Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, May 9, 2024

836 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 836 779 970
Slaughter cattle 836 779 970

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers .50 higher, Dairy Steers steady, slaughter cows Breakers steady, Boner and Lean were 2.00 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
1095–1145 1122 3 154.00–167.00 $162.65 $1,825 —
1110–1570 1283 25 175.50–184.00 $181.68 $2,331 +6.55
1278–1685 1436 219 185.00–194.00 $188.67 $2,709 —
1700–1940 1781 4 165.00–189.00 $181.21 $3,227 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
990–1135 1073 3 168.00–179.00 $174.21 $1,869 —
1120–1470 1267 17 174.00–184.00 $181.12 $2,295 —
1150–1640 1362 165 185.00–195.00 $190.01 $2,588 +0.58

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1445 1340 75-80% 10 132.00–149.00 $140.91 $1,888 —
1225–1890 1521 75-80% 42 126.00–135.50 $130.94 $1,992 -9.97
1335–1820 1576 75-80% 9 111.00–125.00 $120.52 $1,899 -1.36
1340–1945 1594 75-80% 35 136.00–147.00 $140.45 $2,239 +18.57
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830–950 890 80-85% 2 127.50–130.00 $128.83 $1,147 —
1005–1345 1188 80-85% 20 119.00–137.50 $127.98 $1,520 -3.37
1190–1555 1356 80-85% 8 100.00–116.00 $109.62 $1,486 —
1175–1485 1363 80-85% 8 127.00–137.00 $130.25 $1,775 —
1100–1540 1368 80-85% 11 115.00–125.00 $121.34 $1,660 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865–960 896 85-90% 6 100.00–110.00 $104.62 $937 —
1075–1085 1080 85-90% 2 111.00–115.00 $113.01 $1,221 +27.07
1000–1250 1154 85-90% 11 105.00–113.00 $108.77 $1,255 +2.71

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970 970 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,116 —
1130–1285 1233 4 153.00–162.00 $157.96 $1,948 —
1370–2260 1676 22 132.00–159.50 $147.63 $2,474 —
1315–2155 1822 12 160.00–176.50 $166.37 $3,031 —

↑ Back to top

Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1380–1445 1413 2 185.00–187.00 $186.02 $2,628 —

↑ Back to top

Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1540–1705 1683 18 185.50–189.00 $187.69 $3,159 +7.20

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1089–1453 1239 16 150.00–164.00 $156.53 $1,939 —
1295–1655 1479 26 165.00–177.00 $168.99 $2,499 —

↑ 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.