Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 11, 2021

28,193 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $140.91/cwt -3.63 vs last sale · ≈ $948/hd at 673 lb · 2,817 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $135.31/cwt -2.50 vs last sale · ≈ $980/hd at 724 lb · 1,968 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $130.31/cwt -3.89 vs last sale · ≈ $1,007/hd at 773 lb · 1,800 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 28,193 36,799 22,800
Feeder cattle 26,829 34,803 21,759
Slaughter cattle 1,364 1,996 1,041

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Choice steers and heifers 3.00 to 4.00 higher. Feeder steers 400/899 lbs 1.00 to 5.00 lower. Feeder heifers 400/999 lbs 1.00 to 6.00 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
293 293 2 208.00 $208.00 $609 -13.29
300–346 327 23 175.00–203.00 $188.40 $616 +2.66
357–392 377 29 177.50–187.00 $182.76 $689 -1.86
396 unweaned 396 8 182.00 $182.00 $721 +6.00
403–436 unweaned 418 13 168.00–174.00 $171.11 $715 -2.89
400–446 423 192 160.00–205.00 $182.60 $772 +1.12
450–499 476 342 150.00–199.75 $172.41 $821 -0.59
508–534 unweaned 521 29 151.00–168.00 $158.28 $825 -2.84
500–549 525 785 144.50–181.00 $163.50 $858 -3.87
551–599 573 1,110 141.00–166.50 $154.58 $886 -3.94
573–583 576 12 143.00–146.00 $143.76 $828 -14.76
590 unweaned 590 7 138.50 $138.50 $817 -13.51
600–649 625 1,637 134.50–158.50 $147.39 $921 -3.85
604–646 unweaned 632 70 129.75–144.00 $135.92 $859 -14.04
635 635 19 143.00 $143.00 $908 -8.24
645 645 9 133.50 $133.50 $861 -17.74
656–661 fancy 657 56 147.35–150.00 $148.02 $972 -6.98
650–699 673 2,732 120.00–149.50 $140.93 $948 -3.72
679 unweaned 679 11 123.50 $123.50 $839 -13.03
697 697 18 126.00 $126.00 $878 -18.65
717 unweaned 717 6 127.75 $127.75 $916 -4.55
700–749 724 1,935 121.00–146.25 $135.42 $980 -2.42
745–746 745 27 128.00–130.00 $128.89 $960 -8.95
766 fancy 766 70 141.50 $141.50 $1,084 -1.50
751–798 773 1,730 121.00–141.00 $129.86 $1,004 -4.43
802 802 9 111.00 $111.00 $890 -10.08
800–849 823 1,435 118.50–138.00 $128.43 $1,057 -4.75
850–899 872 579 115.00–133.00 $125.04 $1,090 -4.73
912 912 21 120.00 $120.00 $1,094 -7.81
901–949 920 266 112.00–127.50 $122.56 $1,128 -5.25
954–994 975 63 108.00–123.00 $117.89 $1,149 -5.83
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 4 174.00 $174.00 $600 -9.28
360–390 370 11 167.00–183.00 $173.81 $643 -4.35
400–435 unweaned 427 13 172.00–182.00 $174.16 $744 —
425–446 439 20 145.00–175.00 $164.94 $724 +6.40
452–497 474 66 132.50–164.00 $153.79 $729 -7.49
503 unweaned 503 8 144.00 $144.00 $724 —
507–549 535 45 135.00–155.00 $148.21 $793 -10.24
550–599 580 201 135.00–151.00 $141.84 $823 -3.41
593 unweaned 593 6 135.00 $135.00 $801 —
613 unweaned 613 4 129.00 $129.00 $791 —
605–645 628 139 126.00–141.25 $135.52 $851 -6.68
653–661 unweaned 659 19 128.50–132.00 $129.23 $852 +2.41
653–698 677 172 110.00–135.00 $130.10 $881 -7.71
717 717 6 115.00 $115.00 $825 -19.21
720–743 731 24 117.00–131.50 $124.35 $909 -9.86
750–797 778 63 110.00–126.00 $120.33 $936 -10.16
800–814 810 40 117.25–120.00 $118.07 $956 -0.20
855–877 870 12 115.00–119.00 $116.68 $1,015 -7.15
900–948 921 6 111.00 $111.00 $1,022 -4.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1095–1325 1176 7 95.00–98.00 $96.07 $1,130 -5.55
1100–1328 1186 17 81.50–108.00 $96.80 $1,148 -4.82
1103–1340 1247 34 100.00–105.00 $103.46 $1,290 +7.00
1228–1380 1288 11 90.00–100.00 $95.00 $1,224 -11.75
1357 1357 10 102.00 $102.00 $1,384 —
1085–1745 1379 22 97.50–104.00 $100.08 $1,380 —
1443–1553 1453 29 102.00–105.00 $104.02 $1,511 -6.61
1243–1688 1469 266 100.00–110.50 $106.33 $1,562 -4.30
1410–1545 1478 2 80.00–89.00 $84.29 $1,246 -26.34
1429–1591 1511 41 90.00–101.00 $97.67 $1,476 —
1631 1631 9 102.50 $102.50 $1,672 —
1601–1765 1686 27 91.00–97.00 $95.53 $1,611 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
698 698 9 136.00 $136.00 $949 —
709 709 6 135.00 $135.00 $957 +14.00
949 949 5 115.00 $115.00 $1,091 —
1374 1374 7 99.50 $99.50 $1,367 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
496 496 9 149.00 $149.00 $739 —
638 638 5 134.00 $134.00 $855 —
702–747 730 8 122.00 $122.00 $891 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
291 291 3 440.00 $440.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 3 153.00 $153.00 $398 -24.61
318–344 unweaned 331 8 150.00–158.00 $153.84 $509 +10.84
321–338 331 20 145.00–180.00 $159.87 $529 -4.80
351–399 376 74 147.50–183.00 $165.10 $621 +8.28
400–445 420 224 139.50–171.00 $151.91 $638 -1.14
435 unweaned 435 11 139.00 $139.00 $605 +2.00
472 fancy 472 14 158.00 $158.00 $746 —
451–499 478 417 132.50–157.00 $145.37 $695 -3.62
475–496 unweaned 487 9 130.00–132.00 $130.87 $637 -8.22
500–549 521 843 125.00–152.75 $139.00 $724 -3.42
511–549 unweaned 536 45 119.50–137.50 $125.03 $670 -5.40
556–579 fancy 561 37 139.00–142.00 $140.58 $789 -2.42
550–599 575 1,441 121.00–143.25 $133.07 $765 -3.31
568–599 unweaned 580 48 117.00–131.00 $122.56 $711 -7.62
592 592 26 134.00 $134.00 $793 -2.38
600–649 626 1,654 118.50–138.50 $128.29 $803 -6.14
628 628 8 110.50 $110.50 $694 -23.93
637 unweaned 637 8 122.00 $122.00 $777 -4.39
640 640 13 133.00 $133.00 $851 -9.17
650–699 674 1,656 115.00–134.85 $126.06 $850 -2.85
653–691 unweaned 674 15 110.00–120.00 $113.42 $764 -6.62
695 695 27 130.00 $130.00 $904 +1.09
702–748 724 1,251 115.00–135.00 $122.55 $887 -6.07
711–740 727 155 130.00–142.00 $135.34 $984 +6.72
747 747 12 114.00 $114.00 $852 -14.62
753 753 15 142.00 $142.00 $1,069 +12.76
750–799 764 651 114.00–130.00 $122.81 $938 -6.43
800–841 810 288 111.00–128.00 $122.33 $991 -3.26
817–818 818 15 124.00–125.00 $124.40 $1,018 -1.19
857–899 884 83 107.00–118.50 $112.00 $990 -9.79
936–942 939 6 111.00–113.00 $112.00 $1,052 +0.14
957–965 959 10 111.00–115.00 $113.79 $1,091 +4.19
1161 1161 13 101.50 $101.50 $1,178 -2.25
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
388–396 393 9 135.00 $135.00 $531 -20.12
403 unweaned 403 6 146.00 $146.00 $588 —
418–446 435 26 138.00–156.00 $142.49 $620 -4.81
457–497 485 73 125.00–140.00 $133.50 $647 -8.97
489 unweaned 489 12 126.50 $126.50 $619 +2.00
503–549 529 160 107.00–135.50 $126.92 $671 -15.79
553–598 581 120 110.00–129.25 $123.33 $717 -4.95
605 unweaned 605 4 119.50 $119.50 $723 —
607–649 637 91 102.00–122.75 $118.59 $755 -6.12
652–695 667 63 109.00–122.00 $117.42 $783 -3.81
716–740 728 26 110.00–118.50 $116.16 $846 -2.60
755–796 776 26 111.00–120.00 $114.91 $892 -4.69
818 818 2 113.00 $113.00 $924 +7.72
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1003–1285 1146 18 90.50–96.00 $94.03 $1,078 —
1055–1280 1155 65 97.00–106.00 $99.77 $1,152 —
1285 1285 5 102.50 $102.50 $1,317 —
1030–1465 1300 32 92.50–104.50 $98.54 $1,281 —
1304–1370 1321 20 96.00–101.00 $99.16 $1,310 -6.21
1168–1675 1368 245 100.50–110.50 $107.01 $1,464 -2.98
1402–1511 1460 20 95.00–100.00 $95.88 $1,400 —
1485–1595 1524 4 95.00–100.00 $98.45 $1,500 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
673 673 13 127.25 $127.25 $856 —
998 998 14 115.75 $115.75 $1,155 —
1032 1032 14 112.00 $112.00 $1,156 —
1048 1048 3 95.00 $95.00 $996 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
478 478 14 134.00 $134.00 $641 —
574–585 581 11 116.00–120.00 $118.56 $689 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
345 345 4 610.00 $610.00 +190.00
387 387 5 585.00 $585.00 —
401–406 403 8 635.00–640.00 $636.89 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
419–424 unweaned 421 12 170.00–173.00 $171.74 $723 +26.74
496 496 4 149.00 $149.00 $739 —
554 unweaned 554 17 131.50 $131.50 $729 —
600–618 609 4 120.00 $120.00 $731 -10.00
732 732 3 115.00 $115.00 $842 —
750 750 3 112.50 $112.50 $844 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1125–1920 1457 80-85% 39 47.00–58.50 $51.92 $756 —
1215–1670 1493 80-85% 3 42.00–45.00 $42.81 $639 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
990–1560 1197 85-90% 17 22.00–34.00 $29.50 $353 —
1155–1575 1326 85-90% 17 39.00–46.00 $43.68 $579 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1585 1585 75-80% 1 74.00 $74.00 $1,173 +11.72
1400–1850 1641 75-80% 21 60.00–66.00 $62.41 $1,024 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1905 1428 6 52.00–63.00 $59.76 $853 —
1360–2500 1796 18 65.00–81.00 $73.68 $1,323 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1067–1355 1120 42 64.00–79.50 $73.52 $823 —
1319–1610 1345 11 70.00–75.00 $70.54 $949 —
1234–1793 1473 75 81.00–85.50 $83.77 $1,234 —
1413–1639 1510 84 86.00–90.00 $87.37 $1,319 -4.21

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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.