Cattle Market Pulse

Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction Market Report

Kalona, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, October 1, 2026

607 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 607 789 481
Slaughter cattle 607 789 481

Market comments — USDA reporter

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 1.50 higher, Dairy steers no comparison due to low receipts last week, slaughter cows were 2.75-4.75 higher. 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
1085–1260 1141 5 207.00–221.00 $213.97 $2,441 —
990–1375 1231 29 212.00–285.00 $227.60 $2,802 —
1235–1577 1385 37 210.00–219.00 $217.16 $3,008 +0.75
1285–1685 1480 102 220.00–225.50 $223.22 $3,304 +2.05
1707–1755 1717 9 218.00–223.75 $222.79 $3,825 —

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Feeder Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
995–1230 1127 10 209.00–231.00 $220.63 $2,487 -0.41
1090–1490 1241 41 210.00–219.25 $216.44 $2,686 —
1203–1637 1393 162 219.00–225.75 $222.21 $3,095 +1.67

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305–1795 1435 75-80% 25 147.00–169.00 $156.65 $2,248 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1095–1295 1190 80-85% 3 159.00–195.00 $180.20 $2,144 —
1035–1595 1264 80-85% 20 139.00–153.00 $146.70 $1,854 -16.02
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–990 943 85-90% 4 115.00–125.00 $119.41 $1,126 -9.52
1000–1325 1151 85-90% 11 110.00–135.00 $125.93 $1,449 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1299 1159 7 140.00–215.00 $192.88 $2,235 —
1205–1295 1254 4 155.00–205.00 $182.55 $2,289 —
950–1895 1423 2 135.00–160.00 $151.65 $2,158 —
1345–2145 1583 15 177.00–217.00 $201.35 $3,187 —

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Beef Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1485–1605 1525 3 218.00–220.00 $218.70 $3,335 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1360–1400 1380 2 200.00–209.00 $204.57 $2,823 —
1482–1852 1676 5 211.00–215.00 $213.30 $3,575 —

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Dairy Steers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1460–1615 1574 4 196.00–202.00 $199.96 $3,147 -4.83
1525–1776 1663 22 206.00–217.00 $208.97 $3,475 —

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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.