Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, April 30, 2026

823 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 823 534 656
Slaughter cattle 823 534 656

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 5.50-6.25 higher, Dairy steers 7.00 higher, slaughter cows 1.00-3.00 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
1125–1221 1188 6 232.00–237.50 $234.53 $2,786 —
1002–1325 1225 29 245.00–264.50 $259.86 $3,183 —
1102–1575 1445 37 238.00–249.00 $245.43 $3,546 —
1350–1690 1513 134 250.00–260.00 $253.54 $3,836 +6.37
1705–1845 1779 8 235.00–260.00 $246.48 $4,385 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1640 1318 33 240.00–249.50 $246.64 $3,251 —
1201–1577 1378 100 250.00–255.00 $252.42 $3,478 +10.60

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–1575 1379 75-80% 32 171.00–204.00 $183.31 $2,528 -8.46
1215–2255 1592 75-80% 43 170.00–183.00 $176.82 $2,815 —
1285–2085 1620 75-80% 38 184.00–203.50 $188.61 $3,055 —
1485–2185 1697 75-80% 12 151.00–164.00 $156.00 $2,647 -37.25
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010–1390 1203 80-85% 28 162.00–270.00 $189.66 $2,282 —
1030–1705 1382 80-85% 42 155.00–173.00 $165.82 $2,292 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805–985 920 85-90% 11 129.00–163.00 $145.35 $1,337 +8.19
1000–1605 1189 85-90% 22 122.50–162.00 $143.17 $1,702 -0.75

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1220 1098 3 180.00–229.00 $204.24 $2,243 —
1390–2360 1774 31 171.00–223.00 $206.22 $3,658 —
1435–2210 1931 16 225.00–269.00 $243.61 $4,704 +43.93

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1496–1575 1512 10 239.00–249.00 $246.16 $3,722 —
1300–1740 1585 6 220.00–232.00 $228.35 $3,619 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1285–1800 1556 6 230.00–236.50 $233.32 $3,630 —
1479–1900 1575 27 242.50–251.00 $248.49 $3,914 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160 1160 1 200.00 $200.00 $2,320 —
1225–1270 1248 2 220.00–225.00 $222.45 $2,776 —
1425–1905 1633 31 229.00–244.00 $236.89 $3,868 +7.10

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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.