Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, May 7, 2026

375 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 375 823 588
Slaughter cattle 375 823 588

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale toady: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 2.75-4.25 higher, Dairy steers 1.75 higher, slaughter cows were too lightly tested to get an accurate market trend, however a steady undertones were noticed. 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
1157–1175 1163 3 225.00–250.00 $241.58 $2,810 +7.05
1200 1200 2 255.00 $255.00 $3,060 -4.86
1245–1697 1523 77 252.00–260.00 $256.24 $3,903 +2.70
1505–1535 1523 3 239.00–250.00 $245.71 $3,742 -7.83
1703–1855 1764 7 240.00–259.00 $253.68 $4,475 +7.20

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1025–1535 1257 5 234.00–250.00 $245.09 $3,081 —
1245–1590 1429 47 255.00–259.50 $256.85 $3,670 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1520 1338 75-80% 26 170.00–195.00 $184.80 $2,473 —
1380–1755 1498 75-80% 18 184.00–196.00 $187.54 $2,809 —
1235–1775 1550 75-80% 25 172.00–182.00 $176.70 $2,739 —
1465–1745 1605 75-80% 2 147.50–162.00 $155.38 $2,494 -33.23
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850–995 940 80-85% 4 167.00–225.00 $191.53 $1,800 —
1010–1440 1166 80-85% 23 161.00–247.50 $182.43 $2,127 —
1030–1670 1344 80-85% 19 157.00–170.00 $164.51 $2,211 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–935 870 85-90% 4 130.00–138.00 $134.11 $1,167 —
1040–1430 1188 85-90% 8 127.50–159.00 $149.06 $1,771 +5.89

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
910–1160 1080 4 200.00–234.00 $217.25 $2,346 +13.01
1320–2155 1741 8 175.00–230.00 $215.74 $3,756 —
1620–2525 2011 9 233.00–251.00 $243.15 $4,890 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1377–1424 1397 12 250.00–253.25 $251.87 $3,519 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440–1685 1582 5 245.00–250.00 $247.94 $3,922 -0.55

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1420–1800 1566 4 220.00–231.00 $226.29 $3,544 —
1260–1797 1567 35 233.00–244.25 $238.83 $3,742 —

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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.