Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, April 9, 2026

618 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 618 484 610
Slaughter cattle 618 484 610

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers were steady-.50 higher, Dairy steers 3.50 higher, slaughter cows Breaker and Boners 1.25-2.75 higher, Lean cows 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
1015–1170 1133 10 247.50–255.00 $252.81 $2,864 —
1235–1350 1255 10 239.00–256.00 $251.65 $3,158 —
1335–1645 1490 17 234.00–242.50 $239.69 $3,571 -12.12
1340–1687 1525 86 243.00–250.00 $246.36 $3,757 —
1721–1910 1768 17 235.00–248.00 $242.20 $4,282 -1.36

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1250 1131 4 227.50–250.00 $241.28 $2,729 —
1160–1265 1186 5 243.00–245.00 $244.61 $2,901 —
1115–1580 1330 16 230.00–242.00 $237.96 $3,165 —
1250–1670 1429 88 242.00–250.00 $245.05 $3,502 +0.28

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–1595 1374 75-80% 22 176.00–199.00 $186.15 $2,558 +4.42
1250–1955 1592 75-80% 6 149.00–155.00 $151.19 $2,407 -19.98
1350–1950 1596 75-80% 19 182.50–198.00 $188.82 $3,014 +17.65
1315–2165 1626 75-80% 28 167.00–180.00 $173.91 $2,828 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810–970 905 80-85% 5 160.00–245.00 $207.19 $1,875 -34.21
1000–1435 1220 80-85% 43 167.50–287.50 $196.91 $2,402 —
1120–1510 1289 80-85% 23 155.00–171.00 $163.32 $2,105 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–990 927 85-90% 8 132.00–165.00 $152.33 $1,412 —
1010–1580 1200 85-90% 15 126.00–151.00 $139.08 $1,669 -0.42

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
780–1095 973 4 180.00–235.00 $206.63 $2,011 —
1480–2260 1861 9 197.50–227.50 $216.02 $4,020 +5.37
1750–2454 2056 9 232.50–280.00 $254.25 $5,227 +9.60

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Beef/Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315 1315 1 229.00 $229.00 $3,011 —
1460–1695 1561 9 240.00–246.50 $242.46 $3,785 —
1825 1825 1 234.00 $234.00 $4,270 —

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Beef/Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1424–1640 1496 17 241.00–244.00 $243.06 $3,636 —
1985 1985 1 238.00 $238.00 $4,724 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1242 1218 7 222.50–227.50 $226.09 $2,754 —
1380–1725 1550 12 224.00–234.00 $229.44 $3,556 —
1590–1805 1698 2 207.50–218.00 $212.42 $3,607 —

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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.