Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 18, 2021

25,135 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 $143.28/cwt +2.37 vs last sale · ≈ $965/hd at 673 lb · 1,922 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $132.27/cwt +4.06 vs last sale · ≈ $828/hd at 626 lb · 1,831 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $139.22/cwt +3.91 vs last sale · ≈ $1,005/hd at 722 lb · 1,739 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 25,135 28,193 12,001
Feeder cattle 22,923 26,829 11,127
Slaughter cattle 2,212 1,364 874

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Choice steers and heifers1.00 to 2.00 higher. Feeder steers 400/549 lbs 2.00 to 5.00 lower, 500/699 lbs steady to 2.00 higher, 700/949 lbs 1.00 to 5.00 higher. Feeder heifers 400/499 lbs 2.00 to 4.00 lower, 500/899 lbs mostly 2.00 to 4.00 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
320–330 324 8 170.00–191.00 $181.62 $588 -6.78
351–383 368 27 186.00–202.50 $193.73 $713 +10.97
400–449 434 197 166.00–189.00 $177.35 $770 -5.25
434 unweaned 434 24 174.00 $174.00 $755 +2.89
450–496 475 216 149.00–179.00 $168.59 $801 -3.82
509–523 unweaned 513 26 150.00–160.50 $156.08 $801 -2.20
500–548 528 619 146.75–169.50 $161.28 $852 -2.22
561 fancy 561 17 158.50 $158.50 $889 —
550–599 576 763 144.00–169.00 $155.23 $894 +11.47
586 586 12 145.00 $145.00 $850 +1.24
601–649 624 1,394 131.00–157.00 $147.84 $923 +0.45
628 628 4 130.00 $130.00 $816 -17.39
640 unweaned 640 14 139.50–140.75 $140.04 $896 +4.12
656–657 fancy 657 87 148.00–149.00 $148.30 $974 +0.28
650–698 674 1,818 129.25–152.50 $143.22 $965 +2.29
671–698 683 17 121.00–127.25 $124.18 $848 -16.75
700–747 722 1,732 124.25–147.00 $139.20 $1,005 +3.78
731 fancy 731 7 144.00 $144.00 $1,053 —
767 fancy 767 77 145.25 $145.25 $1,114 +3.75
750–799 775 1,657 120.00–144.50 $134.86 $1,045 +5.00
802 fancy 802 47 133.00 $133.00 $1,067 —
805 805 6 111.50 $111.50 $898 +0.50
801–846 824 893 121.00–135.75 $129.79 $1,069 +1.36
852–899 873 830 114.75–137.00 $128.83 $1,125 +3.79
900–947 913 289 113.75–134.10 $126.28 $1,153 +6.28
950–985 978 132 116.00–125.00 $124.39 $1,217 +6.50
1066 1066 8 110.00 $110.00 $1,173 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 3 186.00 $186.00 $530 —
300–349 334 11 159.00–180.00 $165.55 $553 -8.45
356–398 366 34 137.00–165.00 $160.17 $586 -13.64
405–445 437 6 143.00–156.00 $150.30 $657 -14.64
469 unweaned 469 5 149.00 $149.00 $699 —
460–493 480 42 130.00–161.00 $149.93 $720 -3.86
503–546 535 46 128.00–156.00 $141.59 $758 -6.62
559 unweaned 559 10 139.00 $139.00 $777 +4.00
550–598 577 143 136.00–150.75 $143.47 $828 +1.63
611–635 unweaned 631 33 126.00–134.50 $131.63 $831 +2.63
610–646 634 97 123.50–161.00 $146.50 $929 +10.98
669–699 683 75 122.00–135.00 $130.99 $895 +0.89
714 unweaned 714 5 129.00 $129.00 $921 —
702–745 724 170 129.25–150.00 $142.21 $1,030 +27.21
754–790 768 48 127.50–130.50 $129.09 $991 +8.76
800–845 816 113 116.25–140.00 $132.94 $1,085 +14.87
883–890 885 13 119.50–121.00 $120.65 $1,068 +3.97
955 955 4 116.00 $116.00 $1,108 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860–1295 1086 61 93.00–117.00 $105.72 $1,148 —
1025–1585 1271 21 97.00–104.75 $101.46 $1,290 +6.46
1250–1396 1332 41 107.00–110.50 $108.01 $1,439 —
1211–1397 1344 53 100.00–106.00 $103.71 $1,394 —
1145–1673 1453 419 104.00–110.50 $108.31 $1,574 +4.29
1457–1538 1502 44 108.00–114.00 $110.40 $1,658 +12.73
1433–1579 1517 95 100.00–107.75 $104.83 $1,590 +7.16
1654 1654 5 113.00 $113.00 $1,869 +17.47
1620–1830 1705 26 100.00–105.50 $102.06 $1,740 —
1620–1864 1797 55 95.75–102.00 $96.03 $1,726 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
501–540 531 17 146.75–151.00 $150.06 $797 —
571 571 11 120.00–130.00 $124.55 $711 —
613–636 621 11 130.00–132.00 $131.26 $815 -2.74
669 669 44 145.25 $145.25 $972 —
776 776 7 123.00 $123.00 $954 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
955 955 5 119.00 $119.00 $1,136 —
1002 1002 10 117.25 $117.25 $1,175 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 3 169.00 $169.00 $499 +16.00
309–348 317 22 140.00–172.00 $149.93 $475 -9.94
367–398 382 104 139.50–177.00 $149.58 $571 -15.52
398 unweaned 398 8 147.00 $147.00 $585 —
416 unweaned 416 5 149.00 $149.00 $620 +10.00
401–446 427 138 139.00–160.00 $147.33 $629 -4.58
459 unweaned 459 18 139.00 $139.00 $638 +8.13
451–499 480 488 131.00–159.00 $142.41 $684 -2.96
509 unweaned 509 11 139.00 $139.00 $708 +13.97
500–549 525 725 129.50–156.50 $142.04 $746 +3.04
549 549 15 135.00 $135.00 $741 -4.00
566 thin fleshed 566 7 146.00 $146.00 $826 —
565–577 unweaned 572 10 120.50–136.00 $126.62 $724 +4.06
550–599 573 964 122.00–145.75 $135.37 $776 +2.30
605–607 fancy 606 15 131.00–132.75 $132.28 $802 —
608 unweaned 608 10 120.50 $120.50 $733 -1.50
600–648 626 1,790 119.00–145.25 $132.47 $829 +4.18
639 639 16 117.00 $117.00 $748 -16.00
658 658 5 113.00 $113.00 $744 -13.06
650–699 675 1,055 117.00–139.00 $129.37 $873 +3.31
651–685 675 50 139.50–156.50 $151.91 $1,025 +25.85
712–720 717 141 134.35–150.00 $139.53 $1,000 +16.98
700–749 720 841 115.00–132.75 $126.77 $913 +4.22
750–798 772 539 112.25–132.50 $124.77 $963 +1.96
810–818 815 30 130.00–133.00 $132.01 $1,076 +7.61
802–845 821 176 111.50–129.50 $123.65 $1,015 -0.75
861–894 887 83 118.50–122.25 $121.11 $1,074 +9.11
900–913 908 4 113.00–119.50 $116.52 $1,058 +4.52
995–996 995 16 103.00–113.50 $110.87 $1,103 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
293 293 2 175.00 $175.00 $513 —
305–328 319 22 142.00–158.00 $149.24 $476 —
337 unweaned 337 7 139.00 $139.00 $468 —
375–395 384 12 132.50–150.00 $144.37 $554 +9.37
407–443 422 26 121.00–150.00 $138.60 $585 -3.89
451–488 unweaned 468 14 122.00–136.00 $128.61 $602 +2.11
454–498 474 48 122.00–137.50 $129.68 $615 -3.82
502–547 522 92 120.00–140.00 $130.81 $683 +3.89
565–578 unweaned 574 30 119.50–121.00 $120.51 $692 —
559–596 582 90 115.00–141.00 $127.91 $744 +4.58
600–643 627 77 111.00–134.00 $124.29 $779 +5.70
655–689 670 125 110.00–147.25 $139.97 $938 +22.55
725–749 746 107 113.00–142.75 $136.32 $1,017 +20.16
773–782 779 14 107.00 $107.00 $834 -7.91
843 843 5 113.00 $113.00 $953 ±0.00
892 892 6 112.00 $112.00 $999 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
885–1180 1011 27 84.00–102.00 $99.21 $1,003 —
955–1385 1170 2 81.00–86.00 $83.04 $972 -16.73
1196–1282 1232 34 100.00–107.00 $103.80 $1,279 —
1010–1470 1241 42 95.00–104.75 $100.32 $1,245 —
1110–1590 1343 375 104.00–111.50 $108.52 $1,457 +9.36
1302–1493 1354 30 105.50–111.00 $106.98 $1,449 -0.03
1335–1485 1415 38 100.00–104.00 $101.02 $1,429 —
1505–1642 1573 25 104.00–106.50 $105.06 $1,653 —
1555–1602 1592 7 100.00–103.00 $101.14 $1,610 —
1752 1752 3 97.50 $97.50 $1,708 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
484 484 21 128.50 $128.50 $622 -5.50
588 588 8 127.00 $127.00 $747 +8.44
755 755 10 112.00 $112.00 $846 —
802 802 12 110.00 $110.00 $882 —
849 849 8 107.50 $107.50 $913 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
798 thin fleshed 798 10 90.00 $90.00 $718 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010 1010 4 108.50 $108.50 $1,096 -3.50

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330–337 336 11 154.00–160.00 $155.07 $521 —
409–433 420 9 134.00–165.00 $150.78 $633 —
542 542 3 130.00 $130.00 $705 —
594 594 9 130.00 $130.00 $772 —
650–670 663 3 110.00–114.00 $111.31 $738 —
729 729 6 111.50 $111.50 $813 -3.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
373 373 6 136.50 $136.50 $509 —
492 492 3 131.00 $131.00 $645 —
613–619 617 6 105.00–106.00 $105.33 $650 —
765 765 2 101.00 $101.00 $773 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045–1780 1443 75-80% 100 58.50–69.00 $63.16 $911 —
1195–1660 1445 75-80% 4 70.00–74.00 $71.79 $1,037 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920–1935 1362 80-85% 94 48.00–59.00 $55.33 $754 —
1440–1720 1543 80-85% 3 41.00–42.00 $41.63 $642 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
960–1485 1153 85-90% 19 21.00–40.00 $29.33 $338 —
945–1445 1178 85-90% 21 38.00–52.00 $46.87 $552 +17.37

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1975 1480 4 68.00–71.00 $69.49 $1,028 —
1475–1740 1627 3 94.00–99.00 $95.71 $1,557 —
1160–2510 1725 32 69.00–90.00 $81.93 $1,413 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
593 593 75 102.75 $102.75 $609 —
658–664 662 68 105.00–110.00 $108.39 $718 —
810–842 821 45 95.00–96.00 $95.34 $783 —
857 857 47 93.50 $93.50 $801 —
960 960 25 92.00 $92.00 $883 —
1063–1097 1083 39 97.50–102.50 $99.51 $1,078 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1003–1148 1083 29 73.00–83.00 $76.79 $832 —
1100–1165 1133 2 82.00 $82.00 $929 +8.48
1139–1403 1205 21 70.00–79.00 $73.47 $885 —
1397 1397 6 98.00 $98.00 $1,369 —
1138–1815 1415 52 81.00–89.50 $86.90 $1,230 —
1245–1910 1499 112 90.00–98.00 $91.81 $1,376 +8.04
1582–1660 1592 10 93.50–97.00 $94.01 $1,497 —
1612–1826 1658 33 82.50–89.00 $86.98 $1,442 —
1675–1790 1707 11 90.00–93.00 $91.71 $1,565 —
1695–2166 2031 7 76.00–77.50 $77.14 $1,567 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–245 223 2 90.00–100.00 $94.49 $211 —
253–292 278 11 80.00–92.50 $85.91 $239 —
317–345 330 7 80.00–100.00 $94.19 $311 —
365–395 370 33 93.00–110.00 $105.98 $392 —
400–430 405 6 92.50–100.00 $98.67 $400 —
459–499 478 66 75.00–83.00 $79.50 $380 —
500–535 514 31 75.00–76.00 $75.40 $388 —
558–585 571 34 72.00–78.00 $75.67 $432 —
657–660 658 24 73.00–77.00 $75.50 $497 —
766–785 767 17 71.00–77.50 $75.79 $581 —
822–847 835 6 75.00–77.00 $75.99 $635 —
898 898 23 73.00 $73.00 $656 —
1025 1025 1 70.00 $70.00 $718 —
1070 1070 1 79.00 $79.00 $845 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
184–197 188 31 117.50–125.00 $119.85 $225 —
207 207 5 145.00 $145.00 $300 —
283 283 2 135.00 $135.00 $382 —
427–448 435 5 121.00–132.00 $125.53 $546 —
480–485 482 3 101.00–140.00 $114.09 $550 —
570–585 579 14 102.00–126.00 $117.49 $680 —
671 671 11 97.00 $97.00 $651 —
726 726 8 100.00 $100.00 $726 —
793 793 9 90.00 $90.00 $714 —
847 847 16 83.00 $83.00 $703 —
891 891 8 83.00–93.00 $88.00 $784 —
1049 1049 10 82.00 $82.00 $860 —
1121 1121 4 96.50 $96.50 $1,082 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
115–138 130 3 85.00–100.00 $89.41 $116 —
160–191 187 20 70.00–95.00 $88.19 $165 —
210–245 228 2 70.00–80.00 $75.38 $172 —
255–285 270 2 60.00–75.00 $67.92 $183 —
308 308 2 65.00 $65.00 $200 —
376 376 8 79.00 $79.00 $297 —
403–443 436 49 65.00–83.00 $79.61 $347 —
452–470 460 20 50.00–62.50 $53.34 $245 —
529 529 4 67.50 $67.50 $357 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
517–539 530 26 82.50–89.00 $86.32 $457 —
559–565 560 13 82.00–83.00 $82.16 $460 —
643 643 10 84.00 $84.00 $540 —
680 680 2 93.00 $93.00 $632 —
725–728 727 29 83.00–89.00 $86.72 $630 —
801 801 7 86.00 $86.00 $689 —
930 930 5 84.00 $84.00 $781 —
1120 1120 1 82.00 $82.00 $918 —
1265 1265 1 82.00 $82.00 $1,037 —
Large 3-4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
102 102 9 75.00 $75.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
78 78 2 100.00 $100.00 —

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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.