Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 5, 2022

20,669 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 $187.81/cwt +2.84 vs last sale · ≈ $1,258/hd at 670 lb · 1,699 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $192.42/cwt +1.88 vs last sale · ≈ $1,200/hd at 624 lb · 1,414 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $200.56/cwt +3.84 vs last sale · ≈ $1,151/hd at 574 lb · 1,110 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 20,669 17,648 14,620
Feeder cattle 18,573 15,411 12,575
Slaughter cattle 2,096 2,237 2,045

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, slaughter choice steers and heifers sold 4.00 to 6.00 lower. Feeder steers overall sold steady to 4.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 500 lbs sold 1.00 to 3.00 lower; 500 to 700 lbs 1.00 to 3.00 higher; over 700 lbs 5.00 to 9.00 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
289 289 5 247.00 $247.00 $714 +21.23
310–348 324 35 172.50–240.00 $218.44 $708 +11.42
339 unweaned 339 16 227.00 $227.00 $770 -8.00
360–395 fancy 369 38 242.00–249.00 $246.10 $908 —
353–398 380 69 170.00–240.00 $213.08 $810 -18.93
379–397 unweaned 387 26 218.00–233.00 $224.86 $870 +23.21
401–448 423 174 190.00–242.00 $217.65 $921 +7.38
423 fancy 423 10 218.00 $218.00 $922 -11.00
407–442 unweaned 428 62 217.00–242.50 $234.14 $1,002 +6.87
461–464 fancy 462 38 230.00–232.00 $230.42 $1,065 —
451–498 480 429 175.00–236.00 $214.99 $1,032 -3.39
469–490 unweaned 480 48 202.00–220.00 $214.36 $1,029 +4.38
522 fancy 522 31 228.50 $228.50 $1,193 —
505–546 unweaned 525 186 185.00–217.00 $207.69 $1,090 +6.91
500–549 530 719 181.00–232.00 $208.98 $1,108 -3.89
550–599 572 831 165.00–217.00 $199.97 $1,144 +3.15
553–597 unweaned 576 196 174.00–214.00 $200.12 $1,153 +13.72
580–595 fancy 586 83 206.00–210.00 $207.44 $1,216 +11.44
600–646 unweaned 621 247 180.00–203.00 $189.84 $1,179 +5.08
600–648 623 983 164.00–207.75 $191.95 $1,196 -0.06
609–646 fancy 632 184 189.25–206.75 $198.41 $1,254 +8.66
650–683 fancy 661 265 187.75–205.00 $196.39 $1,298 —
650–698 unweaned 664 133 167.00–189.25 $181.70 $1,206 +4.37
650–697 672 1,301 160.00–217.00 $186.69 $1,255 +1.16
708–716 unweaned 714 20 167.50–174.25 $172.91 $1,235 +1.75
700–749 722 628 157.00–187.00 $178.48 $1,289 -1.73
734–738 fancy 735 92 179.00–180.75 $180.33 $1,325 +5.33
757–796 fancy 779 97 174.25–184.85 $178.33 $1,389 —
751–797 781 966 151.00–192.25 $182.24 $1,423 +4.02
784 unweaned 784 7 162.00 $162.00 $1,270 —
800–849 822 1,038 157.00–190.00 $179.87 $1,479 +2.02
829–834 fancy 830 70 164.50–173.00 $171.78 $1,426 —
856 unweaned 856 3 153.00 $153.00 $1,310 —
850–895 871 457 144.00–187.75 $180.15 $1,569 +4.20
904–947 941 178 155.00–175.00 $171.04 $1,609 -1.08
959–972 963 83 160.00–168.75 $165.88 $1,597 +12.20
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
960–1330 1137 15 97.00–141.00 $128.53 $1,461 -24.49
1145–1150 1147 3 145.00–153.50 $150.66 $1,728 -2.36
1180 1180 1 142.00 $142.00 $1,676 -2.83
1140–1575 1381 111 140.00–149.50 $146.74 $2,026 -3.75
1250–1697 1502 581 148.00–160.00 $154.88 $2,326 —
1900 1900 1 140.50 $140.50 $2,670 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
327–345 332 4 170.00–190.00 $184.80 $614 +10.33
378–398 389 10 135.00–189.00 $175.02 $681 +0.02
430 unweaned 430 4 191.00 $191.00 $821 —
400–446 437 8 151.00–170.00 $159.20 $696 -17.84
455–495 476 23 127.50–205.00 $172.70 $822 -9.39
500–543 unweaned 522 6 172.00–174.00 $172.96 $903 -6.04
509–545 532 49 142.50–196.00 $178.79 $951 -10.74
550–599 573 69 150.00–182.00 $167.17 $958 -5.50
573 unweaned 573 4 170.00 $170.00 $974 +7.00
613 unweaned 613 7 165.00 $165.00 $1,011 -2.00
600–640 620 33 140.00–186.00 $167.31 $1,037 -5.11
653–693 671 95 152.00–175.00 $170.23 $1,142 +2.91
687 unweaned 687 5 166.00 $166.00 $1,140 —
703–745 725 26 130.00–173.00 $151.43 $1,098 -8.70
755–787 765 65 152.00–170.00 $164.41 $1,258 +0.03
785 unweaned 785 6 150.00 $150.00 $1,178 —
807–814 811 9 122.50–153.00 $132.85 $1,077 -21.94
859–898 871 51 120.00–165.50 $156.39 $1,362 +4.89
930 930 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,348 -8.00
980 980 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,450 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450 450 5 160.00 $160.00 $720 —
587 587 12 165.50 $165.50 $971 —
715 715 8 164.75 $164.75 $1,178 —
953 953 3 166.00 $166.00 $1,582 —
1011 1011 5 145.00 $145.00 $1,466 —
1201 1201 5 147.00 $147.00 $1,765 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
417 417 10 150.00 $150.00 $626 —
489 489 6 181.00 $181.00 $885 —
604 604 4 134.00 $134.00 $809 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
272 unweaned 272 14 700.00 $700.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
258 unweaned 258 5 177.00 $177.00 $457 —
320–348 338 22 142.50–196.00 $169.39 $573 -28.14
325–348 unweaned 342 21 175.00–190.00 $184.85 $632 -11.15
352–395 381 90 160.00–210.00 $181.17 $690 -11.56
388 unweaned 388 3 173.00 $173.00 $671 -11.95
404 fancy 404 7 182.00 $182.00 $735 —
401–448 427 215 156.00–216.00 $183.97 $786 -2.23
406–446 unweaned 427 78 155.00–190.00 $180.31 $770 +4.30
453–497 fancy 466 28 179.00–191.00 $182.66 $851 +12.66
458–498 unweaned 477 81 165.00–198.00 $178.98 $854 +10.18
450–499 478 523 160.00–234.00 $182.05 $870 -1.48
504–541 unweaned 522 130 155.00–188.00 $178.09 $930 +7.51
500–549 527 752 150.00–199.00 $181.75 $958 +2.88
551–599 fancy 566 81 182.00–190.00 $184.11 $1,042 -6.89
561–583 568 73 170.25–186.00 $178.73 $1,015 +5.39
550–598 574 661 150.00–194.00 $175.81 $1,009 +2.47
554–597 unweaned 575 204 150.00–179.00 $166.43 $957 +3.78
602–604 fancy 603 31 176.75–191.00 $185.93 $1,121 +21.93
606–622 615 54 177.00–178.25 $177.52 $1,092 +7.83
605–645 unweaned 616 51 142.00–169.50 $164.76 $1,015 +6.44
600–648 622 894 150.00–184.00 $170.50 $1,061 +0.81
661–684 fancy 668 76 166.00–170.25 $168.99 $1,129 —
650–698 670 556 153.00–180.00 $168.73 $1,130 +3.44
661–679 unweaned 671 45 153.50–159.00 $156.32 $1,049 —
678 678 15 169.00 $169.00 $1,146 +3.71
700 fancy 700 23 168.25 $168.25 $1,178 —
703–724 713 37 164.50–165.00 $164.73 $1,175 -14.27
705–744 732 493 138.00–183.00 $171.42 $1,255 +5.00
752 fancy 752 34 162.00 $162.00 $1,218 —
754–795 769 291 131.00–179.00 $172.73 $1,328 +32.73
802–842 818 64 133.00–160.00 $154.60 $1,265 -7.93
857 857 10 154.75 $154.75 $1,326 -12.63
852–897 863 51 122.50–170.00 $160.58 $1,386 -6.80
908–938 920 19 147.00–163.50 $155.39 $1,430 +5.40
954–996 982 19 152.00–156.50 $153.56 $1,508 +9.13
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
905–1285 1065 28 111.00–147.00 $132.53 $1,411 -3.42
1110–1184 1177 11 140.00–143.00 $142.74 $1,680 +0.16
1108–1235 1187 8 148.00–150.00 $149.62 $1,776 +7.04
1025–1570 1336 97 139.50–149.50 $146.51 $1,957 —
1155–1595 1378 469 148.50–160.00 $155.49 $2,143 -4.48
1525 1525 1 123.50 $123.50 $1,883 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–349 327 18 142.50–170.00 $163.40 $534 -5.76
363–386 377 13 130.00–183.00 $156.05 $588 -4.84
407 unweaned 407 5 161.00 $161.00 $655 —
400–449 428 58 147.50–192.00 $167.80 $718 -4.32
457 unweaned 457 6 153.00 $153.00 $699 -2.00
453–498 477 74 124.00–196.00 $160.42 $765 -8.17
511–543 unweaned 526 31 140.00–158.00 $151.41 $796 -4.59
509–548 527 45 136.00–160.00 $152.17 $802 -3.79
556–591 unweaned 568 12 146.00–150.00 $148.61 $844 -21.39
565–595 578 65 125.00–166.00 $155.06 $896 -3.39
628 628 2 155.00 $155.00 $973 -0.63
655–675 661 31 133.00–158.00 $145.64 $963 -2.27
662 unweaned 662 5 128.00 $128.00 $847 —
700–720 711 8 140.00–156.00 $149.29 $1,061 -1.97
755–798 783 48 145.00–153.50 $150.74 $1,180 +10.08
881 881 6 120.00 $120.00 $1,057 -20.00
911 911 4 128.00 $128.00 $1,166 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
986 986 8 162.50 $162.50 $1,602 —
1000–1036 1024 12 134.00–156.00 $148.84 $1,524 -5.16
1054 1054 4 135.50 $135.50 $1,428 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 7 121.00 $121.00 $532 —
472 472 6 123.00 $123.00 $581 —
509–534 518 11 149.50–159.00 $155.44 $805 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
240–242 241 6 430.00–450.00 $439.96 —
276 276 17 625.00 $625.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 323 3 202.00 $202.00 $652 —
392 unweaned 392 3 193.00 $193.00 $757 —
408–441 430 9 166.00–195.50 $175.33 $754 —
469–490 479 16 169.00–201.00 $191.86 $919 +3.86
505–546 532 30 175.00–192.00 $179.68 $956 —
565 unweaned 565 11 174.00 $174.00 $983 —
568–579 574 10 149.50–168.00 $158.66 $911 —
600 600 4 150.00 $150.00 $900 -3.81
658–661 660 13 144.00 $144.00 $950 +19.75
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
392 392 17 212.00 $212.00 $831 —
490 490 1 150.00 $150.00 $735 —
505–535 510 14 119.00–180.00 $169.52 $865 -27.48
587 587 10 177.50 $177.50 $1,042 +25.50
602 602 13 159.50 $159.50 $960 —
615 615 7 141.00–154.00 $152.14 $936 —
655 655 1 140.00 $140.00 $917 —
730 730 4 121.00–144.00 $138.25 $1,009 —
755–793 787 6 120.00–135.00 $122.40 $963 —
820–840 835 4 130.00–132.00 $131.51 $1,098 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
780–1480 1095 85-90% 37 27.00–49.00 $39.10 $428 —
820–1795 1225 85-90% 123 47.00–62.00 $55.16 $676 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1665 1343 80-85% 112 59.00–73.50 $66.99 $900 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135–1995 1511 75-80% 90 71.00–85.00 $77.32 $1,168 -0.10
1275–1825 1631 75-80% 22 84.00–94.00 $85.78 $1,399 -0.10

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135–1795 1431 8 52.00–78.00 $66.26 $948 —
1180–2250 1558 6 106.00–122.00 $113.00 $1,761 —
1040–2450 1808 40 75.00–102.50 $88.13 $1,593 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1325–1530 1452 12 120.00–130.00 $125.35 $1,820 —
1270–1875 1608 26 132.00–144.00 $138.84 $2,233 —

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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.