Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, February 2, 2023

897 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 897 911 1,014
Slaughter cattle 897 911 1,014

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 2.25-2.50 higher, Dairy steers 2.75 higher, slaughter cows Breaker and Boners were .75-1.00 higher, Lean cows were 5.00 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
1092–1290 1159 4 149.50–156.50 $153.02 $1,774 -4.43
1195–1475 1321 30 150.00–158.00 $156.35 $2,065
1220–1770 1492 251 158.50–168.00 $163.74 $2,443 +2.67

↑ Back to top

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920–1310 1044 4 130.00–136.50 $133.24 $1,391 -5.18
1080 1080 1 121.00 $121.00 $1,307
1053–1600 1255 58 145.00–158.00 $155.11 $1,947 +1.16
1170–1715 1358 241 159.00–168.00 $163.88 $2,225 +2.31

↑ Back to top

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1130–1825 1370 75-80% 42 80.00–86.50 $83.18 $1,140
1190–2065 1504 75-80% 40 87.00–99.50 $90.34 $1,359
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920–1535 1213 80-85% 41 72.50–79.50 $76.43 $927 +0.98
1020–1470 1252 80-85% 22 80.00–84.00 $82.28 $1,030 +0.73
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
705–1285 1024 85-90% 6 40.00–47.00 $44.93 $460 +2.87
720–1515 1096 85-90% 13 68.00–71.00 $69.96 $767

↑ Back to top

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855–1960 1408 2 65.00–75.00 $68.04 $958 -1.96
1110–2105 1675 21 81.00–112.00 $98.54 $1,651
1695–2355 2074 7 116.50–129.50 $121.01 $2,510

↑ Back to top

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1310–1700 1514 4 128.00–135.00 $132.86 $2,012
1315–1720 1598 21 140.00–151.00 $145.15 $2,319

↑ Back to top

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.