.50 $305.72 $1,046 —
362–387 382 10 275.00–329.00 $318.77 $1,218 +18.77
405–443 429 29 290.00–335.00 $309.62 $1,328 -0.38
449 unweaned 449 2 317.00 $317.00 $1,423 —
468–498 486 53 276.00–310.00 $287.38 $1,397 —
505–548 524 38 264.00–294.00 $283.46 $1,485 -3.54
567–593 577 13 250.00–255.00 $251.98 $1,454 —
640–644 642 9 239.00–252.00 $246.24 $1,581 -27.76
648 unweaned 648 5 243.00 $243.00 $1,575 —
683 683 10 254.00 $254.00 $1,735 —
845 845 6 232.00 $232.00 $1,960 -13.00
897 897 76 228.00 $228.00 $2,045 -1.19
928 928 4 223.00 $223.00 $2,069 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
469 469 12 290.00 $290.00 $1,360 —
508–534 525 20 284.50–290.00 $285.98 $1,501 —
543 unweaned 543 3 265.00 $265.00 $1,439 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
546 unweaned 546 12 280.00 $280.00 $1,529 —
1043 1043 7 215.25 $215.25 $2,245 —
1093 1093 3 211.00 $211.00 $2,306 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
365–387 380 9 1,275.00–1,380.00 $1,308.65 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
451 451 4 271.00 $271.00 $1,222 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–336 320 28 295.00–335.00 $316.93 $1,014 —
301–345 unweaned 328 13 300.00–315.00 $310.59 $1,019 —
355–392 375 50 277.50–350.00 $311.99 $1,170 +21.99
355–392 unweaned 383 32 271.00–320.00 $307.54 $1,178 -2.87
400–449 424 175 260.00–320.00 $298.55 $1,266 +8.56
402–448 unweaned 434 94 280.00–315.00 $296.00 $1,285 +13.51
451–494 unweaned 477 124 260.00–315.00 $284.88 $1,359 -6.53
451–499 479 319 249.00–315.00 $286.12 $1,371 +4.84
500–548 518 243 255.00–290.50 $278.08 $1,440 -1.92
500–540 unweaned 520 89 257.00–298.00 $276.70 $1,439 -3.77
523 fancy 523 25 285.00 $285.00 $1,491 —
550–592 571 318 239.00–275.00 $259.05 $1,479 -11.84
562–593 unweaned 580 27 251.00–266.00 $260.28 $1,510 -16.82
578–596 589 22 268.00–273.50 $270.21 $1,592 -0.68
602 fancy 602 26 245.00 $245.00 $1,475 —
619 619 30 271.00 $271.00 $1,677 +13.27
601–640 623 152 245.00–278.00 $261.57 $1,630 +3.84
660–667 664 92 241.50–265.25 $256.36 $1,702 +4.62
667 thin fleshed 667 5 253.50 $253.50 $1,691 —
701–742 732 258 231.00–252.00 $242.06 $1,772 -1.15
752–795 778 104 229.50–246.25 $238.37 $1,855 +0.50
782 782 33 236.50 $236.50 $1,849 -1.37
809–846 816 124 218.00–229.10 $227.98 $1,860 -1.68
865–893 874 48 209.00–223.75 $217.68 $1,903 -4.67
905–927 913 75 186.50–219.50 $216.41 $1,976 -3.11
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
968 968 2 189.00 $189.00 $1,830 —
970–1095 1051 6 177.50–187.00 $182.47 $1,918 —
870–1195 1088 7 178.00–204.00 $185.15 $2,014 +23.34
1040–1395 1237 34 172.00–189.50 $184.85 $2,287 +2.87
1247–1400 1261 11 181.75–183.75 $181.95 $2,294 —
1250–1355 1291 7 174.50–177.50 $176.34 $2,277 —
1135–1650 1332 262 180.00–196.25 $190.48 $2,537 +4.72
1751 1751 4 182.00 $182.00 $3,187 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
337 337 2 270.00 $270.00 $910 —
339–346 unweaned 340 15 270.00–277.50 $275.98 $938 —
425–447 439 27 263.00–287.00 $272.31 $1,195 +3.31
493 493 11 251.00 $251.00 $1,237 -18.00
502–542 526 34 243.00–265.00 $255.03 $1,341 —
565–570 567 14 226.00–254.00 $243.94 $1,383 -14.61
610–623 615 28 240.00–251.00 $246.62 $1,517 -13.38
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
374 unweaned 374 8 255.00 $255.00 $954 —
449 unweaned 449 6 282.00 $282.00 $1,266 —
453–499 unweaned 488 12 259.00 $259.00 $1,264 —
511 unweaned 511 9 264.00 $264.00 $1,349 —
579 unweaned 579 10 229.50 $229.50 $1,329 —
1000 1000 13 194.50 $194.50 $1,945 —
1180 1180 3 178.50 $178.50 $2,106 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 7 258.00 $258.00 $1,135 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
361 unweaned 361 4 295.00 $295.00 $1,065 —
412–436 unweaned 432 12 277.00–345.00 $287.81 $1,243 —
465 unweaned 465 8 322.50 $322.50 $1,500 —
562–597 580 10 254.00–260.00 $257.68 $1,495 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 unweaned 590 4 260.00 $260.00 $1,534 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
793–995 892 80-85% 7 135.00–183.00 $156.54 $1,396 +26.73
1020–1405 1182 80-85% 15 118.00–165.00 $132.26 $1,563 +4.56
1000–1520 1316 80-85% 43 116.00–126.00 $121.70 $1,602 -0.62
1420–1435 1428 80-85% 2 107.00–110.00 $108.51 $1,550 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1255–1460 1342 75-80% 8 123.00–150.00 $130.71 $1,754 —
1275–1875 1513 75-80% 36 125.00–133.50 $128.25 $1,940 —
1420–1815 1573 75-80% 9 134.00–149.00 $137.28 $2,159 —
1335–1875 1644 75-80% 6 120.00–123.50 $122.27 $2,010 -15.40
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035–1395 1206 85-90% 20 105.00–119.00 $112.76 $1,360 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
925–1250 1088 2 118.00–135.00 $125.23 $1,363 —
1565–1640 1597 3 110.00–120.00 $115.92 $1,851 —
1315–2160 1718 14 127.00–160.50 $148.33 $2,548 —
1770–2025 1872 3 162.00–178.00 $168.02 $3,145 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260–1330 1290 3 136.00–145.00 $141.90 $1,831 —
1235–1465 1333 6 155.00–165.50 $159.71 $2,129 +0.72
1315–1710 1518 17 167.00–180.00 $170.91 $2,594 —

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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.