Cattle Market Pulse

Tama Livestock Slaughter Cattle Market Report

Tama, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, March 25, 2026

157 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 157 138 289
Slaughter cattle 157 138 289

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers were 1.75-2,25 lower, slaughter cows no comparison due to low receipts. 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
1045 1045 1 242.00 $242.00 $2,529 —
1310–1560 1428 8 225.50–239.50 $234.67 $3,351 —
1255–1610 1446 36 240.25–244.00 $241.63 $3,494 —
1778 1778 2 237.50 $237.50 $4,223 +4.50

↑ Back to top

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1025 1025 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,948 —
1188–1505 1298 10 231.00–239.00 $236.93 $3,075 —
1210–1487 1357 33 238.00–243.00 $240.70 $3,266 —

↑ Back to top

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
800 800 75-80% 1 159.00 $159.00 $1,272 —
1340–1445 1404 75-80% 7 169.00–190.00 $178.41 $2,505 —
1290–1655 1442 75-80% 9 163.00–180.00 $171.65 $2,475 —
1575–1620 1598 75-80% 2 182.00–184.00 $182.99 $2,924 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1360 1207 80-85% 8 169.00–242.50 $201.49 $2,432 —
1050–1510 1244 80-85% 4 156.00–160.00 $157.73 $1,962 -30.67
1205–1360 1283 80-85% 2 22.50–174.00 $102.83 $1,319 —
1465 1465 80-85% 1 150.00 $150.00 $2,198 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
800–980 890 85-90% 2 122.50–125.00 $123.88 $1,103 +1.96
1085–1145 1115 85-90% 2 143.00–148.00 $145.57 $1,623 —

↑ Back to top

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930 930 1 262.50 $262.50 $2,441 —
1595 1595 1 165.00 $165.00 $2,632 —
1710–2185 1899 4 217.50–225.00 $220.56 $4,188 —
1730–2200 1945 3 181.00–211.00 $198.71 $3,865 —

↑ Back to top

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.