Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 6, 2021

14,620 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 $166.19/cwt +0.29 vs last sale · ≈ $1,120/hd at 674 lb · 1,037 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $152.73/cwt -0.21 vs last sale · ≈ $953/hd at 624 lb · 917 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $171.89/cwt +1.76 vs last sale · ≈ $1,073/hd at 624 lb · 888 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 14,620 17,650 18,538
Feeder cattle 12,575 15,104 15,622
Slaughter cattle 2,045 2,546 2,916

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Choice steers and heifers 1.00 to 2.00 lower. Feeder steers 400 to 499 lbs steady , 500 to 599 lbs 1.00 to 8.00 higher, 600 to 849 lbs steady to 3.00 higher, 850 to 949 lbs 2.00 to 12.00 lower. Feeder heifers 400 to449 lbs 2.00 lower, 450 to 699 lbs steady , 700 to 849 lbs steady to 5.00 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
346 unweaned 346 4 195.00 $195.00 $675 —
350–398 378 82 198.00–222.50 $210.41 $795 +5.65
364–398 unweaned 387 18 185.00–205.00 $191.99 $743 -12.12
429 fancy 429 15 219.00 $219.00 $940 —
400–448 430 149 183.00–207.00 $197.61 $850 -0.26
410–444 unweaned 433 22 187.00–198.00 $194.60 $843 -9.70
450–498 475 210 173.00–204.00 $190.03 $903 -0.39
450–496 unweaned 483 92 175.00–194.50 $186.51 $901 -4.26
502 fancy 502 2 185.00 $185.00 $929 —
502–536 unweaned 515 79 181.00–189.00 $186.17 $959 -1.72
501–548 525 533 167.00–199.50 $184.47 $968 -1.62
550–599 572 562 164.00–192.00 $182.69 $1,045 +8.01
550–598 unweaned 583 303 159.00–183.25 $177.62 $1,036 +4.85
602 thin fleshed 602 10 183.50 $183.50 $1,105 —
600–647 unweaned 619 157 166.75–180.00 $173.82 $1,076 +5.94
601–649 626 721 157.50–185.75 $171.31 $1,072 +0.76
650–694 unweaned 674 178 154.00–172.00 $164.68 $1,110 +3.40
650–699 674 859 152.00–177.50 $166.50 $1,122 +26.50
702–716 unweaned 708 45 159.75–167.50 $162.01 $1,147 +5.63
710–730 717 9 154.00–161.50 $158.95 $1,140 -3.88
700–748 722 748 151.00–172.50 $164.83 $1,190 +2.00
757 unweaned 757 9 156.50 $156.50 $1,185 +11.31
750–794 769 393 142.00–170.75 $160.08 $1,231 +0.26
797 797 20 153.00 $153.00 $1,219 +4.00
802–830 fancy 817 125 172.10–173.35 $172.76 $1,411 —
802–847 826 597 144.50–171.50 $162.79 $1,345 +3.57
851–888 880 154 141.00–169.00 $159.80 $1,406 -2.33
918–941 936 57 147.00–154.75 $153.40 $1,436 -12.59
952–992 960 95 142.50–153.10 $151.33 $1,453 -10.42
1012 1012 7 127.00 $127.00 $1,285 —
1028 1028 3 145.00 $145.00 $1,491 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930–1350 1167 18 99.00–123.00 $113.97 $1,330 -9.06
1160–1385 1290 3 120.00–127.50 $124.52 $1,606 —
970–1395 1317 23 129.50–141.00 $137.10 $1,806 +4.63
1080–1595 1364 124 121.00–136.00 $129.61 $1,768 —
1140–1662 1468 563 134.00–148.25 $140.33 $2,060 -1.63
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
271–277 274 13 167.50–196.00 $183.00 $501 —
316–332 321 6 173.00–182.50 $176.27 $566 -6.02
353–395 376 14 172.50–196.00 $187.07 $703 +6.23
380 unweaned 380 10 180.00 $180.00 $684 —
405–445 424 21 169.00–193.00 $178.56 $757 +4.54
449 unweaned 449 4 181.00 $181.00 $813 +4.39
450–495 477 55 157.00–184.00 $175.76 $838 +4.18
472–492 unweaned 482 6 178.00 $178.00 $858 +4.68
505–548 530 70 144.00–179.50 $168.64 $894 -0.52
528–548 unweaned 544 9 150.00–154.00 $151.76 $826 -17.97
550–595 572 77 141.00–171.50 $167.59 $959 +6.32
604–648 629 80 148.00–165.00 $158.17 $995 +2.37
662–695 680 37 120.00–157.00 $147.78 $1,005 +2.89
702–748 712 37 134.00–154.00 $151.25 $1,077 +8.00
730 unweaned 730 15 150.00 $150.00 $1,095 —
776–793 782 8 130.00–153.00 $142.86 $1,117 -1.33
813–830 817 16 147.00–149.50 $148.57 $1,214 +1.75
903 903 3 137.00 $137.00 $1,237 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
687–691 688 29 152.00–169.25 $165.07 $1,136 —
1227 1227 6 127.00 $127.00 $1,558 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
570–592 587 8 150.00–152.00 $150.49 $883 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
256–285 268 8 170.00–181.00 $176.19 $472 —
280 unweaned 280 3 168.00 $168.00 $470 —
301–324 unweaned 314 9 160.00–174.00 $168.03 $528 -9.47
340 340 6 178.00 $178.00 $605 —
352–390 unweaned 375 5 162.00–162.50 $162.19 $608 +6.22
351–399 380 130 159.00–181.00 $172.00 $654 +4.93
400–440 unweaned 420 44 162.00–172.00 $166.62 $700 -17.23
405–449 428 173 144.00–183.50 $166.08 $711 -2.11
431 fancy 431 11 170.00 $170.00 $733 —
450–499 474 321 146.50–176.00 $163.46 $775 +0.25
460–492 unweaned 482 86 154.00–168.00 $161.63 $779 +4.69
500–545 524 488 148.00–175.00 $161.32 $845 -0.97
520–543 unweaned 531 233 151.00–173.50 $165.01 $876 +5.31
560 560 4 155.00 $155.00 $868 -1.31
550–585 unweaned 567 136 157.50–166.00 $162.44 $921 +10.61
550–599 576 613 145.00–170.00 $156.76 $903 +0.45
600–635 unweaned 621 191 143.50–154.00 $151.50 $941 +4.99
600–649 625 726 142.00–162.00 $153.05 $957 -0.27
651–698 667 406 139.00–158.00 $149.61 $998 +11.11
686 686 19 140.00 $140.00 $960 -9.16
700–748 726 155 130.00–158.00 $146.30 $1,062 -5.02
736–742 unweaned 740 10 130.00–144.50 $134.33 $994 —
750–794 779 175 134.50–156.50 $151.17 $1,178 +19.17
779–784 781 25 158.50–159.00 $158.70 $1,239 +26.70
800–848 830 47 130.00–152.50 $143.30 $1,189 -2.76
851–874 859 11 141.00–150.50 $146.99 $1,263 -1.51
907–918 913 22 132.00–133.00 $132.50 $1,210 +0.47
985–992 990 18 137.75 $137.75 $1,364 -2.29
1097 1097 6 124.00 $124.00 $1,360 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
995–1375 1124 28 99.00–127.00 $116.36 $1,308 +9.33
1040–1565 1261 90 121.50–135.00 $128.65 $1,622 -3.30
1058–1323 1273 36 127.00–140.00 $137.50 $1,750 +5.55
1311–1345 1314 12 120.00–124.50 $120.38 $1,582 —
1147–1630 1372 416 134.25–148.00 $139.93 $1,920 -1.22
1350–1468 1429 3 114.50–119.50 $116.07 $1,659 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–335 317 10 151.00–167.00 $161.31 $511 +4.37
381 unweaned 381 16 140.00 $140.00 $533 —
391–396 394 9 150.00–156.00 $153.76 $606 —
400–449 427 31 141.00–164.00 $154.23 $659 +9.25
460–494 477 46 138.00–152.00 $149.25 $712 +7.44
493 unweaned 493 2 140.00 $140.00 $690 —
500–548 526 66 120.00–155.00 $147.78 $777 +1.22
537–545 unweaned 543 17 143.00–144.00 $143.71 $780 -4.29
551–595 575 70 122.50–151.00 $142.00 $816 +0.53
588 unweaned 588 6 149.00 $149.00 $876 +14.98
602 unweaned 602 3 145.50 $145.50 $876 —
601–645 617 55 131.00–145.50 $138.93 $857 -0.42
666–682 unweaned 673 12 131.00–136.00 $133.89 $901 —
660–698 681 27 121.00–141.00 $136.89 $932 +6.53
706–748 719 11 124.00–140.50 $137.91 $992 +5.26
874 874 6 135.00 $135.00 $1,180 +1.50
1063 1063 3 116.00 $116.00 $1,233 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
511–518 517 19 148.00–158.00 $150.08 $776 +9.52
646 646 5 139.00 $139.00 $898 +0.46
1053–1088 1071 12 125.50–128.00 $126.77 $1,358 —
1142 1142 14 105.00 $105.00 $1,199 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
328 328 3 560.00 $560.00 +145.55
357–390 380 21 158.00–630.00 $423.40 -186.60
403 403 3 600.00 $600.00 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 10 140.00 $140.00 $756 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 2 177.50 $177.50 $453 —
328 328 3 192.50 $192.50 $631 —
343 unweaned 343 2 205.00 $205.00 $703 —
438–442 439 20 166.00–167.00 $166.75 $732 -12.25
453–475 456 8 170.00–182.00 $173.73 $792 +17.45
513–534 533 36 148.00–168.00 $150.41 $802 -16.81
559–587 570 21 138.50–169.00 $156.31 $891 +6.43
601–645 607 23 138.00–142.00 $141.45 $859 -10.55
632 unweaned 632 7 135.00 $135.00 $853 -6.00
650–670 656 10 125.00–136.00 $128.37 $842 -1.63
674 unweaned 674 5 141.00 $141.00 $950 —
705–742 718 26 102.50–142.25 $126.49 $908 —
897 897 3 90.00 $90.00 $807 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
557 557 3 125.00 $125.00 $696 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
925–2095 1412 80-85% 176 53.00–66.00 $60.09 $848 —
1300–1590 1437 80-85% 8 47.00–52.00 $50.00 $718 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845–1615 1148 85-90% 57 20.00–44.00 $33.75 $387 +0.97
990–1435 1236 85-90% 61 41.00–53.00 $48.42 $598 +0.54
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1340–1755 1560 75-80% 11 76.00–82.00 $77.16 $1,204 +0.45
1245–2245 1601 75-80% 75 66.00–75.00 $69.50 $1,113 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1325–1570 1452 65-75% 7 86.00–94.00 $89.46 $1,299 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–1635 1463 8 52.00–67.00 $62.58 $916 —
1375–2575 1817 35 67.00–90.00 $77.46 $1,407 +0.23

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1272–1525 1378 7 100.00–109.00 $106.17 $1,463 —
1370–1395 1383 2 85.00–93.00 $88.96 $1,230 —
1348–1680 1483 32 110.75–118.00 $113.82 $1,688 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1279 1279 4 77.00 $77.00 $985 —
1327 1327 7 68.50 $68.50 $909 —
1364 1364 11 80.00 $80.00 $1,091 —

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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.