Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 29, 2021

17,650 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 $170.13/cwt +2.91 vs last sale · ≈ $1,066/hd at 627 lb · 1,672 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $165.89/cwt +1.79 vs last sale · ≈ $1,114/hd at 672 lb · 1,137 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $155.71/cwt -2.52 vs last sale · ≈ $897/hd at 576 lb · 934 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 17,650 9,660 18,889
Feeder cattle 15,104 9,185 15,562
Slaughter cattle 2,546 475 3,327

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Choice steers 4.00 higher and choice heifers 1.00 higher. Feeder steers 400 to799 lbs steady to 2.00 higher, 800 to 949 lbs 9.00 to 14.00 higher. Feeder heifers 400 to 599 lbs 2.00 to 7.00 lower, 600 to 799 lbs 3.00 to 8.00 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
333–346 341 12 198.00–217.50 $205.03 $699 +6.07
356–398 378 49 191.00–222.50 $204.76 $774 +9.43
374–386 unweaned 381 19 199.00–209.00 $204.11 $778 +14.57
419–420 unweaned 419 13 196.00–209.50 $204.30 $856 +8.58
405–448 426 65 172.50–209.00 $197.87 $843 +1.53
452–495 unweaned 476 109 175.00–202.25 $190.77 $908 +1.40
450–498 477 207 174.00–205.00 $190.42 $908 +0.81
500–548 523 379 170.00–198.00 $186.09 $973 +0.67
506–544 unweaned 526 144 178.00–199.00 $187.89 $988 +6.68
551–598 573 552 151.00–192.50 $174.68 $1,001 -1.29
563–598 unweaned 575 214 164.25–186.50 $172.77 $993 +1.25
600–648 unweaned 624 263 160.00–173.50 $167.88 $1,048 +3.17
600–649 627 1,409 151.00–181.25 $170.55 $1,069 +2.38
650–698 671 1,011 151.00–174.00 $166.68 $1,118 +2.88
675 675 10 140.00 $140.00 $945 -23.80
652–695 unweaned 677 116 152.50–168.00 $161.28 $1,092 +12.60
703–723 unweaned 713 43 149.00–160.50 $156.38 $1,115 +7.26
700–746 722 625 150.00–172.75 $162.83 $1,176 -0.07
732 732 5 143.50 $143.50 $1,050 -19.40
751–795 unweaned 760 18 134.00–154.00 $145.19 $1,103 -3.99
766 fancy 766 71 174.50 $174.50 $1,337 —
750–798 768 757 140.00–169.75 $159.82 $1,227 +0.32
785 785 4 149.00 $149.00 $1,170 -10.50
803–849 819 770 137.00–167.25 $159.22 $1,304 +8.97
852–899 871 419 138.00–167.75 $162.13 $1,412 +14.92
912–943 919 238 155.50–167.35 $165.99 $1,525 +13.75
984 984 55 161.75 $161.75 $1,592 —
1074 1074 5 141.00 $141.00 $1,514 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1018–1303 1181 6 120.50–126.00 $123.03 $1,453 —
1030–1370 1201 24 110.00–133.00 $119.98 $1,441 —
1110–1597 1330 159 125.00–138.75 $132.47 $1,762 —
1075–1396 1344 19 128.00–138.00 $136.83 $1,839 —
1205–1803 1471 619 127.50–150.00 $141.96 $2,088 —
1626–1915 1681 14 120.00–130.00 $127.41 $2,142 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303–338 322 7 177.50–185.00 $182.29 $587 -9.71
365–397 385 15 175.00–184.00 $180.84 $696 +11.62
409–422 unweaned 417 12 171.50–184.00 $176.61 $736 —
409–438 417 9 150.00–181.00 $174.02 $726 +5.80
450–495 476 40 152.50–181.00 $171.58 $817 -1.42
452–488 unweaned 476 9 173.00–174.00 $173.32 $825 +2.79
505–549 534 61 140.00–180.00 $169.16 $903 -4.79
522–543 unweaned 534 28 160.00–176.75 $169.73 $906 +3.73
560–593 581 63 140.00–170.50 $161.27 $937 +0.73
597 unweaned 597 3 155.00 $155.00 $925 -2.82
607–647 624 84 146.00–164.50 $155.80 $972 +0.80
615–640 unweaned 636 55 155.00–157.00 $155.29 $988 +9.80
650–699 682 61 120.00–158.00 $144.89 $988 -4.03
678–694 unweaned 688 11 145.00–151.00 $147.15 $1,012 +0.15
717–748 736 41 132.00–149.00 $143.25 $1,054 -6.75
752–767 unweaned 766 30 140.00–143.50 $142.74 $1,093 —
763–792 784 40 137.00–150.00 $144.19 $1,130 -4.81
818–843 828 10 142.00–150.00 $146.82 $1,216 —
848 848 12 137.50 $137.50 $1,166 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 470 6 165.00 $165.00 $776 —
594 unweaned 594 14 157.00 $157.00 $933 +9.00
598 598 7 140.50 $140.50 $840 —
602–624 614 23 150.00–156.00 $152.04 $934 —
699 unweaned 699 11 137.50 $137.50 $961 —
714 unweaned 714 6 142.00 $142.00 $1,014 —
761–772 767 9 140.00 $140.00 $1,074 —
1002 1002 55 161.75 $161.75 $1,621 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
336 unweaned 336 4 177.50 $177.50 $596 +6.50
350–398 374 84 152.50–180.50 $167.07 $625 -5.13
358–388 unweaned 379 17 152.50–164.00 $155.97 $591 -3.10
401–419 unweaned 404 24 177.00–190.00 $183.85 $743 +20.50
400–447 424 119 162.50–182.00 $168.19 $713 -2.61
457–498 unweaned 472 104 144.00–164.00 $156.94 $741 -6.67
450–498 477 321 142.00–177.50 $163.21 $779 -7.21
504–543 unweaned 524 277 142.00–172.00 $159.70 $837 +3.15
500–548 528 572 149.00–176.00 $162.29 $857 -3.81
554–559 fancy 556 19 160.00–162.00 $161.15 $896 -16.35
550–598 576 770 145.00–173.00 $156.31 $900 -4.69
556–597 unweaned 580 145 144.00–156.75 $151.83 $881 -0.15
616 616 17 159.00 $159.00 $979 +9.80
602–646 626 745 145.00–159.00 $153.32 $960 +4.12
605–636 unweaned 626 61 132.00–157.00 $146.51 $917 +7.05
652–667 unweaned 660 124 138.50–153.25 $146.34 $966 -1.75
670 670 53 138.50 $138.50 $928 -7.58
650–699 674 516 131.00–167.00 $149.16 $1,005 +3.08
702–748 719 321 129.00–155.60 $151.32 $1,088 +3.98
750–790 762 227 141.00–160.50 $152.00 $1,158 +8.01
765 765 52 132.00 $132.00 $1,010 -11.99
801–836 819 38 135.00–149.50 $146.06 $1,196 +16.19
857–885 867 92 143.00–153.00 $148.50 $1,287 —
913–944 934 16 130.00–140.00 $132.03 $1,233 —
956–986 966 12 138.00–144.00 $140.04 $1,353 +11.04
1121–1141 1129 8 133.00–134.00 $133.62 $1,509 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
885–1230 1068 11 111.00–123.00 $113.91 $1,217 —
1010–1240 1113 8 86.00–121.00 $107.03 $1,191 -6.87
1005–1345 1210 48 127.00–137.60 $134.73 $1,630 —
1045–1550 1285 126 124.50–138.00 $131.95 $1,696 +2.85
1112–1605 1360 487 127.00–149.00 $141.15 $1,920 —
1600 1600 1 78.00 $78.00 $1,248 —
1705 1705 1 104.00 $104.00 $1,773 —
1680–1735 1717 3 120.00–127.00 $122.28 $2,100 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
298 298 4 155.00 $155.00 $462 —
318–345 335 21 151.00–168.00 $156.94 $526 —
400–447 429 52 131.00–162.50 $144.98 $622 +0.98
419–448 unweaned 434 15 163.00–172.00 $167.05 $725 —
451–495 480 55 126.00–155.00 $141.81 $681 -19.77
501–545 522 74 127.50–160.00 $146.56 $765 -1.64
544 unweaned 544 12 148.00 $148.00 $805 +15.53
563–582 unweaned 573 20 132.00–136.50 $134.02 $768 -15.21
550–599 582 194 120.00–156.00 $141.47 $823 -6.88
603–645 624 46 131.00–144.50 $139.35 $870 +10.99
650–689 664 55 120.00–139.50 $130.36 $866 -5.35
703–741 722 21 121.00–141.00 $132.65 $958 +1.75
751 751 13 125.00–135.00 $128.08 $962 -0.92
883 883 10 133.50 $133.50 $1,179 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
514 unweaned 514 5 143.50 $143.50 $738 —
513–546 530 26 135.00–144.50 $140.56 $745 —
563–587 577 14 126.00–143.00 $134.61 $777 -4.89
624 unweaned 624 5 140.00 $140.00 $874 —
613–646 633 17 133.50–144.50 $138.54 $877 —
681 681 7 133.00 $133.00 $906 —
1041 1041 17 119.00 $119.00 $1,239 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
307–328 316 7 410.00–420.00 $414.45 —
363 363 3 610.00 $610.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–385 371 8 183.00–192.50 $186.88 $693 +44.38
423 unweaned 423 8 183.00 $183.00 $774 —
421–433 426 20 168.00–187.50 $179.00 $763 —
453–490 464 26 145.00–173.00 $156.28 $725 -8.61
525 thin fleshed 525 4 173.00 $173.00 $908 —
529 unweaned 529 4 169.00 $169.00 $894 +17.00
546–548 547 17 153.00–175.00 $167.22 $915 +26.28
551–586 580 36 144.00–155.00 $149.88 $869 +12.88
608 608 2 152.00 $152.00 $924 +24.11
639 unweaned 639 9 141.00 $141.00 $901 —
654 654 5 130.00 $130.00 $850 +14.00
801 801 4 120.00 $120.00 $961 +13.00

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1735 1353 80-85% 225 52.00–66.00 $59.86 $810 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
730–1525 1130 85-90% 54 20.00–42.00 $32.78 $370 —
815–1600 1210 85-90% 65 41.00–53.00 $47.88 $579 +1.33
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145–2050 1506 75-80% 100 65.00–75.00 $70.07 $1,055 —
1390–1745 1578 75-80% 12 76.00–79.00 $76.71 $1,210 +7.03

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1025–2495 1649 23 40.00–68.00 $57.22 $944 —
1125–2575 1803 54 67.00–88.00 $77.23 $1,392 -2.41

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1320 1228 4 75.00–88.00 $81.46 $1,000 —
1125–1455 1321 11 100.00–108.50 $104.69 $1,383 —
1275–1670 1523 18 110.00–117.00 $114.52 $1,744 —

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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.