Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, May 30, 2024

563 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction report →

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 563 531 702
Slaughter cattle 563 531 702

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 1.25 higher, Dairy steers steady, slaughter cows 4.00-7.50 higher. Trade active. Demand good.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
910–1150 1010 14 180.00–200.50 $191.32 $1,932
1162–1262 1225 9 175.00–193.00 $189.49 $2,321
1140–1540 1313 70 181.00–191.00 $188.58 $2,476 +0.80
1275–1613 1423 120 191.25–199.00 $195.40 $2,781

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875–1065 1010 6 172.00–185.50 $179.13 $1,809
1100–1592 1276 31 180.00–191.00 $187.14 $2,388
1165–1565 1325 69 192.00–199.50 $195.59 $2,592 +1.26

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Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1350 1229 75-80% 18 141.00–165.00 $148.96 $1,831
1200–1960 1473 75-80% 18 133.00–141.00 $138.06 $2,034 +3.99
1260–2130 1585 75-80% 30 143.00–156.00 $148.88 $2,360 +23.23
1640–1945 1793 75-80% 2 126.00–134.00 $129.66 $2,325
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900–945 915 80-85% 3 121.00–143.00 $132.34 $1,211
1010–1320 1129 80-85% 9 134.00–143.00 $137.71 $1,555 +7.13
1005–1580 1294 80-85% 7 136.00–149.00 $141.08 $1,826
1050–1805 1342 80-85% 15 128.00–135.00 $132.19 $1,774 +7.59
1590–1740 1648 80-85% 3 115.00–119.50 $117.11 $1,930
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965–970 968 85-90% 2 110.00–123.00 $116.48 $1,128 +19.97
1000–1420 1127 85-90% 12 109.00–125.00 $120.18 $1,354

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930 930 1 100.00 $100.00 $930
1305–2920 1906 11 136.00–161.00 $153.96 $2,934
1685–2540 2073 14 165.00–200.50 $176.51 $3,659

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1345–1835 1505 4 160.00–165.00 $162.94 $2,452
1325–1850 1506 31 168.00–181.00 $173.91 $2,619

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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.