Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 17, 2026

903 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 903 805 569
Slaughter cattle 903 805 569

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers were steady-1.00 higher, Dairy steers no comparison due to light receipts last week, slaughter cows Breakers and Boners were 2.00-2.50 higher, Lean cows were steady. 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
965–1235 1094 16 215.00–251.00 $231.45 $2,532 —
1200–1341 1282 23 222.00–235.00 $228.68 $2,932 +4.40
1190–1515 1376 30 215.00–219.50 $217.94 $2,999 —
1230–1678 1477 319 220.00–228.50 $224.48 $3,316 +1.19
1732–1824 1778 9 221.00–226.00 $223.04 $3,966 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985–1178 1100 20 195.00–247.50 $220.67 $2,427 +3.10
1105–1270 1156 12 223.00–228.00 $223.71 $2,586 —
1105–1490 1227 32 214.00–221.00 $218.62 $2,682 —
1200–1680 1324 103 220.00–226.00 $222.55 $2,947 +0.40

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850–955 903 80-85% 2 211.00–230.00 $219.95 $1,986 —
1045–1295 1186 80-85% 20 152.00–217.00 $176.74 $2,096 +1.60
1000–1660 1258 80-85% 24 146.00–163.00 $153.10 $1,926 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1475 1325 75-80% 8 163.00–189.00 $170.98 $2,265 —
1300–1830 1532 75-80% 31 155.00–174.00 $165.69 $2,538 +2.79
1360–1770 1534 75-80% 4 177.00–183.00 $180.05 $2,762 +17.15
1705–1870 1777 75-80% 3 150.00–152.00 $150.98 $2,683 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
745–995 904 85-90% 10 110.00–145.00 $125.44 $1,134 —
1000–1485 1163 85-90% 24 115.00–144.00 $133.11 $1,548 -0.96

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–2255 1777 22 186.00–217.00 $204.81 $3,639 —
1400–2085 1779 4 220.00–231.00 $228.32 $4,062 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1285–1515 1400 2 206.00–212.00 $209.25 $2,930 —
1420–1720 1553 16 217.00–223.00 $220.17 $3,419 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1330 1200 2 140.00–186.00 $160.51 $1,926 —
1362–1610 1453 14 191.00–206.00 $200.05 $2,907 —
1292–1690 1612 28 209.50–219.00 $213.02 $3,434 —

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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.