Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 24, 2026

789 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 789 903 761
Slaughter cattle 789 903 761

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 2.00-3.25 lower, Dairy steers no comparison due to light receipts today, slaughter cows were 10.00-13.00 lower. 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
1107–1230 1165 10 210.00–243.00 $224.10 $2,611 —
1195–1383 1279 36 216.00–234.00 $223.59 $2,860 -5.09
1145–1541 1386 45 213.00–219.00 $216.41 $2,999 -1.53
1300–1668 1490 194 217.00–224.00 $221.17 $3,295 -3.31

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945–1242 1142 25 215.00–235.00 $221.04 $2,524 —
1120–1465 1256 63 210.00–219.00 $216.18 $2,715 —
1206–1630 1363 44 218.00–222.75 $220.54 $3,006 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1465 1294 80-85% 12 150.00–217.00 $162.72 $2,106 —
1075–1600 1300 80-85% 49 137.00–148.00 $142.94 $1,858 —
1295–1575 1419 80-85% 8 117.00–138.00 $125.78 $1,785 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170–1355 1279 75-80% 4 169.00–221.00 $185.40 $2,371 —
1320–1910 1528 75-80% 30 146.00–166.00 $152.19 $2,325 -13.50
1345–1980 1640 75-80% 19 121.00–143.00 $135.30 $2,219 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
785–995 915 85-90% 5 114.00–161.00 $128.93 $1,180 +3.49
1005–1510 1214 85-90% 47 108.00–139.00 $123.04 $1,494 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1500–1600 1550 65-75% 2 193.00–196.00 $194.55 $3,016 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–1190 1145 2 125.00–140.00 $132.79 $1,520 —
1040–2125 1532 5 155.00–171.00 $165.07 $2,529 —
1315–2155 1744 21 185.00–211.00 $199.08 $3,472 —
2080 2080 1 221.00 $221.00 $4,597 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1435–1695 1531 9 210.00–218.00 $215.93 $3,306 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1425–1670 1531 11 179.00–199.00 $194.08 $2,971 —
1523–1630 1584 7 204.50–205.00 $204.79 $3,244 —

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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.