Cattle Market Pulse

Tama Livestock Slaughter Cattle Market Report

Tama, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, July 19, 2023

585 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Tama Livestock Slaughter Cattle report →

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 585 479 487
Slaughter cattle 585 479 487

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 2.00 higher, slaughter cows steady - 1.50 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
1005–1260 1103 8 146.00–174.00 $162.57 $1,793
1210–1445 1278 11 170.00–179.00 $176.13 $2,251
1195–1645 1427 141 180.00–188.50 $186.11 $2,656 +2.10

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
998–1110 1028 8 130.00–170.00 $158.77 $1,632
1105–1451 1305 9 170.00–176.00 $174.89 $2,282
1095–1525 1340 142 180.00–190.00 $186.76 $2,503

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Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1300–1645 1439 75-80% 8 90.00–98.00 $93.82 $1,350
1210–1980 1455 75-80% 24 111.00–119.00 $114.95 $1,673
1100–1970 1465 75-80% 47 102.00–110.00 $106.41 $1,559
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035–1530 1320 80-85% 29 94.00–101.00 $97.72 $1,290
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
745–1420 1060 85-90% 15 70.00–91.00 $82.64 $876 -0.55
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1955 1689 65-75% 14 120.00–150.00 $126.51 $2,137

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
910–1160 1009 6 140.00–172.50 $148.92 $1,503
1280 1280 1 86.00 $86.00 $1,101
1035–2265 1503 23 101.00–129.00 $120.61 $1,813
1395–1870 1584 6 133.00–150.00 $141.40 $2,240

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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.