Sale reports / Iowa / Kalona Livestock Auction / 2026-04-16

Kalona Livestock Auction

Slaughter Cattle · Kalona, Iowa · Thu, Apr 16
● Final24 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2528
Receipts
672 head
▲ 54 vs last sale 618▲ 161 vs year ago 511 · +31.5%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifer were 3.25-4.25 higher, Dairy steers steady, slaughter cows 2.25-5.00 higher. Trade active. Demand good.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Beef/Dairy HeifersChoiceAverage1,422235.003,3422thin
Beef/Dairy SteersChoiceAverage1,488247.363,68118
Bulls—Average1,815235.484,27330
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,198190.672,28546
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,429184.402,63668
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,139150.321,71315
Dairy SteersChoiceAverage1,629229.343,73645
Dairy SteersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,544210.823,2554thin
HeifersChoiceAverage1,392249.333,471155
HeifersSelectAverage1,145242.002,7711thin
HeifersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,374239.273,2888thin
SteersSelectAverage1,148267.993,0776thin
SteersChoice and PrimeAverage1,684254.004,27710
SteersChoiceAverage1,499249.113,734149
SteersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,417243.373,44816

Every lot

24 lots · USDA AMS · Kalona Livestock Slaughter Cattle Auction - Kalona, IA
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Slaughter Cattle · Steers6 lots · lightest first
Steers—SelectReturn to Feed1,148267.99/cwt249.50–283.003,0776
Steers—Select and ChoiceReturn to Feed1,303247.08/cwt246.00–248.003,2196
Steers—Choice1,465249.64/cwt247.00–252.003,657133
Steers—Select and Choice1,485241.14/cwt230.00–246.503,58110
Steers—Choice and Prime1,684254.00/cwt254.00–254.004,27710
Steers—ChoiceHeavy Weight1,781244.67/cwt216.00–252.004,35816
Slaughter Cattle · Heifers3 lots · lightest first
Heifers—SelectReturn to Feed1,145242.00/cwt242.00–242.002,7711
Heifers—Select and Choice1,374239.27/cwt220.00–246.003,2888
Heifers—Choice1,392249.33/cwt247.00–252.503,471155
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,748219.21/cwt197.50–230.003,83217
Bulls——1,902256.76/cwt230.00–289.504,88413
Slaughter Cattle · Cows9 lots · lightest first
Cows—Boner 80-85%Light Weight914214.72/cwt170.00–240.001,9634
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight959165.93/cwt147.50–172.501,5914
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,177201.93/cwt172.50–250.002,37727
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,205144.65/cwt127.50–158.001,74311
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,313164.00/cwt156.00–172.502,15315
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,355189.17/cwt174.00–225.002,56333
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,479176.31/cwt166.00–184.002,60821
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,502196.51/cwt189.00–212.502,95210
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,599157.32/cwt150.00–162.002,5164
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Steers2 lots · lightest first
Dairy Steers—Select and Choice1,544210.82/cwt204.00–215.003,2554
Dairy Steers—Choice1,629229.34/cwt221.00–236.003,73645
Slaughter Cattle · Beef/Dairy Steers1 lot · lightest first
Beef/Dairy Steers—Choice1,488247.36/cwt240.00–249.003,68118
Slaughter Cattle · Beef/Dairy Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Beef/Dairy Heifers—Choice1,422235.00/cwt235.00–235.003,3422

This sale against other markets

Iowa weighted averages
One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every Iowa auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.