Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, July 20, 2023

992 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 992 802 747
Slaughter cattle 992 802 747

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 1.00-2.00 higher, Dairy steers steady, slaughter cows Premium White 3.00 higher, Breaker, Boner, Lean steady to .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
1036–1360 1157 16 160.00–184.00 $175.95 $2,036 —
1100–1560 1310 46 170.00–180.00 $176.80 $2,316 -0.85
1186–1725 1398 293 181.00–190.00 $185.39 $2,592 +0.93

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
800–1210 1005 12 130.00–173.00 $155.72 $1,565 —
1050–1410 1225 34 170.00–180.00 $175.90 $2,155 -0.22
1092–1555 1278 196 181.00–190.00 $186.27 $2,381 +2.19

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1840 1357 75-80% 22 104.00–111.00 $108.27 $1,469 —
1190–1635 1389 75-80% 30 111.50–120.00 $115.69 $1,607 +7.75
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
730–1290 1004 85-90% 10 41.00–69.00 $59.44 $597 —
840–1395 1138 85-90% 21 75.00–93.00 $86.71 $987 +10.22
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1275–1875 1518 65-75% 23 122.00–156.00 $129.83 $1,971 +3.14
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985–1820 1226 80-85% 18 94.00–103.00 $98.57 $1,208 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350–2520 1700 11 101.00–129.00 $120.36 $2,046 —
1215–2265 1804 21 130.00–146.00 $135.43 $2,443 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1090–1340 1245 4 127.00–134.00 $130.62 $1,626 —
1240–1635 1396 9 140.00–149.00 $144.36 $2,015 —
1280–1760 1516 27 153.00–166.00 $160.06 $2,427 -0.03

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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.