Cattle Market Pulse

Tama Livestock Slaughter Cattle Market Report

Tama, Iowa · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, July 29, 2026

292 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 292 264 233
Slaughter cattle 292 264 233

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 7.50-8.50 lower, slaughter cows no comparison. Trade active. Demand moderate to good.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1178–1255 1213 5 228.00–231.00 $228.62 $2,773 -6.39
1213–1423 1308 20 221.00–227.50 $226.04 $2,957 -7.08
1250–1603 1447 81 228.00–232.75 $231.19 $3,345

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855–1175 1014 4 202.50–223.00 $212.74 $2,157
1129–1199 1162 19 222.00–227.50 $225.73 $2,623
1125–1395 1239 12 222.00–228.00 $224.80 $2,785
1163–1456 1310 47 227.50–232.25 $229.91 $3,012 -8.61

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Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1335–1475 1400 75-80% 5 180.00–214.00 $193.90 $2,715 -2.48
1305–1760 1500 75-80% 11 177.00–191.00 $181.91 $2,729
1445–1775 1624 75-80% 5 193.00–197.00 $194.58 $3,160
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1025–1285 1193 80-85% 7 175.00–242.50 $193.93 $2,314 +9.04
1110–1575 1302 80-85% 10 154.00–174.00 $164.69 $2,144
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
800–920 863 85-90% 3 125.00–143.00 $134.60 $1,162
1030–1330 1147 85-90% 6 130.00–154.00 $141.07 $1,618

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1415–2185 1630 10 214.00–234.00 $227.48 $3,708

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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.