Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 6, 2026

10,299 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $378.28/cwt +10.10 vs last sale · ≈ $3,125/hd at 826 lb · 713 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $524.32/cwt -12.38 vs last sale · ≈ $2,759/hd at 526 lb · 430 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $385.34/cwt -13.64 vs last sale · ≈ $2,979/hd at 773 lb · 427 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 10,299 4,618 9,585
Feeder cattle 8,671 4,025 8,373
Slaughter cattle 1,628 593 1,212

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, feeder steers under 400 lbs sold 6.00 higher to sharply higher on a light test, 400-650 lbs mostly 6.00 to 13.00 lower, and over 650 lbs sold mixed. Feeder heifers under 450 lbs sold sharply lower on a light test, 450-600 lbs 3.00 to 9.00 lower, and over 600 lbs 2.00 to 9.00 higher with instances of sharply higher. Slaughter steers and heifers sold mostly 3.00 to 6.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 4.00 higher, bulls 2.00 lower.

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
298 298 7 680.00 $680.00 $2,026 +5.65
308–333 327 32 655.00–700.00 $670.75 $2,193 +39.66
330 unweaned 330 4 650.00 $650.00 $2,145 —
350–395 384 52 625.00–690.00 $658.27 $2,528 +25.11
389 unweaned 389 9 642.50 $642.50 $2,499 +52.50
400–438 423 98 592.50–631.00 $617.65 $2,613 -14.61
440–443 unweaned 441 13 580.00 $580.00 $2,558 —
452–494 474 169 502.50–582.50 $558.37 $2,647 -14.03
451–498 unweaned 478 55 529.00–573.00 $546.96 $2,614 +6.96
501–547 526 359 490.00–555.00 $524.34 $2,758 -6.61
514–536 unweaned 527 71 490.00–532.50 $524.19 $2,762 +24.19
552–583 unweaned 564 27 441.00–483.00 $468.36 $2,642 +3.47
553–599 576 362 467.00–504.00 $481.14 $2,771 -13.35
601–649 621 265 425.00–479.00 $453.75 $2,818 -4.76
650–656 unweaned 655 30 410.00–450.00 $441.50 $2,892 +29.00
651–694 666 264 411.00–468.25 $444.09 $2,958 +14.77
717 unweaned 717 21 378.00 $378.00 $2,710 —
700–747 728 306 376.00–428.00 $405.56 $2,952 -0.77
753–797 773 427 349.50–400.00 $385.34 $2,979 +17.34
800–849 826 713 357.25–388.00 $378.28 $3,125 +10.10
855–895 881 257 340.50–378.00 $366.35 $3,228 +4.60
902–947 912 278 329.50–359.00 $349.98 $3,192 -10.52
958–997 980 107 317.50–344.50 $335.17 $3,285 +9.60
1055 1055 13 310.00 $310.00 $3,270 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1205 1139 12 241.00–255.00 $250.92 $2,858 —
1215–1350 1263 20 239.00–256.00 $248.04 $3,133 —
1290 1290 1 242.00 $242.00 $3,122 —
1125–1645 1436 37 234.00–246.00 $241.35 $3,466 +2.37
1362–1655 1447 48 243.00–249.50 $246.91 $3,573 +7.93
1415–1463 1455 6 242.00–243.75 $243.47 $3,542 +6.55
1465–1478 1475 4 249.00–250.00 $249.75 $3,684 +12.83
1290–1687 1507 132 243.00–250.50 $247.06 $3,723 —
1514–1593 1559 56 247.50–249.00 $248.33 $3,871 +3.73
1517–1735 1585 30 244.00–249.00 $247.84 $3,928 +3.24
1656–1667 1657 16 242.00–243.00 $242.87 $4,024 —
1620–1758 1680 61 239.00–257.00 $247.41 $4,156 —
1615–1810 1693 16 239.00–243.50 $242.21 $4,101 —
1657–1790 1721 6 237.00–243.00 $241.79 $4,161 -1.09
1721–1910 1778 19 235.00–248.00 $242.51 $4,312 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
493–496 495 7 530.00–537.50 $533.20 $2,639 -5.85
503–549 532 41 450.00–505.00 $483.46 $2,572 -10.36
547 unweaned 547 5 480.00 $480.00 $2,626 +50.00
572–592 589 36 447.00–460.00 $455.78 $2,685 -25.49
601–641 618 32 395.00–431.00 $420.17 $2,597 -22.53
670–695 687 20 406.50–423.00 $414.99 $2,851 —
703–734 723 14 370.00–372.00 $371.31 $2,685 +20.31
755–798 778 34 340.00–370.00 $349.44 $2,719 —
845–848 846 16 348.50–355.00 $350.54 $2,966 —
880 880 23 348.00 $348.00 $3,062 +12.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1072 1072 7 301.50 $301.50 $3,232 -14.50
1110 1110 11 290.50 $290.50 $3,225 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–349 unweaned 325 8 540.00–560.00 $549.24 $1,785 —
343–348 347 37 515.00–545.00 $521.41 $1,809 -58.59
360–395 381 39 482.50–568.00 $528.45 $2,013 -46.03
357–393 unweaned 386 29 517.50–540.00 $521.34 $2,012 +66.34
406–440 423 68 490.00–553.00 $524.39 $2,218 -21.60
445 unweaned 445 5 502.50 $502.50 $2,236 +9.09
450–499 472 334 462.50–517.00 $494.61 $2,335 -8.38
452–492 unweaned 487 78 462.50–477.50 $467.42 $2,276 +12.42
501–548 533 218 425.00–483.50 $454.88 $2,425 -8.12
550–592 573 290 394.00–440.00 $424.11 $2,430 -3.60
579–593 unweaned 587 16 404.00–410.00 $407.41 $2,391 -7.59
603 unweaned 603 10 395.00 $395.00 $2,382 +17.50
600–646 622 407 387.50–441.00 $415.58 $2,585 +24.64
653–690 667 318 371.00–435.00 $407.41 $2,717 +33.51
704–743 719 264 356.00–391.00 $377.83 $2,717 +9.82
750–799 772 407 329.00–368.00 $353.68 $2,730 +1.88
801–849 825 79 320.00–348.00 $333.20 $2,749 -7.83
836 836 19 350.00 $350.00 $2,926 +8.97
850 850 13 340.00 $340.00 $2,890 +1.00
852–892 862 229 316.00–339.00 $333.05 $2,871 -5.95
909–948 912 76 301.50–326.75 $324.82 $2,962 +15.82
964 fancy 964 10 332.00 $332.00 $3,200 —
956–998 988 17 279.00–285.00 $283.63 $2,802 —
1001 1001 9 288.00 $288.00 $2,883 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
960–1250 1098 10 227.50–250.00 $244.33 $2,683 —
1160–1265 1186 5 243.00–245.00 $244.61 $2,901 +4.61
1218 1218 2 257.50 $257.50 $3,136 —
1165–1320 1281 4 238.00–240.00 $239.55 $3,069 —
1115–1580 1326 19 230.00–242.00 $238.28 $3,160 —
1332–1563 1398 25 240.00–243.50 $242.47 $3,390 +1.89
1215–1670 1428 281 241.50–251.75 $246.51 $3,520 +25.19
1200–1633 1537 9 245.00–248.50 $247.62 $3,806 —
1571–1705 1600 14 238.00–248.00 $247.06 $3,953 —
1628–1678 1653 4 240.00–242.00 $240.98 $3,983 —
1705 1705 1 230.00 $230.00 $3,922 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 4 490.00 $490.00 $1,666 —
447 unweaned 447 5 475.00 $475.00 $2,123 +20.00
467–497 487 38 415.00–471.00 $451.11 $2,197 -7.63
525–545 534 7 435.00–440.00 $437.19 $2,335 +9.36
578–588 584 30 380.00–415.00 $398.11 $2,325 +3.11
606–649 628 23 360.00–376.00 $370.94 $2,330 —
660 660 10 356.00 $356.00 $2,350 —
701–744 736 65 339.00–352.50 $349.93 $2,575 +19.93
798 798 8 342.50 $342.50 $2,733 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810–975 911 80-85% 10 160.00–292.50 $225.82 $2,057 -15.58
1000–1435 1210 80-85% 74 167.50–287.50 $200.64 $2,428 —
1120–1580 1300 80-85% 34 155.00–224.00 $165.56 $2,152 —
1360–1415 1388 80-85% 2 130.00–150.00 $139.80 $1,940 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1595 1359 75-80% 40 167.50–220.00 $188.23 $2,558 +6.50
1200–2165 1576 75-80% 44 167.00–182.50 $175.03 $2,758 -10.77
1250–1955 1592 75-80% 6 149.00–155.00 $151.19 $2,407 -19.98
1350–1980 1611 75-80% 24 181.00–198.00 $188.32 $3,034 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–990 933 85-90% 9 132.00–165.00 $151.48 $1,413 —
1000–1580 1195 85-90% 32 120.00–157.00 $140.87 $1,683 —
1095–1395 1215 85-90% 5 152.00–173.00 $162.68 $1,977 +23.18

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
780–1095 973 4 180.00–235.00 $206.63 $2,011 —
1370–2260 1858 15 185.00–227.50 $208.09 $3,866 -2.56
1620–2454 2012 12 217.50–280.00 $247.37 $4,977 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315 1315 1 229.00 $229.00 $3,011 —
1215–1720 1375 4 225.00–231.00 $229.36 $3,154 —
1460–1695 1561 9 240.00–246.50 $242.46 $3,785 —
1373–1775 1629 7 239.00–241.50 $240.82 $3,923 —
1825 1825 1 234.00 $234.00 $4,270 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1424–1906 1612 41 239.00–244.75 $242.48 $3,909 —
1388–1940 1647 19 230.00–238.00 $233.68 $3,849 —
1985 1985 1 238.00 $238.00 $4,724 —

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Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–1337 1294 21 223.00–231.00 $225.37 $2,916 —
1342–1835 1473 6 223.00–230.00 $224.45 $3,306 —
1405–1679 1597 43 214.00–221.00 $217.19 $3,469 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1242 1218 7 222.50–227.50 $226.09 $2,754 —
1380–1866 1648 68 222.00–235.00 $229.97 $3,790 —
1444–1907 1679 21 207.50–225.00 $222.80 $3,741 -2.81

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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.