Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, August 29, 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 1,200 1,414
Slaughter cattle 602 1,200 1,414

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 7.00-8.00 higher, Dairy steers no comparison due to low receipts, slaughter cows 1.00 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
1062–1180 1101 3 180.00–184.00 $182.57 $2,010 +3.25
1100–1280 1219 9 181.00–189.50 $187.04 $2,280 —
1140–1495 1341 40 180.00–189.50 $186.78 $2,505 +5.31
1215–1575 1406 166 190.00–199.75 $194.66 $2,737 +8.62

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1158 1105 6 180.00–186.00 $184.35 $2,037 —
1033–1545 1247 34 180.00–189.50 $186.66 $2,328 —
1140–1625 1318 99 190.00–199.75 $193.77 $2,554 +7.40

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080–1410 1241 75-80% 11 140.00–149.50 $145.31 $1,803 —
1155–1700 1347 75-80% 34 136.00–145.00 $140.48 $1,892 —
1320–1615 1489 75-80% 4 121.00–130.00 $126.75 $1,887 -22.88
1330–1830 1537 75-80% 17 145.00–160.50 $150.18 $2,308 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–970 938 80-85% 4 122.00–137.00 $130.47 $1,224 +3.80
1010–1185 1081 80-85% 7 125.00–152.50 $137.49 $1,486 —
1015–1565 1260 80-85% 11 122.00–133.50 $128.90 $1,624 —
1165–1520 1337 80-85% 5 115.00–118.00 $115.82 $1,549 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–915 864 85-90% 4 104.00–107.50 $105.38 $910 —
785–945 865 85-90% 2 70.00–96.00 $81.80 $708 —
1015–1320 1119 85-90% 7 102.00–120.00 $112.56 $1,260 +1.37

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–1295 1238 3 130.00–167.00 $151.91 $1,881 —
1445–2015 1720 14 150.00–170.00 $163.68 $2,815 —
1780 1780 1 105.00 $105.00 $1,869 -73.95
1695–2330 1901 7 171.00–187.00 $177.22 $3,369 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1415–1713 1583 6 177.00–185.50 $179.46 $2,841 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1485 1485 1 149.00 $149.00 $2,213 —
1420–1690 1568 6 158.50–167.00 $163.08 $2,557 —
1500–1975 1647 7 169.75–172.00 $170.28 $2,805 —

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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.