Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, February 26, 2026

779 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 779 673 743
Slaughter cattle 779 673 743

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 6.00 higher, Dairy steers 2.00 higher, slaughter cows Breaker and Boners 2.25-3.75 higher. 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
1035–1275 1188 101 200.00–287.50 $242.02 $2,875 +0.31
1213–1325 1259 26 241.00–261.25 $247.50 $3,116 —
1125–1625 1337 45 230.00–243.50 $239.39 $3,201 —
1260–1692 1467 157 243.00–250.00 $246.19 $3,612 —
1545–1658 1630 4 251.50–252.00 $251.62 $4,101 —
1700–2065 1785 24 222.00–251.00 $242.83 $4,335 +5.41

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1065 990 2 242.50–260.00 $250.59 $2,481 —
1165–1530 1355 9 230.00–240.00 $235.57 $3,192 —
1210–1686 1427 94 243.50–251.00 $248.53 $3,547 +6.10
1406–1600 1509 18 252.00–254.50 $253.44 $3,824 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1120–1620 1369 75-80% 22 165.00–220.00 $181.94 $2,491 —
1330–1755 1546 75-80% 24 180.00–200.00 $187.70 $2,902 +20.43
1275–1960 1568 75-80% 27 163.00–179.00 $171.26 $2,685 -15.15
1280–1780 1624 75-80% 5 144.00–160.00 $151.57 $2,461 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
700–985 881 80-85% 4 215.00–290.00 $249.00 $2,194 —
1010–1465 1179 80-85% 18 156.00–265.00 $190.50 $2,246 +5.90
1015–1590 1307 80-85% 29 150.00–166.00 $158.13 $2,067 +2.23
1620–2025 1858 80-85% 3 125.00–135.00 $129.00 $2,397 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
785–995 931 85-90% 8 125.00–159.00 $136.32 $1,269 —
1010–1695 1284 85-90% 17 123.00–147.50 $136.90 $1,758 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135–2590 1742 12 176.00–220.00 $201.36 $3,508 —
1630–2180 1852 10 229.00–258.00 $238.83 $4,423 —

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Beef/Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1405–1565 1506 4 234.00–243.50 $239.98 $3,614 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1270–1390 1313 3 156.00–164.00 $160.77 $2,111 —
1375 1375 3 181.00 $181.00 $2,489 —
1395–1595 1505 4 202.00–208.00 $205.12 $3,087 —
1600–1875 1731 13 211.00–223.00 $217.25 $3,761 +1.92

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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.