Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 26, 2024

680 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 680 985 791
Slaughter cattle 680 985 791

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 1.00 higher, Dairy steers no comparison due to low receipts last week, slaughter cows steady-2.00 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
1010–1160 1101 12 169.00–185.00 $178.08 $1,961
1045–1500 1263 48 175.00–185.50 $181.83 $2,297
1225–1675 1442 146 185.50–195.50 $188.92 $2,724
1705–1725 1721 5 183.00–190.00 $187.26 $3,223

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1038–1500 1204 62 175.00–185.50 $182.16 $2,193
1105–1555 1328 173 185.00–193.25 $189.04 $2,510 +0.95

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Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1875 1410 75-80% 21 117.50–150.00 $126.82 $1,788
1230–1665 1442 75-80% 17 126.50–132.00 $128.62 $1,855
1395–1935 1645 75-80% 9 135.00–139.00 $136.77 $2,250
1510–1870 1660 75-80% 5 121.00–124.50 $122.90 $2,040
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820–965 900 80-85% 6 120.00–137.50 $129.38 $1,164
1050–1205 1145 80-85% 10 115.00–136.00 $127.40 $1,459
1000–1665 1316 80-85% 22 118.00–126.00 $122.91 $1,617 +1.73
1320–1730 1578 80-85% 3 115.00–118.00 $116.65 $1,841
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850–975 938 85-90% 4 109.00–117.50 $113.50 $1,065 +2.35
1000–1655 1182 85-90% 23 109.00–121.00 $115.50 $1,365

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985–1290 1183 6 145.00–161.00 $153.63 $1,817
1430 1430 1 97.50 $97.50 $1,394
1330–2320 1757 25 129.50–161.50 $149.53 $2,627 -3.19

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
975–1260 1111 5 140.00–158.00 $150.39 $1,671
1066–1575 1303 11 153.00–165.00 $159.69 $2,081
1335–1725 1548 6 166.50–171.00 $168.73 $2,612

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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.