Sale reports / Iowa / Tama Livestock Auction / 2026-01-28

Tama Livestock Auction

Slaughter Cattle · Tama, Iowa · Wed, Jan 28
● Final20 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2165
Receipts
336 head
40 vs last sale 296 152 vs year ago 488 · 31.1%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers were 1.00-2.00 higher, Dairy steers no comparison, slaughter cows 1.50-4.50 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
BullsLow1,843161.322,9737thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,638168.022,75230
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,267164.552,08525
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,198133.271,5978thin
Dairy SteersChoiceAverage1,680212.673,57343
HeifersChoiceAverage1,444236.083,40962
HeifersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,335230.003,0711thin
HeifersSelectAverage1,250217.502,7191thin
SteersChoiceAverage1,509235.493,553147
SteersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,445222.323,2135thin
SteersSelectAverage1,230211.232,5982thin

Every lot, as filed

20 lots · USDA AMS · Tama Livestock Slaughter Cattle - Tama, IA
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight915128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,1711
CowsBoner 80-85%Light Weight978163.64/cwt155.00–172.501,6002
SteersChoice1,496235.80/cwt232.00–237.853,528142
SteersChoiceHeavy Weight1,869226.75/cwt226.75–226.754,2385
CowsLean 85-90%1,237132.52/cwt115.00–139.001,6396
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,250143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,7881
HeifersChoice1,444236.08/cwt232.00–238.253,40962
HeifersSelectReturn to Feed1,250217.50/cwt217.50–217.502,7191
Dairy SteersChoice1,680212.67/cwt211.00–213.503,57343
SteersSelect and Choice1,445222.32/cwt210.00–233.003,2135
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,386179.85/cwt168.00–191.002,4934
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,178176.45/cwt150.00–242.502,07911
SteersSelectReturn to Feed1,230211.23/cwt210.00–212.502,5982
HeifersSelect and Choice1,335230.00/cwt230.00–230.003,0711
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,784151.36/cwt147.00–155.002,7006
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,684176.93/cwt174.00–182.502,9808
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,618166.47/cwt160.00–172.002,69312
CowsBoner 80-85%1,397153.79/cwt146.50–159.502,14812
Bulls1,622147.87/cwt147.00–149.002,3983
Bulls2,009171.40/cwt160.00–181.003,4434

How this sale compares

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.