Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, April 17, 2025

443 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction report →

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Head itemized in priced lots 443 — —

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
925–1130 1025 5 211.00–234.00 $222.74 $2,283 —
1210–1285 1238 3 195.00–201.00 $198.92 $2,463 —
1205–1650 1358 10 205.00–209.00 $207.47 $2,817 —
1265–1658 1485 57 210.00–219.00 $214.19 $3,181 +1.50
1330–1610 1536 35 221.00–229.50 $226.19 $3,474 —
1800–1850 1818 3 207.00–217.00 $211.38 $3,843 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1215 1120 3 155.00–203.00 $181.75 $2,036 —
1165–1432 1343 3 205.00–210.00 $208.55 $2,801 -4.86
1120–1568 1362 23 212.00–219.50 $216.60 $2,950 —
1270–1544 1440 52 220.00–229.50 $226.37 $3,260 —
1673–1870 1725 10 190.00–203.50 $199.71 $3,445 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1575 1371 75-80% 19 145.00–181.00 $158.93 $2,179 —
1270–1755 1465 75-80% 25 140.50–149.00 $145.40 $2,130 —
1525–1650 1600 75-80% 4 120.00–135.00 $127.17 $2,035 —
1290–2105 1603 75-80% 37 149.00–185.00 $159.69 $2,560 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
755–1285 1026 80-85% 33 139.00–210.00 $164.31 $1,686 —
1075–1220 1151 80-85% 4 155.00–202.00 $176.43 $2,031 —
1040–1620 1276 80-85% 26 128.00–140.00 $134.87 $1,721 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765–995 890 85-90% 7 109.50–140.00 $122.28 $1,088 —
1025–1620 1321 85-90% 18 110.00–129.00 $122.16 $1,614 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
925–1290 1155 3 150.00–176.00 $161.48 $1,865 —
1610 1610 1 137.00 $137.00 $2,206 —
1205–2795 1867 15 141.50–192.00 $162.53 $3,034 —
1550–2155 1968 5 200.00–212.00 $206.56 $4,065 —

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Beef/Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170 1170 2 190.00 $190.00 $2,223 —
1580–1790 1685 2 211.00–215.00 $213.12 $3,591 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1340 1340 1 179.00 $179.00 $2,399 —
1190–1725 1430 15 188.00–198.50 $192.07 $2,747 —
1345–1790 1617 22 200.00–211.00 $205.94 $3,330 —

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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.