Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass South Stockyards (Thursday) Market Report

Stanford, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, February 8, 2024

3,575 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $230.30/cwt +5.73 vs last sale · ≈ $1,919/hd at 833 lb · 394 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $213.60/cwt +22.77 vs last sale · ≈ $1,555/hd at 728 lb · 320 head
light 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $212.28/cwt -7.51 vs last sale · ≈ $1,985/hd at 935 lb · 218 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,575 1,685 1,456
Feeder cattle 3,350 1,599 1,308
Slaughter cattle 212 78 133
Replacement cattle 13 8 15

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Thursday: Feeder steers under 600 lbs 8.00-10.00 higher, over 600 lbs 2.00-4.00 higher, Feeder heifers under 600 lbs sharply higher, over 600 lbs steady, Good to very good demand for feeder and yearling classes. Slaughter cows and 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
205 205 2 245.00 $245.00 $502 —
230–245 fancy 238 4 275.00–305.00 $291.32 $693 —
270 fancy 270 1 299.00 $299.00 $807 —
260–295 283 3 240.00–247.50 $242.29 $686 -15.21
300–342 fancy 319 6 295.00–305.00 $300.25 $958 —
330–345 335 3 260.00–265.00 $263.28 $882 —
365–396 fancy 387 15 271.00–294.00 $284.90 $1,103 -4.88
375–395 388 9 242.50–257.50 $250.31 $971 —
405–445 423 9 242.50–257.50 $248.46 $1,051 -2.07
400–445 fancy 427 25 260.00–307.50 $271.74 $1,160 -32.65
450–482 464 16 240.00–258.00 $251.23 $1,166 -5.45
463–492 fancy 477 26 260.00–290.00 $279.63 $1,334 -15.50
502–548 value added 529 49 251.00–295.00 $272.76 $1,443 +0.88
522–545 530 9 235.00–247.00 $241.31 $1,279 -20.74
550–598 575 23 230.00–247.00 $237.05 $1,363 +0.95
555–594 value added 584 149 258.00–279.50 $276.46 $1,615 +8.52
601–643 value added 612 54 240.00–261.00 $249.94 $1,530 +4.50
600–645 627 27 222.00–232.00 $227.94 $1,429 +2.94
650–692 value added 665 71 240.00–260.00 $255.63 $1,700 +13.55
650–688 670 12 220.00–233.00 $225.36 $1,510 +2.47
707–747 720 6 220.00–226.00 $222.07 $1,599 +5.64
721–748 value added 729 44 230.00–246.00 $242.75 $1,770 -1.75
753–793 value added 763 74 233.00–248.00 $239.92 $1,831 +8.92
750–792 770 19 214.00–225.00 $218.73 $1,684 -0.95
804–843 value added 831 320 228.00–238.95 $235.16 $1,954 +6.41
807–849 843 74 200.00–210.00 $209.31 $1,764 +49.31
856–888 value added 874 139 217.50–220.25 $218.54 $1,910 -1.46
920–944 value added 932 121 215.00–218.75 $216.79 $2,020 -3.85
920–941 939 97 205.00–209.50 $206.65 $1,940 +6.65
953 953 10 212.00 $212.00 $2,020 +16.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–440 422 3 225.00–231.00 $228.75 $965 —
450–495 474 9 222.50–232.50 $229.44 $1,088 —
500–540 526 13 200.00–222.00 $212.54 $1,118 +8.70
550–595 564 13 200.00–225.00 $217.71 $1,228 +4.49
600–633 626 17 202.00–216.00 $212.78 $1,332 +2.78
650–695 674 10 197.50–215.00 $207.16 $1,396 +6.02
715 715 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,358 —
757–785 772 9 187.50–210.00 $204.57 $1,579 +20.57
875 875 37 192.00 $192.00 $1,680 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235 1235 1 168.00 $168.00 $2,075 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205 205 1 240.00 $240.00 $492 —
210 fancy 210 1 280.00 $280.00 $588 —
261–285 267 4 230.00–235.00 $231.33 $618 +18.83
257–282 fancy 269 14 250.00–280.00 $267.70 $720 —
311–345 318 7 225.00–242.50 $238.97 $760 +26.56
305–335 fancy 322 8 250.00–270.00 $263.84 $850 +28.85
350–390 fancy 371 23 250.00–275.00 $267.16 $991 +37.16
355–397 374 24 231.00–247.50 $241.06 $902 +18.50
402–442 fancy 419 53 243.00–277.50 $257.87 $1,080 +16.67
400–437 426 14 221.00–238.00 $234.94 $1,001 +12.38
450–495 473 22 222.00–237.50 $232.66 $1,100 +7.98
450–497 fancy 473 38 240.00–262.50 $247.45 $1,170 +7.55
500–547 522 24 210.00–229.00 $220.93 $1,153 +7.51
501–548 value added 528 104 230.00–249.00 $237.64 $1,255 +3.19
560–575 value added 573 6 230.00–255.00 $250.92 $1,438 +20.04
550–597 576 49 210.00–229.00 $219.51 $1,264 -1.98
607–648 value added 617 53 220.00–236.00 $232.29 $1,433 +2.41
600–645 619 33 200.00–218.00 $208.43 $1,290 +2.38
650–680 value added 667 78 220.00–228.00 $224.96 $1,500 —
658–692 677 18 202.00–212.00 $205.43 $1,391 -5.21
700–735 705 15 183.00–203.00 $195.79 $1,380 +19.79
700–749 value added 729 305 207.50–224.75 $214.48 $1,564 —
750–796 775 15 182.50–201.00 $199.01 $1,542 +7.89
751–785 value added 783 78 209.50–214.00 $209.89 $1,643 —
849 849 46 192.00 $192.00 $1,630 -12.57
898 898 3 211.00 $211.00 $1,895 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–290 278 2 180.00–212.50 $196.98 $548 —
315–340 334 4 180.00–197.50 $185.87 $621 —
355–395 382 11 182.50–210.00 $193.08 $738 -6.92
405–445 423 5 180.00–210.00 $188.39 $797 +13.39
490–495 491 7 191.00–210.00 $201.71 $990 —
500–535 521 9 180.00–200.00 $193.23 $1,007 +13.23
551–591 574 16 180.00–207.50 $197.36 $1,133 -0.59
610–646 633 15 167.00–191.00 $183.91 $1,164 -1.70
650–693 668 19 180.00–195.00 $186.17 $1,244 -3.77
700–735 707 13 155.00–178.00 $174.89 $1,236 —
756 756 3 175.00 $175.00 $1,323 +32.32
805–820 813 2 132.50–140.00 $136.28 $1,108 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175–1255 1215 2 130.00–156.00 $143.43 $1,743 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
247 247 2 235.00 $235.00 $580 —
257–275 fancy 265 4 292.50–299.00 $296.29 $785 —
318 318 4 241.00 $241.00 $766 —
355–395 fancy 372 7 267.50–310.00 $281.86 $1,049 +8.86
355–393 380 7 245.00–255.00 $248.88 $946 —
403–435 fancy 415 11 270.00–288.00 $277.23 $1,151 -26.05
400–445 426 23 232.50–250.00 $241.07 $1,027 +1.07
458–492 474 16 230.00–247.00 $238.70 $1,131 -14.96
465–499 fancy 486 13 260.00–287.00 $267.05 $1,298 -11.10
500–525 fancy 508 9 252.00–270.00 $262.71 $1,335 +9.37
505–540 526 7 219.00–235.00 $226.23 $1,190 -2.93
535 value added 535 2 262.00 $262.00 $1,402 —
575–595 582 10 218.00–235.00 $225.94 $1,315 -8.91
607–645 629 24 204.00–222.50 $212.14 $1,334 -3.85
650–687 666 22 201.00–227.50 $210.74 $1,404 -1.26
707–740 725 6 181.00–196.00 $192.57 $1,396 -0.73
750–785 762 3 180.00–192.50 $184.10 $1,403 +2.10
815–820 818 2 170.00–172.00 $171.00 $1,399 -8.00
855–875 865 2 167.50–180.00 $173.82 $1,504 -2.18
917 917 2 156.00 $156.00 $1,431 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–330 326 4 220.00–227.50 $225.69 $736 —
355–395 375 3 180.00–190.00 $186.67 $700 —
420–440 433 3 220.00–225.00 $223.31 $967 +30.81
450–495 472 12 180.00–227.50 $209.39 $988 —
510–547 532 6 180.00–210.00 $195.50 $1,040 -4.50
550–588 570 14 171.00–211.00 $197.26 $1,124 +1.20
600–630 624 5 170.00–204.00 $187.19 $1,168 +5.37
687 687 2 196.00 $196.00 $1,347 +11.00
800 800 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,376 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835–1275 980 85-90% 16 60.00–79.00 $71.26 $698 —
825–1340 1092 85-90% 19 80.00–89.00 $86.05 $940 -21.01
875–1465 1152 85-90% 18 90.00–99.00 $94.44 $1,088 —
960–1320 1156 85-90% 4 101.00–112.00 $105.74 $1,222 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1445 1198 80-85% 12 90.00–99.00 $94.46 $1,132 —
1090–1425 1283 80-85% 5 84.00–89.00 $86.13 $1,105 +1.82
1190–1385 1298 80-85% 3 77.00–79.00 $77.95 $1,012 -6.36
1060–1620 1330 80-85% 25 100.00–115.00 $107.04 $1,424 +17.21
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350–1710 1608 75-80% 19 101.00–119.00 $110.49 $1,777 —
1980 1980 75-80% 1 98.00 $98.00 $1,940 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1470–1830 1595 7 105.00–119.00 $114.93 $1,833 —
1130–2250 1694 7 121.00–127.00 $124.29 $2,105 +11.29
1780–2020 1923 4 129.00–137.00 $132.29 $2,544 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
880–1240 1063 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,200.00–1,350.00 $1,269.75
1180 1180 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1095–1315 1205 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 900.00–1,700.00 $1,336.51
1270–1280 1275 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,200.00–1,300.00 $1,250.20

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
980 980 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1030 1030 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,325.00 $1,325.00 —
1125 1125 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00 —
1430 1430 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00 —
1500 1500 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 160.00 $160.00 $472 —
315 315 1 160.00 $160.00 $504 —
822 value added 822 22 171.00 $171.00 $1,406 —
886 value added 886 64 181.00 $181.00 $1,604 —
1019 value added 1019 52 164.50 $164.50 $1,676 —

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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.