Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 7, 2023

1,107 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 1,107 1,414 828
Slaughter cattle 1,107 1,414 828

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers steady to .50 lower, Dairy steers 3.75-4.00 higher, slaughter cows .25-.50 lower. 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
980–1285 1140 26 150.00–185.00 $176.60 $2,013 —
1045–1590 1306 29 175.00–183.50 $180.29 $2,355 -0.69
1115–1630 1425 380 184.00–191.75 $187.73 $2,675 -0.68

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835–1155 1060 15 160.00–180.00 $172.39 $1,827 -8.10
1080–1420 1258 34 175.00–183.50 $180.58 $2,272 -7.81
1094–1550 1278 279 184.00–191.00 $187.79 $2,400 -0.60

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085–1660 1321 75-80% 35 112.00–119.50 $115.31 $1,523 —
1180–1790 1423 75-80% 45 120.00–129.00 $123.30 $1,755 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–1650 1201 80-85% 47 102.00–111.00 $106.76 $1,282 +0.56
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
705–1065 848 85-90% 4 50.00–69.00 $64.51 $547 —
710–1410 1093 85-90% 38 80.00–101.50 $96.09 $1,050 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1270–1830 1599 65-75% 7 131.00–136.00 $134.27 $2,147 +1.60

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115 1115 1 128.00 $128.00 $1,427 —
1500–2165 1730 14 132.00–146.00 $137.42 $2,377 —
1355–2490 1975 14 116.00–130.00 $124.61 $2,461 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1147 1147 2 131.00 $131.00 $1,503 —
1205–1300 1253 2 149.00–159.00 $154.19 $1,932 —
1280–1750 1467 23 160.00–169.00 $164.83 $2,418 +5.89

↑ Back to top

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.