Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, April 16, 2026

672 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 672 618 511
Slaughter cattle 672 618 511

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifer were 3.25-4.25 higher, Dairy steers steady, slaughter cows 2.25-5.00 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
1115–1190 1148 6 249.50–283.00 $267.99 $3,077 +15.18
1245–1345 1303 6 246.00–248.00 $247.08 $3,219 —
1255–1625 1465 133 247.00–252.00 $249.64 $3,657 +9.95
1220–1660 1485 10 230.00–246.50 $241.14 $3,581 +1.45
1684 1684 10 254.00 $254.00 $4,277 —
1700–1915 1781 16 216.00–252.00 $244.67 $4,358 +2.47

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145 1145 1 242.00 $242.00 $2,771 +0.72
1210–1545 1374 8 220.00–246.00 $239.27 $3,288 —
1195–1631 1392 155 247.00–252.50 $249.33 $3,471 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175–1580 1355 75-80% 33 174.00–225.00 $189.17 $2,563 +3.02
1225–1780 1479 75-80% 21 166.00–184.00 $176.31 $2,608 —
1305–1640 1502 75-80% 10 189.00–212.50 $196.51 $2,952 —
1555–1630 1599 75-80% 4 150.00–162.00 $157.32 $2,516 -31.50
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840–960 914 80-85% 4 170.00–240.00 $214.72 $1,963 +7.53
1020–1365 1177 80-85% 27 172.50–250.00 $201.93 $2,377 —
1045–1635 1313 80-85% 15 156.00–172.50 $164.00 $2,153 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900–990 959 85-90% 4 147.50–172.50 $165.93 $1,591 —
1015–1490 1205 85-90% 11 127.50–158.00 $144.65 $1,743 +5.57

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315–2055 1748 17 197.50–230.00 $219.21 $3,832 —
1635–2275 1902 13 230.00–289.50 $256.76 $4,884 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1422 1422 2 235.00 $235.00 $3,342 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315–1720 1488 18 240.00–249.00 $247.36 $3,681 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1460–1685 1544 4 204.00–215.00 $210.82 $3,255 —
1472–1840 1629 45 221.00–236.00 $229.34 $3,736 —

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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.