Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, October 5, 2023

643 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 643 791 950
Slaughter cattle 643 791 950

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 4.00-5.00 higher, Dairy steers no comparison, 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
1015–1180 1102 8 150.00–178.00 $169.60 $1,869 —
1195–1615 1384 13 170.00–181.00 $177.81 $2,461 +1.59
1205–1730 1446 252 182.00–190.75 $187.02 $2,704 +4.31

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970–1075 1023 5 165.00–176.00 $169.62 $1,735 —
1105–1268 1171 12 172.00–181.50 $178.89 $2,095 —
1145–1580 1337 144 182.00–190.25 $187.70 $2,510 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835–1585 1299 80-85% 31 100.00–109.00 $104.80 $1,361 —
1125–1445 1333 80-85% 9 87.50–97.00 $93.10 $1,241 -11.61
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860–1395 1009 85-90% 5 66.00–75.00 $71.77 $724 —
860–1545 1229 85-90% 35 76.00–99.00 $91.83 $1,129 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1795 1490 75-80% 21 110.00–118.50 $113.47 $1,691 -9.33
1270–1720 1537 75-80% 12 121.00–126.50 $123.40 $1,897 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1445–1580 1513 65-75% 2 153.00–156.00 $154.57 $2,339 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1065–1070 1068 2 90.00–110.00 $100.02 $1,068 —
1165–1905 1475 14 107.00–125.50 $115.67 $1,706 —
1305–2080 1823 7 128.00–135.00 $130.89 $2,386 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1240–1360 1318 3 115.00–135.00 $124.95 $1,647 -25.46
1540 1540 1 148.50 $148.50 $2,287 -15.84
1285–1715 1546 10 155.00–164.00 $160.35 $2,479 -3.99

↑ 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.