Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock · usually sells Thursdays

Sale of Thursday, July 9, 2026

857 head sold ·Official USDA report · Past reports (237)

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 857 381 985
Slaughter cattle 857 381 985

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers were 6.00 lower, Dairy steers and slaughter cows no comparison due too lightly tested last week to get an accurate market trend. Trade active. Demand good.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985–1180 1053 8 240.00–302.00 $262.03 $2,759 —
1115–1345 1237 34 246.00–273.00 $259.34 $3,208 +2.91
1105–1540 1349 86 240.00–254.50 $252.02 $3,400 —
1262–1650 1458 205 255.00–261.00 $256.87 $3,745 —
1695–1800 1729 5 245.00–254.00 $250.83 $4,337 -18.17

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920–1185 1070 15 193.00–256.00 $247.05 $2,643 —
1095–1575 1311 48 244.00–255.00 $250.68 $3,286 —
1223–1600 1327 81 255.00–261.00 $257.36 $3,415 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1275–1540 1381 75-80% 15 177.00–211.00 $194.32 $2,684 —
1250–1785 1479 75-80% 16 177.00–195.00 $182.82 $2,704 -9.79
1410–1940 1623 75-80% 24 190.00–210.00 $199.87 $3,244 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
755–935 845 80-85% 2 203.00 $203.00 $1,715 —
1015–1365 1195 80-85% 20 177.00–267.50 $200.46 $2,395 +4.46
1125–1775 1318 80-85% 18 161.00–177.00 $169.54 $2,235 +3.67
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
750–985 906 85-90% 7 130.00–163.00 $147.77 $1,339 —
1005–1470 1236 85-90% 7 130.00–159.00 $147.35 $1,821 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875–975 936 4 195.00–265.00 $215.21 $2,014 —
1070–1900 1578 16 180.00–241.00 $219.13 $3,458 —
1615–2150 1810 6 247.00–270.00 $256.83 $4,649 —
1990 1990 1 175.00 $175.00 $3,482 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1432–1700 1512 14 243.00–252.50 $250.97 $3,795 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1515–1623 1601 8 243.00–253.50 $250.52 $4,011 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1375–1770 1560 21 229.00–236.00 $232.69 $3,630 -7.56
1460–1757 1640 48 237.50–250.50 $242.91 $3,984 —

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Price trend

high 271.42 low 234.92 Aug 2025 Jul 2026

1050–1099 lb N/N/A steers — head-weighted average $/cwt by sale date, last 12 months.

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.

← Previous sale (Jul 2, 2026)

Markets near Kalona