Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, May 23, 2024

531 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 531 836 433
Slaughter cattle 531 836 433

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: No comparison due to last week sale not reported. 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
1070–1195 1129 4 156.00–171.00 $163.45 $1,845 +0.80
1205–1605 1303 31 183.00–189.00 $187.78 $2,447 —
1220–1690 1469 85 190.00–197.00 $194.19 $2,853 —
1930 1930 3 183.00 $183.00 $3,532 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
995–1190 1117 3 140.00–173.00 $156.41 $1,747 —
1040–1440 1219 41 177.00–189.00 $183.36 $2,235 —
1173–1610 1344 67 190.00–198.00 $194.33 $2,612 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1455 1266 75-80% 15 140.00–159.00 $148.23 $1,877 —
1165–1845 1463 75-80% 28 130.00–137.00 $134.07 $1,961 —
1250–1905 1565 75-80% 34 139.00–151.00 $145.26 $2,273 +24.74
1390–1830 1577 75-80% 3 120.00–130.00 $125.65 $1,982 +5.13
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900–990 955 80-85% 3 122.00–140.00 $131.42 $1,255 —
1010–1420 1136 80-85% 19 125.00–136.00 $130.58 $1,483 —
1010–1385 1184 80-85% 4 140.00–152.00 $147.26 $1,744 +19.28
1035–1635 1318 80-85% 11 103.00–124.00 $114.95 $1,515 —
1130–1580 1334 80-85% 21 119.00–130.00 $124.60 $1,662 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835–980 911 85-90% 8 102.50–122.00 $113.23 $1,032 —
975–985 980 85-90% 2 95.00–98.00 $96.51 $946 —
1045–1545 1213 85-90% 3 105.00–118.00 $109.60 $1,329 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1280 1236 5 129.00–170.00 $152.16 $1,881 -5.80
1325–1985 1654 11 159.00–175.00 $165.13 $2,731 +17.50
1380–2365 1882 5 130.00–152.00 $145.08 $2,730 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1420–1515 1446 12 185.00–189.75 $188.17 $2,721 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165–1590 1370 4 130.00–140.00 $132.81 $1,819 —
1400–1570 1456 5 157.00–162.00 $159.95 $2,329 -9.04
1330–1700 1579 20 165.00–186.50 $173.36 $2,737 —

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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.