Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, March 12, 2026

565 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 565 491 870
Slaughter cattle 565 491 870

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers were steady with some lots 2.00 higher, Dairy steers no comparison due to low receipts last week, slaughter cows Breakers 5.00 higher, Boner and Lean cows were 2.00 higher. Trade active. Demand was 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
1150–1320 1268 6 222.50–243.50 $239.81 $3,041 —
1255–1290 1273 2 210.00–220.00 $214.93 $2,736 —
1270–1610 1484 23 230.00–240.50 $238.01 $3,532 -5.08
1360–1682 1551 77 241.00–249.00 $245.13 $3,802 —
1545–1696 1626 30 250.00–252.00 $250.73 $4,077 +0.15
1770–1848 1809 6 240.00–250.00 $244.24 $4,418 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1065–1230 1148 2 204.00–222.50 $212.58 $2,440 —
1040–1615 1280 20 230.00–239.50 $237.48 $3,040 —
1232–1695 1413 69 240.00–249.00 $243.47 $3,440 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–935 884 80-85% 9 182.50–310.00 $244.90 $2,165 —
1005–1365 1179 80-85% 54 159.00–247.50 $188.45 $2,222 +9.34
1100–1875 1389 80-85% 40 145.00–167.00 $156.36 $2,172 +2.21
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–1600 1412 75-80% 22 169.00–190.00 $179.98 $2,541 -2.52
1280–2060 1589 75-80% 27 168.00–177.50 $172.58 $2,742 +5.10
1445–1765 1624 75-80% 5 141.00–155.00 $149.08 $2,421 +2.37
1490–1910 1637 75-80% 9 179.00–187.00 $183.69 $3,007 +36.98
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840–970 904 85-90% 11 110.00–150.00 $132.18 $1,195 -8.47
1005–1875 1198 85-90% 26 125.00–152.50 $138.99 $1,665 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1330–2610 2038 15 166.00–215.00 $192.26 $3,918 -32.54
1945–2500 2157 3 232.00–257.00 $243.46 $5,251 —

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Beef/Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1475–1660 1581 4 234.00–235.00 $234.64 $3,710 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1300–1750 1591 5 201.00–210.50 $208.19 $3,312 —
1415–1820 1664 18 217.00–227.00 $221.91 $3,693 —

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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.