Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 16, 2020

15,060 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary report →

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $153.24/cwt +2.25 vs last sale · ≈ $883/hd at 576 lb · 725 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $146.12/cwt -1.40 vs last sale · ≈ $915/hd at 626 lb · 693 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $141.45/cwt -1.28 vs last sale · ≈ $952/hd at 673 lb · 667 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 15,060 8,612 15,847
Feeder cattle 10,827 6,482 13,971
Slaughter cattle 4,233 2,130 1,876

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, Choice steers and heifers sold steady to 2.00 lower. Feeder steers under 500 lbs sold 2.00 to 3.00 lower; 500 to 600 lbs were 1.00 to 3.00 higher; 600 to 700 lbs sold 2.00 to 4.00 lower; over 700 lbs sold 1.00 to 3.00 lower. Feeder heifers sold 2.00 to 5.00 lower.

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
270 270 6 187.00 $187.00 $505 —
288 unweaned 288 4 165.00 $165.00 $475 —
300–336 328 15 179.00–202.50 $184.04 $604 —
349 unweaned 349 5 190.00 $190.00 $663 —
350–389 375 25 179.00–193.50 $184.40 $692 +14.22
367–394 unweaned 384 37 173.00–192.50 $181.34 $696 +1.34
403–448 426 56 160.00–181.00 $171.31 $730 -5.10
423–448 unweaned 438 30 168.00–173.00 $168.87 $740 +12.00
450–498 469 174 154.00–173.00 $165.31 $775 -2.38
469–495 unweaned 484 131 159.00–176.00 $168.51 $816 +5.10
500–549 528 302 151.00–168.50 $162.63 $859 +2.42
515–545 unweaned 536 90 149.00–167.00 $158.65 $850 +0.32
541 541 15 149.00 $149.00 $806 -11.21
558 thin fleshed 558 4 163.00 $163.00 $910 —
565 fancy 565 15 161.50 $161.50 $912 —
550–599 574 489 141.00–164.00 $153.85 $883 +1.00
550–599 unweaned 582 212 144.00–158.50 $151.62 $882 +5.71
583 583 5 129.25 $129.25 $754 -23.60
600–648 625 545 134.50–157.00 $147.01 $919 -4.04
603–642 unweaned 631 148 137.00–145.00 $142.82 $901 +8.03
655–699 unweaned 669 186 133.00–145.75 $140.65 $941 +5.37
650–698 675 481 133.50–155.00 $141.76 $957 -2.26
714 unweaned 714 13 135.50 $135.50 $967 —
700–747 719 568 120.00–150.10 $141.12 $1,015 +1.02
761–763 fancy 762 127 153.25–153.85 $153.55 $1,170 —
760–769 unweaned 763 52 127.50–132.00 $130.57 $996 —
750–795 773 171 127.00–142.00 $137.13 $1,060 +0.80
800–832 819 228 121.00–144.50 $140.40 $1,150 -3.54
821 821 8 125.00 $125.00 $1,026 -18.94
853–890 855 83 122.00–145.35 $142.29 $1,217 +9.90
912–948 935 254 108.50–140.25 $133.81 $1,251 —
1051–1059 1056 72 125.60–126.00 $125.73 $1,328 —
1220 1220 11 110.25 $110.25 $1,345 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
933–1405 1100 15 92.50–100.00 $95.84 $1,054 —
930–1320 1127 82 80.00–124.50 $108.56 $1,223 —
820–1431 1257 83 103.00–112.50 $107.27 $1,348 +6.32
1005–1610 1384 304 94.00–103.75 $101.30 $1,402 —
1155–1630 1451 1,270 101.75–109.00 $104.97 $1,523 +3.32
985–1725 1470 36 86.00–115.00 $94.18 $1,384 -12.75
1620–1900 1740 30 76.00–102.00 $92.89 $1,616 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 3 161.00 $161.00 $596 +1.03
410–445 429 11 145.00–160.00 $154.89 $664 +1.65
457–470 unweaned 464 21 149.00–157.00 $154.86 $719 —
468–488 478 27 139.00–165.00 $153.12 $732 -0.79
503–535 516 31 139.00–147.50 $144.51 $746 +0.35
548 548 4 142.50 $142.50 $781 -1.66
553–596 582 76 131.00–148.50 $141.02 $821 -2.29
605–645 618 48 121.00–140.00 $134.73 $833 -7.93
645 unweaned 645 8 131.00 $131.00 $845 —
683 unweaned 683 4 130.00 $130.00 $888 +3.31
670–695 687 14 120.00–134.00 $128.32 $882 +0.97
707 unweaned 707 3 124.00 $124.00 $877 —
728–748 739 9 117.00–134.00 $126.80 $937 -8.20
774–797 781 24 132.50–133.75 $133.38 $1,042 +8.62
934 934 4 115.00 $115.00 $1,074 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480–491 488 18 147.00–154.50 $152.08 $742 —
540 540 4 150.00 $150.00 $810 —
579–595 581 16 137.00 $137.00 $796 —
601–643 613 33 134.00–141.50 $136.21 $835 —
675–693 684 11 130.00–139.00 $136.09 $931 —
755–795 765 8 125.00–128.00 $127.22 $973 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
351 unweaned 351 9 170.00 $170.00 $597 —
661 unweaned 661 10 142.25 $142.25 $940 —
771 unweaned 771 15 133.50 $133.50 $1,029 —
800 800 4 132.50 $132.50 $1,060 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
466 466 13 156.00 $156.00 $727 —
624–633 629 22 132.50–133.00 $132.75 $835 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
238 238 3 400.00 $400.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 7 161.00–169.00 $164.43 $477 —
324–333 unweaned 326 12 169.00–178.00 $175.70 $573 —
308–346 336 20 151.00–179.00 $165.20 $555 -4.80
366–388 unweaned 376 19 135.00–154.00 $148.36 $558 -0.64
352–397 377 67 145.00–171.00 $156.08 $588 -7.48
408–420 unweaned 411 16 137.00–166.50 $155.06 $637 +3.55
405–431 fancy 415 29 160.00–171.00 $166.67 $692 —
400–448 423 108 144.00–166.00 $153.39 $649 -3.92
450–498 474 249 130.00–155.00 $144.24 $684 -5.33
458–495 unweaned 483 91 136.50–152.00 $140.00 $676 -7.70
500–548 unweaned 526 245 129.00–151.00 $137.54 $723 -6.64
503–549 528 298 126.00–158.00 $140.83 $744 -2.97
543 thin fleshed 543 4 146.00 $146.00 $793 —
550–598 569 466 124.50–149.00 $134.86 $767 -4.89
550–596 unweaned 580 107 123.00–134.75 $130.56 $757 -4.27
606 606 13 158.00 $158.00 $957 +18.94
600–648 620 427 123.00–141.10 $133.58 $828 -5.48
605–646 unweaned 629 114 126.50–135.50 $128.97 $811 +0.57
654–679 658 61 140.00–145.00 $144.41 $950 +12.35
650–696 670 269 123.00–144.50 $134.91 $904 +2.85
658–699 unweaned 672 34 118.00–127.50 $121.87 $819 +1.87
682 fancy 682 76 142.75 $142.75 $974 —
705–745 717 345 120.00–139.00 $134.69 $966 +14.69
724 unweaned 724 5 120.00 $120.00 $869 —
752–797 775 170 121.50–135.00 $129.21 $1,001 +2.25
793 fancy 793 63 141.25 $141.25 $1,120 -0.78
800–848 805 66 113.00–133.70 $130.85 $1,053 +8.72
852–894 866 140 120.00–137.60 $133.16 $1,153 +18.16
919–938 921 75 113.00–134.10 $130.61 $1,203 +20.10
1005–1021 1006 57 95.50–128.75 $125.79 $1,265 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875–1250 1036 48 80.00–116.00 $97.31 $1,008 -8.93
860–1330 1083 48 101.00–110.50 $105.28 $1,140 +14.22
895–1335 1136 22 88.50–99.00 $93.99 $1,068 —
1048–1521 1232 63 90.00–99.00 $93.66 $1,154 —
1060–1495 1266 177 95.00–103.75 $101.18 $1,281 +0.85
1085–1541 1348 1,015 100.35–109.50 $105.27 $1,419 -0.42
1500–1705 1597 13 80.00–100.00 $93.17 $1,488 +22.17
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–340 324 9 120.00–147.00 $132.28 $429 —
363 363 3 140.00 $140.00 $508 +3.00
370–398 unweaned 385 10 136.00–150.00 $145.36 $560 —
404 unweaned 404 4 142.00 $142.00 $574 —
437–449 445 30 128.00–140.00 $136.40 $607 -3.60
451–497 480 28 120.00–135.00 $131.03 $629 -3.02
508–546 532 50 120.00–141.00 $131.98 $702 +3.28
534 unweaned 534 5 124.00 $124.00 $662 -1.85
550–598 585 40 120.00–124.25 $122.49 $717 -1.64
599 unweaned 599 6 120.00 $120.00 $719 -2.26
605–645 624 32 120.00–127.00 $123.51 $771 -0.16
650 unweaned 650 4 119.00 $119.00 $774 —
657–693 682 49 115.00–125.50 $121.41 $828 +11.41
700–747 717 41 116.50–125.50 $121.54 $871 -5.77
788 788 4 120.00 $120.00 $946 +20.00
934 934 8 118.00 $118.00 $1,102 —
973 973 7 118.00 $118.00 $1,148 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
438–442 440 16 133.00–137.00 $134.51 $592 —
463–484 479 17 127.00–136.00 $133.64 $640 —
527–548 534 27 126.00–134.00 $131.78 $704 —
573–597 581 12 125.00–128.50 $127.18 $739 —
601–643 632 38 121.00–127.00 $123.83 $783 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
408 unweaned 408 21 140.00 $140.00 $571 —
656–684 unweaned 666 26 123.00–125.00 $124.29 $828 —
743 unweaned 743 8 120.00 $120.00 $892 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
497 497 5 131.00 $131.00 $651 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328 328 2 160.00 $160.00 $525 —
398 398 2 174.00 $174.00 $693 —
405–408 407 3 141.00–151.00 $144.32 $587 —
440 unweaned 440 4 155.00 $155.00 $682 —
453–488 476 9 145.00–159.00 $149.44 $711 —
503 unweaned 503 2 136.00 $136.00 $684 —
505–535 524 16 129.00–142.50 $137.07 $718 +2.39
556–597 unweaned 574 7 117.00–127.00 $122.54 $703 —
588–599 597 11 124.00–130.00 $128.93 $770 —
663–695 674 3 110.00–124.00 $119.19 $803 +3.19
705–717 715 6 107.00–110.00 $109.51 $783 —
758 758 3 112.00 $112.00 $849 +3.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465–495 485 3 131.00 $131.00 $635 —
598 598 2 101.00 $101.00 $604 —
665 665 1 105.00 $105.00 $698 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010–1920 1331 80-85% 126 46.00–59.00 $53.48 $712 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860–1885 1197 85-90% 52 20.00–39.00 $31.59 $378 —
875–1800 1228 85-90% 70 36.00–49.00 $44.21 $543 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1375 1375 75-80% 1 75.00 $75.00 $1,031 —
1200–1865 1506 75-80% 23 60.00–68.00 $63.42 $955 —
1170–1850 1561 75-80% 8 62.00–68.50 $65.04 $1,015 +0.71

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1095–1735 1406 4 51.00–58.00 $53.30 $749 —
1130–2385 1724 54 64.00–86.00 $75.03 $1,294 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1125–1268 1159 18 65.00–78.00 $74.99 $869 —
1025–1425 1200 66 70.00–77.00 $73.84 $886 —
1140–1758 1386 89 81.00–89.50 $85.00 $1,178 —
1305–1735 1517 129 88.00–96.50 $91.06 $1,381 -0.77

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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.