Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 21, 2024

973 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 973 1,050 800
Slaughter cattle 973 1,050 800

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 2.50-3.00 higher, Dairy Steers .50 higher, Slaughter cows .75-1.25 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
1120–1320 1215 16 164.00–184.00 $174.77 $2,123 —
1130–1627 1394 46 177.00–184.00 $181.93 $2,536 -0.02
1421 1421 3 180.00 $180.00 $2,558 —
1222–1690 1497 254 185.00–193.00 $189.22 $2,833 +2.51
1705–1980 1804 7 174.00–186.50 $181.97 $3,283 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985–1150 1085 14 100.00–179.00 $168.29 $1,826 —
1035–1540 1250 33 170.00–184.00 $181.08 $2,264 —
1142–1597 1370 224 185.00–193.50 $189.13 $2,591 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1060–1415 1193 75-80% 21 120.00–180.00 $145.87 $1,740 —
1225–1745 1464 75-80% 21 120.00–129.00 $124.68 $1,825 +10.48
1175–2160 1580 75-80% 10 104.00–116.00 $111.34 $1,759 -22.59
1320–2015 1583 75-80% 41 130.00–148.00 $136.49 $2,161 +2.56
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–995 908 80-85% 18 120.00–177.50 $157.60 $1,431 +21.54
1000–1245 1089 80-85% 16 113.00–180.50 $143.97 $1,568 —
1050–1685 1288 80-85% 32 111.00–119.00 $115.09 $1,482 —
1145–1885 1472 80-85% 10 90.00–112.00 $103.38 $1,522 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795–975 912 85-90% 3 100.00–104.00 $101.41 $925 —
775–1095 982 85-90% 3 94.00–117.00 $106.37 $1,045 —
750–1520 1059 85-90% 20 56.00–92.00 $77.21 $818 —
1000–1470 1195 85-90% 21 95.00–109.00 $103.05 $1,231 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160 1160 1 86.00 $86.00 $998 -73.25
1180–1275 1224 4 159.00–163.00 $160.75 $1,968 —
1310–2030 1654 25 125.50–164.00 $149.96 $2,480 —
1360–2215 1812 12 165.00–171.00 $168.48 $3,053 +20.55

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1573 1447 9 151.00–164.50 $159.29 $2,305 —
1330–1775 1574 15 165.00–176.00 $169.70 $2,671 —

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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.