Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, January 30, 2025

962 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 962 550 792
Slaughter cattle 962 550 792

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers were 5.50-6.00 lower, Dairy steers 2.00 lower, slaughter cows steady. 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
1073–1370 1219 34 167.00–206.00 $196.58 $2,396 -7.09
1180–1690 1397 92 195.00–209.50 $205.22 $2,867 -7.01
1275–1695 1527 269 210.00–222.50 $215.08 $3,284 —
1700–1790 1744 35 200.00–218.00 $212.77 $3,711 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
995–1275 1119 8 150.00–199.00 $188.59 $2,110 —
1110–1525 1283 65 195.00–209.00 $205.37 $2,635 —
1150–1695 1420 137 210.00–221.00 $214.65 $3,048 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1325–1690 1420 75-80% 16 132.00–157.50 $143.84 $2,043 +9.12
1315–1790 1500 75-80% 36 129.00–138.50 $134.28 $2,014 —
1290–1840 1564 75-80% 6 112.50–121.00 $117.82 $1,843 -30.29
1270–1910 1576 75-80% 21 139.00–152.00 $143.17 $2,256 -4.94
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030–1390 1162 80-85% 18 117.00–199.00 $137.19 $1,594 -13.93
1060–1740 1308 80-85% 8 100.00–118.00 $109.40 $1,431 —
1055–1660 1350 80-85% 43 117.00–129.50 $123.98 $1,674 -15.30
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
745–970 916 85-90% 6 100.50–125.00 $108.96 $998 —
1015–1485 1163 85-90% 16 104.00–115.00 $111.20 $1,293 -5.88

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1280 1193 3 169.00–185.00 $177.16 $2,114 —
1340–2385 1808 18 134.00–164.50 $148.20 $2,679 -12.49
1705–2280 1997 15 165.00–191.00 $172.35 $3,442 -8.70

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1310–1350 1337 3 205.00–208.00 $207.02 $2,768 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1535–1610 1573 2 198.50–204.00 $201.18 $3,165 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–1235 1225 2 132.50–165.00 $148.88 $1,824 —
1330–1580 1442 7 162.50–172.00 $165.58 $2,388 —
1315–1965 1557 11 176.50–190.00 $181.75 $2,830 —

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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.