Sale reports / Iowa / Tama Livestock Auction / 2026-05-06

Tama Livestock Auction

Slaughter Cattle · Tama, Iowa · Wed, May 6
● Final15 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2165
Receipts
160 head
130 vs last sale 290 23 vs year ago 137 · +16.8%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Slaughter cattle sale today: Compared to last week. Choice steers and heifer 2.00-4.00 higher, slaughter cows no comparison due to low receipts. 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
BullsAverage1,840215.563,96710
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,298177.772,3089thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,530177.162,71018
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,097132.681,45611
HeifersChoiceAverage1,357257.863,49944
HeifersSelectAverage1,040254.002,6421thin
HeifersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,373243.353,3413thin
SteersChoiceAverage1,410259.403,65845
SteersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,436249.523,5835thin

Every lot, as filed

15 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 Choice1,436249.52/cwt247.00–250.003,5835
SteersChoice1,410259.40/cwt256.00–261.003,65845
HeifersSelect and Choice1,373243.35/cwt240.00–250.003,3413
HeifersSelectReturn to Feed1,040254.00/cwt254.00–254.002,6421
HeifersChoice1,357257.86/cwt254.00–260.003,49944
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight833131.34/cwt117.00–142.001,0942
CowsLean 85-90%1,156132.98/cwt119.00–148.001,5379
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,516175.32/cwt156.00–189.002,6589
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,151205.27/cwt183.00–242.502,3634
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,595186.43/cwt185.00–188.002,9742
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,529176.87/cwt170.00–180.002,7047
CowsBoner 80-85%1,416155.77/cwt150.00–163.002,2065
BullsLight Weight1,065245.00/cwt245.00–245.002,6091
Bulls1,835227.20/cwt225.00–232.004,1693
Bulls1,972204.84/cwt193.00–222.004,0396

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.