Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, March 19, 2026

513 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 513 565 673
Slaughter cattle 513 565 673

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers steady- 1.00 lower, Dairy steers no comparison, slaughter cows Breakers steady, Boner and Lean 3.00-4.00 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
1120–1240 1194 4 172.50–242.00 $216.36 $2,583 —
1215–1265 1253 4 244.00–248.00 $247.03 $3,095 +7.22
1140–1630 1439 33 230.00–240.00 $237.10 $3,412 —
1231–1623 1494 100 240.00–248.50 $243.50 $3,638 +5.49
1775 1775 2 245.00 $245.00 $4,349 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1180 1132 5 212.50–243.00 $235.70 $2,668 +23.12
1135–1480 1326 23 229.00–240.50 $237.07 $3,144 —
1306–1665 1450 93 240.00–250.00 $243.66 $3,533 —
1705–1710 1708 2 230.00–235.00 $232.50 $3,971 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1515 1353 75-80% 20 178.00–200.00 $185.50 $2,510 —
1275–1810 1513 75-80% 17 166.00–180.00 $172.57 $2,611 —
1390–1750 1619 75-80% 17 180.00–205.00 $189.95 $3,075 +40.87
1575–1905 1792 75-80% 3 140.00–160.00 $150.80 $2,702 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930–995 961 80-85% 5 170.00–217.50 $184.14 $1,770 —
1000–1415 1164 80-85% 28 162.50–252.50 $188.09 $2,189 -0.36
940–1685 1353 80-85% 22 152.50–180.00 $161.26 $2,182 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840–970 925 85-90% 3 142.00–155.00 $147.45 $1,364 +15.27
1000–1155 1078 85-90% 2 150.00–157.50 $154.02 $1,660 —
1000–1620 1219 85-90% 15 128.00–157.50 $141.90 $1,730 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045 1045 1 202.50 $202.50 $2,116 —
1320–1740 1500 3 210.00–212.50 $211.05 $3,166 —
1565–1900 1733 2 145.00–147.50 $146.37 $2,537 —
1465–2605 1931 10 220.00–280.00 $235.40 $4,546 —

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Beef/Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1396–1525 1448 5 230.00–235.00 $232.11 $3,361 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1390 1390 1 145.00 $145.00 $2,016 —
1490 1490 1 216.50 $216.50 $3,226 —
1410–1625 1543 8 197.00–212.00 $205.46 $3,170 —

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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.