Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 1, 2024

23,696 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 $241.32/cwt +2.17 vs last sale · ≈ $1,735/hd at 719 lb · 1,837 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $232.34/cwt +6.22 vs last sale · ≈ $1,802/hd at 776 lb · 1,694 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $265.28/cwt +7.52 vs last sale · ≈ $1,664/hd at 627 lb · 1,590 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 23,696 3,048 33,554
Feeder cattle 21,934 3,048 32,093
Slaughter cattle 1,762 — 1,461

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, no trend available for choice steers and heifers due to no reported recipes last week. Feeder steers and heifers sold on a very light test, though a higher 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
263–290 277 6 322.50–325.00 $323.69 $897 —
305–348 331 18 297.50–371.00 $321.77 $1,065 —
355–396 382 50 278.00–367.00 $334.58 $1,278 +30.90
352–393 unweaned 383 8 300.00–307.50 $305.78 $1,171 —
403–449 426 125 295.00–358.00 $329.73 $1,405 +27.73
450–498 474 334 250.00–327.50 $304.61 $1,444 +30.53
450–488 unweaned 476 39 290.00–306.00 $299.31 $1,425 —
519 519 5 221.00 $221.00 $1,147 -69.37
500–548 523 531 255.50–315.00 $295.23 $1,544 +4.86
515–534 unweaned 529 12 249.00–250.00 $249.24 $1,318 —
552–580 fancy 562 102 278.00–299.00 $290.77 $1,634 —
550–595 unweaned 572 47 253.00–281.00 $268.86 $1,538 —
550–599 575 828 260.00–302.00 $278.04 $1,599 -0.67
613 fancy 613 26 284.25 $284.25 $1,742 —
602–633 unweaned 614 55 230.00–270.50 $258.24 $1,586 —
600–649 628 1,509 237.75–282.50 $265.21 $1,666 +7.45
658 unweaned 658 12 243.00 $243.00 $1,599 —
659–684 fancy 667 96 246.75–271.50 $258.96 $1,727 —
650–699 673 1,353 234.50–270.00 $252.11 $1,697 +0.83
702–718 706 49 239.50–242.25 $240.24 $1,696 +1.09
700–748 719 1,695 215.50–257.50 $241.75 $1,738 +2.60
703–742 unweaned 722 37 205.00–233.00 $218.07 $1,574 —
732 fancy 732 56 244.50 $244.50 $1,790 —
752 752 5 223.00 $223.00 $1,677 -3.12
762 unweaned 762 4 200.00 $200.00 $1,524 —
754–768 fancy 764 37 234.25–244.00 $237.11 $1,812 —
750–798 776 1,648 211.00–242.75 $232.34 $1,803 +6.22
800–847 821 755 208.00–240.50 $228.71 $1,878 +7.38
835 835 52 232.50 $232.50 $1,941 +11.17
850–897 873 777 201.00–238.00 $221.72 $1,936 +9.56
890 fancy 890 55 220.50 $220.50 $1,962 —
900–947 922 184 191.00–225.75 $209.48 $1,931 -9.77
970–994 978 116 171.00–207.25 $197.78 $1,934 +12.78
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1256 1202 11 135.00–160.00 $150.26 $1,806 —
1167–1515 1332 52 160.00–171.00 $166.40 $2,216 —
1215–1698 1490 417 172.00–180.25 $176.38 $2,628 —
1710–1810 1748 12 167.00–173.00 $170.45 $2,979 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
317–335 322 10 315.00 $315.00 $1,014 —
356 356 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,139 —
400–447 426 32 220.00–285.00 $269.27 $1,147 —
455–499 479 62 250.00–295.00 $272.04 $1,303 —
492 unweaned 492 3 257.00 $257.00 $1,264 —
500–548 528 49 226.00–271.00 $253.94 $1,341 +2.94
552–595 577 118 226.00–265.00 $248.41 $1,433 +73.41
605–630 617 15 230.00–240.00 $236.78 $1,461 —
671–693 683 21 210.00–235.00 $226.77 $1,549 +1.77
710–746 731 59 209.00–230.00 $220.86 $1,614 +28.41
750–796 777 18 210.00–220.00 $214.94 $1,670 —
800–803 802 6 200.50–202.00 $201.25 $1,614 —
871 871 9 195.50 $195.50 $1,703 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
397 397 4 315.00 $315.00 $1,251 —
416 416 10 300.00 $300.00 $1,248 —
505–507 506 10 222.50–270.00 $241.45 $1,222 —
639–645 641 12 202.50–246.00 $213.45 $1,368 —
705 705 11 200.00 $200.00 $1,410 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1008 1008 15 195.00 $195.00 $1,966 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
274 274 4 292.50 $292.50 $801 —
300 unweaned 300 2 307.50 $307.50 $922 —
303–345 323 24 239.00–290.00 $273.38 $883 +1.38
353–392 374 92 240.00–301.00 $272.53 $1,019 —
393 unweaned 393 10 248.00 $248.00 $975 —
400–448 422 224 232.50–277.50 $260.34 $1,099 +9.07
412–448 unweaned 429 9 232.00–251.00 $235.94 $1,012 —
454–496 unweaned 476 40 238.00–249.00 $241.89 $1,151 —
450–499 477 524 240.00–285.00 $257.55 $1,229 +2.22
497 fancy 497 6 263.50 $263.50 $1,310 —
500–549 532 716 221.00–281.00 $251.38 $1,337 +7.83
530–544 unweaned 539 41 224.00–253.00 $235.55 $1,270 —
565 unweaned 565 14 215.00–219.00 $215.86 $1,220 —
550–599 578 1,113 220.00–279.00 $241.80 $1,398 -1.78
600–648 622 1,410 218.75–267.50 $235.55 $1,465 +4.53
602–649 unweaned 627 27 216.00–226.00 $220.79 $1,384 —
636–643 fancy 638 78 238.50–245.00 $242.82 $1,549 —
650–678 unweaned 666 40 207.50–224.00 $220.99 $1,472 —
650–699 670 1,122 203.00–236.00 $225.37 $1,510 +7.02
666–689 fancy 684 77 222.00–227.50 $223.18 $1,527 —
684–692 690 103 223.00–248.00 $228.30 $1,575 +9.95
701 701 4 214.00 $214.00 $1,500 -1.72
702–708 704 42 224.00–225.00 $224.64 $1,581 +8.92
700–748 722 860 200.00–231.00 $217.49 $1,570 +1.77
728 fancy 728 16 221.00 $221.00 $1,609 —
750–789 763 527 192.00–235.00 $220.47 $1,682 +23.29
798 798 50 208.00 $208.00 $1,660 +10.82
801–847 820 353 191.00–214.50 $205.99 $1,689 +6.99
853–899 879 84 189.00–206.00 $197.84 $1,739 —
925–928 927 28 174.50–186.00 $178.54 $1,655 +2.79
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
940–1138 1086 15 115.00–168.00 $150.66 $1,636 —
1115–1590 1319 109 160.00–171.50 $167.67 $2,212 —
1174–1605 1408 431 172.00–180.25 $176.65 $2,487 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
326–330 327 9 200.00–237.00 $226.44 $740 —
370–390 385 4 250.00–270.00 $265.19 $1,021 —
406–428 417 8 235.00–243.00 $239.11 $997 —
425 unweaned 425 4 240.00 $240.00 $1,020 —
461 unweaned 461 6 229.00 $229.00 $1,056 —
456–488 476 35 209.00–251.00 $231.58 $1,102 —
510–548 533 35 222.00–249.00 $243.37 $1,297 —
555–598 578 49 204.00–241.00 $218.25 $1,261 +35.75
602–647 632 136 174.00–240.00 $226.60 $1,432 —
658–698 677 29 171.00–217.00 $190.84 $1,292 +3.34
700–738 723 37 182.00–200.00 $194.51 $1,406 —
756–795 772 48 186.50–195.00 $188.65 $1,456 —
809 809 4 183.00 $183.00 $1,480 —
892–895 892 8 150.00–179.00 $175.36 $1,564 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
575–592 585 27 217.00–234.00 $228.60 $1,337 —
630 630 8 214.00 $214.00 $1,348 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
499 499 7 232.50 $232.50 $1,160 —
1104 1104 8 150.00 $150.00 $1,656 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
684 unweaned 684 11 230.00 $230.00 $1,573 —
694 694 5 210.00 $210.00 $1,457 —
714 714 4 194.00 $194.00 $1,385 —
939 939 6 179.00 $179.00 $1,681 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 unweaned 290 1 260.00 $260.00 $754 —
400 unweaned 400 2 232.50 $232.50 $930 —
415 415 2 282.50 $282.50 $1,172 —
481 481 10 228.00 $228.00 $1,097 —
595 595 4 189.00 $189.00 $1,125 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1945 1418 75-80% 93 90.00–104.00 $96.39 $1,367 —
1220–1985 1514 75-80% 57 100.00–118.00 $106.36 $1,610 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920–1770 1297 80-85% 123 80.00–94.00 $88.13 $1,143 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
730–1390 1056 85-90% 15 39.00–65.00 $57.55 $608 —
745–1615 1199 85-90% 45 68.00–84.00 $76.64 $919 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945–1258 1131 9 115.00–131.00 $126.36 $1,429 —
960–2155 1574 4 74.00–94.00 $83.14 $1,309 —
1330–2575 1892 26 100.00–127.00 $115.11 $2,178 —
1540–2390 1993 9 129.00–136.00 $131.93 $2,629 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1131–1665 1390 15 140.00–148.00 $146.28 $2,033 —
1350–1455 1403 3 110.00–129.00 $122.10 $1,713 —
1475–1705 1586 14 149.00–159.00 $153.65 $2,437 —

↑ Back to top

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.