Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, July 30, 2026

679 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 679 681 0
Slaughter cattle 679 681 0

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 5.75-6.25 lower, Dairy steers 2.00 lower, slaughter cows Breakers 1.25 higher, Boner and Lean cows were .25-.75 higher. 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
865–1210 1084 15 200.00–255.00 $219.48 $2,379
1236–1285 1262 7 223.00–231.00 $229.00 $2,890
1145–1480 1291 37 220.00–229.00 $226.23 $2,921
1285–1690 1426 229 230.00–239.50 $234.70 $3,347
1700–1840 1741 9 228.00–238.00 $235.29 $4,096 -8.56

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1027–1165 1088 18 200.00–230.00 $224.09 $2,438 -3.64
1125–1405 1231 23 220.00–229.00 $225.91 $2,781 -8.83
1200–1615 1308 109 230.00–238.00 $232.69 $3,044 -6.25

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Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1440 1355 75-80% 10 183.00–197.00 $192.94 $2,614
1230–1715 1456 75-80% 21 180.00–191.00 $185.79 $2,705
1370–1830 1547 75-80% 14 191.00–213.00 $201.91 $3,124 +17.45
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870–995 933 80-85% 2 180.00–181.00 $180.47 $1,684
1000–1275 1143 80-85% 12 179.00–259.00 $196.80 $2,249
1030–1470 1230 80-85% 24 159.00–179.00 $170.08 $2,092
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835–985 910 85-90% 5 127.50–164.00 $146.81 $1,336
1000–1410 1171 85-90% 9 130.00–156.00 $144.16 $1,688 +0.72

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
955–1295 1137 5 182.50–225.00 $207.47 $2,359
1265–2120 1659 13 197.00–235.00 $219.32 $3,639
1405–1910 1688 5 237.00–275.00 $248.02 $4,187

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085 1085 2 195.00 $195.00 $2,116
1365–1652 1520 6 217.50–223.50 $219.57 $3,337 -3.31
1485–1830 1638 17 226.00–233.00 $229.53 $3,760

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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.