Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, June 18, 2026

697 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 697 669 1,034
Slaughter cattle 697 669 1,034

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers were 2.50-4.75 higher, Dairy steers steady - .75 lower, 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
980–1190 1098 5 249.00–270.00 $265.60 $2,916 —
1110–1460 1289 18 255.00–261.00 $257.69 $3,322 —
1235–1305 1292 10 257.00–263.00 $262.13 $3,387 —
1215–1690 1477 243 262.00–270.00 $267.20 $3,947 +4.75

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985–1025 1005 2 251.00–259.00 $255.08 $2,564 —
1010–1385 1215 16 250.00–261.00 $257.60 $3,130 +0.72
1120–1665 1367 93 262.00–270.00 $267.77 $3,660 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1490 1352 75-80% 23 179.00–209.00 $193.43 $2,615 +2.77
1230–1770 1499 75-80% 26 175.00–185.00 $180.46 $2,705 —
1365–2110 1619 75-80% 40 184.00–208.00 $193.19 $3,128 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
760–965 856 80-85% 8 177.00–225.00 $188.43 $1,613 -10.47
1065–1305 1195 80-85% 15 176.00–237.50 $192.39 $2,299 -8.65
1015–1680 1313 80-85% 19 159.00–175.00 $169.75 $2,229 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
745–985 865 85-90% 10 133.00–159.00 $145.84 $1,262 —
1000–1325 1155 85-90% 11 145.00–161.00 $153.38 $1,772 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1185 1093 2 170.00–215.00 $194.41 $2,125 —
1320–2305 1724 23 205.00–241.00 $227.69 $3,925 —
1355–2480 1833 16 245.00–271.00 $257.76 $4,725 +41.29

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1600 1600 4 263.50 $263.50 $4,216 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1295–1715 1475 20 231.00–239.00 $235.78 $3,478 —
1340–1760 1560 36 240.00–246.00 $242.30 $3,780 —

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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.