Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, January 23, 2025

550 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 550 952 776
Slaughter cattle 550 952 776

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 8.25-8.75 higher, Dairy steers 5.00 higher, slaughter cows 9.00-9.50 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
1230–1270 1243 6 199.00–208.00 $203.67 $2,532
1200–1620 1389 53 200.00–215.00 $212.23 $2,948 +7.76
1355–1677 1557 138 216.00–230.00 $221.01 $3,441

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970–1245 1194 10 195.00–205.00 $203.12 $2,425
1230–1615 1394 25 205.00–215.00 $211.86 $2,953
1265–1615 1462 84 217.00–226.00 $222.34 $3,251

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Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145–1475 1307 75-80% 13 133.00–165.00 $150.12 $1,962 +7.18
1170–1840 1427 75-80% 23 130.00–139.00 $134.72 $1,922 +10.26
1225–2070 1578 75-80% 38 140.00–166.00 $148.11 $2,337 +8.01
1420–1735 1613 75-80% 6 111.00–127.00 $119.95 $1,935
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
745–965 886 80-85% 5 140.00–215.00 $190.45 $1,687
1010–1180 1095 80-85% 2 107.00–109.00 $107.92 $1,182
1025–1390 1173 80-85% 11 130.00–197.50 $151.12 $1,773
1050–1310 1185 80-85% 10 120.00–127.00 $123.61 $1,465
1140–1530 1358 80-85% 12 132.00–144.00 $139.28 $1,891
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860–1285 1079 85-90% 4 65.00–103.00 $87.64 $946
975–1485 1188 85-90% 6 113.00–118.50 $117.08 $1,391

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250 1250 1 170.00 $170.00 $2,125
1405–2075 1825 16 147.00–167.00 $160.69 $2,933
1535–2140 1983 5 171.00–192.00 $181.05 $3,590

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1390–1695 1507 3 166.00–174.00 $170.27 $2,566
1525–1767 1688 10 178.00–199.00 $183.82 $3,103

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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.