Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, May 15, 2025

538 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 538 — —

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1260 1224 4 170.00–219.00 $204.36 $2,501 —
1190–1415 1253 6 210.00–220.00 $217.52 $2,726 —
1329–1675 1492 54 223.50–230.50 $227.71 $3,397 -1.87
1350–1685 1510 69 231.00–237.00 $234.27 $3,537 —
1716–1817 1767 6 234.50 $234.50 $4,144 —
1795–1867 1831 4 227.00–230.00 $229.26 $4,198 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085–1200 1143 2 190.00–212.00 $201.55 $2,304 —
1060–1425 1238 10 210.00–221.00 $217.67 $2,695 +4.87
1215–1605 1373 67 231.00–237.00 $234.58 $3,221 +5.67
1145–1592 1401 64 224.00–231.50 $228.22 $3,197 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
925–995 975 75-80% 4 174.00–216.00 $192.10 $1,873 —
1140–1515 1323 75-80% 20 141.00–196.00 $162.32 $2,147 +5.20
1355–1965 1534 75-80% 30 147.00–159.00 $153.36 $2,353 —
1315–1965 1637 75-80% 31 161.00–176.00 $167.49 $2,742 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–930 855 80-85% 3 142.50–150.00 $145.22 $1,242 —
1050–1295 1145 80-85% 12 142.50–210.00 $164.11 $1,879 +1.09
1030–1705 1337 80-85% 49 135.00–149.00 $142.28 $1,902 +2.80
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
685–1040 906 85-90% 10 107.00–135.00 $124.76 $1,130 —
1005–1935 1264 85-90% 26 110.00–135.00 $126.60 $1,600 —
800–1650 1296 85-90% 5 85.00–110.00 $101.95 $1,321 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1290 1237 8 118.00–222.00 $181.21 $2,242 —
1590–2075 1765 3 195.00–203.00 $198.19 $3,498 —
1345–2640 1860 17 148.00–193.00 $178.22 $3,315 —

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Beef/Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1475–1725 1561 7 220.00–226.75 $225.20 $3,515 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1255–1640 1419 5 139.00–167.00 $150.94 $2,142 -16.78
1235–1670 1507 9 170.00–192.00 $181.85 $2,740 —
1495–1745 1648 13 194.50–210.00 $200.98 $3,312 +5.46

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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.