Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, March 26, 2026

542 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 542 513 822
Slaughter cattle 542 513 822

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers were 2.25-2.75 lower, Dairy steers no comparison due to low receipts last week, slaughter cow were mostly 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
1330 1330 3 237.00 $237.00 $3,152 —
1167–1656 1410 33 231.00–239.00 $235.36 $3,319 -1.74
1455–1670 1583 62 239.00–244.50 $240.78 $3,812 —
1701–1925 1743 19 223.00–242.25 $238.13 $4,151 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1242 1155 5 206.00–230.00 $216.15 $2,497 —
1120–1660 1349 25 230.00–239.00 $236.23 $3,187 -0.84
1275–1600 1449 93 239.00–244.00 $241.37 $3,497 —
1700–2165 1960 7 190.00–210.00 $201.14 $3,942 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1225–1510 1337 75-80% 25 166.00–219.00 $185.03 $2,474 —
1315–1685 1483 75-80% 10 182.00–198.00 $187.48 $2,780 —
1200–2045 1553 75-80% 36 164.00–182.50 $171.34 $2,661 —
1555–1850 1671 75-80% 4 140.00–157.50 $148.12 $2,475 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810–985 908 80-85% 3 170.00–247.50 $211.11 $1,917 —
1060–1380 1209 80-85% 30 160.00–250.00 $191.22 $2,312 —
1105–1765 1348 80-85% 27 155.00–172.50 $161.67 $2,179 —
1295–1555 1431 80-85% 7 130.00–150.00 $143.39 $2,052 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725–985 896 85-90% 7 130.00–165.00 $150.53 $1,349 —
1005–1450 1201 85-90% 15 120.00–155.00 $141.74 $1,702 -0.16
1295–1340 1315 85-90% 3 157.00–157.50 $157.33 $2,069 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1185 1185 1 167.50 $167.50 $1,985 —
1500–2295 1839 11 180.00–212.50 $203.58 $3,744 —
1955 1955 1 100.00 $100.00 $1,955 —
1585–2325 2076 10 217.00–284.00 $249.86 $5,187 —

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Beef/Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290–1510 1380 3 235.00–238.00 $236.09 $3,258 —

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Beef/Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1450–1781 1690 8 235.00–239.00 $237.36 $4,011 —

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Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1598 1598 3 226.00 $226.00 $3,611 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1385–1615 1500 2 206.00–215.00 $210.16 $3,152 —
1325–1790 1582 21 220.00–229.00 $226.14 $3,578 —

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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.