Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, July 23, 2026

681 head sold ·Official USDA report

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 681 857 672
Slaughter cattle 681 857 672

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: No comparison due to last week sale not reported. 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
1085–1185 1136 5 226.00–257.00 $239.12 $2,716 —
1195–1290 1225 7 230.00–250.00 $240.73 $2,949 -18.61
1165–1470 1316 45 229.00–237.00 $234.34 $3,084 -17.68
1233–1668 1461 199 237.00–244.00 $240.44 $3,513 -16.43
1715–1741 1725 10 243.75–244.00 $243.85 $4,206 -6.98

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
990–1155 1083 5 220.00–237.50 $227.73 $2,466 -19.32
1126–1265 1161 4 236.00–238.00 $237.46 $2,757 —
1055–1457 1243 33 225.00–237.00 $234.74 $2,918 —
1208–1615 1331 71 238.00–243.00 $238.94 $3,180 -18.42

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1185–1510 1334 75-80% 21 179.00–207.00 $192.51 $2,568 —
1335–1800 1548 75-80% 30 176.00–191.00 $184.46 $2,855 —
1400–1900 1617 75-80% 39 192.00–211.00 $198.89 $3,216 -0.98
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–985 960 80-85% 4 173.00–205.00 $183.64 $1,763 —
1000–1295 1158 80-85% 16 175.00–241.00 $191.93 $2,223 —
1105–1680 1313 80-85% 31 161.00–179.00 $169.86 $2,230 +0.32
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
775–960 885 85-90% 4 125.00–153.00 $137.94 $1,221 —
1015–1530 1174 85-90% 7 131.00–157.00 $143.44 $1,684 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1695 1353 3 120.00–175.00 $159.09 $2,152 —
1270–1900 1645 22 180.00–237.00 $225.01 $3,701 —
1540–2155 1924 9 238.00–248.00 $241.99 $4,656 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1587–1613 1603 5 238.00–240.00 $239.21 $3,835 -11.31

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1410–1610 1538 4 217.00–228.00 $222.88 $3,428 —
1402–1975 1657 15 229.00–236.00 $231.52 $3,836 —

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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.