Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, March 2, 2023

1,151 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 1,151 393 663
Slaughter cattle 1,151 393 663

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 2.50 higher, Dairy steers steady, slaughter cows Breakers and Boners 1.25-2.50 higher, Lean cows 4.50 higher. 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
1120–1230 1191 14 134.00–165.00 $153.87 $1,833 —
1115–1645 1343 36 152.00–162.00 $159.78 $2,146 —
1207–1737 1483 294 164.00–175.00 $168.28 $2,496 +0.27

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
885–1295 1053 11 123.00–156.25 $151.66 $1,597 —
1115–1535 1264 74 150.00–163.00 $160.08 $2,023 -0.31
1143–1580 1340 250 164.00–175.50 $169.30 $2,269 +2.62

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135–2085 1417 75-80% 54 90.00–96.50 $92.87 $1,316 +1.24
1155–1900 1499 75-80% 40 97.00–109.00 $99.95 $1,498 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890–1555 1201 80-85% 19 89.00–92.00 $90.56 $1,088 -0.27
945–1940 1263 80-85% 53 84.00–89.50 $87.21 $1,101 +2.61
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
665–1355 1065 85-90% 12 32.50–66.00 $52.65 $561 —
825–1650 1210 85-90% 43 69.00–83.00 $78.23 $947 +4.60
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1445–1605 1500 65-75% 4 114.00–127.00 $119.46 $1,792 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920–1820 1516 15 86.00–116.00 $104.97 $1,591 —
1585–2345 1992 22 117.00–130.50 $122.48 $2,440 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150 1150 1 112.00 $112.00 $1,288 —
1375–1585 1468 5 126.00–139.00 $133.58 $1,961 —
1285–1895 1587 30 140.00–151.00 $144.63 $2,295 —

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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.