Cattle Market Pulse

Creston Livestock Feeder Cattle Market Report

Creston, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, January 15, 2025

2,764 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $280.32/cwt +0.19 vs last sale · ≈ $2,163/hd at 772 lb · 303 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $273.76/cwt -2.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,851/hd at 676 lb · 185 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $272.76/cwt -5.49 vs last sale · ≈ $2,231/hd at 818 lb · 175 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,764 2,884 2,186
Feeder cattle 2,764 2,884 2,186

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to the feeder calf auction just one week ago, all weight classes of feeder steer calves were fully steady with a slightly lower undertone. Several load lots of yearling steers available were 5.00 to 7.00 higher. Heifer trade saw 500 - 600 lb feeder calves 5.00 to 9.00 lower with seven weight calves fully steady. Again this week many quality, reputation replacement heifers were offered. Demand was very good for today's moderate supply. Internet active for the large packages. Trade active.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–449 429 13 385.00–407.50 $394.81 $1,694 -13.19
511–548 529 53 340.00–378.00 $364.00 $1,926 +20.00
556–591 570 43 328.50–357.50 $341.11 $1,944 -2.66
602–643 624 108 305.50–330.50 $321.48 $2,006 +0.89
659–695 678 137 303.50–319.50 $310.48 $2,105 -0.76
701–746 726 143 274.50–299.00 $290.21 $2,107 -7.85
764 fancy 764 42 290.25 $290.25 $2,218 —
750–797 773 261 263.25–292.50 $278.72 $2,155 -1.41
801–840 818 175 266.00–277.75 $272.76 $2,231 -5.49
855–890 863 130 264.00–269.00 $267.41 $2,308 -1.05
900 900 9 250.00 $250.00 $2,250 —
911 911 31 264.25 $264.25 $2,407 —
951 951 62 252.10 $252.10 $2,397 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
678–690 685 14 292.00–294.50 $293.44 $2,010 +9.74
715–740 730 15 266.50–270.00 $267.87 $1,955 -8.99
755–771 765 11 257.00–260.25 $259.08 $1,982 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403–445 417 13 336.00–358.00 $349.55 $1,458 +24.29
451–484 475 17 323.00–334.00 $326.34 $1,550 +7.34
500–545 524 31 301.00–331.00 $314.03 $1,646 -9.04
574–589 fancy 582 49 288.00–296.00 $292.30 $1,701 —
566–598 584 65 272.00–294.00 $283.53 $1,656 -18.47
602–642 626 147 267.00–288.50 $278.96 $1,746 -7.65
654–688 670 96 255.00–277.50 $271.99 $1,822 -3.97
680–688 fancy 683 89 266.25–290.00 $275.66 $1,883 —
706–740 716 116 255.00–276.00 $270.28 $1,935 +9.47
753–788 774 93 240.00–259.00 $250.72 $1,941 -4.16
801–825 821 57 244.00–253.00 $251.61 $2,066 -1.11
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
635 635 3 256.00 $256.00 $1,626 —
743–744 744 18 248.00–252.50 $250.50 $1,864 —

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Reading this report

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.