Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 4, 2021

36,799 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $137.81/cwt -5.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,000/hd at 726 lb · 2,868 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $144.54/cwt -4.28 vs last sale · ≈ $977/hd at 676 lb · 2,791 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $129.72/cwt -5.49 vs last sale · ≈ $877/hd at 676 lb · 2,320 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 36,799 3,529 34,675
Feeder cattle 34,803 3,529 32,534
Slaughter cattle 1,996 — 2,141

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: No choice steers and heifers reported last week for a market test. Feeder steers 400/449 lbs 5.00 higher, 450/499 lbs 9.00 lower, 500/599 lbs steady to 3.00 higher, 600/949 lbs 1.00 to 8.00 lower. Feeder heifers 400/449 lbs 2.00 higher, 450/799 lbs 1.00 to 12..00 lower, 800/849 lbs 2.00 higher.

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
250–272 267 4 212.50–250.00 $221.29 $591 —
300–349 325 15 172.00–205.00 $185.74 $604 -22.26
357–389 unweaned 380 11 176.00 $176.00 $669 —
351–398 384 101 172.00–203.00 $184.62 $709 +17.12
400–448 426 227 159.00–196.50 $181.48 $773 +5.42
442 unweaned 442 5 174.00 $174.00 $769 —
453–494 unweaned 468 32 165.00–175.00 $172.25 $806 —
450–498 476 412 155.00–190.50 $173.00 $823 -9.03
503–549 525 731 151.00–184.50 $167.37 $879 +2.94
523–531 unweaned 526 13 155.00–165.00 $161.12 $847 —
554–579 unweaned 569 38 149.50–154.50 $152.01 $865 —
550–598 575 1,451 144.50–172.00 $158.52 $911 +0.26
601–604 fancy 603 13 162.00–165.00 $164.08 $989 —
607–638 unweaned 619 58 133.00–153.75 $149.96 $928 —
600–649 626 1,897 133.75–165.00 $151.24 $947 -7.89
655 fancy 655 3 155.00 $155.00 $1,015 —
661–684 unweaned 666 42 126.00–142.50 $136.53 $909 —
650–699 676 2,746 132.00–174.00 $144.65 $978 -4.17
702–710 unweaned 705 15 132.00–132.50 $132.30 $933 —
700–749 726 2,853 124.00–153.00 $137.84 $1,001 -5.17
767 fancy 767 26 143.00 $143.00 $1,097 —
750–799 775 2,245 121.50–144.35 $134.29 $1,041 -0.94
781 unweaned 781 18 111.00 $111.00 $867 —
813–827 819 11 120.00–122.00 $121.08 $992 -15.61
800–849 826 2,284 124.00–139.00 $133.18 $1,100 -3.51
867 unweaned 867 11 102.00 $102.00 $884 —
850–897 871 1,148 117.00–136.50 $129.77 $1,130 -1.66
900–948 924 310 119.00–133.25 $127.81 $1,181 -7.80
950–981 963 104 118.50–130.00 $123.72 $1,191 —
1012–1021 1017 104 126.00 $126.00 $1,281 —
1078–1094 1092 62 119.50–121.25 $121.08 $1,322 —
1108–1147 1122 17 95.00–112.50 $106.18 $1,191 —
1157 1157 14 107.00 $107.00 $1,238 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
292–298 295 6 178.00–195.00 $186.59 $550 —
310–349 343 26 141.00–197.50 $183.28 $629 +20.28
355–374 366 10 152.50–189.00 $178.16 $652 —
402–449 428 67 140.00–175.00 $158.54 $679 -5.32
453–498 482 116 120.00–175.00 $161.28 $777 -4.09
500–547 522 158 141.00–168.00 $158.45 $827 +17.45
551–598 579 195 135.00–159.00 $145.25 $841 +3.90
600–648 625 284 128.00–155.50 $142.20 $889 -5.80
664–695 unweaned 672 11 120.00–129.50 $126.82 $852 —
651–697 681 250 122.00–146.50 $137.81 $938 -4.93
700–748 725 115 112.50–141.50 $134.21 $973 +6.21
770 unweaned 770 3 121.00 $121.00 $932 —
750–799 777 188 120.00–135.25 $130.49 $1,014 —
810–831 822 17 110.00–132.00 $118.27 $972 -11.73
855–880 863 36 106.00–130.00 $123.83 $1,069 +1.83
900 900 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,035 —
979–987 982 25 105.50–111.00 $108.42 $1,065 —
1040 1040 3 111.50 $111.50 $1,160 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1350 1198 25 92.00–109.00 $101.62 $1,217 —
1082–1425 1213 30 80.00–108.50 $96.46 $1,170 —
1210–1390 1286 23 104.00–110.00 $106.75 $1,373 —
1095–1870 1406 79 94.50–107.25 $103.93 $1,461 —
1248–1624 1464 423 105.00–113.50 $110.63 $1,620 —
1269–1695 1493 31 83.50–99.00 $95.99 $1,433 —
1668–1735 1701 7 95.00–101.50 $99.91 $1,699 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 1 192.50 $192.50 $539 —
343 343 4 180.00 $180.00 $617 —
380–398 387 7 170.00–178.00 $173.95 $673 —
425 425 1 150.00 $150.00 $638 —
475–490 484 7 155.00–162.00 $158.44 $767 —
525–542 540 10 151.00–157.00 $151.58 $819 —
570–598 585 20 132.00–147.00 $141.97 $831 —
611–634 626 18 144.00–149.00 $147.18 $921 —
652–697 666 10 133.00–139.00 $135.75 $904 —
709–737 727 61 129.00–137.00 $133.56 $971 —
788 788 2 124.00 $124.00 $977 —
852–871 863 27 126.00–129.50 $127.07 $1,097 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
708 708 5 121.00 $121.00 $857 —
818–833 826 12 116.00–118.00 $116.99 $966 —
861 861 7 114.00 $114.00 $982 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
584–598 590 13 140.00–146.50 $143.46 $846 —
668 668 5 130.00 $130.00 $868 —
813 813 6 122.00 $122.00 $992 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
266 unweaned 266 4 178.00 $178.00 $473 —
257–290 280 10 145.00–190.00 $177.61 $497 —
320–349 337 31 151.00–180.00 $164.67 $555 -8.45
338 unweaned 338 5 143.00 $143.00 $483 —
350–399 379 80 140.00–186.00 $156.82 $594 -4.95
382–387 unweaned 384 19 147.00–156.50 $153.27 $589 —
428 unweaned 428 2 137.00 $137.00 $586 —
400–449 432 344 134.00–178.00 $153.05 $661 +2.15
450–499 477 521 133.00–172.00 $148.99 $711 -12.59
450–487 unweaned 480 52 133.00–140.85 $139.09 $668 —
500–549 526 1,034 125.00–163.00 $142.42 $749 -7.65
535–548 unweaned 544 25 125.00–135.00 $130.43 $710 —
554 fancy 554 17 143.00 $143.00 $792 —
557–578 unweaned 566 87 120.00–139.00 $130.18 $737 —
550–598 577 1,820 122.00–153.00 $136.38 $787 -5.59
603–614 unweaned 607 24 123.75–128.00 $126.39 $767 —
600–649 626 2,121 121.00–153.00 $134.43 $842 -4.66
637–645 640 30 137.00–151.00 $142.17 $910 +3.08
655–688 668 142 132.00–154.00 $143.84 $961 +8.63
658–674 unweaned 669 27 115.00–122.50 $120.04 $803 —
650–699 677 2,151 120.00–142.50 $128.91 $873 -6.30
706–732 716 88 127.50–142.75 $132.87 $951 +0.37
700–748 719 1,522 117.25–140.20 $128.62 $925 -3.88
731 unweaned 731 8 121.00 $121.00 $885 —
750–795 769 621 111.50–137.25 $129.24 $994 -0.89
772 772 8 130.00 $130.00 $1,004 -0.13
800–846 816 415 110.00–130.00 $125.59 $1,025 +1.99
835–845 840 32 124.00–126.00 $124.93 $1,049 +1.33
853–890 869 145 105.00–126.00 $121.79 $1,058 —
903–935 914 27 104.00–116.50 $111.86 $1,022 -2.76
955–979 973 16 105.00–114.50 $109.60 $1,066 +0.60
1009–1037 1028 60 96.00–118.50 $106.19 $1,092 —
1070 1070 7 107.75 $107.75 $1,153 —
1170 1170 16 103.75 $103.75 $1,214 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 170.00 $170.00 $450 —
305–348 330 21 140.00–167.50 $152.03 $502 -7.97
359–389 378 23 130.00–179.00 $155.12 $586 —
410–446 429 44 120.00–169.50 $147.30 $632 —
450–499 486 120 120.00–162.00 $142.47 $692 +4.37
487 unweaned 487 8 124.50 $124.50 $606 —
502–548 527 198 117.00–158.50 $142.71 $752 —
555–598 582 128 116.00–142.00 $128.28 $747 -7.00
600–649 624 177 111.50–137.50 $124.71 $778 -10.29
647 unweaned 647 9 115.00 $115.00 $744 —
651–699 681 105 116.00–130.00 $121.23 $826 -5.27
700–745 727 84 110.00–129.00 $118.76 $863 —
758–796 769 101 110.00–125.50 $119.60 $920 —
801–828 824 53 104.00–114.00 $105.28 $868 —
859–876 867 19 105.00–116.00 $111.14 $964 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
906–1220 1030 27 85.00–113.00 $102.47 $1,055 —
1060–1335 1194 23 95.00–104.00 $101.56 $1,213 —
1143–1279 1195 19 103.50–106.00 $104.64 $1,250 —
1095–1591 1345 118 100.50–107.50 $105.37 $1,417 —
1160–1560 1370 559 104.00–113.00 $109.99 $1,507 —
1190–1678 1409 32 90.00–99.00 $94.36 $1,330 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353–383 370 10 155.00–165.00 $159.03 $588 —
420–443 439 6 147.50–153.00 $152.12 $668 —
500–535 517 10 140.00–146.00 $143.31 $741 —
605–649 637 14 126.00–129.00 $127.21 $810 —
790 790 5 117.25 $117.25 $926 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
558 unweaned 558 9 131.00 $131.00 $731 —
633 633 5 121.00 $121.00 $766 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
281–296 290 7 420.00–475.00 $452.13 —
330 330 3 420.00 $420.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 unweaned 240 2 177.50 $177.50 $426 —
291 unweaned 291 4 200.00 $200.00 $582 —
332 unweaned 332 8 178.00 $178.00 $591 —
350 350 2 187.50 $187.50 $656 —
431 431 4 156.00 $156.00 $672 —
434 unweaned 434 5 145.00 $145.00 $629 —
503–521 unweaned 515 14 140.00–142.00 $141.30 $728 —
624 unweaned 624 5 116.00 $116.00 $724 —
638 638 5 130.00 $130.00 $829 —
777 unweaned 777 10 112.00 $112.00 $870 —
972 972 6 102.00 $102.00 $991 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–1730 1426 80-85% 7 39.00–46.50 $42.22 $602 —
1120–1880 1438 80-85% 56 47.00–58.00 $51.07 $734 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840–1355 1152 85-90% 19 20.00–37.00 $30.12 $347 —
850–1535 1234 85-90% 17 40.00–46.00 $43.06 $531 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110–1895 1570 75-80% 23 59.00–66.00 $62.28 $978 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–1815 1309 4 61.00–63.00 $61.66 $807 —
880–2470 1630 26 67.00–82.00 $74.12 $1,208 —
2320 2320 1 88.00 $88.00 $2,042 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1535 1155 10 80.00 $80.00 $924 —
1035–1805 1383 17 70.00–81.00 $75.53 $1,045 —
1148–1915 1428 92 80.00–89.00 $86.50 $1,235 —
1292–1775 1531 124 90.00–95.00 $91.58 $1,402 —
1605–1880 1735 4 85.00–86.50 $85.69 $1,487 —

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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.