Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, February 5, 2026

731 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 731 631 386
Slaughter cattle 731 — 386

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers were 4.75-5.50 higher, Dairy steers 5.00 lower, slaughter cows Breakers and Boners 1.50-2.00 higher, Lean cows were 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
1240–1265 1252 3 230.00–236.00 $233.69 $2,926 +4.60
1150–1575 1349 30 233.00–242.50 $237.66 $3,206 —
1310–1697 1533 234 240.00–247.25 $244.84 $3,753 +4.91
1701–1915 1752 31 233.00–248.00 $245.18 $4,296 +7.07

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
955–1055 1022 3 155.00–241.00 $214.20 $2,189 —
1170–1475 1314 11 230.50–239.00 $236.11 $3,102 +4.95
1206–1685 1447 105 240.00–249.00 $245.04 $3,546 +5.51

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1660 1462 75-80% 10 165.00–190.00 $176.23 $2,576 —
1170–2030 1505 75-80% 31 166.00–178.00 $172.73 $2,600 —
1315–1980 1602 75-80% 29 179.50–193.00 $183.69 $2,943 —
1555–1900 1700 75-80% 5 140.00–150.00 $146.67 $2,493 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855–945 899 80-85% 4 156.00–265.00 $189.54 $1,704 —
1020–1235 1124 80-85% 12 160.00–235.00 $188.77 $2,122 —
1070–1770 1325 80-85% 45 147.00–169.00 $156.76 $2,077 —
1285–1565 1450 80-85% 4 135.00–148.00 $139.91 $2,029 -0.10
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
730–960 877 85-90% 5 120.00–147.50 $137.16 $1,203 —
795–1425 1145 85-90% 5 75.00–105.00 $91.63 $1,049 —
1015–1610 1252 85-90% 15 115.00–145.00 $134.18 $1,680 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1120–1275 1181 4 185.00–206.00 $196.09 $2,316 —
1315–1720 1518 2 145.00–155.00 $149.33 $2,267 —
1320–2700 1789 16 175.00–213.00 $196.47 $3,515 —
1765–2325 1956 5 221.00–245.00 $234.77 $4,592 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1372 1372 2 240.00 $240.00 $3,293 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1295–1665 1433 6 231.00–237.50 $234.35 $3,358 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1435 1295 2 145.00–175.00 $161.62 $2,093 —
1135–1735 1459 9 202.00–209.00 $206.45 $3,012 —
1245–1763 1667 19 210.00–217.25 $214.76 $3,580 —

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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.