Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, August 17, 2026

2,176 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $436.53/cwt -18.47 vs last sale · ≈ $2,244/hd at 514 lb · 30 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $372.46/cwt +0.95 vs last sale · ≈ $2,466/hd at 662 lb · 18 head
light 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $275.00/cwt ≈ $2,522/hd at 917 lb · 16 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,176 2,988 5,498
Feeder cattle 939 1,921 3,951
Slaughter cattle 1,237 1,067 1,547

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, not recent test on dairy influenced feeder cattle. Slaughter steers and heifers sold 9.00 to 11.00 lower. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 lower except lean cows sold 3.00 higher. Bulls steady. Demand was moderate to instance good.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1255 1117 25 203.00–241.00 $225.45 $2,518 +2.47
1075–1275 1163 9 216.00–228.00 $226.13 $2,630 —
1120–1283 1214 29 217.00–230.00 $224.18 $2,722 —
1251–1525 1304 35 213.00–224.25 $219.91 $2,868 -11.43
1267–1432 1335 62 220.50–227.50 $225.16 $3,006 -6.84
1287–1489 1390 25 225.50–229.25 $227.02 $3,156 —
1345–1450 1398 2 216.00 $216.00 $3,020 —
1215–1675 1429 210 222.00–230.25 $225.82 $3,227 -11.18
1488 1488 2 221.00 $221.00 $3,288 -15.06
1516–1531 1527 17 224.75–227.25 $226.44 $3,458 -9.81
1520–1604 1595 9 230.00–234.00 $230.42 $3,675 —
1635–1737 1712 4 228.50–230.50 $228.98 $3,920 —
1715 1715 4 219.25 $219.25 $3,760 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
477 477 3 425.00 $425.00 $2,027 —
501–533 514 30 415.00–450.00 $436.53 $2,244 -18.47
559 559 10 385.00 $385.00 $2,152 -5.00
619 619 10 390.00 $390.00 $2,414 -16.25
652–664 662 18 370.00–385.00 $372.46 $2,466 +0.95
880 880 3 315.00 $315.00 $2,772 -26.74
994 994 5 295.00 $295.00 $2,932 -33.56
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
153 153 5 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —
255 255 7 1,175.00 $1,175.00 —
306–311 309 15 1,375.00–1,700.00 $1,571.26 —
364 364 10 1,975.00 $1,975.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
641–645 643 10 340.00–355.00 $347.48 $2,234 —
917 917 16 275.00 $275.00 $2,522 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900–975 908 9 260.00–285.50 $282.46 $2,565 —
1050–1198 1116 10 218.00–229.00 $225.25 $2,514 —
1023–1240 1120 24 195.00–223.00 $215.88 $2,418 —
1065–1460 1237 39 213.00–224.50 $220.58 $2,729 —
1160–1455 1295 18 220.00–229.00 $225.09 $2,915 —
1121–1660 1330 263 218.00–232.75 $225.25 $2,996 -9.27
1350–1460 1405 2 195.00–214.00 $204.87 $2,878 —
1655 1655 1 213.00 $213.00 $3,525 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
167–187 173 10 800.00–950.00 $901.36 —
201–206 204 9 1,050.00 $1,050.00 —
259–294 275 23 1,225.00–1,750.00 $1,493.88 —
347 347 16 1,800.00 $1,800.00 —
406 406 7 1,950.00 $1,950.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–348 323 7 470.00–500.00 $483.83 $1,563 —
382 382 3 435.00 $435.00 $1,662 —
423–440 432 8 390.00–430.00 $410.39 $1,773 +5.39
537 537 9 350.00 $350.00 $1,880 -50.41
586 586 8 350.00 $350.00 $2,051 +5.00
871 871 8 275.00 $275.00 $2,395 -36.42
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
513–516 515 7 300.00–310.00 $304.27 $1,567 -70.73

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
885–960 922 80-85% 3 161.00–185.00 $172.53 $1,591 —
1090–1395 1209 80-85% 12 169.00–193.00 $182.98 $2,212 —
1025–1805 1359 80-85% 34 157.00–173.00 $166.10 $2,257 -2.41
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135–1405 1317 75-80% 11 176.00–200.00 $188.72 $2,485 —
1485–1555 1520 75-80% 2 189.00–191.00 $189.98 $2,888 —
1305–2045 1580 75-80% 34 170.00–185.00 $178.76 $2,824 -13.63
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
680–990 858 85-90% 13 105.00–157.00 $131.23 $1,126 -9.28
1005–1705 1184 85-90% 23 121.00–159.00 $143.58 $1,700 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105 1105 1 206.00 $206.00 $2,276 —
1565–1950 1763 8 243.00–310.00 $261.45 $4,609 —
1580–1950 1765 2 160.00–167.50 $164.14 $2,897 —
1300–2200 1803 15 177.50–237.00 $215.01 $3,877 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 338 3 425.00 $425.00 $1,436 —
474 474 5 360.00 $360.00 $1,706 —
500–526 519 15 350.00–360.00 $352.57 $1,830 —
566 566 12 335.00 $335.00 $1,896 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1285–1395 1360 8 220.00–225.00 $223.98 $3,046 —
1275–1575 1385 3 211.00–214.00 $212.60 $2,945 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 3 380.00 $380.00 $1,083 —
452–493 477 18 370.00–390.00 $380.80 $1,816 —
710–747 738 12 245.00–270.00 $263.99 $1,948 —
752 752 12 240.00 $240.00 $1,805 —
844 844 4 250.00 $250.00 $2,110 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1245 1245 2 221.00 $221.00 $2,751 —
1215–1720 1417 34 223.25–228.75 $224.94 $3,187 —
1275–1670 1505 9 220.00–222.00 $220.31 $3,316 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 3 430.00 $430.00 $1,849 —
562–595 570 12 340.00–365.00 $358.48 $2,043 —
868 868 3 270.00 $270.00 $2,344 —

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Dairy Heifers

Small 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
739 739 14 190.00 $190.00 $1,404 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1083 1083 3 220.00 $220.00 $2,383 —
1193 1193 4 207.00 $207.00 $2,470 —
1265 1265 4 210.00 $210.00 $2,656 —
Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
274 274 6 1,125.00 $1,125.00 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1480 1480 2 220.00 $220.00 $3,256 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1341–1685 1565 54 200.00–218.00 $211.77 $3,314 —
1345–1930 1666 65 214.00–227.00 $220.34 $3,671 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
574 574 7 300.00 $300.00 $1,722 —
657–667 662 13 210.00–235.00 $223.56 $1,480 —
818 818 12 225.00 $225.00 $1,840 —
888 888 5 226.00 $226.00 $2,007 —
941 941 5 224.00 $224.00 $2,108 —
1038 1038 42 230.00 $230.00 $2,387 —
Small 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
204 204 16 300.00 $300.00 $612 —
340 340 11 290.00 $290.00 $986 —
407 407 10 240.00 $240.00 $977 —
464 464 13 227.50 $227.50 $1,056 —
599 599 4 220.00 $220.00 $1,318 —
659–668 662 9 205.00–220.00 $210.05 $1,391 —
793 793 6 220.00 $220.00 $1,745 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 250 17 260.00 $260.00 $650 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
960 960 2 215.00 $215.00 $2,064 —

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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.