Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

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

Sale of Thursday, October 22, 2026

445 head sold ·Official USDA report · Price history in the app

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 445 489 663
Slaughter cattle 445 489 663

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers were steady- .75 higher, Dairy steers no comparison due to low receipts, slaughter cows were steady - 1.00 higher. Trade active. Demand good.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965–1290 1126 16 215.00–245.00 $232.50 $2,618 —
1225–1327 1292 14 219.00–235.00 $223.16 $2,883 -6.34
1220–1541 1433 12 216.00–220.00 $219.22 $3,141 —
1300–1680 1526 116 220.00–225.50 $223.08 $3,404 +0.17
1770–1802 1788 7 218.00–223.00 $220.12 $3,936 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165–1275 1198 8 213.00–219.00 $215.97 $2,587 —
1070–1370 1229 12 210.00–220.00 $214.30 $2,634 —
1230–1251 1246 7 219.00–234.50 $224.77 $2,801 —
1214–1573 1401 118 221.00–226.00 $222.60 $3,119 —

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Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220–1710 1427 75-80% 17 131.00–144.00 $137.25 $1,959 —
1360–1555 1428 75-80% 3 143.00–166.00 $151.67 $2,166 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835–865 847 80-85% 3 220.00–232.50 $225.08 $1,906 —
1060–1295 1180 80-85% 7 144.00–221.00 $170.00 $2,006 —
1075–1355 1211 80-85% 7 126.00–134.00 $130.42 $1,579 -17.91
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840–865 853 85-90% 2 117.50–120.00 $118.73 $1,013 —
1015–1435 1197 85-90% 12 100.00–124.00 $114.09 $1,366 +22.61

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105 1105 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,878 —
1225–2135 1605 12 157.00–187.00 $170.78 $2,741 —
1475–2025 1723 3 146.00–150.00 $148.15 $2,553 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1351 1351 3 210.00 $210.00 $2,837 —
1496–1825 1577 7 211.00–215.00 $213.60 $3,368 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1550–1690 1595 5 193.00–200.00 $196.30 $3,131 —
1470–1897 1672 6 195.00–212.00 $202.56 $3,387 —

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high 247.05 low 202.06 Nov 2025 Oct 2026

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

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 (Oct 15, 2026)