Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, April 4, 2024

436 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 436 718 663
Slaughter cattle 436 718 663

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 2.50-3.50 higher, Dairy steers 2.25 higher, slaughter cows 3.25 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
1070–1555 1336 26 179.00–191.50 $188.54 $2,519 —
1360–1705 1478 129 192.00–199.00 $195.95 $2,896 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085–1360 1175 10 185.00–191.00 $187.65 $2,205 —
1215–1655 1329 82 192.50–199.00 $196.82 $2,616 +15.12

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1555 1350 75-80% 13 122.00–129.50 $126.27 $1,705 —
990–1880 1475 75-80% 37 121.00–139.00 $133.18 $1,964 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985–1505 1248 80-85% 16 121.00–129.00 $124.52 $1,554 +9.62
900–1550 1276 80-85% 13 115.00–120.00 $118.24 $1,509 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795–1405 1099 85-90% 8 101.00–114.00 $108.96 $1,197 +8.29
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1375–1425 1408 65-75% 3 142.00–143.00 $142.66 $2,009 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165–2265 1719 5 131.00–160.00 $152.55 $2,622 +13.41
1580–2210 1895 5 169.00–172.00 $170.70 $3,235 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1470–1690 1494 10 184.00–190.50 $189.58 $2,832 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1370–1600 1485 2 160.00–161.00 $160.46 $2,383 —
1280–1740 1540 21 164.00–173.00 $167.75 $2,583 +2.34

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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.