Feeder steers
$264 to $543
Iowa Cattle Auction Prices
Feeder steer prices in Iowa ran from about $264 to $543 per cwt this week, with lighter calves bringing more per hundredweight than heavy yearlings; feeder heifers ran about $239 to $479 per cwt. Prices are from the USDA weekly cattle auction summary for the week ending Sep 12, 2026. These are auction sale prices reported by USDA Market News; feeder cattle are quoted per hundredweight (cwt).
Feeder heifers
$239 to $479
Auction receipts
3,339 head
Week ending
Sep 12, 2026
Iowa Feeder Steers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300-350 lb | 327 lb | 7 | $522.50 | $522.50 | $522.50 |
| 350-400 lb | 381 lb | 7 | $2,175.00 | $2,175.00 | $2,175.00 |
| 350-400 lb | 379 lb | 13 | $511.00 | $542.50 | $529.85 |
| 400-450 lb | 427 lb | 67 | $475.00 | $512.50 | $492.43 |
| 450-500 lb | 470 lb | 67 | $431.00 | $482.50 | $462.51 |
| 450-500 lb | 497 lb | 48 | $430.50 | $445.00 | $441.98 |
| 500-550 lb | 510 lb | 14 | $415.00 | $440.00 | $434.43 |
| 500-550 lb | 528 lb | 44 | $438.00 | $449.50 | $448.21 |
| 550-600 lb | 564 lb | 83 | $401.00 | $429.00 | $415.50 |
| 600-650 lb | 625 lb | 69 | $361.00 | $387.00 | $379.12 |
| 600-650 lb | 601 lb | 3 | $360.00 | $360.00 | $360.00 |
| 600-650 lb | 625 lb | 55 | $371.00 | $385.00 | $382.46 |
| 650-700 lb | 695 lb | 5 | $354.00 | $354.00 | $354.00 |
| 650-700 lb | 663 lb | 56 | $348.00 | $382.50 | $372.35 |
| 700-750 lb | 727 lb | 57 | $342.00 | $362.00 | $353.00 |
| 750-800 lb | 786 lb | 7 | $287.50 | $315.00 | $307.30 |
| 750-800 lb | 767 lb | 530 | $320.00 | $362.00 | $347.84 |
| 800-850 lb | 828 lb | 2 | $315.00 | $325.00 | $319.98 |
| 800-850 lb | 816 lb | 91 | $332.50 | $362.00 | $350.43 |
| 850-900 lb | 883 lb | 2 | $297.50 | $305.00 | $301.22 |
| 850-900 lb | 874 lb | 323 | $313.00 | $351.00 | $339.71 |
| 900-950 lb | 921 lb | 259 | $310.00 | $331.00 | $320.80 |
| 950-1000 lb | 988 lb | 3 | $270.00 | $270.00 | $270.00 |
| 950-1000 lb | 958 lb | 109 | $294.00 | $324.75 | $317.01 |
| 1000-1050 lb | 1019 lb | 22 | $295.50 | $295.50 | $295.50 |
| 1050-1100 lb | 1072 lb | 28 | $263.50 | $263.50 | $263.50 |
Iowa Feeder Heifers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300-350 lb | 341 lb | 7 | $435.00 | $435.00 | $435.00 |
| 300-350 lb | 323 lb | 22 | $1,675.00 | $1,675.00 | $1,675.00 |
| 300-350 lb | 315 lb | 3 | $450.00 | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| 350-400 lb | 376 lb | 15 | $1,750.00 | $1,860.00 | $1,837.49 |
| 400-450 lb | 412 lb | 17 | $1,875.00 | $1,875.00 | $1,875.00 |
| 400-450 lb | 430 lb | 16 | $457.50 | $457.50 | $457.50 |
| 400-450 lb | 427 lb | 68 | $434.00 | $455.00 | $440.89 |
| 450-500 lb | 479 lb | 57 | $400.00 | $431.00 | $411.37 |
| 450-500 lb | 464 lb | 47 | $479.00 | $479.00 | $479.00 |
| 500-550 lb | 522 lb | 36 | $380.00 | $397.00 | $391.04 |
| 550-600 lb | 583 lb | 13 | $345.00 | $366.00 | $354.63 |
| 550-600 lb | 576 lb | 9 | $390.00 | $390.00 | $390.00 |
| 550-600 lb | 575 lb | 91 | $356.50 | $397.00 | $380.62 |
| 600-650 lb | 608 lb | 32 | $344.50 | $356.00 | $352.10 |
| 600-650 lb | 623 lb | 3 | $270.00 | $328.00 | $306.67 |
| 650-700 lb | 659 lb | 12 | $329.00 | $330.00 | $329.25 |
| 650-700 lb | 677 lb | 22 | $326.00 | $341.00 | $338.36 |
| 700-750 lb | 716 lb | 112 | $319.00 | $345.00 | $334.25 |
| 750-800 lb | 782 lb | 112 | $306.00 | $352.50 | $322.34 |
| 800-850 lb | 818 lb | 57 | $319.00 | $339.00 | $327.43 |
| 800-850 lb | 824 lb | 3 | $297.50 | $300.00 | $299.17 |
| 850-900 lb | 891 lb | 82 | $285.00 | $323.00 | $296.87 |
| 900-950 lb | 923 lb | 2 | $265.00 | $272.50 | $268.78 |
| 900-950 lb | 904 lb | 28 | $289.50 | $302.50 | $292.02 |
| 950-1000 lb | 966 lb | 3 | $251.00 | $251.00 | $251.00 |
| 950-1000 lb | 970 lb | 17 | $268.00 | $294.50 | $289.61 |
| 1000-1050 lb | 1037 lb | 36 | $239.00 | $280.50 | $276.54 |
| 1050-1100 lb | 1068 lb | 7 | $254.00 | $254.00 | $254.00 |
| 1150-1200 lb | 1168 lb | 23 | $248.00 | $251.50 | $248.62 |
Iowa Feeder Bulls prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per head) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300-350 lb | 334 lb | 28 | $1,835.00 | $1,835.00 | $1,835.00 |
| 400-450 lb | 426 lb | 3 | $1,975.00 | $1,975.00 | $1,975.00 |
| 450-500 lb | 469 lb | 77 | $448.00 | $472.00 | $461.48 |
Iowa Slaughter Steers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1849 lb | 4 | $225.00 | $225.00 | $225.00 |
| N/A | 1117 lb | 26 | $212.50 | $253.00 | $231.80 |
| N/A | 1533 lb | 51 | $218.00 | $223.00 | $220.46 |
| N/A | 1459 lb | 10 | $220.00 | $225.00 | $221.97 |
| N/A | 1257 lb | 48 | $217.00 | $236.00 | $224.03 |
| N/A | 1544 lb | 11 | $220.00 | $223.50 | $221.59 |
| N/A | 1470 lb | 13 | $215.00 | $221.00 | $220.42 |
| N/A | 1386 lb | 14 | $227.00 | $228.00 | $227.72 |
| N/A | 1675 lb | 37 | $218.25 | $224.50 | $220.67 |
| N/A | 1463 lb | 325 | $219.00 | $227.50 | $223.41 |
| N/A | 1371 lb | 55 | $213.00 | $221.00 | $217.18 |
Iowa Slaughter Heifers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1316 lb | 7 | $216.50 | $219.00 | $218.25 |
| N/A | 1078 lb | 3 | $219.00 | $224.00 | $222.21 |
| N/A | 1326 lb | 16 | $222.00 | $225.25 | $224.46 |
| N/A | 1098 lb | 41 | $192.50 | $233.00 | $219.31 |
| N/A | 1346 lb | 250 | $219.25 | $225.50 | $222.16 |
| N/A | 1263 lb | 50 | $215.00 | $221.00 | $218.76 |
| N/A | 1243 lb | 3 | $224.00 | $224.00 | $224.00 |
| N/A | 1167 lb | 11 | $201.00 | $210.00 | $205.98 |
| N/A | 1705 lb | 2 | $210.00 | $210.00 | $210.00 |
| N/A | 1414 lb | 18 | $210.00 | $218.00 | $211.98 |
Iowa Slaughter Bulls prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1893 lb | 3 | $221.00 | $225.00 | $222.98 |
| N/A | 1750 lb | 23 | $165.00 | $217.00 | $199.05 |
| N/A | 1178 lb | 2 | $201.00 | $235.00 | $217.24 |
Iowa Slaughter Cows prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1178 lb | 16 | $155.00 | $209.00 | $173.91 |
| N/A | 1353 lb | 11 | $165.00 | $195.00 | $180.45 |
| N/A | 1526 lb | 33 | $151.00 | $169.00 | $162.11 |
| N/A | 872 lb | 9 | $107.50 | $152.00 | $129.05 |
| N/A | 1546 lb | 20 | $170.00 | $185.00 | $173.26 |
| N/A | 1638 lb | 4 | $138.00 | $151.00 | $144.07 |
| N/A | 1335 lb | 1 | $125.00 | $125.00 | $125.00 |
| N/A | 1289 lb | 24 | $141.00 | $163.00 | $153.16 |
| N/A | 1158 lb | 30 | $119.00 | $145.00 | $131.69 |
Iowa Slaughter Beef/Dairy Heifers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1399 lb | 8 | $215.50 | $222.50 | $219.35 |
| N/A | 1588 lb | 5 | $208.00 | $208.00 | $208.00 |
Iowa Slaughter Beef/Dairy Steers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1459 lb | 18 | $217.00 | $223.00 | $219.65 |
| N/A | 1295 lb | 1 | $221.00 | $221.00 | $221.00 |
| N/A | 1712 lb | 11 | $211.00 | $216.00 | $215.05 |
Iowa Slaughter Dairy Heifers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1388 lb | 2 | $203.00 | $203.00 | $203.00 |
| N/A | 1629 lb | 6 | $191.00 | $191.00 | $191.00 |
| N/A | 1515 lb | 5 | $213.00 | $217.50 | $215.57 |
Iowa Slaughter Dairy Steers prices
| Weight | Avg wt | Head | Low | High | Avg (per cwt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 1400 lb | 1 | $215.00 | $215.00 | $215.00 |
| N/A | 1552 lb | 15 | $202.00 | $207.00 | $204.91 |
| N/A | 1430 lb | 3 | $212.00 | $220.00 | $214.72 |
| N/A | 1605 lb | 25 | $209.00 | $215.00 | $210.09 |
Auction volume
@endif
Iowa auctions reported 3,339 head this week@if ($report->receipts_week_ago), compared with 6,122 head last week@if ($report->receipts_year_ago) and 9,241 head a year ago@endif.
Iowa cattle markets
Iowa is an important cattle-feeding state, supported by abundant corn and a network of feedlots that finish cattle for beef production. Cow-calf and backgrounding operations are also common, particularly in the southern and western parts of the state. Feeder cattle move through livestock auctions and direct marketing channels across the state, often after weaning. Spring calving is common, and fall brings a substantial run of weaned calves and yearlings.
Iowa cattle market commentary
Compared to last week, yearling steers sold steady to 4.00 higher. Yearling heifers from 700 to 850 lbs sold 10.00 higher and over 850 lbs steady. Not enough calves for a market comparison. Slaughter steers and heifers sold 1.00 to 2.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold steady and bull sold 10.00 lower. Demand was moderate to good.
Market commentary above is quoted from the USDA Market News report.
About this data
These are auction sale prices reported by USDA Market News from livestock auctions across Iowa, summarized weekly. Feeder cattle are quoted per hundredweight (cwt); breeding and replacement cattle are often quoted per head or per pair. Prices move with the futures market, feed costs, and demand, so confirm current values at your local auction.
Source: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, report AMS_2167, published Sep 7, 2026. Original USDA report (PDF). This page is informational and is not market or investment advice.
Iowa cattle price frequently asked questions
How much are feeder steers in Iowa right now?
Feeder steer prices in Iowa ran from about $264 to $543 per cwt this week, with lighter calves bringing more per hundredweight than heavy yearlings; feeder heifers ran about $239 to $479 per cwt. Prices are from the USDA weekly cattle auction summary for the week ending Sep 12, 2026. Exact prices depend on weight, frame, and quality, shown in the tables above.
Why do lighter cattle cost more per hundredweight?
Buyers usually pay a higher price per pound for lighter calves than for heavy yearlings, a pattern often called the price slide, because lighter cattle have more weight left to gain. That is why a 5-weight steer can post a higher per-cwt price than an 8-weight steer at the same auction.
How often are these cattle prices updated?
USDA Market News publishes Iowa auction summaries weekly, and this page refreshes after each new report. Auction prices can change from week to week, so check the report date shown above.
Page updated Sep 19, 2026.
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