Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 2, 2024

20,520 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 $286.73/cwt -0.04 vs last sale · ≈ $1,939/hd at 676 lb · 1,578 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $276.34/cwt +8.90 vs last sale · ≈ $1,725/hd at 624 lb · 1,414 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $321.42/cwt +3.17 vs last sale · ≈ $1,849/hd at 575 lb · 1,200 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 20,520 7,008 17,796
Feeder cattle 18,820 6,661 16,023
Slaughter cattle 1,700 347 1,773

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week's light test of the market, most weights of steers sold steady with some 500 to 600 lbs trading 3.00 higher. Heifers less than 600 lbs sold 3.00 to 7.00 higher, over 600 lbs sold unevenly steady. Slaughter steers and heifers sold 2.00 to 3.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold steady except lean cows sold 1.00 higher. Demand was mostly good with several auctions reporting this week. Negotiated feedlot trade live sales sold mostly steady at 190.00, with a few up to 192.00. Dressed delivered sales unevenly steady at 297.00.

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
278 278 3 417.50 $417.50 $1,161 —
313 unweaned 313 5 405.00 $405.00 $1,268 —
306–337 322 8 406.00–435.00 $419.80 $1,352 +9.67
351–392 unweaned 382 22 390.00–405.00 $395.27 $1,510 +17.77
350–396 383 37 370.00–406.00 $384.61 $1,473 -9.60
406–448 423 94 342.00–409.00 $379.49 $1,605 +9.68
455 fancy 455 3 405.00 $405.00 $1,843 —
450–498 479 278 317.50–381.00 $347.39 $1,664 -14.43
468–494 unweaned 483 33 320.00–356.00 $342.28 $1,653 +9.40
505–543 unweaned 521 36 306.00–334.00 $326.54 $1,701 +18.33
500–547 523 433 310.00–358.00 $334.89 $1,751 -5.18
551–599 574 1,101 295.00–345.00 $323.54 $1,857 +4.33
565–597 unweaned 588 99 286.00–315.00 $297.81 $1,751 +7.81
606 fancy 606 37 317.25 $317.25 $1,923 —
610–645 unweaned 629 113 280.00–299.00 $294.40 $1,852 -0.69
600–649 630 1,027 270.00–335.00 $302.80 $1,908 +4.24
650–699 676 1,539 260.00–302.00 $287.26 $1,942 -0.28
670–695 unweaned 687 39 246.00–277.00 $265.85 $1,826 -10.36
702–728 713 31 270.00–292.00 $282.58 $2,015 +6.13
704–731 unweaned 717 64 268.00–276.00 $271.68 $1,948 +28.68
700–749 726 975 243.00–311.00 $280.79 $2,039 +4.34
750–796 770 654 240.00–295.00 $269.55 $2,076 -4.77
770–784 777 17 254.00–266.00 $260.41 $2,023 -13.91
804–843 828 467 226.00–285.00 $253.86 $2,102 -10.64
852–899 873 417 220.00–268.25 $254.14 $2,219 +12.14
885 885 3 235.00 $235.00 $2,080 -7.00
905–937 919 546 235.00–262.75 $259.36 $2,384 —
959–991 976 83 235.00–240.50 $239.28 $2,335 —
1072 1072 63 227.00 $227.00 $2,433 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1052 1052 2 189.00 $189.00 $1,988 —
980–1325 1170 33 143.00–195.50 $182.86 $2,139 —
1230–1333 1272 16 183.00–190.50 $187.72 $2,388 —
1245–1495 1385 40 182.50–187.75 $185.72 $2,572 —
1215–1640 1414 97 180.00–189.50 $186.51 $2,637 —
1369–1499 1423 30 185.50–187.50 $186.46 $2,653 —
1240–1680 1501 357 190.00–201.00 $193.67 $2,907 —
1530–1580 1543 6 183.50–188.00 $187.05 $2,886 —
1505–1592 1558 18 186.75–188.00 $187.53 $2,922 —
1601–1657 1636 15 186.00–187.75 $187.31 $3,064 —
1672–2065 1737 35 177.00–192.00 $186.86 $3,246 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
314–341 328 10 353.00–385.00 $368.34 $1,208 —
420–445 436 23 275.00–345.00 $327.07 $1,426 -10.33
455–499 477 19 275.00–327.00 $313.73 $1,496 -24.15
504–548 529 47 263.00–320.00 $295.65 $1,564 -23.19
550–599 583 116 250.00–312.00 $298.17 $1,738 +12.06
609–640 624 52 240.00–293.50 $278.02 $1,735 +16.71
650–696 686 8 220.00–267.00 $257.10 $1,764 -15.26
701–748 725 183 233.00–277.00 $264.55 $1,918 +14.89
753–796 787 104 240.00–262.00 $255.07 $2,007 +18.94
843 843 6 231.00 $231.00 $1,947 —
857–898 876 15 230.00 $230.00 $2,015 -5.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
721 unweaned 721 8 243.00 $243.00 $1,752 —
1006 1006 66 239.00 $239.00 $2,404 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
326–343 335 22 334.00–357.50 $342.47 $1,147 +20.11
352 unweaned 352 8 333.00 $333.00 $1,172 —
351–395 378 52 300.00–353.00 $324.30 $1,226 +1.86
408–446 unweaned 424 29 302.00–341.00 $311.21 $1,320 +45.21
400–449 427 170 270.00–340.00 $316.21 $1,350 -0.34
458–477 unweaned 466 20 280.00–282.00 $280.88 $1,309 -10.62
476 fancy 476 10 327.50 $327.50 $1,559 —
454–498 479 377 290.00–337.00 $318.06 $1,524 +11.75
508 508 21 312.00 $312.00 $1,585 +9.68
500–548 525 491 258.00–323.00 $297.93 $1,564 -4.39
516–537 fancy 531 89 316.00–348.00 $332.20 $1,764 +13.70
517–549 unweaned 541 97 264.00–296.00 $287.08 $1,553 -22.92
550–597 573 748 265.00–312.00 $287.30 $1,646 +4.06
550–589 unweaned 576 118 263.00–280.00 $272.53 $1,570 +2.28
552–592 fancy 577 108 303.00–315.00 $306.62 $1,769 -11.60
603–619 612 36 276.50–301.00 $286.55 $1,754 +23.86
600–648 624 1,252 242.00–305.00 $275.98 $1,722 +13.29
625–628 fancy 627 76 288.00–293.00 $290.48 $1,821 +5.44
620–635 unweaned 631 50 247.00–261.00 $256.59 $1,619 +10.17
655 fancy 655 13 278.00 $278.00 $1,821 +1.00
658–671 unweaned 662 57 245.50–277.00 $254.45 $1,684 —
650–699 677 818 231.00–271.00 $257.33 $1,742 +0.73
698 698 12 270.00 $270.00 $1,885 +13.40
704–748 729 593 225.00–263.00 $251.30 $1,832 -8.94
737–748 unweaned 741 10 220.00–222.00 $221.19 $1,639 —
750–793 768 417 220.00–255.50 $244.65 $1,879 -12.30
810–842 835 124 215.00–241.00 $234.66 $1,959 -21.99
842–848 844 62 252.00–255.00 $253.17 $2,137 —
861–885 864 58 218.00–240.50 $232.52 $2,009 -14.03
869 869 16 245.50 $245.50 $2,133 -1.05
1016 1016 10 215.00 $215.00 $2,184 -6.00
1020 1020 4 208.50 $208.50 $2,127 -12.50
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1063 1063 3 176.00 $176.00 $1,871 +3.32
965–1175 1080 18 145.00–186.00 $168.05 $1,815 -4.63
1005–1165 1124 5 185.50–199.00 $191.44 $2,152 —
1085–1193 1153 7 187.25–191.00 $187.86 $2,166 —
1130–1530 1322 130 176.00–189.00 $186.21 $2,462 —
1185–1675 1395 448 183.00–201.75 $192.86 $2,690 -0.01
1240–1480 1401 27 184.50–188.50 $186.91 $2,619 —
1560–1620 1568 8 183.50–187.75 $187.20 $2,935 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
346 346 4 320.00 $320.00 $1,107 +25.00
388 388 4 304.00 $304.00 $1,180 +7.61
427–440 432 12 298.00–307.50 $301.96 $1,304 -5.54
460–495 477 66 220.00–301.00 $280.57 $1,338 +1.09
500–547 522 41 200.00–290.00 $267.45 $1,396 -16.63
550–593 582 103 202.50–274.00 $259.78 $1,512 -3.68
610–649 637 87 200.00–272.00 $260.01 $1,656 +19.65
645 unweaned 645 4 229.50 $229.50 $1,480 —
661–695 674 24 212.50–230.00 $223.27 $1,505 -8.76
710–725 714 21 200.00–244.50 $230.88 $1,648 —
773 773 6 221.00 $221.00 $1,708 —
1088 1088 6 181.00 $181.00 $1,969 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
551–597 578 48 245.00–263.50 $253.73 $1,467 —
691 691 9 227.50 $227.50 $1,572 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 3 314.00 $314.00 $1,303 —
635 unweaned 635 8 247.00 $247.00 $1,568 —
655 655 5 240.00 $240.00 $1,572 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
451 unweaned 451 8 332.50 $332.50 $1,500 —
624 unweaned 624 5 259.00 $259.00 $1,616 —
668 unweaned 668 5 247.50 $247.50 $1,653 —
773 unweaned 773 4 218.00 $218.00 $1,685 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
935–990 962 85-90% 3 91.00–102.00 $98.00 $943 —
1040–1380 1136 85-90% 6 105.00–109.00 $106.91 $1,214 +26.76
835–1460 1162 85-90% 25 60.00–90.00 $74.70 $868 -24.18
1025–1530 1282 85-90% 26 94.00–106.00 $100.06 $1,283 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030–1210 1136 80-85% 15 112.00–152.50 $127.44 $1,448 —
1160–1755 1378 80-85% 28 108.00–117.00 $113.01 $1,557 —
1270–1695 1432 80-85% 10 96.00–107.00 $101.96 $1,460 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265–1505 1345 75-80% 12 115.00–127.50 $119.69 $1,610 -3.09
1355–1920 1559 75-80% 16 118.00–129.00 $121.48 $1,894 —
1480–1870 1680 75-80% 4 105.00–114.00 $110.03 $1,849 —
1350–1980 1706 75-80% 6 130.00–136.00 $132.73 $2,264 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1245–1260 1253 2 100.00–108.00 $104.02 $1,303 —
1558–1605 1574 3 160.00–170.00 $166.60 $2,622 —
1330–2000 1728 5 80.00–114.00 $99.64 $1,722 —
1630–2265 1923 17 128.00–158.00 $145.89 $2,805 -7.01

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1582–1783 1642 10 180.00–195.75 $190.62 $3,130 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1517–1810 1632 18 170.00–192.50 $186.56 $3,045 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175–1375 1257 3 117.00–135.00 $124.81 $1,569 —
1210–1670 1447 8 155.00–163.00 $159.67 $2,310 —
1368–1670 1509 15 164.00–173.00 $168.82 $2,547 —
1955–2190 2049 4 160.00–168.00 $164.49 $3,370 —

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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.