Director column

IBC director's monthly column featured in Cattleman Magazine. Archives
	March 2026 Benchmarking Iowa/Regional feeder cattle performance National data summaries for feeder cattle indicate that market weights for feeder cattle have been trending higher at a more rapid rate in recent years. While national trends are important, evaluating data from operations around Iowa provides insight into performance and costs for operations with management and feeding practices common to the Midwest. Garland Dahlke with the Iowa Beef Center continuously monitors finishing cattle performance for cattle fed in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota, and routinely provides a summary of trends to the Iowa Beef Center team. Below are the data summaries for steers and heifers that were collected during the summer and fall of 2025 to provide a regional perspective on beef cattle production. Steers. Regional trends suggest that feedlot entry weights and as well as market weights are increasing. As with the national trends, average regional market weights for steers are exceeding 1550 lb live weight and when considering the variation around this mean, some of these cattle are approaching 1750 lb at the point of marketing. As discussed in a previous column, these heavier weights are likely contributing to increased health and mobility issues and perhaps NBQA trends for increased bruising on cattle carcasses. Despite the heavier market weights, steers are gaining at a rate of 3.3 lb/hd/d and converting at 7.6 lb DM feed : 1 lb gain during the finishing period with an average of 210 days on feed. It is important to note that this growth performance was achieved with diets that were 60 Mcal/cwt NEg. Although finishing cattle often are on diet that are 62 Mcal/cwt NEg or higher, a consideration when long-feeding cattle to heavy weights is to slightly lower the NEg. The inclusion of fibrous co-products benefits rumen and digestive tract health for the duration of the finishing period; sustaining growth performance throughout the finishing period. Cost of gain for steer operations averaged of $1.02 + 0.16 per lb gain. Heifers. A smaller dataset for was reported for heifers. The diversity in operation feeding practices contributed to higher variation for some of the factors reported. Heifer feedlot entry and final market weights also have trended higher for Iowa-regional cattle with market weight reaching 1400 lb. Heifer average daily gains were 2.8 lb/hd/d; converting at an average of 7.75 lb DM Feed : 1 lb gain and an average of 198 day on feed. As with steers, heifer finishing diets average 60 Mcal/cwt NEg. Cost of gain for heifers averaged $1.27 + 0.22 per lb gain. Evaluating these data indicate regional market weights for feeder cattle align with those observed for national trends. Additionally, genetic selection and sound feeding practices sustain growth, feed conversions, and competitive cost of gain within the Midwestern region as weights trend higher. The IBC at Iowa State University serves as the university’s extension program to cattle producers. Our center comprises a team of faculty and staff from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. We work together to develop and deliver the latest in research-based information to improve the profitability and vitality of Iowa’s beef industry. If you’d like to be notified of updates on progress of research projects or programs that might be coming to your area, please subscribe to our “Growing Beef” newsletter by following the link on our website, www.iowabeefcenter.org. If you have a question, use our “Ask our Experts” link. Also, feel free to call us at 515-294-BEEF or email us at beefcenter@iastate.edu. You can follow @iowabeefcenter on Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram.

IBC director's monthly column featured in Cattleman Magazine. Archives

March 2026

Benchmarking Iowa/Regional feeder cattle performance

National data summaries for feeder cattle indicate that market weights for feeder cattle have been trending higher at a more rapid rate in recent years. While national trends are important, evaluating data from operations around Iowa provides insight into performance and costs for operations with management and feeding practices common to the Midwest. Garland Dahlke with the Iowa Beef Center continuously monitors finishing cattle performance for cattle fed in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota, and routinely provides a summary of trends to the Iowa Beef Center team. Below are the data summaries for steers and heifers that were collected during the summer and fall of 2025 to provide a regional perspective on beef cattle production.

Steers. Regional trends suggest that feedlot entry weights and as well as market weights are increasing. As with the national trends, average regional market weights for steers are exceeding 1550 lb live weight and when considering the variation around this mean, some of these cattle are approaching 1750 lb at the point of marketing. As discussed in a previous column, these heavier weights are likely contributing to increased health and mobility issues and perhaps NBQA trends for increased bruising on cattle carcasses. Despite the heavier market weights, steers are gaining at a rate of 3.3 lb/hd/d and converting at 7.6 lb DM feed : 1 lb gain during the finishing period with an average of 210 days on feed. It is important to note that this growth performance was achieved with diets that were 60 Mcal/cwt NEg. Although finishing cattle often are on diet that are 62 Mcal/cwt NEg or higher, a consideration when long-feeding cattle to heavy weights is to slightly lower the NEg. The inclusion of fibrous co-products benefits rumen and digestive tract health for the duration of the finishing period; sustaining growth performance throughout the finishing period. Cost of gain for steer operations averaged of $1.02 + 0.16 per lb gain.

Heifers. A smaller dataset for was reported for heifers. The diversity in operation feeding practices contributed to higher variation for some of the factors reported. Heifer feedlot entry and final market weights also have trended higher for Iowa-regional cattle with market weight reaching 1400 lb. Heifer average daily gains were 2.8 lb/hd/d; converting at an average of 7.75 lb DM Feed : 1 lb gain and an average of 198 day on feed. As with steers, heifer finishing diets average 60 Mcal/cwt NEg. Cost of gain for heifers averaged $1.27 + 0.22 per lb gain.

Evaluating these data indicate regional market weights for feeder cattle align with those observed for national trends. Additionally, genetic selection and sound feeding practices sustain growth, feed conversions, and competitive cost of gain within the Midwestern region as weights trend higher.

ISU feedlot monitor benchmark report.

The IBC at Iowa State University serves as the university’s extension program to cattle producers. Our center comprises a team of faculty and staff from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. We work together to develop and deliver the latest in research-based information to improve the profitability and vitality of Iowa’s beef industry. If you’d like to be notified of updates on progress of research projects or programs that might be coming to your area, please subscribe to our “Growing Beef” newsletter by following the link on our website, www.iowabeefcenter.org. If you have a question, use our “Ask our Experts” link. Also, feel free to call us at 515-294-BEEF or email us at beefcenter@iastate.edu. You can follow @iowabeefcenter on Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram.