Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, August 22, 2024

1,200 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 1,200 744 236
Slaughter cattle 1,200 744 236

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 9.25-10.25 lower, Dairy steers 3.25 lower, slaughter cows Breakers .25-.50 lower, Boner 1.75 lower, Lean 3.25 lower. Trade active. Demand good to moderate.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
940–1285 1127 18 170.00–188.00 $179.32 $2,021 -10.18
1195–1435 1283 40 175.00–185.00 $181.74 $2,332
1038–1560 1339 122 174.00–184.00 $181.47 $2,430 -7.33
1245–1660 1431 304 184.50–190.00 $186.04 $2,662 -10.40

↑ Back to top

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875–1140 1028 10 160.00–184.00 $175.05 $1,800
1067–1525 1264 90 175.00–185.00 $181.86 $2,299
1152–1590 1329 214 184.50–190.00 $186.37 $2,477 -9.29

↑ Back to top

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–1390 1253 75-80% 11 130.00–166.00 $146.27 $1,833
1205–1965 1423 75-80% 38 134.00–143.00 $139.04 $1,979
1200–1640 1469 75-80% 5 121.50–128.50 $124.97 $1,836 -22.54
1300–1950 1470 75-80% 26 144.00–159.00 $149.63 $2,200 +2.12
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810–990 916 80-85% 10 120.00–145.00 $126.67 $1,160
1035–1280 1143 80-85% 18 134.00–170.00 $141.02 $1,612 +4.05
1005–1595 1240 80-85% 18 122.00–133.00 $127.70 $1,583
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855–975 926 85-90% 7 100.00–116.00 $107.01 $991 -4.61
1005–1285 1121 85-90% 17 96.00–120.00 $111.19 $1,246

↑ Back to top

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1250 1186 4 134.00–171.00 $149.54 $1,774
1355–2345 1688 28 133.00–169.00 $155.98 $2,633
1520–2055 1793 13 170.00–193.00 $178.95 $3,209

↑ Back to top

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1425 1290 2 134.50–146.00 $140.85 $1,817 -24.39
1220–1660 1439 18 155.00–169.00 $164.99 $2,374
1370–1690 1541 25 170.00–176.50 $173.45 $2,673
1735–1995 1874 6 157.00–165.00 $160.66 $3,011

↑ Back to top

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.