Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 18, 2024

17,341 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $285.45/cwt +2.17 vs last sale · ≈ $1,782/hd at 624 lb · 1,413 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $264.13/cwt +1.31 vs last sale · ≈ $1,902/hd at 720 lb · 957 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $301.73/cwt +0.77 vs last sale · ≈ $1,735/hd at 575 lb · 920 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 17,341 9,017 9,005
Feeder cattle 15,724 7,049 8,500
Slaughter cattle 1,617 1,968 505

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week steer calves less than 600 lbs sold steady to 4.00 higher and over 600 lbs sold steady to 2.00 lower. Heifers less than 600 lbs sold 5.00 to 7.00 higher and over 600 lbs sold mostly steady except 8 weights sold 5.00 higher. Slaughter steers sold 3.00 lower with slaughter heifers trending 2.00 higher on the week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 1.00 higher with the advance on the lean cows. Slaughter bulls sold steady. Demand was moderate to good. Getting into a few more longtime weaned calves as Iowa has some good wean vac programs cattle producers can capitalize on.

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
292 292 2 367.50 $367.50 $1,073 —
310–341 326 21 345.00–460.00 $393.18 $1,282 +3.18
325–337 unweaned 331 4 375.00–397.50 $386.45 $1,279 —
350–398 376 117 310.00–411.00 $362.67 $1,364 -14.38
371–388 unweaned 380 17 337.50–346.00 $344.07 $1,307 -6.16
400 unweaned 400 3 323.00 $323.00 $1,292 +0.91
403–445 425 130 295.00–387.50 $349.55 $1,486 +11.72
451–496 unweaned 477 61 279.00–334.00 $304.23 $1,451 -20.77
450–499 478 279 279.00–362.00 $338.26 $1,617 +11.69
500–549 525 762 295.00–336.00 $321.27 $1,687 +5.37
501–545 unweaned 528 69 257.50–311.00 $295.77 $1,562 -17.23
551–593 unweaned 570 138 261.00–314.00 $287.72 $1,640 -18.28
551–598 576 782 250.00–322.50 $304.20 $1,752 +3.86
600–649 unweaned 616 337 262.00–296.50 $284.25 $1,751 -1.36
600–649 627 1,076 250.00–306.25 $285.83 $1,792 +4.23
650–699 673 721 241.00–293.00 $268.85 $1,809 -7.87
655–699 unweaned 681 167 244.00–275.50 $264.24 $1,799 -10.51
701–735 unweaned 719 68 236.00–266.50 $248.79 $1,789 +2.43
700–749 720 889 241.00–280.50 $265.30 $1,910 +5.29
751–799 767 423 240.00–278.00 $260.58 $1,999 +20.58
770 unweaned 770 29 243.00 $243.00 $1,871 —
809–848 826 468 229.00–264.00 $256.38 $2,118 -2.75
834 834 4 233.00 $233.00 $1,943 -26.13
851–895 880 649 240.00–260.75 $257.09 $2,262 +1.51
902–924 916 202 228.50–255.50 $250.92 $2,298 +4.52
954–987 958 27 222.00–235.00 $233.51 $2,237 -4.59
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1120–1320 1215 16 164.00–184.00 $174.77 $2,123 —
1288–1421 1355 6 180.00–183.00 $181.43 $2,458 -3.22
1210–1475 1365 19 180.00–183.50 $181.28 $2,474 -3.37
1120–1630 1385 61 170.00–184.00 $181.29 $2,511 +0.13
1370–1455 1418 3 180.75–182.00 $181.26 $2,570 -4.12
1222–1690 1487 397 184.00–193.00 $188.72 $2,806 +2.27
1504 1504 11 183.75 $183.75 $2,764 -1.17
1638 1638 3 180.00 $180.00 $2,948 -5.00
1705–1980 1790 10 172.00–186.50 $179.67 $3,216 —
1813 1813 4 178.75 $178.75 $3,241 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
434 unweaned 434 5 252.00 $252.00 $1,094 -23.00
438 438 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,073 -45.00
463–490 480 23 220.00–315.00 $289.41 $1,389 +4.23
513 unweaned 513 3 271.00 $271.00 $1,390 +43.51
502–547 527 21 275.00–305.00 $288.66 $1,521 -3.93
565–570 unweaned 567 14 260.00–282.50 $274.42 $1,556 +14.42
550–595 581 70 215.00–296.00 $273.26 $1,588 +4.22
612–641 unweaned 624 7 248.00–263.00 $256.40 $1,600 —
603–640 629 65 250.00–274.00 $267.28 $1,681 +5.30
672 unweaned 672 4 232.00 $232.00 $1,559 —
661–695 680 67 240.00–260.00 $252.63 $1,718 +4.69
715–748 727 34 210.00–251.50 $242.04 $1,760 +1.09
750–780 754 14 225.00–241.00 $230.45 $1,738 -3.09
875 875 4 220.00 $220.00 $1,925 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
542 542 23 292.00 $292.00 $1,583 —
637–645 641 13 234.00–265.00 $250.79 $1,608 —
783 783 10 229.00 $229.00 $1,793 —
1156 1156 17 181.00 $181.00 $2,092 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
461 461 7 240.00 $240.00 $1,106 —
580 580 19 261.00 $261.00 $1,514 —
641 641 20 264.00 $264.00 $1,692 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
247 247 4 1,025.00 $1,025.00 —
295 295 3 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–349 332 59 310.00–362.50 $333.78 $1,108 +11.92
360–380 unweaned 372 17 275.00–320.00 $307.68 $1,145 +7.47
350–399 373 92 275.00–352.50 $324.66 $1,211 +0.50
400–448 429 212 255.00–333.00 $307.61 $1,320 +3.59
411–441 unweaned 429 32 270.00–312.00 $286.62 $1,230 -26.22
436–447 fancy 444 29 307.50–322.50 $317.92 $1,412 -22.08
451–498 470 446 250.00–325.00 $295.58 $1,389 +8.31
451–497 unweaned 475 44 250.00–304.00 $269.37 $1,280 —
462–494 fancy 479 63 321.00–344.00 $324.71 $1,555 +18.71
516–520 fancy 517 25 277.00–281.00 $280.36 $1,449 -8.05
500–548 unweaned 522 145 240.00–280.00 $258.71 $1,350 -26.35
500–548 526 702 240.00–310.00 $283.81 $1,493 +12.96
535 535 18 295.00 $295.00 $1,578 +24.15
561 fancy 561 12 285.00 $285.00 $1,599 —
569 569 29 295.00 $295.00 $1,679 +28.71
553–598 574 586 245.00–288.00 $266.26 $1,528 -0.03
558–598 unweaned 584 72 235.00–260.00 $246.69 $1,441 -14.12
600–640 unweaned 617 228 224.00–261.00 $247.03 $1,524 -3.07
600–649 621 628 234.00–267.00 $252.73 $1,569 +5.45
630–634 fancy 632 22 263.00–268.00 $265.26 $1,676 -14.99
657 657 26 279.00 $279.00 $1,833 +30.34
650–689 unweaned 664 14 226.00–241.00 $235.44 $1,563 —
651–695 670 291 224.00–267.00 $246.88 $1,654 -1.78
701–734 720 351 228.00–259.00 $241.37 $1,738 -9.04
752–792 775 46 220.00–240.00 $233.26 $1,808 -4.74
820–831 825 167 229.75–245.50 $242.18 $1,998 +9.24
854–883 866 174 215.00–244.50 $229.23 $1,985 +9.97
901–940 907 20 200.00–222.75 $219.21 $1,988 —
929 929 14 221.00 $221.00 $2,053 —
957 957 6 208.00 $208.00 $1,991 —
1055–1077 1066 6 212.00–214.00 $212.99 $2,270 +12.99
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920–1150 1073 19 100.00–179.00 $167.32 $1,795 -10.21
980–1260 1188 9 175.50–183.25 $181.57 $2,157 —
1035–1555 1253 67 170.00–184.00 $180.58 $2,263 +0.73
1155–1312 1290 7 169.50–171.00 $169.69 $2,189 -10.16
1095–1597 1370 397 180.00–193.50 $188.13 $2,577 —
1240–1500 1402 12 179.50–184.00 $182.69 $2,561 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 2 245.00 $245.00 $943 —
407–448 439 24 260.00–297.50 $279.89 $1,229 +3.76
453 unweaned 453 4 265.00 $265.00 $1,200 +26.13
453–498 482 114 242.50–296.00 $270.41 $1,303 +8.16
505–525 unweaned 512 3 220.00–225.00 $221.71 $1,135 —
500–549 532 47 220.00–275.00 $252.46 $1,343 +11.83
552–597 578 94 200.00–265.00 $250.23 $1,446 +6.32
562–599 unweaned 584 10 225.00–244.00 $236.69 $1,382 —
610–635 620 25 192.50–250.00 $223.98 $1,389 +2.98
685 685 3 228.00 $228.00 $1,562 —
733 733 4 237.00 $237.00 $1,737 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
446 446 9 280.00 $280.00 $1,249 —
569 569 26 254.50 $254.50 $1,448 +34.50
601 601 11 248.00 $248.00 $1,490 —
658 658 13 277.00 $277.00 $1,823 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
522 unweaned 522 7 228.00 $228.00 $1,190 —
534 534 9 200.00 $200.00 $1,068 —
595 595 14 234.00 $234.00 $1,392 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
288–296 291 10 1,050.00–1,075.00 $1,064.84 —
330 330 3 1,150.00 $1,150.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
332 unweaned 332 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,062 -7.50
410–443 unweaned 426 7 310.00–335.00 $321.03 $1,368 -8.62
473 unweaned 473 7 335.00 $335.00 $1,585 +86.00
493 493 3 270.00 $270.00 $1,331 -32.50
539 unweaned 539 8 268.00 $268.00 $1,445 —
561–565 unweaned 563 14 284.00–300.00 $293.12 $1,650 +28.12
618–647 unweaned 633 17 250.00–259.00 $255.12 $1,615 +13.12
637 637 6 254.50 $254.50 $1,621 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 unweaned 440 2 290.00 $290.00 $1,276 —
518 518 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,166 —
635–648 unweaned 644 3 220.00–247.50 $229.04 $1,475 —
742 742 3 215.00 $215.00 $1,595 —
840 840 3 183.00 $183.00 $1,537 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1520 1248 75-80% 35 117.00–180.00 $137.98 $1,722 —
1225–2075 1501 75-80% 44 117.00–129.00 $122.92 $1,845 +10.69
1320–2015 1583 75-80% 41 130.00–148.00 $136.49 $2,161 +2.56
1175–2160 1588 75-80% 14 101.00–116.00 $110.06 $1,748 -23.87
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–995 905 80-85% 20 120.00–177.50 $156.66 $1,418 +13.38
1000–1330 1110 80-85% 22 108.00–180.50 $138.28 $1,535 —
1050–1855 1319 80-85% 48 108.00–119.00 $114.15 $1,506 +8.32
1135–1885 1402 80-85% 23 90.00–112.00 $102.60 $1,438 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795–985 927 85-90% 6 92.00–104.00 $98.37 $912 —
775–1095 982 85-90% 3 94.00–117.00 $106.37 $1,045 —
750–1590 1102 85-90% 31 50.00–95.00 $78.92 $870 +2.31
1000–1510 1212 85-90% 38 93.00–109.00 $102.18 $1,238 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–1275 1224 4 159.00–163.00 $160.75 $1,968 —
1272 1272 2 140.00 $140.00 $1,781 —
1160–1615 1453 4 80.00–115.00 $98.75 $1,435 —
1310–2485 1757 47 119.00–164.00 $146.21 $2,569 -1.25
1360–2215 1833 15 151.50–171.00 $166.14 $3,045 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1570–1670 1598 4 172.50–180.50 $176.20 $2,816 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1573 1447 9 151.00–164.50 $159.29 $2,305 —
1330–1775 1574 15 165.00–176.00 $169.70 $2,671 —

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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.