Cattle Market Pulse

Creston Livestock Feeder Cattle Market Report

Creston, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, February 21, 2024

2,888 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Creston Livestock Feeder Cattle report →

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $285.07/cwt +4.73 vs last sale · ≈ $1,944/hd at 682 lb · 328 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $271.06/cwt +10.87 vs last sale · ≈ $1,957/hd at 722 lb · 298 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $249.29/cwt +13.45 vs last sale · ≈ $1,683/hd at 675 lb · 199 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,888 3,147 1,946
Feeder cattle 2,888 3,147 1,946

SPECIAL "VACC CALF & YEARLING" AUCTION - - - Compared to the auction 2 weeks ago, 500 - 600 lb steer calves were 2.00 to 3.00 higher, six weight steer calves were 6.00 to 8.00 higher and 700 - 800 lb calves were fully steady. Heifer feeder calves weighing 400 - 500 lbs were 10.00 - 12.00 higher while 600 -700 lb heifers were 8.00 to 10.00 higher. Great offering today of quality, home raised, long time weaned, double vaccinated feeder calves available in load lots. Demand was very good throughout the auction. Trade was active.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 unweaned 391 6 350.00 $350.00 $1,368
416–445 440 20 325.00–331.00 $329.14 $1,448 +1.86
490 unweaned 490 5 340.00 $340.00 $1,666
480–496 491 54 316.00–336.00 $323.16 $1,587 -1.14
500–545 523 53 317.00–329.00 $325.94 $1,705 -8.16
550–597 581 166 304.25–318.75 $308.88 $1,795 +2.11
603–642 617 128 289.75–315.00 $300.74 $1,856 +15.47
642 fancy 642 20 299.50 $299.50 $1,923
650–688 674 218 279.85–299.50 $285.11 $1,922 +4.77
698 fancy 698 110 285.00 $285.00 $1,989
700–748 722 298 263.25–276.75 $271.06 $1,957 +10.87
750–790 783 189 243.75–261.50 $251.41 $1,969 -1.78
825–841 830 150 246.50–249.75 $247.84 $2,057 +1.19
900 900 59 239.60 $239.60 $2,156 +25.01
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
550–570 564 14 275.00–296.00 $287.79 $1,623 +23.29
675–681 679 12 276.00 $276.00 $1,874

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 380 21 300.00 $300.00 $1,140 +9.69
400–412 407 14 294.00–309.00 $304.66 $1,240 +30.66
450 unweaned 450 6 305.00 $305.00 $1,372
456–492 473 67 291.00–314.00 $305.81 $1,446 +30.22
518 unweaned 518 8 295.00 $295.00 $1,528
500–540 523 53 290.00–305.00 $296.95 $1,553 +31.62
550–593 573 89 260.00–284.00 $273.70 $1,568 +25.22
607–637 615 159 245.50–267.00 $252.60 $1,553 +3.99
661–693 675 199 239.50–253.00 $249.29 $1,683 +13.45
708–739 724 126 220.00–239.25 $233.32 $1,689 +10.40
743 fancy 743 62 236.00 $236.00 $1,753
750–793 787 80 226.50–227.50 $227.29 $1,789 +4.34
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
596 596 13 249.00 $249.00 $1,484 +29.00

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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.