Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 2, 2023

33,554 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 $189.57/cwt -3.60 vs last sale · ≈ $1,287/hd at 679 lb · 3,096 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $193.48/cwt -4.79 vs last sale · ≈ $1,209/hd at 625 lb · 2,618 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $170.40/cwt -1.12 vs last sale · ≈ $1,067/hd at 626 lb · 2,173 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 33,554 3,736 30,424
Feeder cattle 32,093 3,736 29,093
Slaughter cattle 1,461 — 1,331

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, no comparison available for choice steers and heifers due to no reported receipts last week. Feeder steers and heifers overall sold on a very light test, however a steady undertone was noted.

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
275–290 284 10 187.00–241.00 $220.69 $627 —
309–345 unweaned 327 16 194.50–209.00 $199.54 $652 —
313–349 332 34 195.50–230.00 $217.69 $723 -10.44
350–365 unweaned 355 6 191.17–226.00 $209.46 $744 —
350–398 380 110 202.50–235.00 $218.09 $829 +10.43
381 fancy 381 4 239.00 $239.00 $911 —
403–407 fancy 406 7 229.50–232.00 $230.21 $935 —
403–449 430 211 200.00–239.50 $221.72 $953 +2.95
425–443 unweaned 439 44 192.50–222.00 $206.13 $905 —
450–482 fancy 464 107 212.50–241.00 $231.15 $1,073 —
450–499 478 571 188.00–232.00 $211.66 $1,012 -9.20
451–491 unweaned 482 26 186.00–200.00 $197.31 $951 —
515 fancy 515 20 211.00 $211.00 $1,087 —
500–549 524 1,178 181.00–232.50 $210.22 $1,102 -1.43
519–548 unweaned 537 106 165.50–208.00 $193.54 $1,039 —
552–589 unweaned 572 66 170.00–199.50 $179.89 $1,029 —
553–596 fancy 572 314 195.00–223.00 $210.17 $1,202 —
550–598 576 1,554 170.00–219.50 $203.70 $1,173 +1.48
607–631 unweaned 622 29 171.00–180.00 $177.02 $1,101 —
600–649 625 2,398 162.00–213.00 $193.74 $1,211 -4.53
601–643 fancy 627 191 176.00–203.25 $192.75 $1,209 —
653–699 fancy 672 146 184.50–191.00 $188.66 $1,268 —
650–699 679 2,903 160.00–207.50 $189.96 $1,290 -3.21
668–694 unweaned 680 47 141.50–188.00 $168.44 $1,145 —
700–747 fancy 720 167 178.00–189.00 $184.41 $1,328 —
700–748 723 1,889 162.00–227.00 $181.80 $1,314 -3.94
719–746 unweaned 728 20 156.00–169.00 $164.34 $1,196 —
752–799 771 1,446 159.00–195.00 $179.31 $1,382 +0.41
760–797 fancy 771 222 177.00–185.25 $179.74 $1,386 —
812–843 819 9 155.00–168.25 $165.22 $1,353 -8.56
819–848 fancy 823 74 164.00–180.50 $174.74 $1,438 —
801–845 824 1,438 150.00–189.75 $180.85 $1,490 +7.07
850–899 870 1,178 150.00–188.50 $178.10 $1,549 +10.35
875–894 fancy 889 121 168.50–207.75 $197.53 $1,756 —
900–940 917 243 152.00–177.50 $171.67 $1,574 -4.08
954–978 957 151 157.75–176.50 $169.60 $1,623 +8.60
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
357–397 388 24 175.00–183.00 $181.38 $704 —
422–449 440 19 172.50–197.50 $181.47 $798 —
453–497 477 71 170.00–195.00 $182.37 $870 —
500–545 528 99 162.00–197.50 $182.98 $966 -9.77
565–578 unweaned 572 4 164.00–166.00 $165.01 $944 —
550–598 574 140 140.00–196.00 $180.01 $1,033 -9.99
606–648 624 79 160.00–187.00 $174.81 $1,091 -0.51
650–693 678 51 140.00–186.00 $169.17 $1,147 +2.62
705–748 727 73 155.00–181.00 $168.02 $1,222 +3.78
755–781 777 43 141.00–176.50 $153.89 $1,196 -13.09
800–842 826 19 141.00–171.00 $157.87 $1,304 -10.13
869–890 877 8 145.00–159.00 $156.14 $1,369 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1340 1229 34 135.00–164.00 $151.91 $1,867 —
1165–1659 1399 64 145.00–160.00 $156.17 $2,185 —
1205–1760 1519 395 160.00–173.25 $167.00 $2,537 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 12 172.50 $172.50 $1,018 —
629 629 5 177.00 $177.00 $1,113 —
936 936 3 161.00 $161.00 $1,507 —
1000–1047 1015 85 153.00–166.00 $164.70 $1,672 +18.20
1225 1225 4 148.00 $148.00 $1,813 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
369 369 5 197.00 $197.00 $727 —
535 535 3 180.00 $180.00 $963 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 350 3 165.00 $165.00 $578 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
252–294 281 27 150.00–201.00 $182.10 $512 —
305–349 332 70 164.00–213.00 $184.43 $612 -0.57
350–396 unweaned 382 22 150.00–169.00 $164.26 $627 —
350–399 382 149 160.00–190.00 $175.65 $671 -19.02
384 fancy 384 19 184.00 $184.00 $707 —
407 fancy 407 7 209.00 $209.00 $851 —
422–430 unweaned 425 8 169.00–185.00 $178.93 $760 —
404–449 428 238 156.00–199.00 $181.44 $777 -10.26
432 432 40 184.75 $184.75 $798 -6.95
438 thin fleshed 438 15 180.00 $180.00 $788 —
464–491 475 19 162.00–170.00 $166.52 $791 -18.35
450–499 477 751 150.00–195.00 $181.44 $865 -3.43
450–492 unweaned 479 15 154.00–168.00 $159.49 $764 —
479 thin fleshed 479 30 189.00 $189.00 $905 —
464–499 fancy 492 42 194.00–194.50 $194.10 $955 —
502–546 unweaned 521 52 150.50–171.00 $161.62 $842 —
500–548 525 1,488 160.00–191.00 $178.08 $935 -3.02
501–549 fancy 525 56 185.00–195.00 $192.02 $1,008 —
545 545 32 170.00 $170.00 $926 -11.10
550–592 unweaned 563 51 142.00–179.00 $151.49 $853 —
563 thin fleshed 563 52 188.00 $188.00 $1,058 —
550–599 576 1,706 156.50–197.00 $175.34 $1,010 -0.31
550–585 576 96 179.00–182.00 $181.28 $1,044 +5.63
554–594 fancy 578 34 166.00–180.00 $171.53 $991 —
610 fancy 610 10 174.00 $174.00 $1,061 —
600–648 624 1,732 154.00–183.00 $169.11 $1,055 -2.41
609–639 unweaned 625 62 151.00–173.00 $162.00 $1,012 —
620–649 635 260 170.00–185.50 $177.67 $1,128 +6.15
624–640 635 27 155.00–159.00 $156.92 $996 -14.60
640 value added 640 82 185.00 $185.00 $1,184 —
655–694 668 156 168.75–181.50 $173.48 $1,159 +4.65
655–678 fancy 670 61 168.00–170.00 $169.33 $1,135 —
650–699 675 1,447 146.00–185.00 $170.16 $1,149 +1.33
716–726 722 47 163.50–173.75 $169.68 $1,225 +0.68
722 fancy 722 37 164.50 $164.50 $1,188 —
700–749 724 927 133.00–176.00 $164.42 $1,190 -4.58
750–797 777 593 133.00–180.00 $162.95 $1,266 -3.10
786 786 15 164.00 $164.00 $1,289 -2.05
803–816 809 60 160.00–164.00 $162.25 $1,313 +2.26
801–848 820 175 153.00–174.50 $167.57 $1,374 +7.58
851–890 870 93 137.00–168.35 $156.99 $1,366 -0.01
890 890 22 148.75 $148.75 $1,324 —
913–945 920 6 140.00–146.00 $142.33 $1,309 —
952–989 967 25 141.00–154.00 $145.87 $1,411 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 150.00 $150.00 $390 —
346 346 5 177.00 $177.00 $612 —
350–375 371 7 162.00–163.50 $163.15 $605 —
406–447 426 46 151.00–180.00 $164.12 $699 -1.88
458–488 474 66 140.00–175.00 $162.03 $768 -8.97
502–547 531 94 134.00–168.00 $159.28 $846 -2.32
561–598 579 99 135.00–167.00 $157.86 $914 -4.88
600–646 630 98 120.00–169.00 $155.31 $978 +4.31
659–688 668 27 128.00–165.00 $153.91 $1,028 +5.91
717–739 727 23 126.00–158.00 $143.78 $1,045 -13.22
756–788 773 32 140.00–160.00 $146.17 $1,130 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
941–1280 1078 38 121.00–151.50 $145.97 $1,574 —
1020–1520 1272 79 148.00–160.00 $154.61 $1,967 —
1100–1601 1382 294 159.00–172.75 $166.75 $2,304 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565 565 3 157.00 $157.00 $887 —
601 601 4 151.00 $151.00 $908 —
1000–1008 1004 6 130.00–146.00 $138.03 $1,386 —
1076 1076 6 130.00 $130.00 $1,399 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
486 486 16 186.00 $186.00 $904 —
491 unweaned 491 7 187.00 $187.00 $918 —
562 562 8 166.00 $166.00 $933 —
620–630 unweaned 626 36 131.00–180.00 $157.03 $983 —
695 695 37 167.00 $167.00 $1,161 —
714 unweaned 714 6 182.00 $182.00 $1,299 —
873 873 6 142.00 $142.00 $1,240 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413–444 423 12 170.00–194.00 $185.61 $785 —
477 477 6 168.00 $168.00 $801 —
521–534 531 22 160.00–168.00 $161.78 $859 —
645 645 5 140.00 $140.00 $903 —
652 652 9 133.00 $133.00 $867 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170–1930 1445 75-80% 93 71.00–89.00 $81.26 $1,174 —
1220–1935 1597 75-80% 21 83.00–96.00 $91.57 $1,462 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045–1760 1346 80-85% 106 62.00–79.00 $72.16 $971 —
1250–1765 1443 80-85% 6 61.00–68.00 $65.53 $946 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765–1530 1067 85-90% 29 20.00–56.00 $43.04 $459 —
750–1500 1112 85-90% 44 52.50–69.00 $62.66 $697 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1295–1775 1476 65-75% 4 109.50–121.00 $114.45 $1,689 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1635 1323 3 54.00–71.00 $61.59 $815 —
1010–2225 1667 16 76.00–109.00 $91.20 $1,520 —
1365–2220 1938 9 99.00–129.50 $115.05 $2,230 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220 1220 1 85.00 $85.00 $1,037 —
1430–1520 1482 3 129.00–132.00 $130.51 $1,934 —
1390–1790 1542 21 133.00–146.00 $139.28 $2,148 —

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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.