Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 13, 2026

8,401 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 $452.72/cwt -1.03 vs last sale · ≈ $2,871/hd at 634 lb · 537 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $469.45/cwt +14.57 vs last sale · ≈ $2,469/hd at 526 lb · 492 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $506.38/cwt +26.13 vs last sale · ≈ $2,833/hd at 559 lb · 394 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 8,401 10,299 6,971
Feeder cattle 7,207 8,671 6,084
Slaughter cattle 1,194 1,628 887

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week calves and feeder steers and heifers sold unevenly steady. Slaughter steers and heifers sold 2.00 to 3.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold unevenly steady and bulls sold 6.00 higher. Demand was moderate to good throughout the week. Quite a few bawling and weaned fall calves hitting the market this week, some with precondition shots. The calf and feeder market held pretty well throughout the week as the CME cattle boards traded in the red several days.

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
316 unweaned 316 8 755.00 $755.00 $2,386 +105.00
300–347 332 16 590.00–717.00 $677.32 $2,249 +6.57
358 fancy 358 18 730.00 $730.00 $2,613 —
360–381 371 13 585.00–690.00 $626.39 $2,324 -31.88
375 unweaned 375 8 700.00 $700.00 $2,625 +57.50
400–443 unweaned 430 48 530.00–640.00 $625.42 $2,689 +45.42
407–446 432 50 540.00–642.50 $596.25 $2,576 -21.40
432–440 fancy 434 21 630.00–643.00 $639.24 $2,774 —
457–480 unweaned 470 28 572.50–597.50 $583.57 $2,743 +36.61
450–491 472 149 530.00–600.00 $564.79 $2,666 +6.42
502–546 528 147 477.50–565.00 $519.70 $2,744 -4.64
511–548 unweaned 538 146 468.00–534.00 $509.40 $2,741 -14.79
557 fancy 557 104 521.00 $521.00 $2,902 —
550–592 559 269 471.00–520.00 $502.84 $2,811 +21.70
570–591 unweaned 576 21 431.00–502.50 $479.32 $2,761 +10.96
603–630 unweaned 625 17 410.00–442.00 $436.55 $2,728 —
605–648 633 441 416.00–476.00 $451.95 $2,861 -1.80
642 fancy 642 79 460.50 $460.50 $2,956 —
652–699 675 228 375.00–458.00 $426.29 $2,877 -17.80
714 unweaned 714 11 411.00 $411.00 $2,935 +33.00
704–742 720 43 350.00–427.00 $390.95 $2,815 -14.61
751–795 778 285 370.00–406.00 $391.07 $3,043 +5.73
791 unweaned 791 3 362.00 $362.00 $2,863 —
802–848 832 108 362.00–383.50 $374.47 $3,116 -3.81
861–897 881 58 340.00–365.00 $353.41 $3,114 -12.94
906–947 919 244 336.00–358.75 $351.61 $3,231 +1.63
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1190 1148 6 249.50–283.00 $267.99 $3,077 +17.07
1130–1345 1263 8 246.00–248.00 $247.06 $3,120 -0.98
1338–1495 1386 18 249.00–254.00 $252.63 $3,501 —
1290–1472 1402 15 244.50–249.00 $246.06 $3,450 +4.71
1185–1625 1456 180 247.00–253.50 $249.88 $3,638 +6.41
1220–1660 1480 23 230.00–247.00 $243.50 $3,604 -6.25
1515–1562 1552 22 247.00–251.50 $249.17 $3,867 +0.84
1651 1651 8 239.75 $239.75 $3,958 -3.12
1684 1684 10 254.00 $254.00 $4,277 +6.59
1608–1872 1744 18 247.00–250.00 $248.24 $4,329 +6.45
1700–1915 1781 16 216.00–252.00 $244.67 $4,358 +2.16
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
327 327 14 655.00 $655.00 $2,142 —
429 429 7 500.00 $500.00 $2,145 —
440 unweaned 440 14 617.50 $617.50 $2,717 —
467–492 479 45 500.00–556.00 $535.39 $2,565 +2.19
517 unweaned 517 4 455.00 $455.00 $2,352 -25.00
510–548 536 78 470.00–512.50 $494.64 $2,651 +11.18
561–598 580 17 412.50–487.00 $457.62 $2,654 +1.84
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1047 fancy 1047 55 321.00 $321.00 $3,361 —
1060 1060 4 291.00 $291.00 $3,085 -10.50

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
327 unweaned 327 5 625.00 $625.00 $2,044 +75.76
308–346 331 26 515.00–630.00 $559.85 $1,853 +38.44
367 unweaned 367 4 570.00 $570.00 $2,092 +48.66
355–398 369 50 495.00–575.00 $554.15 $2,045 +25.70
400–446 424 106 503.00–545.00 $522.31 $2,215 -2.08
403–436 unweaned 429 44 499.00–525.00 $504.56 $2,165 +2.06
435 fancy 435 36 501.00 $501.00 $2,179 —
455 fancy 455 15 485.00 $485.00 $2,207 —
455–490 477 191 475.00–501.00 $493.06 $2,352 -1.55
469–482 unweaned 478 28 465.00–480.00 $469.07 $2,242 +1.65
502–535 unweaned 515 82 447.50–475.00 $466.05 $2,400 —
500–544 528 328 436.00–486.50 $468.91 $2,476 +14.03
529 fancy 529 82 475.00 $475.00 $2,513 —
557 fancy 557 33 449.00 $449.00 $2,501 —
550–599 576 198 412.50–475.00 $432.41 $2,491 +8.30
604 unweaned 604 12 405.00 $405.00 $2,446 +10.00
603–646 629 127 376.00–430.00 $407.00 $2,560 -8.58
643 fancy 643 87 425.00 $425.00 $2,733 —
650–698 671 71 374.00–415.00 $389.46 $2,613 -17.95
679 679 18 389.00 $389.00 $2,641 -18.41
685 unweaned 685 3 375.00 $375.00 $2,569 —
702–742 722 142 344.00–368.00 $361.11 $2,607 -16.72
750–779 758 364 336.00–376.00 $359.45 $2,725 +5.77
800–815 809 108 337.00–340.00 $338.11 $2,735 +4.91
859–893 886 56 314.50–330.00 $317.72 $2,815 -15.33
952–970 966 29 299.75–320.00 $312.40 $3,018 +28.77
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1003–1155 1076 7 240.00–267.50 $253.12 $2,724 +8.79
1070–1580 1323 30 220.00–247.00 $241.57 $3,196 +3.29
1276–1613 1394 20 247.00–253.00 $250.72 $3,495 +8.25
1195–1631 1395 240 247.00–254.00 $249.66 $3,483 +7.19
1408 1408 2 240.00 $240.00 $3,379 -6.51
1618 1618 3 235.00 $235.00 $3,802 -12.06
1740–1885 1813 2 228.00–231.00 $229.56 $4,162 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425–445 437 11 455.00–477.50 $466.77 $2,040 —
471–498 485 34 455.00–470.00 $466.88 $2,264 +15.77
538–549 540 30 420.00–442.50 $437.35 $2,362 +0.16
542 unweaned 542 4 435.00 $435.00 $2,358 —
594 594 6 408.00 $408.00 $2,424 +9.89

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175–1580 1371 75-80% 47 170.00–225.00 $185.93 $2,549 -2.30
1305–1640 1502 75-80% 10 189.00–212.50 $196.51 $2,952 —
1225–1975 1557 75-80% 39 166.00–184.00 $175.91 $2,739 +0.88
1555–1630 1599 75-80% 4 150.00–162.00 $157.32 $2,516 +6.13
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820–985 910 80-85% 6 170.00–277.50 $229.84 $2,092 +4.02
1005–1365 1167 80-85% 61 165.00–250.00 $196.58 $2,294 —
1045–1635 1333 80-85% 25 154.00–172.50 $163.70 $2,182 -1.86
1490–1560 1525 80-85% 2 148.00–150.00 $149.02 $2,273 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835–990 940 85-90% 6 120.00–172.50 $154.19 $1,449 +2.71
1100 1100 85-90% 1 147.00 $147.00 $1,617 —
1015–1490 1193 85-90% 15 127.50–158.00 $142.11 $1,695 +1.24

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1390–1840 1615 2 142.00–158.00 $151.11 $2,440 —
1270–2255 1753 22 170.00–230.00 $214.46 $3,759 —
1455–2275 1835 17 219.00–289.50 $250.69 $4,600 —

↑ Back to top

Beef Dairy Heifers

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
469 469 4 380.00 $380.00 $1,782 —
516 516 4 350.00 $350.00 $1,806 —
593 593 4 375.00 $375.00 $2,224 —
774 774 5 320.00 $320.00 $2,477 —
844 844 13 295.00 $295.00 $2,490 —
914 914 5 285.00 $285.00 $2,605 —
958 958 8 285.00 $285.00 $2,730 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1133–1685 1271 12 240.25–245.00 $241.82 $3,074 —
1388 1388 2 245.50 $245.50 $3,408 +16.14
1422 1422 2 235.00 $235.00 $3,342 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 6 490.00 $490.00 $1,984 —
489 489 4 440.00 $440.00 $2,152 —

↑ Back to top

Beef Dairy Steers

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
367–368 368 6 350.00–375.00 $362.52 $1,334 —
446 446 5 340.00 $340.00 $1,516 —
531 531 10 370.00 $370.00 $1,965 —
785 785 5 330.00 $330.00 $2,590 —
866 866 12 329.00 $329.00 $2,849 —
910 910 3 335.00 $335.00 $3,048 —
954 954 9 307.50 $307.50 $2,934 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1112–1356 1251 7 238.00–240.00 $238.76 $2,987 —
1315–1720 1496 20 240.00–249.50 $247.59 $3,704 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
384 384 4 550.00 $550.00 $2,112 —
402 402 3 520.00 $520.00 $2,090 —
503–518 509 7 440.00–490.00 $461.79 $2,351 —
584 584 7 515.00 $515.00 $3,008 —
743 743 3 395.00 $395.00 $2,935 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Heifers

Small 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
241 241 21 260.00 $260.00 $627 —
253 253 9 200.00 $200.00 $506 —
553 553 5 200.00 $200.00 $1,106 —
756 756 6 185.00 $185.00 $1,399 —
817 817 9 187.50 $187.50 $1,532 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
433 433 6 260.00 $260.00 $1,126 —
485 485 19 260.00 $260.00 $1,261 —
560 560 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,400 —
1130 1130 4 205.00 $205.00 $2,316 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1322–1811 1635 9 206.00–212.00 $207.23 $3,388 —
1641–1732 1666 11 217.00–223.50 $218.84 $3,646 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
597 597 7 275.00 $275.00 $1,642 —
1163 1163 3 250.00 $250.00 $2,908 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303 303 12 475.00 $475.00 $1,439 —
399 399 7 375.00 $375.00 $1,496 —
407 407 3 350.00 $350.00 $1,424 —
520–543 530 16 325.00–330.00 $327.24 $1,734 —
617–633 628 10 315.00–320.00 $316.47 $1,987 —
665–687 674 18 310.00–315.00 $311.98 $2,103 —
705 705 22 309.00 $309.00 $2,178 —
906 906 8 285.00 $285.00 $2,582 —
995 995 31 268.00 $268.00 $2,667 —
Small 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307–346 336 12 340.00–360.00 $355.43 $1,194 —
370 370 3 310.00 $310.00 $1,147 —
413–416 415 12 290.00–320.00 $310.05 $1,287 —
465–470 467 25 280.00–300.00 $291.95 $1,363 —
521–531 528 34 265.00–295.00 $286.29 $1,512 —
670 670 5 240.00 $240.00 $1,608 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1255–1780 1604 16 204.00–226.00 $220.76 $3,541 —
1472–1840 1630 52 221.00–236.00 $229.70 $3,744 -0.27
Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
213 213 26 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
594 594 9 310.00 $310.00 $1,841 —

↑ Back to top

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.