Sale reports / Iowa / Sheldon Livestock Auction / 2026-08-20

Sheldon Livestock Auction

Slaughter Cattle · Sheldon, Iowa · Thu, Aug 20
● Final18 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2154
Receipts
312 head
▼ 158 vs last sale 470▼ 61 vs year ago 373 · −16.4%
Also sold hereFeeder Cattle SpecialThu Sep 17, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

The last reported slaughter auction was August 6, no comparison applicable. Lower trend noted, as the market has been in the decline. No implant steers showing a 3.00-4.00 gain today. The sale consisted of a half load of dairy steers, half load of heifers and many smaller strings. Good demand.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Beef/Dairy HeifersChoiceAverage1,360223.983,0468thin
Beef/Dairy HeifersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,385212.602,9453thin
Beef/Dairy SteersChoiceAverage1,417224.943,18734
Beef/Dairy SteersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,458220.443,21311
Dairy HeifersChoiceAverage1,480220.003,2562thin
Dairy SteersChoiceAverage1,683222.733,74929
Dairy SteersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,576212.093,34346
HeifersChoiceAverage1,389227.963,16676
HeifersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,198223.002,6724thin
SteersChoiceAverage1,449226.593,28272
SteersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,377219.723,0257thin

Every lot, as filed

18 lots · USDA AMS · Sheldon Livestock Slaughter Cattle - Sheldon, IA
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
SteersChoiceHeavy Weight—1,712228.98/cwt228.50–230.503,9204
SteersChoiceCertified Prgms—1,595230.42/cwt230.00–234.003,6759
SteersChoice—1,527226.44/cwt224.75–227.253,45817
HeifersSelect and ChoiceReturn to Feed—1,198223.00/cwt223.00–223.002,6724
HeifersChoiceCertified Prgms—1,358228.16/cwt226.50–229.003,0989
HeifersChoice—1,393227.93/cwt224.00–232.753,17567
Beef/Dairy SteersSelect and ChoiceReturn to Feed—1,245221.00/cwt221.00–221.002,7512
SteersSelect and ChoiceCertified Prgms—1,488221.00/cwt221.00–221.003,2882
SteersSelect and Choice—1,332219.21/cwt217.00–220.002,9205
Beef/Dairy HeifersSelect and Choice—1,385212.60/cwt211.00–214.002,9453
Beef/Dairy SteersSelect and Choice—1,505220.31/cwt220.00–222.003,3169
Dairy SteersSelect and Choice—1,576212.09/cwt210.00–218.003,34346
SteersChoiceCertified Prgms—1,489229.25/cwt229.25–229.253,4145
Dairy SteersChoice—1,683222.73/cwt220.00–227.003,74929
Dairy HeifersChoice—1,480220.00/cwt220.00–220.003,2562
Beef/Dairy HeifersChoice—1,360223.98/cwt220.00–225.003,0468
Beef/Dairy SteersChoice—1,417224.94/cwt223.25–228.753,18734
SteersChoice—1,343225.10/cwt223.25–226.253,02337

How this sale compares

Iowa weighted averages
One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every Iowa auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.