Cattle Market Pulse

Creston Livestock Feeder Cattle Market Report

Creston, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, December 11, 2024

2,393 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $235.02/cwt ≈ $2,040/hd at 868 lb · 192 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $312.41/cwt +7.27 vs last sale · ≈ $1,937/hd at 620 lb · 167 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $285.24/cwt +0.70 vs last sale · ≈ $2,048/hd at 718 lb · 135 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,393 2,535 1,949
Feeder cattle 2,393 2,535 1,949

Compared to the auction 2 weeks ago, 500 - 600 lb feeder steer calves were 6.00 to 9.00 higher. Heifer trade saw 500 - 600 lb calves fully steady to 15.00 higher. Available today were load lots of quality yearling cattle in high demand but no comparison stated given smaller offering 2 weeks ago. Today's offering of new crop feeder calves were mostly "weaned", double vaccinated and high quality home raised calves. Demand was very good for today's moderate offering. 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
426–435 429 25 327.00–349.00 $342.75 $1,470 -43.25
499 499 13 353.00 $353.00 $1,761 +10.37
507–545 529 82 320.00–348.00 $338.60 $1,791 +6.51
575 575 20 318.00–329.75 $326.81 $1,879 +3.47
601–637 620 167 299.50–320.50 $312.41 $1,937 +7.27
652–695 681 93 285.00–296.75 $291.37 $1,984 +2.31
704–728 718 135 283.50–286.00 $285.24 $2,048 +2.66
762–788 765 28 256.50–263.00 $262.28 $2,006 +1.87
819–835 821 22 235.00–256.50 $253.52 $2,081 +2.57
865–868 866 130 256.85–257.50 $257.17 $2,227 +22.17
915–927 921 120 241.35–241.60 $241.48 $2,224 +6.48
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 510 3 289.00 $289.00 $1,474
581 581 3 265.00 $265.00 $1,540 -44.92
700–740 712 10 261.50–262.00 $261.66 $1,863

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 6 347.00 $347.00 $1,301
461–489 474 15 308.00–329.00 $318.89 $1,512 +3.31
502–542 518 47 295.50–318.00 $309.07 $1,601 -2.80
555–565 559 63 292.00–312.50 $306.84 $1,715 +19.36
600–631 615 36 258.25–271.50 $263.85 $1,623 -12.65
656–692 674 133 254.00–274.75 $261.74 $1,764 +0.48
722–749 726 87 242.50–263.00 $245.66 $1,783 +3.91
800 800 65 236.35 $236.35 $1,891
855–892 868 192 232.35–236.75 $235.02 $2,040
904 904 65 232.10 $232.10 $2,098
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
559–591 581 29 264.00–285.00 $274.76 $1,596 +2.04
690 690 4 230.00 $230.00 $1,587
725 725 12 230.00 $230.00 $1,668

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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.