Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, January 16, 2025

952 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 952 1,177 421
Slaughter cattle 952 1,177 421

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers were 3.50-6.00 higher, Dairy steers no comparison, slaughter cows .50-1.50 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
920–1370 1117 17 180.00–208.00 $196.15 $2,191
1150–1695 1381 44 195.00–207.75 $204.47 $2,824 +5.29
1253–1693 1528 291 208.00–218.25 $212.75 $3,251 +3.41
1720–1895 1780 12 205.00–218.50 $214.60 $3,820 +9.83

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
975–1148 1078 12 176.00–200.50 $193.88 $2,090
1030–1465 1241 43 197.00–207.00 $204.26 $2,535
1112–1665 1429 162 208.00–218.50 $213.64 $3,053 +6.21

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Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1470 1321 75-80% 13 124.00–177.50 $142.94 $1,888
1250–1885 1446 75-80% 25 120.00–129.00 $124.46 $1,800
1265–2085 1556 75-80% 42 130.00–159.00 $140.10 $2,180 +29.38
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1240 1118 80-85% 13 120.00–195.00 $135.78 $1,518 +2.08
1070–1510 1300 80-85% 23 110.00–118.00 $114.42 $1,487
1180–1460 1315 80-85% 3 107.00–109.00 $108.26 $1,424
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830–885 858 85-90% 2 107.00–112.00 $109.58 $940
695–1390 998 85-90% 12 53.00–94.00 $76.79 $766
1025–1605 1336 85-90% 15 96.00–109.00 $104.89 $1,401

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1550–2265 1906 16 165.00–189.00 $172.85 $3,295
1340–2390 1912 20 129.00–162.00 $148.66 $2,842

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1190–1595 1372 3 121.00–147.00 $131.10 $1,799
1280–1585 1404 18 156.00–171.00 $164.00 $2,303
1345–1920 1587 33 173.00–188.00 $178.68 $2,836

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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.