Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass South Stockyards (Thursday) Market Report

Stanford, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, April 13, 2023

2,724 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Blue Grass South Stockyards (Thursday) report →

heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $210.31/cwt +3.80 vs last sale · ≈ $1,208/hd at 574 lb · 152 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $192.48/cwt +30.56 vs last sale · ≈ $1,403/hd at 729 lb · 148 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $221.51/cwt +10.00 vs last sale · ≈ $1,526/hd at 689 lb · 136 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,724 1,697 1,529
Feeder cattle 2,539 1,564 1,417
Slaughter cattle 171 129 102
Replacement cattle 14 4 10

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Thursday: Feeder steers under 500 lbs. steady to 2.00 higher, over 500 lbs. 8.00 to 10.00 higher, feeder heifers under 300 lbs. 15.00 to 20.00 higher, 300-400 lbs. steady, over 500 lbs. 6.00 to 8.00 higher. Good to very good demand for feeder and yearling classes. Slaughter cows 2.00 to 4.00 higher, slaughter bulls steady. Good demand for slaughter classes.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–220 210 2 200.00–212.50 $206.55 $434 —
220–235 fancy 228 2 242.50–247.50 $245.08 $559 —
260–288 fancy 281 8 230.00–257.50 $249.17 $700 -0.96
307–340 fancy 323 14 235.00–257.50 $245.39 $793 -3.25
335–340 338 2 197.50–210.00 $203.70 $689 -1.95
362–370 365 3 213.00–217.50 $214.52 $783 +3.54
350–392 fancy 374 45 225.00–300.00 $262.78 $983 +4.38
412 412 2 222.00 $222.00 $915 +11.68
401–440 fancy 417 17 245.00–275.00 $263.11 $1,097 +11.97
450–490 fancy 473 118 229.00–261.00 $246.09 $1,164 +2.25
480–490 488 4 200.00–221.00 $210.20 $1,026 -1.31
502–535 512 4 201.00–214.00 $210.24 $1,076 -3.76
500–545 value added 523 52 220.00–259.00 $242.39 $1,268 -1.12
560–580 572 3 190.00–202.00 $195.40 $1,118 -10.38
552–594 value added 575 66 216.00–245.00 $235.61 $1,355 +7.85
607–620 613 6 190.00–208.00 $200.87 $1,231 +26.87
601–645 value added 621 60 210.00–238.00 $225.69 $1,402 +5.48
651–698 value added 689 135 211.00–228.00 $221.71 $1,528 +6.56
695 695 1 194.00 $194.00 $1,348 +1.47
703–742 value added 720 97 198.00–218.50 $210.44 $1,515 +10.78
725 725 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,305 -2.00
755–787 value added 758 85 190.00–210.50 $207.98 $1,576 +15.68
750–785 772 6 171.00–185.00 $178.61 $1,379 -3.40
840 840 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,604 +9.00
805–848 value added 842 125 202.00–207.60 $205.01 $1,726 +14.35
863–882 874 19 180.00–188.00 $184.57 $1,613 +4.03
913–933 value added 923 122 186.00–193.95 $191.88 $1,771 +1.89
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413 413 5 150.00 $150.00 $620 -25.02
450–480 473 10 150.00–180.00 $156.52 $740 -20.98
525–540 533 2 164.00–177.50 $170.85 $911 -6.15
550–575 563 2 140.00–158.00 $149.20 $840 +7.20
610–640 627 3 170.00–177.00 $172.61 $1,082 +17.26
680 680 1 132.50 $132.50 $901 -3.88
760 760 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,246 —
855 855 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,368 —
940 940 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,528 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1195 1125 3 131.00–150.00 $142.44 $1,602 —
1265 1265 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,581 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–235 fancy 220 5 225.00–229.00 $227.29 $500 +17.29
210–235 223 3 200.00–220.00 $207.15 $462 +14.65
255–290 274 4 195.00–200.00 $198.68 $544 +18.68
270–280 fancy 275 2 250.00–265.00 $257.36 $708 +37.36
316–335 324 8 182.50–203.00 $197.03 $638 -1.00
310–340 fancy 325 39 209.00–255.00 $227.64 $740 +4.44
350–395 378 29 195.00–208.00 $202.93 $767 +12.82
350–391 fancy 384 6 211.00–212.50 $211.23 $811 -17.31
400–440 420 17 180.00–200.00 $188.94 $794 +3.25
402–445 fancy 427 108 201.00–230.00 $212.72 $908 -17.83
455–496 473 20 181.00–200.00 $193.93 $917 +0.81
453–490 fancy 474 29 201.00–230.00 $209.64 $994 -4.15
500–545 522 58 183.00–199.00 $193.58 $1,010 -0.75
501–542 value added 522 48 200.00–208.00 $204.03 $1,065 -4.13
550–595 571 49 178.00–198.00 $192.09 $1,097 -2.83
550–578 value added 576 103 200.00–222.00 $218.98 $1,261 +5.23
600–642 613 41 179.00–197.00 $190.15 $1,166 +18.96
605–649 value added 646 80 201.00–212.00 $211.23 $1,365 +12.55
650–690 674 20 172.00–193.00 $184.18 $1,241 +13.35
675–698 value added 676 82 199.00–206.00 $205.74 $1,391 —
715–745 724 23 165.00–187.00 $183.97 $1,332 +24.58
703–749 value added 730 125 190.00–195.90 $194.04 $1,416 +22.04
760–792 789 16 170.00–181.00 $179.65 $1,417 +19.43
830 830 1 156.00 $156.00 $1,295 -3.61
834 value added 834 21 178.75 $178.75 $1,491 —
851–883 875 12 165.50–171.00 $166.84 $1,460 +23.84
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 180.00 $180.00 $396 —
250 250 1 170.00 $170.00 $425 +8.81
300–342 322 6 140.00–171.00 $159.53 $514 -7.42
355–370 363 2 150.00–180.00 $164.69 $598 -8.56
405–446 442 16 148.00–181.00 $153.34 $678 -6.46
460–490 470 4 141.00–177.00 $161.64 $760 +3.11
505–535 522 6 140.00–170.00 $157.88 $824 —
560–595 578 3 135.00–171.00 $156.65 $905 +6.58
602–625 612 4 143.00–160.00 $149.35 $914 -2.65
650–695 679 8 130.00–171.00 $149.45 $1,015 +4.03
725–740 733 2 144.00–147.00 $145.48 $1,066 —
777–786 782 5 119.00–120.00 $119.40 $934 -18.06
880 880 1 111.00 $111.00 $977 -6.26
915 915 1 121.00 $121.00 $1,107 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1240 1240 1 116.00 $116.00 $1,438 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 fancy 225 1 277.50 $277.50 $624 —
265 265 1 200.00 $200.00 $530 -1.00
270–280 fancy 277 3 240.00–257.50 $248.22 $688 —
320 320 1 210.00 $210.00 $672 +6.11
325–346 fancy 342 5 230.00–240.00 $238.10 $814 —
355–393 fancy 382 11 230.00–251.00 $242.29 $926 -17.22
365–390 382 6 220.00–223.00 $220.93 $844 —
415–447 fancy 426 18 230.00–270.00 $250.00 $1,065 +12.51
420–445 429 4 214.00–222.00 $218.23 $936 +20.67
450–495 fancy 471 24 228.00–252.00 $239.37 $1,127 +7.51
455–495 480 14 200.00–220.00 $208.47 $1,001 +9.44
520 520 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,092 +3.50
513–545 fancy 526 20 220.00–231.00 $228.63 $1,203 -6.27
550–590 566 6 193.00–209.00 $201.42 $1,140 +0.91
550–590 fancy 566 7 220.00–231.00 $225.34 $1,275 +0.24
605–630 fancy 619 8 200.00–222.00 $209.68 $1,298 -4.71
655–658 fancy 657 4 200.00–213.00 $209.76 $1,378 —
680–690 687 3 184.00–196.00 $189.30 $1,300 -8.70
700–721 714 8 170.00–180.00 $171.97 $1,228 -1.31
715–729 fancy 725 10 188.00–198.00 $192.09 $1,393 +2.09
770 770 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,348 —
800–847 820 6 148.00–163.00 $157.50 $1,292 +4.43
910 910 1 149.00 $149.00 $1,356 -3.00
995 995 1 132.00 $132.00 $1,313 -8.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382–390 385 3 157.50–180.00 $172.40 $664 —
405–430 420 3 160.00–172.50 $165.07 $693 —
450–465 458 2 170.00 $170.00 $779 +30.00
535 535 1 150.00 $150.00 $802 —
583 583 3 187.00 $187.00 $1,090 —
615–640 628 2 172.00–174.00 $173.02 $1,087 +9.88
760 760 1 149.00 $149.00 $1,132 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860–960 910 85-90% 2 61.00–64.00 $62.42 $568 —
860–1115 970 85-90% 10 90.00–109.00 $97.54 $946 +2.07
895–1085 990 85-90% 4 75.00–79.00 $77.21 $764 -18.26
1020–1155 1092 85-90% 5 80.00–86.00 $84.13 $919 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030–1415 1228 80-85% 18 91.00–116.00 $99.87 $1,226 —
1335–1390 1363 80-85% 2 86.00–89.00 $87.53 $1,193 +1.75
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1510–1620 1550 75-80% 3 92.00–108.00 $98.23 $1,523 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135–1465 1261 7 105.00–113.00 $107.99 $1,362 —
1285 1285 1 95.00 $95.00 $1,221 —
1555–2180 1844 7 119.00–133.00 $126.95 $2,341 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
860–1025 970 (<2 yrs)Open 3 113.00–121.00 $118.64 $1,151
1046 1046 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 129.00 $129.00 $1,349

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1095–1365 1230 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1265 1265 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00
1307–1380 1331 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,250.00–1,300.00 $1,267.28

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1085 1085 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
598 598 3 143.00 $143.00 $855 —
740 value added 740 23 163.00 $163.00 $1,206 —
833 value added 833 64 157.75 $157.75 $1,314 —
890 890 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,353 —
915–925 918 3 112.00–131.00 $124.62 $1,144 —

↑ Back to top

Reading this report

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.