Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 30, 2020

18,889 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $153.65/cwt +6.01 vs last sale · ≈ $958/hd at 623 lb · 1,316 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $147.14/cwt +3.38 vs last sale · ≈ $990/hd at 673 lb · 1,235 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $142.29/cwt -1.75 vs last sale · ≈ $1,036/hd at 728 lb · 1,119 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 18,889 8,344 19,059
Feeder cattle 15,562 7,494 16,691
Slaughter cattle 3,327 850 2,368

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, Choice steers and heifers sold 1.00 higher. Feeder steers 400/699 lbs 4.00 to 15.00 higher, 700/799 lbs 1.00 lower to 2.00 higher, 800/925 lbs steady to 5.00 lower. Feeder heifers 400/699 lbs 2.00 to 13.00 higher, 700/850 lbs 1.00 higher to 2.00 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
291 291 13 202.50 $202.50 $589 —
327–338 unweaned 333 10 179.00–197.50 $188.40 $627 —
330–343 335 12 187.00–191.00 $189.16 $634 -0.23
353–395 359 59 180.00–203.00 $190.97 $686 +12.94
416–430 unweaned 419 33 180.00–185.50 $184.43 $773 +8.05
400–448 432 319 173.00–192.00 $182.41 $788 +11.78
450–499 478 265 166.00–183.00 $175.00 $836 +7.15
456–496 unweaned 480 123 159.00–184.00 $173.01 $830 +9.39
485 fancy 485 35 187.00 $187.00 $907 —
500–548 527 511 158.00–176.00 $172.04 $907 +15.62
504–549 unweaned 528 74 162.50–174.50 $169.30 $894 —
550–599 575 725 145.00–170.50 $159.65 $918 +6.07
559–594 unweaned 578 178 147.50–167.00 $155.82 $901 +10.54
600–648 623 966 144.00–166.00 $155.11 $966 +8.00
600–640 unweaned 624 340 145.50–155.25 $149.88 $935 +8.91
648 648 10 141.00 $141.00 $914 -6.11
650–698 672 1,049 137.00–158.50 $148.59 $999 +4.34
657–697 unweaned 675 166 131.50–143.25 $139.95 $945 +5.98
691–694 692 20 130.00–132.00 $130.60 $904 -13.65
713–739 unweaned 717 134 132.00–139.00 $137.50 $986 +4.00
700–748 730 985 133.50–148.60 $142.94 $1,043 -1.25
750–798 777 592 131.00–148.00 $141.20 $1,097 +1.85
753–799 unweaned 795 118 125.00–130.75 $130.01 $1,034 —
807–812 810 10 121.00–125.00 $123.20 $998 -19.86
801–846 822 277 132.50–143.00 $138.31 $1,137 -4.75
853–880 864 351 127.50–144.50 $141.83 $1,225 -1.20
927–944 943 64 130.00–138.50 $137.89 $1,300 +0.88
971–980 972 113 130.75–142.00 $134.11 $1,304 +8.78
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
906–1365 1062 49 86.00–132.00 $106.83 $1,135 —
1200–1275 1219 7 92.00–100.00 $97.68 $1,191 -6.53
1109–1403 1237 19 104.25–110.50 $106.39 $1,316 +2.18
1075–1781 1379 218 95.00–105.50 $102.07 $1,408 +2.09
1055–1715 1454 950 104.00–111.00 $108.29 $1,575 +1.20
1230–1870 1466 32 90.00–98.00 $95.28 $1,397 -11.81
1760 1760 1 95.50 $95.50 $1,681 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
138 138 4 110.00 $110.00 $152 —
232–238 235 7 125.00–142.50 $132.39 $311 —
265–298 283 18 110.00–135.00 $129.32 $366 -40.68
342–345 343 6 122.00–127.50 $122.92 $422 -54.58
366 366 3 180.00 $180.00 $659 —
420–448 439 29 118.00–171.00 $147.20 $646 -7.72
450–497 476 66 105.00–170.00 $154.71 $736 -1.43
483 unweaned 483 3 157.00 $157.00 $758 —
515–545 535 52 107.50–162.00 $152.59 $816 +10.83
544 unweaned 544 5 152.50 $152.50 $830 —
553–599 578 60 140.00–162.00 $148.86 $860 +9.13
570–588 unweaned 578 16 138.00–144.00 $141.72 $819 +3.32
620–643 unweaned 631 28 135.00–141.75 $138.50 $874 +8.25
608–648 633 111 117.00–145.00 $139.95 $886 +3.31
661–686 unweaned 664 24 134.00–139.50 $138.23 $918 —
652–699 683 107 130.00–140.50 $136.66 $933 +6.68
705–739 724 78 104.00–135.00 $119.54 $865 -11.36
722–749 unweaned 735 35 122.00–131.50 $128.72 $946 —
753–797 779 45 125.00–129.00 $126.49 $985 -2.70
817–839 823 63 117.00–138.00 $135.74 $1,117 +3.95
890 890 1 104.00 $104.00 $926 —
905–949 938 17 99.00–125.00 $115.95 $1,088 -9.55
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
582 582 6 150.00 $150.00 $873 —
611 unweaned 611 7 137.00 $137.00 $837 —
722 722 8 130.00 $130.00 $939 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
288 unweaned 288 4 171.00 $171.00 $492 —
323 unweaned 323 4 167.00 $167.00 $539 —
321–339 329 61 175.00–188.00 $176.79 $582 +26.77
359–398 383 34 170.00–175.00 $171.80 $658 +23.60
351–398 unweaned 389 22 148.00–161.50 $159.29 $620 +16.29
400–449 422 319 145.50–175.00 $163.97 $692 +13.52
411–446 unweaned 435 30 146.00–162.50 $153.53 $668 +15.53
450–498 475 281 145.00–166.00 $153.88 $731 +3.21
462–495 unweaned 482 121 143.00–159.00 $151.67 $731 +11.20
500–549 519 773 140.00–160.00 $149.28 $775 +8.95
512–549 unweaned 534 93 132.00–147.00 $143.73 $768 +14.64
552–596 unweaned 570 300 125.00–149.50 $134.58 $767 +7.04
551–599 572 637 130.00–149.00 $139.70 $799 +3.34
600–649 619 646 125.00–142.50 $135.10 $836 +1.83
602–634 unweaned 619 100 125.00–130.50 $127.49 $789 —
655–690 unweaned 669 162 122.50–131.00 $125.67 $841 -2.83
651–698 672 593 123.50–140.25 $132.72 $892 +3.43
719 unweaned 719 6 119.00 $119.00 $856 +1.00
700–747 721 136 123.75–135.50 $131.16 $946 -1.91
752–793 765 147 126.00–134.00 $131.38 $1,005 +1.09
775–781 780 8 118.00–119.00 $118.75 $926 -11.54
836 836 47 130.75 $130.75 $1,093 +1.50
871 871 49 122.00 $122.00 $1,063 -3.75
924 924 4 118.50 $118.50 $1,095 -2.55
935 fancy 935 16 124.50 $124.50 $1,164 —
953–989 972 21 102.00–118.75 $109.51 $1,064 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1285 1068 15 89.00–121.00 $98.38 $1,051 —
1045–1330 1257 64 101.00–111.10 $106.48 $1,338 —
1120–1315 1282 9 95.00–99.75 $97.25 $1,247 —
1015–1555 1303 225 97.00–105.00 $102.40 $1,334 —
1120–1600 1359 637 103.50–111.50 $108.31 $1,472 —
1085–2015 1417 32 90.00–98.00 $95.54 $1,354 —
1480–1614 1587 5 96.00–98.00 $97.63 $1,549 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303 303 4 156.00 $156.00 $473 -6.50
369–376 372 8 154.00–171.00 $160.45 $597 —
394 unweaned 394 10 149.00 $149.00 $587 —
446–448 447 13 141.00–147.00 $144.70 $647 +1.92
451–497 477 69 141.00–150.00 $145.19 $693 +6.32
495 unweaned 495 4 130.00 $130.00 $644 —
511–548 537 106 126.00–146.00 $136.60 $734 +6.20
525–549 unweaned 540 14 130.50–137.00 $132.76 $717 —
550–590 564 39 115.00–135.00 $128.83 $727 +2.19
600–643 619 44 115.00–133.25 $126.87 $785 -2.53
658 unweaned 658 7 112.00 $112.00 $737 —
665–677 670 40 110.00–133.00 $120.32 $806 -7.61
708–749 729 42 110.00–120.00 $116.69 $851 -11.40
750–785 763 39 111.00–126.00 $120.14 $917 -1.11
786 unweaned 786 17 115.00 $115.00 $904 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 7 130.00 $130.00 $767 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 3 140.00 $140.00 $441 —
448 448 2 152.50 $152.50 $683 +7.33
466 unweaned 466 4 142.00 $142.00 $662 —
531 unweaned 531 4 138.00 $138.00 $733 -7.00
553–590 583 10 134.00–144.00 $142.10 $828 +14.38
595 unweaned 595 3 125.00 $125.00 $744 —
604 604 7 142.00 $142.00 $858 +15.38
701 unweaned 701 4 110.00 $110.00 $771 —
783 783 2 102.20 $102.20 $800 +4.20

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035–1830 1380 80-85% 119 47.00–59.50 $52.75 $728 -1.67
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
755–1770 1141 85-90% 39 20.00–39.00 $32.39 $370 +4.96
915–1690 1225 85-90% 63 37.00–47.00 $43.25 $530 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195–1880 1463 75-80% 37 60.00–69.50 $63.14 $924 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045–2350 1798 15 40.00–69.00 $62.32 $1,121 —
1350–2385 1866 33 68.00–82.00 $75.53 $1,409 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135–1280 1210 22 66.00–83.00 $75.04 $908 —
1168–1670 1317 21 71.00–78.00 $74.50 $981 —
1120–1579 1436 150 80.00–89.50 $87.07 $1,250 —
1065–1675 1495 110 90.00–98.00 $92.55 $1,384 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205–245 230 27 80.00–90.00 $84.13 $193 —
271 271 6 92.50 $92.50 $251 —
307–340 321 63 82.00–95.00 $89.14 $286 —
350–398 376 37 70.00–92.00 $83.96 $316 —
406–424 414 37 81.00–95.00 $87.90 $364 —
461–494 481 12 87.50–89.00 $88.40 $425 —
520–540 536 11 64.00–75.00 $67.33 $361 —
554–577 569 17 52.00–60.00 $54.12 $308 —
640 640 1 57.50 $57.50 $368 —
678–693 685 16 71.00–79.00 $74.47 $510 —
704–745 725 11 65.00–75.00 $70.80 $513 —
833 833 4 77.00 $77.00 $641 —
860–889 885 8 63.00–65.00 $64.76 $573 —
980 980 2 61.00 $61.00 $598 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
458–485 471 85 90.00–101.00 $93.98 $443 —
573–599 583 13 79.00–80.00 $79.40 $463 —
601–648 637 32 81.00–95.00 $93.19 $594 —
653 653 7 94.00 $94.00 $614 —
735 735 4 83.00 $83.00 $610 —
791–795 791 14 84.00–88.00 $86.64 $685 —
815–835 822 3 81.00–84.00 $82.02 $674 —
887 887 19 83.00 $83.00 $736 —
908–940 935 13 85.00–87.00 $86.70 $811 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830–849 833 44 94.00–96.00 $95.68 $797 —
854–872 869 64 94.00–96.00 $95.33 $828 —
943 943 6 92.00 $92.00 $868 —
1002–1036 1014 36 88.00–92.00 $90.52 $918 —
1079 1079 4 94.50 $94.50 $1,020 —
1123 1123 8 82.00 $82.00 $921 —
1158 1158 18 86.00 $86.00 $996 —
1236 1236 8 84.00 $84.00 $1,038 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
110–125 120 3 55.00–85.00 $64.17 $77 —
172–185 179 18 25.00–65.00 $52.07 $93 —
200–232 217 25 30.00–75.00 $62.89 $136 —
252–290 278 22 55.00–77.50 $74.02 $206 —
310 310 18 50.00 $50.00 $155 —
350–390 372 5 30.00–45.00 $37.15 $138 —
404–445 412 9 40.00–60.00 $53.79 $222 —
502–545 506 20 45.00–52.50 $45.81 $232 —
687 687 3 32.40 $32.40 $223 —
715 715 3 40.00 $40.00 $286 —
Large 3-4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
78–80 thin fleshed 79 3 35.00–55.00 $48.22 —

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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.