Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 27, 2026

9,168 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 heifers $340.99/cwt +8.83 vs last sale · ≈ $2,818/hd at 826 lb · 476 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $367.74/cwt +7.09 vs last sale · ≈ $3,188/hd at 867 lb · 456 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $466.60/cwt +16.67 vs last sale · ≈ $2,399/hd at 514 lb · 434 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 9,168 10,860 7,708
Feeder cattle 7,427 9,986 6,768
Slaughter cattle 1,741 874 940

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week steers less than 700 lbs sold 10.00 to 15.00 higher over 700 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher. Heifers less than 600 lbs sold 20.00 higher and over 600 lbs sold steady to 10.00 higher. Slaughter steers sold 5.00 higher and heifers sold 11.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 higher and bulls sold 5.00 higher. Demand was mostly good throughout the week. With the CME cattle boards trading higher throughout the week and record prices on slaughter steers and heifers brough a lot of willing to buyers to the calf and feeder auctions. Weekly auctions comprised of weaned and bawling fall calves with a few yearlings sprinkled into the mix.

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
251–293 280 18 665.00–720.00 $707.18 $1,980 -22.56
280 unweaned 280 3 600.00 $600.00 $1,680 -90.00
336–340 338 7 600.00–710.00 $663.18 $2,242 +10.10
367–391 378 32 520.00–665.00 $628.16 $2,374 -8.28
402–436 unweaned 407 40 575.00–582.50 $576.20 $2,345 —
404–421 fancy 410 20 632.50–655.00 $646.91 $2,652 +41.91
412–448 438 93 575.00–613.00 $596.12 $2,611 +27.25
470–471 unweaned 470 8 475.00–525.00 $506.23 $2,379 -19.54
450–498 473 247 532.50–580.00 $555.23 $2,626 +14.83
501–549 517 301 493.00–539.00 $523.00 $2,704 +12.49
575 unweaned 575 6 445.00 $445.00 $2,559 -16.54
552–599 576 275 458.00–513.00 $485.28 $2,795 +1.30
600–630 unweaned 615 25 420.00–455.00 $433.57 $2,666 -6.42
600–641 618 289 444.00–485.00 $458.40 $2,833 +6.84
657 unweaned 657 10 415.00 $415.00 $2,727 -2.94
650–696 665 262 421.00–454.50 $442.16 $2,940 +10.57
700–711 unweaned 706 13 370.00–392.50 $375.20 $2,649 —
710–747 731 332 388.00–423.75 $417.63 $3,053 +30.90
751–797 773 44 377.00–406.00 $388.78 $3,005 +22.17
801–821 816 77 373.00–377.50 $374.16 $3,053 +9.31
850–896 867 456 352.50–373.75 $367.74 $3,188 +51.74
918–946 938 248 337.50–357.25 $350.39 $3,287 +10.19
955–960 958 120 338.50–348.50 $343.40 $3,290 +26.56
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890–1221 1145 7 230.00–237.50 $234.03 $2,680 —
1002–1336 1238 37 245.00–277.00 $261.56 $3,238 +10.87
1328–1499 1386 16 258.00–261.00 $258.90 $3,588 +18.75
1255–1492 1388 20 250.00–262.00 $252.01 $3,498 +11.86
1102–1575 1438 61 238.00–254.50 $248.57 $3,574 —
1395–1477 1450 39 256.00–261.00 $258.82 $3,753 +10.32
1198–1690 1484 179 250.00–260.00 $253.94 $3,768 +9.38
1540–1560 1550 2 253.00–255.00 $254.01 $3,937 —
1510–1594 1552 26 258.00–262.50 $260.26 $4,039 —
1610–1760 1673 69 255.00–260.00 $258.93 $4,332 —
1693 1693 8 263.00 $263.00 $4,453 —
1742 1742 16 253.00 $253.00 $4,407 +7.00
1705–1845 1779 8 235.00–260.00 $246.48 $4,385 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
364 unweaned 364 8 540.00 $540.00 $1,966 —
366–381 372 8 565.00–600.00 $586.54 $2,182 +11.54
415 unweaned 415 5 485.00 $485.00 $2,013 —
428 428 4 570.00 $570.00 $2,440 +30.00
473–499 486 54 457.50–520.00 $501.02 $2,435 -10.86
490 unweaned 490 3 480.00 $480.00 $2,352 —
506–546 532 60 481.00–496.00 $485.99 $2,585 +2.98
563–597 584 54 412.50–465.00 $447.76 $2,615 +0.79
618–642 638 57 372.50–441.00 $430.57 $2,747 +11.84
698 698 3 385.00 $385.00 $2,687 -18.34
712–744 722 40 367.00–376.50 $369.94 $2,671 —
770–790 783 17 315.00–356.00 $341.77 $2,676 +21.77
821 821 3 356.00 $356.00 $2,923 —
850–871 862 12 345.00–347.00 $345.82 $2,981 +23.88
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1071 1071 53 325.00 $325.00 $3,481 —
1221 1221 9 275.00 $275.00 $3,358 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
277–293 288 12 610.00–670.00 $629.26 $1,812 +6.25
340 unweaned 340 7 570.00 $570.00 $1,938 +14.32
347 347 4 600.00 $600.00 $2,082 -10.00
355–385 378 42 520.00–625.00 $579.95 $2,192 +24.88
378–395 unweaned 392 17 535.00–570.00 $564.04 $2,211 +19.04
400–446 408 79 445.00–587.00 $560.11 $2,285 +34.90
454–487 472 292 475.00–527.50 $501.20 $2,366 +13.97
478 unweaned 478 12 465.00 $465.00 $2,223 -0.25
503–544 514 429 442.00–481.00 $467.49 $2,403 +19.54
528 unweaned 528 5 390.00 $390.00 $2,059 -10.00
561–581 unweaned 569 39 400.00–427.50 $411.89 $2,344 -4.30
550–598 573 280 410.00–450.00 $429.52 $2,461 +1.18
584 fancy 584 29 447.00 $447.00 $2,610 +5.52
600–646 621 323 372.50–423.00 $397.77 $2,470 -1.66
636 636 5 357.50 $357.50 $2,274 -41.93
638 unweaned 638 6 347.50 $347.50 $2,217 -34.12
651–695 678 245 350.00–396.00 $380.74 $2,581 +9.07
685 unweaned 685 3 367.50 $367.50 $2,517 —
704 fancy 704 20 368.00 $368.00 $2,591 +7.00
700–749 734 266 330.00–396.00 $365.13 $2,680 -0.46
716–738 737 73 330.00–334.75 $334.56 $2,466 -31.03
755–756 fancy 756 46 364.00–396.00 $380.71 $2,878 —
752–786 759 116 349.00–373.00 $357.92 $2,717 +17.40
811–845 825 387 332.25–341.75 $337.85 $2,787 +8.37
833 833 89 352.50–356.50 $354.66 $2,954 +25.18
893–895 895 49 320.00–355.50 $348.99 $3,123 +19.31
921 921 30 306.00 $306.00 $2,818 -2.53
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1095–1222 1190 9 255.00–265.50 $263.04 $3,130 —
1241–1320 1258 7 244.00–252.00 $250.66 $3,153 —
1070–1640 1313 37 240.00–250.00 $246.64 $3,238 +5.30
1195–1408 1334 14 256.00–261.00 $260.13 $3,470 +18.79
1238–1551 1398 56 253.00–257.50 $255.78 $3,576 +8.97
1190–1633 1410 302 250.00–263.50 $257.46 $3,630 —
1614–1635 1619 10 257.00–260.50 $259.74 $4,205 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
292–299 296 10 550.00–570.00 $560.12 $1,658 —
332 unweaned 332 11 500.00 $500.00 $1,660 —
363–392 385 23 495.00–575.00 $561.60 $2,162 +67.71
401–448 424 35 482.50–545.00 $499.51 $2,118 +30.54
471–499 489 51 457.50–495.00 $469.99 $2,298 +30.06
530–544 542 30 427.50–440.00 $435.28 $2,359 +17.02
565–596 580 102 365.00–433.00 $412.53 $2,393 +32.39
630–648 639 12 350.00–384.00 $362.62 $2,317 +1.33
675–681 678 7 285.00–339.00 $315.74 $2,141 -21.03
771 771 3 317.50 $317.50 $2,448 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
703 703 4 2,900.00 $2,900.00 —
828 828 20 3,150.00 $3,150.00 +250.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 3 447.50 $447.50 $2,349 —
662 662 7 377.50 $377.50 $2,499 —
783 783 3 342.50 $342.50 $2,682 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–1610 1397 75-80% 44 164.00–230.00 $183.23 $2,560 —
1215–2255 1564 75-80% 56 170.00–183.00 $176.04 $2,753 -15.67
1285–2085 1623 75-80% 40 184.00–203.50 $188.59 $3,061 —
1485–2185 1684 75-80% 19 150.00–164.00 $156.88 $2,642 ±0.00
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820 820 80-85% 1 202.50 $202.50 $1,660 —
1000–1390 1192 80-85% 46 162.00–305.00 $208.19 $2,482 —
1030–1705 1369 80-85% 52 155.00–173.00 $165.98 $2,272 +3.84
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805–985 911 85-90% 13 120.00–163.00 $142.41 $1,297 +13.48
1000–1605 1202 85-90% 27 122.50–162.00 $144.25 $1,734 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1220 1098 3 180.00–229.00 $204.24 $2,243 —
1700 1700 1 160.00 $160.00 $2,720 -67.23
1390–2360 1796 39 171.00–223.00 $206.56 $3,710 +5.18
1435–2210 1892 20 225.00–269.00 $241.33 $4,566 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1496–1575 1512 10 239.00–249.00 $246.16 $3,722 —
1505–1551 1542 5 243.50–246.00 $245.51 $3,786 —
1300–1740 1585 6 220.00–232.00 $228.35 $3,619 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1800 1584 11 230.00–244.00 $237.87 $3,768 —
1479–1900 1599 36 242.50–252.50 $249.02 $3,982 —

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Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1578 1578 3 225.00 $225.00 $3,550 —
1566–1686 1624 29 212.00–216.00 $214.27 $3,480 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1360 1283 4 180.00–204.00 $195.71 $2,511 —
1274–1410 1301 5 235.00–246.00 $243.62 $3,169 —
1225–1820 1530 13 210.00–225.00 $218.34 $3,341 —
1482–1780 1594 12 225.00–231.00 $227.60 $3,628 -2.14
1425–1905 1626 105 225.00–244.00 $233.58 $3,798 —
1543–1793 1717 27 218.00–222.00 $219.55 $3,770 —

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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.