Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass South Stockyards (Thursday) Market Report

Stanford, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 14, 2023

2,474 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $236.51/cwt -3.38 vs last sale · ≈ $2,171/hd at 918 lb · 236 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $240.12/cwt +3.44 vs last sale · ≈ $1,628/hd at 678 lb · 169 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $260.78/cwt +4.01 vs last sale · ≈ $1,901/hd at 729 lb · 153 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,474 2,152 1,140
Feeder cattle 2,266 2,025 1,041
Slaughter cattle 193 125 93
Replacement cattle 15 2 6

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Thursday: Feeder steers under 400 lbs 3.00-5.00 higher, over 400 lbs steady to 2.00 lower, Feeder heifers under 500 lbs steady to 3.00 higher, over 500 lbs 1.00-3.00 lower, Good demand for feeder and yearling classes. Slaughter cows 8.00-12.00 lower, 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
220 220 1 255.00 $255.00 $561 —
292 fancy 292 2 283.00 $283.00 $826 +20.50
320–335 325 3 245.00–247.50 $246.64 $802 —
305–335 fancy 331 8 260.00–271.00 $269.73 $893 +8.73
355 fancy 355 1 270.00 $270.00 $958 —
360 360 1 230.00 $230.00 $828 -23.70
400–440 fancy 413 3 255.00–262.50 $259.84 $1,073 -20.16
402–437 427 10 240.00–252.50 $249.43 $1,065 —
463–475 fancy 468 12 255.00–275.00 $266.26 $1,246 -27.23
455–495 476 4 232.50–252.50 $241.78 $1,151 +16.94
505–545 526 9 225.00–245.00 $239.24 $1,258 -8.76
503–545 value added 529 27 249.00–267.50 $255.26 $1,350 -9.20
550–591 576 12 230.00–247.50 $239.13 $1,377 —
552–590 value added 578 21 250.00–265.00 $260.96 $1,508 +2.41
600–642 value added 620 15 242.00–260.00 $247.28 $1,533 -9.66
615–645 629 12 220.00–241.00 $238.13 $1,498 +12.87
612–643 fancy 634 9 270.00–277.50 $272.29 $1,726 —
651–690 value added 667 9 244.00–250.00 $248.00 $1,654 -13.46
650–698 672 17 215.00–237.50 $232.86 $1,565 -4.33
700–735 720 3 230.00–235.00 $232.02 $1,671 +1.02
725–733 value added 729 146 244.00–262.25 $261.05 $1,903 +4.15
731 fancy 731 4 272.50 $272.50 $1,992 —
765–797 782 8 225.00–237.50 $232.32 $1,817 +2.32
785 value added 785 57 256.25 $256.25 $2,012 +1.03
814–845 value added 823 99 243.50–251.80 $248.76 $2,047 +0.26
865 865 1 221.00 $221.00 $1,912 -6.90
895 value added 895 119 247.60 $247.60 $2,216 +5.94
900–940 value added 918 236 232.10–245.25 $236.51 $2,171 -3.73
959 value added 959 60 231.50 $231.50 $2,220 -4.97
970 970 1 223.00 $223.00 $2,163 +23.00
1028 value added 1028 52 228.00 $228.00 $2,344 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 1 212.50 $212.50 $924 —
470 470 1 182.50 $182.50 $858 —
565–590 578 2 210.00–220.00 $214.89 $1,242 —
630 630 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,197 —
710–717 715 3 200.00–210.00 $203.31 $1,454 —
750 750 1 216.00 $216.00 $1,620 —
970 970 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,659 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
620 620 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,116 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–205 203 2 212.50–217.50 $214.97 $436 +12.47
240 fancy 240 2 255.00 $255.00 $612 —
275 275 1 235.00 $235.00 $646 +23.75
280 fancy 280 2 252.50 $252.50 $707 —
318–340 329 7 221.00–237.50 $229.41 $755 —
363–395 378 13 225.00–235.00 $231.02 $873 +16.65
360–390 fancy 381 11 240.00–244.00 $240.87 $918 -6.63
400–415 fancy 405 11 242.00–247.50 $243.62 $987 +2.88
400–447 429 27 220.00–237.50 $233.49 $1,002 +7.82
450–497 472 52 218.00–236.00 $228.83 $1,080 -0.38
503–541 value added 522 33 232.00–241.00 $235.90 $1,231 -1.49
500–547 529 40 217.00–230.00 $225.20 $1,191 +5.03
544 fancy 544 51 259.00 $259.00 $1,409 —
551–595 575 29 212.50–230.00 $225.64 $1,297 +10.45
560–593 value added 580 28 232.00–238.00 $235.33 $1,365 +0.52
600–636 value added 616 26 228.00–237.00 $230.56 $1,420 -12.64
603–640 620 10 209.00–225.00 $217.47 $1,348 +0.75
660–692 value added 678 160 228.00–245.75 $241.32 $1,636 +0.87
660–693 682 9 210.00–225.00 $218.71 $1,492 +2.27
702–721 717 10 196.00–211.00 $208.06 $1,492 +16.31
715–732 value added 731 87 220.00–229.50 $229.11 $1,675 -2.76
752–771 value added 768 73 222.00–229.00 $227.78 $1,749 -3.18
806 806 9 216.00 $216.00 $1,741 +34.53
868 868 8 195.00 $195.00 $1,693 —
919 value added 919 60 218.25 $218.25 $2,006 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–230 215 2 200.00–205.00 $202.67 $436 —
335–345 340 2 207.50–212.50 $210.04 $714 +11.04
350–380 366 6 180.00–210.00 $200.17 $733 +0.17
405–445 426 4 195.00–210.00 $203.58 $867 —
450–490 473 6 180.00–216.00 $201.85 $955 -2.39
500–547 524 12 169.00–213.00 $196.88 $1,032 +2.97
550–590 580 6 167.50–210.00 $193.66 $1,123 -6.34
605–640 627 9 180.00–205.00 $191.18 $1,199 -8.82
660 660 2 190.00–201.00 $195.50 $1,290 +6.18
700–745 718 5 153.00–184.00 $172.58 $1,239 +2.95
750–796 777 6 140.00–163.00 $156.76 $1,218 -11.74
875 875 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,312 -3.00
900–910 905 2 130.00–151.00 $140.44 $1,271 +0.44
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045–1135 1068 4 146.00–160.00 $150.70 $1,609 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 fancy 220 1 275.00 $275.00 $605 —
250 250 1 260.00 $260.00 $650 —
270 fancy 270 1 267.50 $267.50 $722 —
320–330 325 2 222.50–235.00 $228.85 $744 -16.26
325 fancy 325 2 257.50 $257.50 $837 —
357–390 fancy 368 3 257.00–257.50 $257.32 $947 -1.63
365–395 388 5 235.00–250.00 $244.97 $950 —
400–445 425 12 230.00–249.00 $238.07 $1,012 +1.47
433 fancy 433 3 260.00 $260.00 $1,126 -10.00
450–465 459 10 231.00–251.00 $241.41 $1,108 -0.37
475 fancy 475 1 262.50 $262.50 $1,247 -20.13
514 fancy 514 11 245.00 $245.00 $1,259 -15.00
500–541 517 25 220.00–240.00 $231.14 $1,195 -7.36
550–595 574 10 220.00–234.00 $227.43 $1,305 -4.39
598 fancy 598 3 257.50 $257.50 $1,540 +9.82
608–642 621 22 207.50–227.00 $217.23 $1,349 -4.00
615–638 fancy 627 12 231.00–260.00 $247.22 $1,550 +11.47
658 fancy 658 3 243.00 $243.00 $1,599 +8.00
650–670 660 12 190.00–210.00 $199.85 $1,319 —
725 725 2 185.00–191.00 $188.00 $1,363 -23.33
755–790 772 3 177.00–180.00 $178.64 $1,379 -22.36
925 925 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,591 +12.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 210.00 $210.00 $578 —
370 370 1 215.00 $215.00 $796 —
415–445 435 3 220.00 $220.00 $957 +4.42
465–497 484 18 197.50–220.00 $214.04 $1,036 -0.03
510–545 527 7 172.50–210.00 $193.58 $1,020 —
555–591 581 14 180.00–217.50 $207.23 $1,204 +7.14
600–640 617 6 161.00–190.00 $176.83 $1,091 —
660–695 677 7 160.00–183.00 $167.70 $1,135 -32.30
750 750 1 182.00 $182.00 $1,365 —
820 820 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,189 —
885 885 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,336 —
970 970 1 122.00 $122.00 $1,183 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1140–1455 1273 80-85% 15 92.00–103.00 $99.42 $1,266 —
1225–1430 1317 80-85% 3 88.00–91.00 $89.91 $1,184 -29.49
1135–1500 1346 80-85% 24 105.00–116.00 $109.52 $1,474 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900–945 923 85-90% 2 73.00–79.00 $76.07 $702 +5.18
905–1130 1043 85-90% 8 83.00–90.00 $87.52 $913 +2.68
915–1195 1057 85-90% 10 92.00–102.00 $96.27 $1,018 —
1050–1120 1093 85-90% 3 106.00–109.00 $107.98 $1,180 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1515–1680 1610 75-80% 5 108.00–116.00 $113.49 $1,827 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235 1235 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,309 —
1495–1935 1716 5 125.00–128.00 $126.74 $2,175 —
1125–2125 1808 5 133.00–145.00 $137.40 $2,484 +0.19

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1010–1230 1105 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 109.00–133.00 $126.14 $1,394
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
745–930 838 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 112.50–140.00 $124.28 $1,041

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1055 1055 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00
1175 1175 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
790 790 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,275.00 $1,275.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 1 142.00 $142.00 $618 -3.00
874 value added 874 82 185.00 $185.00 $1,617 —

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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.