Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 9, 2021

1,237 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction report →

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,237 1,374 1,193
Slaughter cattle 1,237 1,374 1,193

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 4.25-5.25 lower, Dairy steers .75 lower, slaughter cows mostly steady. 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
930–1310 1140 6 99.00–118.00 $107.48 $1,225 —
1080–1595 1377 77 121.00–133.50 $129.22 $1,779 —
1140–1662 1481 314 134.00–144.50 $138.78 $2,055 -4.31

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1113–1375 1198 12 110.00–118.00 $116.39 $1,394 —
1040–1565 1300 55 121.50–134.50 $128.34 $1,668 —
1147–1630 1375 237 134.25–144.00 $138.45 $1,904 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
925–2095 1415 80-85% 138 54.00–65.00 $60.32 $854 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845–1615 1138 85-90% 32 20.00–44.00 $36.56 $416 +2.95
990–1420 1260 85-90% 36 45.00–53.00 $49.59 $625 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1400–1640 1503 75-80% 6 76.00–82.00 $77.84 $1,170 —
1245–2245 1624 75-80% 50 66.00–75.00 $69.44 $1,128 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1325–1570 1462 65-75% 6 86.00–92.00 $88.74 $1,297 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–1620 1448 6 52.00–67.00 $62.50 $905 —
1375–2575 1849 22 70.00–90.00 $78.68 $1,455 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1272–1525 1378 7 100.00–109.00 $106.17 $1,463 —
1370–1395 1383 2 85.00–93.00 $88.96 $1,230 —
1348–1680 1483 32 110.75–118.00 $113.82 $1,688 —

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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.