Sale reports / Iowa / Tama Livestock Auction / 2026-04-15

Tama Livestock Auction

Slaughter Cattle · Tama, Iowa · Wed, Apr 15
● Final19 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2165
Receipts
267 head
77 vs last sale 344 105 vs year ago 162 · +64.8%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifers 1.25-2.25 higher, slaughter cows no comparison. 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
BullsLow1,686200.433,38011
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,207187.272,25948
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,543176.842,72832
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,078134.971,4557thin
HeifersSelectAverage1,064255.122,7146thin
HeifersChoiceAverage1,358249.273,38647
HeifersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,305242.453,16422
SteersChoiceAverage1,431250.563,58647
SteersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,431245.553,51415

Every lot, as filed

19 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
SteersSelect and Choice1,476245.33/cwt243.00–247.003,62113
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,100147.00/cwt147.00–147.001,6171
SteersSelect and ChoiceReturn to Feed1,140246.99/cwt246.00–248.002,8162
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,647175.49/cwt170.00–184.002,89018
CowsBoner 80-85%1,365163.26/cwt154.00–170.002,22810
CowsBoner 80-85%1,525149.02/cwt148.00–150.002,2732
Bulls1,615151.11/cwt142.00–158.002,4402
Bulls1,620227.55/cwt219.00–234.003,6864
Bulls1,768198.47/cwt170.00–214.003,5095
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,409178.58/cwt170.00–196.002,51614
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,159192.27/cwt165.00–250.002,22834
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight903129.25/cwt120.00–140.001,1672
CowsBoner 80-85%Light Weight903260.46/cwt240.00–277.502,3522
SteersChoice1,431250.56/cwt247.00–253.503,58647
CowsLean 85-90%1,160134.83/cwt130.00–143.001,5644
HeifersChoiceHeavy Weight1,813229.56/cwt228.00–231.004,1622
HeifersSelect and Choice1,305242.45/cwt238.00–247.003,16422
HeifersChoice1,338250.15/cwt247.00–254.003,34745
HeifersSelectReturn to Feed1,064255.12/cwt240.00–267.502,7146

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.