Cattle Market Pulse

Iowa Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 6, 2025

29,398 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 $305.06/cwt +9.32 vs last sale · ≈ $2,059/hd at 675 lb · 2,337 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $290.79/cwt +7.02 vs last sale · ≈ $2,108/hd at 725 lb · 1,973 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $279.74/cwt +9.42 vs last sale · ≈ $2,170/hd at 776 lb · 1,853 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 29,398 14,946 13,403
Feeder cattle 27,196 14,946 13,403
Slaughter cattle 2,202 — 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, most weights of steer calves and yearling sold 4.00 to 6.00 higher. Heifers less than 600 lbs sold 4.00 to 10.00 higher, 600 to 800 lbs sold 2.00 higher and over 800 lbs sold 9.00 higher. First reported slaughter cattle receipts since the week before Christmas, trend not applicable but a higher undertone 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
315–343 332 16 385.00–470.00 $415.62 $1,380 +1.78
350–395 376 90 325.00–419.00 $386.52 $1,453 -8.84
381 fancy 381 7 435.00 $435.00 $1,657 —
368–389 unweaned 388 30 380.00–412.00 $409.97 $1,591 —
400–446 425 168 340.00–410.00 $383.79 $1,631 -0.68
427–438 unweaned 436 9 344.00–375.00 $350.75 $1,529 -22.25
461 fancy 461 7 410.00 $410.00 $1,890 —
450–499 479 407 300.00–390.00 $361.63 $1,732 +6.56
493–499 unweaned 495 28 339.00–370.00 $358.84 $1,776 —
507–540 unweaned 516 27 323.50–327.50 $324.59 $1,675 -12.41
500–549 526 592 316.00–380.00 $350.57 $1,844 +6.20
563–576 unweaned 570 20 294.00–327.50 $318.10 $1,813 +6.35
576 fancy 576 30 343.00 $343.00 $1,976 —
550–599 578 1,214 290.00–359.00 $333.72 $1,929 +7.43
605–647 fancy 616 54 317.25–348.00 $339.24 $2,090 —
600–649 623 1,639 280.00–341.00 $320.22 $1,995 +8.23
617–649 unweaned 630 25 283.00–299.50 $292.70 $1,844 -13.08
650–699 675 2,337 275.00–325.00 $305.06 $2,059 +9.45
707–731 unweaned 717 10 244.00–245.00 $244.41 $1,752 -17.03
700–749 725 1,915 268.00–315.50 $290.71 $2,108 +6.52
725 fancy 725 48 303.50 $303.50 $2,200 —
752 unweaned 752 15 264.50 $264.50 $1,989 +9.50
751–799 776 1,781 250.00–313.00 $279.89 $2,172 +9.41
779 fancy 779 57 279.00 $279.00 $2,173 —
810–826 fancy 813 39 271.00–276.00 $271.91 $2,211 —
801–847 821 1,055 245.00–298.00 $273.58 $2,246 +5.72
850–897 874 896 240.00–284.00 $264.94 $2,316 +2.40
910–948 927 260 233.00–262.50 $247.68 $2,296 -8.64
961–991 976 67 231.00–248.50 $244.05 $2,382 -8.61
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
304–346 323 13 330.00–380.00 $361.16 $1,167 —
383 383 3 360.00 $360.00 $1,379 -44.06
403–446 422 37 311.00–365.00 $349.21 $1,474 -27.79
453–498 488 143 305.00–355.00 $330.63 $1,613 +8.84
500–549 525 88 232.00–339.00 $310.54 $1,630 +3.14
560–598 585 166 262.50–321.00 $303.90 $1,778 +16.82
600–647 625 110 245.00–318.00 $285.01 $1,781 -8.29
653–698 681 128 242.50–289.00 $273.60 $1,863 -0.78
701–743 728 57 251.00–280.00 $270.24 $1,967 +12.12
752–790 778 77 222.50–280.00 $258.62 $2,012 +12.02
808–815 810 6 240.00–241.00 $240.66 $1,949 —
863–877 870 9 236.00–268.00 $251.45 $2,188 +8.56
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920–1375 1173 27 173.00–208.00 $186.03 $2,182 —
1109–1280 1211 25 185.00–214.50 $193.22 $2,340 —
1145–1295 1245 3 197.00–205.00 $199.45 $2,483 —
1096–1640 1368 153 186.00–202.75 $198.22 $2,712 —
1385–1410 1404 12 199.50–200.00 $199.88 $2,806 —
1378–1465 1411 25 195.00–200.25 $198.02 $2,794 —
1337–1480 1426 37 196.00–202.00 $198.25 $2,827 —
1265–1697 1516 435 200.00–217.75 $208.34 $3,158 —
1533 1533 3 197.00 $197.00 $3,020 —
1515–1614 1573 24 200.50–201.75 $201.06 $3,163 —
1642 1642 2 197.50 $197.50 $3,243 —
1705–1980 1787 16 185.00–211.00 $202.13 $3,612 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
506 506 4 323.00 $323.00 $1,634 —
583–597 589 14 300.00–306.00 $302.00 $1,779 —
604–641 631 59 265.00–295.00 $274.45 $1,732 —
659–692 685 26 250.00–260.00 $255.93 $1,753 —
768–786 782 39 244.00–258.00 $253.95 $1,986 +3.83
842 842 4 244.00 $244.00 $2,054 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
513 unweaned 513 6 334.00 $334.00 $1,713 —
564–591 572 14 255.00–275.00 $260.91 $1,492 —
585 unweaned 585 7 300.00 $300.00 $1,755 —
618 618 6 278.00 $278.00 $1,718 —
667 667 28 230.00–300.50 $265.25 $1,769 —
685 unweaned 685 6 268.00 $268.00 $1,836 —
721 721 15 268.00 $268.00 $1,932 +24.00
998 998 4 225.50 $225.50 $2,250 —
1006 1006 9 222.50 $222.50 $2,238 -19.50
1053 1053 10 224.50 $224.50 $2,364 -5.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1032 1032 11 243.50 $243.50 $2,513 —
1066 1066 6 235.50 $235.50 $2,510 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307–341 322 31 335.00–420.00 $369.93 $1,191 -31.07
322 unweaned 322 5 349.00 $349.00 $1,124 —
350–399 381 144 302.50–382.50 $358.37 $1,365 +1.43
386 unweaned 386 3 310.00 $310.00 $1,197 -15.00
400 fancy 400 34 367.00 $367.00 $1,468 —
422 unweaned 422 7 325.00 $325.00 $1,372 +7.51
400–449 434 298 311.00–385.00 $337.72 $1,466 -1.33
450–499 474 475 292.00–357.50 $328.15 $1,555 +6.25
480 unweaned 480 12 315.00 $315.00 $1,512 -9.00
502–518 fancy 511 32 333.00–341.00 $337.31 $1,724 +11.31
501–540 unweaned 524 50 271.00–300.00 $290.39 $1,522 +9.27
500–549 529 1,028 280.00–342.50 $316.13 $1,672 +7.32
556–563 unweaned 561 19 257.50–278.00 $273.61 $1,535 -13.05
551–572 fancy 567 51 320.00–337.00 $327.32 $1,856 -11.32
550–599 576 1,254 271.00–332.50 $302.25 $1,741 +8.07
601–629 fancy 606 26 303.00–304.50 $304.20 $1,843 —
600–649 627 1,559 256.00–322.50 $286.56 $1,797 +3.98
627 627 31 307.00 $307.00 $1,925 +24.42
665 665 40 260.00 $260.00 $1,729 -9.64
650–699 670 1,390 252.00–299.00 $272.55 $1,826 +2.91
676 unweaned 676 20 251.00 $251.00 $1,697 -0.67
683 fancy 683 20 280.00 $280.00 $1,912 —
704–725 fancy 712 49 260.50–294.50 $277.83 $1,978 —
700–749 723 1,224 230.00–279.00 $259.85 $1,879 +1.98
747 unweaned 747 6 255.00 $255.00 $1,905 +7.00
750–793 770 597 231.00–285.00 $252.84 $1,947 +1.07
802–840 814 304 231.00–262.00 $253.54 $2,064 +10.38
853–897 883 189 203.00–248.50 $239.77 $2,117 +7.99
910 910 4 196.00 $196.00 $1,784 -15.92
950–987 958 29 221.00–241.00 $236.74 $2,268 +10.74
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
312–346 333 8 322.50–350.00 $332.15 $1,106 —
352–383 369 9 275.00–285.00 $279.24 $1,030 -27.35
418–443 432 36 240.00–326.00 $301.63 $1,303 -6.84
452–499 485 137 259.00–324.00 $301.90 $1,464 +3.29
517–547 537 143 262.50–305.00 $290.71 $1,561 +19.40
550–598 578 187 250.00–291.00 $276.78 $1,600 +6.24
601–647 628 250 215.00–281.00 $266.42 $1,673 +13.07
650–697 672 113 210.00–267.00 $252.89 $1,699 +6.81
700–730 712 10 192.50–240.00 $217.59 $1,549 -17.64
755–795 761 49 231.00–243.00 $241.14 $1,835 —
1208 1208 3 189.00 $189.00 $2,283 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1250 1066 12 177.50–198.00 $186.43 $1,987 —
990–1228 1162 38 189.50–211.50 $199.82 $2,322 —
1235–1281 1242 25 197.50–199.00 $198.75 $2,468 —
1025–1605 1278 153 185.00–202.50 $198.70 $2,539 —
1190–1430 1316 19 187.00–192.00 $189.47 $2,493 —
1305–1363 1340 5 187.00–187.50 $187.19 $2,508 —
1210–1627 1397 382 194.00–217.50 $206.47 $2,884 —
1310–1458 1398 46 196.00–200.25 $198.38 $2,773 —
1560–1665 1627 3 186.50–191.00 $189.22 $3,079 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
486 486 3 280.00 $280.00 $1,361 —
542 unweaned 542 10 292.00 $292.00 $1,583 —
555–591 562 20 241.00–294.00 $252.14 $1,417 —
642 642 7 220.00 $220.00 $1,412 —
651 651 9 266.00 $266.00 $1,732 —
678 unweaned 678 3 262.00 $262.00 $1,776 —
985 985 11 200.00 $200.00 $1,970 —
1207 1207 5 196.00 $196.00 $2,366 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
357 unweaned 357 2 352.50 $352.50 $1,258 —
458–473 unweaned 467 8 322.50–330.00 $327.24 $1,528 —
504 504 8 315.00 $315.00 $1,588 —
665 665 4 267.50 $267.50 $1,779 —
725 unweaned 725 6 246.00 $246.00 $1,784 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
745–995 913 80-85% 16 112.00–215.00 $151.11 $1,380 —
1015–1495 1129 80-85% 35 113.00–187.50 $136.25 $1,538 —
975–1635 1312 80-85% 9 101.00–108.00 $105.11 $1,379 —
1035–1680 1321 80-85% 94 108.00–119.00 $113.86 $1,504 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1475 1300 75-80% 35 117.00–165.00 $138.56 $1,801 —
1215–1885 1511 75-80% 55 120.00–129.50 $123.84 $1,871 —
1320–1860 1582 75-80% 12 105.00–114.50 $109.76 $1,736 —
1315–2135 1625 75-80% 39 130.00–151.00 $137.75 $2,238 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850–885 868 85-90% 2 80.00–102.50 $91.48 $794 —
810–1400 1018 85-90% 16 50.00–93.00 $77.13 $785 —
1015–1670 1188 85-90% 51 90.00–108.00 $100.94 $1,199 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150 1150 1 80.00 $80.00 $920 —
1280–1735 1472 5 100.00–119.00 $113.06 $1,664 —
1360–2585 1906 33 121.00–154.00 $140.59 $2,680 —
1615–2620 2036 9 159.00–173.00 $163.18 $3,322 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1637–1651 1644 65 192.25–199.75 $195.96 $3,222 —

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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.