Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 13, 2021

16,789 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 $165.40/cwt +0.79 vs last sale · ≈ $1,191/hd at 720 lb · 1,217 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $160.96/cwt +3.18 vs last sale · ≈ $932/hd at 579 lb · 1,190 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $175.60/cwt +3.71 vs last sale · ≈ $1,096/hd at 624 lb · 1,057 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 16,789 14,620 11,445
Feeder cattle 14,965 12,575 8,836
Slaughter cattle 1,824 2,045 2,609

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Choice steers and heifers 1.00 lower. Feeder steers 400 to 549 lbs 4.00 to 9.00 higher, 550 to 799 lbs steady to 5.00 higher, 800 to 998 lbs 3.00 lower to 5.00 higher. Feeder heifers 400 to 549 lbs 1.00 lower to 2.00 higher, 550 to 749 lbs 3.00 to 5.00 higher, 750 to 849 lbs 3.00 lower to 5.00 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
317–340 329 19 206.00–221.00 $210.98 $694 —
336–348 unweaned 345 17 215.00–217.50 $215.57 $744 +20.57
350–399 378 50 189.00–224.00 $210.61 $796 +0.20
383 unweaned 383 2 190.50 $190.50 $730 -1.49
403–443 430 155 187.50–224.00 $201.43 $866 +3.82
427–448 unweaned 438 33 185.00–213.00 $198.02 $867 +3.42
451–498 480 149 175.00–218.00 $198.77 $954 +8.74
467–499 unweaned 488 76 175.00–205.00 $198.31 $968 +11.80
501–535 unweaned 517 56 171.00–198.50 $190.83 $987 +4.66
503–549 527 532 174.00–204.00 $190.52 $1,004 +6.05
552–599 577 652 170.00–200.00 $182.24 $1,052 -0.45
551–599 unweaned 581 134 165.00–179.50 $173.70 $1,009 -3.92
601–647 unweaned 612 139 159.00–177.75 $167.82 $1,027 -6.00
600–649 626 915 167.00–183.00 $176.82 $1,107 +5.51
647 647 3 163.00 $163.00 $1,055 -8.31
653–698 679 961 156.00–180.25 $170.14 $1,155 +3.64
653–692 unweaned 684 59 151.50–163.50 $158.16 $1,082 -6.52
707–728 unweaned 718 91 146.00–156.10 $153.65 $1,103 -8.36
700–746 720 1,126 156.50–176.25 $166.35 $1,198 +1.52
751–797 775 664 151.50–169.75 $163.64 $1,268 +3.56
801–848 821 632 137.50–166.75 $159.16 $1,307 -3.63
852–899 865 255 140.00–162.00 $159.65 $1,381 -0.15
907–934 913 77 143.75–163.25 $159.27 $1,454 +5.87
972–973 972 62 146.50–149.00 $148.60 $1,444 -2.73
1088 1088 6 133.00 $133.00 $1,447 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865–1303 1124 20 101.00–125.00 $116.00 $1,304 —
1095–1215 1155 2 123.00–125.00 $123.95 $1,432 +9.98
1058–1390 1291 54 127.50–136.50 $134.70 $1,739 +10.18
1135–1640 1374 129 120.00–136.00 $131.88 $1,812 +2.27
1285–1738 1468 421 132.00–147.00 $139.19 $2,043 -1.14
1838–1865 1847 3 124.00–126.25 $125.49 $2,318 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
372–393 386 9 163.00–195.00 $173.28 $669 -13.79
404–449 428 23 170.00–198.00 $185.88 $796 +7.32
469–499 489 38 171.00–195.00 $187.41 $916 +11.65
513–529 unweaned 519 28 152.00–178.00 $166.34 $863 +14.58
501–549 532 47 169.00–184.00 $180.68 $961 +12.04
550–597 572 50 165.00–173.00 $167.41 $958 -0.18
586 unweaned 586 8 157.00 $157.00 $920 —
601–649 618 79 143.00–164.00 $157.33 $972 -0.84
605–648 unweaned 634 22 140.00–160.00 $155.84 $988 —
650–684 666 94 142.00–160.50 $152.57 $1,016 +4.79
703–746 725 84 147.00–156.50 $151.46 $1,098 +0.21
739 unweaned 739 5 148.50 $148.50 $1,097 -1.50
752–786 768 66 139.50–149.50 $147.36 $1,132 +4.50
864–892 880 16 139.00–146.50 $142.22 $1,252 —
911 911 3 120.00 $120.00 $1,093 -17.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–437 423 8 180.00–181.00 $180.35 $763 —
518–542 521 24 151.00–162.00 $160.57 $837 —
599 599 5 171.50 $171.50 $1,027 +21.01
743 743 23 141.75 $141.75 $1,053 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
720 720 4 147.00 $147.00 $1,058 —
1038 1038 12 148.00 $148.00 $1,536 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
397 397 9 112.00 $112.00 $445 —
471 471 6 137.50 $137.50 $648 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
301 301 3 540.00 $540.00 —
353 353 5 500.00 $500.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
306–342 315 13 174.00–180.00 $176.70 $557 -1.30
335–347 unweaned 346 16 159.00–185.00 $181.85 $629 +13.82
354–398 377 113 156.00–183.00 $173.01 $652 +1.01
385–395 unweaned 388 15 153.00–182.00 $170.97 $663 +8.78
420–449 unweaned 428 27 161.00–176.00 $171.92 $736 +5.30
403–449 429 73 156.00–180.00 $167.02 $717 +0.94
462 fancy 462 25 185.75 $185.75 $858 —
454–476 unweaned 465 89 150.50–177.00 $159.91 $744 -1.72
453–499 477 439 150.00–178.75 $165.86 $791 +2.40
491 491 9 174.00 $174.00 $854 +10.54
512 fancy 512 90 194.00 $194.00 $993 —
504–546 unweaned 519 103 144.00–164.50 $157.75 $819 -7.26
501–548 526 584 152.00–170.50 $160.16 $842 -1.16
554–597 unweaned 577 149 145.00–162.00 $151.99 $877 -10.45
550–599 578 941 149.00–170.25 $160.89 $930 +4.13
588 fancy 588 100 175.00 $175.00 $1,029 —
602–642 unweaned 621 68 141.00–159.50 $150.76 $936 -0.74
600–649 626 726 146.50–167.50 $156.64 $981 +3.59
652–676 unweaned 659 36 137.00–149.00 $142.63 $940 —
650–699 676 662 144.00–160.00 $154.39 $1,044 +4.78
700–746 725 363 134.00–155.00 $149.05 $1,081 +2.75
755–790 770 89 139.00–159.50 $148.15 $1,141 -3.02
802–838 814 233 140.00–150.50 $148.46 $1,208 +5.16
836 836 10 135.00 $135.00 $1,129 -8.30
858–898 873 42 139.50–153.50 $146.75 $1,281 -0.24
900–938 924 45 136.00–146.75 $143.15 $1,323 +10.65
1032 1032 26 133.50 $133.50 $1,378 —
1111 1111 3 133.00 $133.00 $1,478 —
1261 1261 56 135.25 $135.25 $1,706 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
782–1155 1004 20 115.00–125.00 $121.25 $1,217 —
988–1306 1120 27 104.00–127.00 $113.30 $1,269 -3.06
1040–1335 1204 37 127.00–139.50 $133.91 $1,612 —
1040–1540 1329 90 122.00–135.50 $130.73 $1,737 +10.35
1325–1373 1357 3 101.00 $101.00 $1,371 -38.93
1210–1685 1370 369 126.00–147.00 $139.22 $1,907 -0.71
1458–1740 1529 4 101.00–110.00 $107.44 $1,643 —
1600 1600 1 89.50 $89.50 $1,432 —
1765 1765 1 123.50 $123.50 $2,180 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365–392 382 6 142.50–150.00 $146.15 $558 -7.61
422–438 unweaned 431 13 150.00–154.00 $151.21 $652 —
432–449 443 8 151.00–162.00 $155.03 $687 +0.80
453–496 476 86 136.00–165.00 $156.17 $743 +6.92
526 unweaned 526 9 142.00 $142.00 $747 -1.71
518–548 533 74 136.00–154.00 $145.71 $777 -2.07
561 561 5 140.00 $140.00 $785 -2.00
555–594 569 84 135.00–153.50 $149.00 $848 +7.00
561–587 unweaned 574 14 136.00–140.00 $138.05 $792 -10.95
600–647 631 37 144.00–148.00 $145.45 $918 +6.52
615–648 unweaned 632 19 137.00–139.50 $138.44 $875 -7.06
660–692 675 61 135.00–144.50 $140.80 $950 +3.91
685 unweaned 685 11 133.00 $133.00 $911 -0.89
702 702 6 130.00 $130.00 $913 -7.91
770 770 3 135.00 $135.00 $1,040 —
816 816 15 144.50 $144.50 $1,179 —
970 970 5 132.50 $132.50 $1,285 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
636 636 31 154.00 $154.00 $979 +15.00
1050 1050 3 139.00 $139.00 $1,460 +12.23
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 2 137.00 $137.00 $589 —
509–513 510 8 147.00–148.00 $147.75 $754 +7.75
563–581 573 10 140.00–143.50 $141.77 $812 —
618 unweaned 618 3 130.00 $130.00 $803 —
625–638 631 8 137.00–140.00 $139.26 $879 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
280 280 4 450.00 $450.00 —
315–325 320 8 330.00–540.00 $436.64 -123.36
361 361 3 380.00 $380.00 -43.40
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
349 349 5 85.00 $85.00 $297 —
384 384 5 117.50 $117.50 $451 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
316 unweaned 316 9 207.00 $207.00 $654 +2.00
386 unweaned 386 4 182.50 $182.50 $704 —
406–435 413 16 140.00–169.00 $158.26 $654 -8.49
520–525 521 18 157.00–161.00 $160.55 $836 +10.14
537 unweaned 537 10 175.00 $175.00 $940 —
554–583 566 7 130.00–134.00 $131.76 $746 -24.55
624 624 7 155.00 $155.00 $967 +13.55
657 657 3 143.00 $143.00 $940 +14.63
814–840 827 42 126.00–140.00 $137.40 $1,136 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1690 1333 80-85% 149 54.00–67.50 $60.29 $804 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
705–1335 1105 85-90% 47 20.00–44.00 $34.86 $385 —
1000–1565 1232 85-90% 41 44.00–53.00 $48.99 $604 +0.57
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080–1735 1451 75-80% 64 65.00–75.00 $69.87 $1,014 —
1240–1850 1492 75-80% 12 76.00–87.50 $78.74 $1,175 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315–2205 1520 12 50.00–67.00 $61.18 $930 —
1080–2530 1683 22 70.00–88.00 $77.08 $1,297 —
1730–2440 2085 2 92.00–98.00 $94.49 $1,970 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1125 1115 2 82.00–88.00 $84.97 $947 —
1160–1500 1359 9 98.00–108.00 $103.77 $1,410 -2.40
1285–1880 1584 35 110.50–116.25 $114.16 $1,808 —

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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.