Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, January 8, 2026

1,037 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 1,037 — —

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1340 1202 15 182.50–234.00 $220.63 $2,652 —
1195–1553 1400 73 220.00–229.50 $226.76 $3,175 —
1265–1699 1556 211 230.00–238.00 $233.19 $3,628 —
1700–1870 1726 39 212.00–237.00 $231.29 $3,992 -2.89

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945–1380 1171 11 190.00–230.00 $217.61 $2,548 —
1115–1535 1349 49 220.00–229.00 $225.63 $3,044 +0.34
1205–1675 1431 216 229.50–238.50 $234.80 $3,360 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–995 963 80-85% 6 150.00–220.00 $178.14 $1,715 —
1000–1400 1177 80-85% 38 152.00–235.00 $169.13 $1,991 -1.99
1020–1595 1331 80-85% 67 144.00–161.00 $152.91 $2,035 —
1280–1540 1386 80-85% 7 120.00–140.00 $132.28 $1,833 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1190–1600 1351 75-80% 30 160.00–185.00 $168.69 $2,279 -7.42
1220–1930 1492 75-80% 51 157.00–172.00 $165.19 $2,465 -3.64
1310–2005 1598 75-80% 29 172.00–188.00 $177.92 $2,843 —
1480–1870 1648 75-80% 4 135.00–146.00 $142.23 $2,344 -40.47
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765–995 928 85-90% 10 120.00–137.50 $126.55 $1,174 -3.35
1005–1635 1240 85-90% 41 115.00–142.50 $132.50 $1,643 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
975–1300 1156 5 157.00–247.50 $198.32 $2,293 —
1700 1700 1 154.00 $154.00 $2,618 —
1725–1930 1818 4 210.00–222.00 $216.10 $3,929 —
1505–2500 1855 24 160.00–207.00 $190.40 $3,532 —

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Beef/Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1347–1720 1485 11 213.00–216.00 $214.25 $3,182 —

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Beef/Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1450–1635 1577 9 214.00–217.50 $216.69 $3,417 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1605 1385 8 150.00–181.00 $173.00 $2,396 —
1365–1790 1568 40 189.00–205.00 $199.44 $3,127 -12.50
1570–1805 1700 38 206.00–214.00 $207.60 $3,529 —

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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.