Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, July 2, 2026

381 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction report →

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 381 970 0
Slaughter cattle 381 970 0

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers were 2.75-4.25 higher, Dairy steers steady, slaughter cows were too lightly tested this week to get an accurate market trend, however a lower undertone was noticed. Trade active. Demand good.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1090–1190 1125 3 227.50–240.00 $232.42 $2,615 -34.13
1095–1290 1219 11 248.00–261.00 $256.43 $3,126
1205–1607 1402 64 257.00–268.00 $263.27 $3,691
1443–1666 1568 43 272.50–276.50 $274.44 $4,303
1748 1748 9 269.00 $269.00 $4,702

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
935–1250 1029 4 200.00–246.00 $216.48 $2,228 -55.80
1077–1580 1266 20 250.00–261.50 $256.66 $3,249
1170–1605 1351 48 258.00–268.00 $264.02 $3,567
1244–1438 1375 23 270.00–275.00 $271.71 $3,736

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Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045–1275 1189 80-85% 24 175.00–243.00 $196.00 $2,330
1020–1590 1318 80-85% 23 159.00–175.00 $165.87 $2,186
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1530 1341 75-80% 13 179.00–202.00 $190.40 $2,553 -3.67
1305–1700 1498 75-80% 3 189.00–197.00 $192.61 $2,885 +10.67
1285–1880 1507 75-80% 15 173.00–185.00 $179.62 $2,707
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
960–985 973 85-90% 3 140.00–162.00 $150.61 $1,465 +1.29
1065–1305 1162 85-90% 5 136.00–163.00 $145.48 $1,690 +4.08

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1140–1280 1210 2 202.50–219.00 $211.23 $2,556
1390–2225 1783 14 183.00–236.00 $217.56 $3,879 -34.66
1770–2060 1938 5 248.00–274.00 $258.63 $5,012

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195–1350 1273 2 220.00–233.00 $226.90 $2,888
1470–1730 1583 5 237.00–243.50 $240.25 $3,803

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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.