Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, August 1, 2024

602 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 602 883 1,141
Slaughter cattle 602 883 1,141

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 2.25-3.00 higher, Dairy steers 1.50 higher, 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
870–1235 1091 22 150.00–209.00 $187.15 $2,042 —
1210–1300 1256 17 188.00–194.75 $193.62 $2,432 —
1105–1515 1307 47 183.00–193.50 $190.02 $2,484 +0.23
1150–1687 1421 172 194.00–201.00 $197.96 $2,813 +3.14
1730–1765 1745 3 196.00–200.00 $198.59 $3,465 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
935–1120 1003 17 169.00–206.00 $196.96 $1,976 —
1000–1495 1238 38 185.00–193.50 $190.31 $2,356 +0.49
1187–1500 1301 59 194.00–200.00 $197.49 $2,569 +2.40

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175–1360 1274 75-80% 13 139.00–156.00 $146.81 $1,870 —
1195–1805 1459 75-80% 19 135.00–144.00 $139.04 $2,029 —
1310–1915 1523 75-80% 31 145.00–165.00 $151.50 $2,307 +17.50
1565–1665 1620 75-80% 3 127.00–133.00 $130.04 $2,107 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810–965 893 80-85% 5 120.00–167.50 $138.48 $1,237 —
1020–1210 1110 80-85% 9 140.00–185.00 $154.34 $1,713 +12.81
1030–1560 1333 80-85% 18 123.00–134.00 $128.34 $1,711 -1.40
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945–970 958 85-90% 2 115.00–118.00 $116.52 $1,116 —
1020–1460 1171 85-90% 9 105.00–120.00 $115.07 $1,347 +0.20

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220–1270 1245 2 155.00–162.00 $158.43 $1,972 +15.50
1295–1645 1470 2 121.00–122.50 $121.66 $1,788 —
1265–1985 1703 6 155.00–167.00 $161.98 $2,759 —
1580–2030 1716 7 175.00–190.00 $181.88 $3,121 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1486–1535 1496 5 190.00–195.25 $191.08 $2,859 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985–1130 1058 2 150.00–157.00 $153.26 $1,621 —
1450–1590 1498 3 153.00–165.00 $157.95 $2,366 -9.80
1425–1980 1593 12 171.00–189.00 $176.77 $2,816 —

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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.