Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass South Stockyards (Thursday) Market Report

Stanford, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, April 18, 2024

1,786 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $231.34/cwt +6.18 vs last sale · ≈ $2,055/hd at 888 lb · 127 head
light 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $238.72/cwt +12.06 vs last sale · ≈ $1,995/hd at 836 lb · 122 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $297.51/cwt +41.73 vs last sale · ≈ $1,942/hd at 653 lb · 112 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,786 1,187 1,952
Feeder cattle 1,654 1,107 1,828
Slaughter cattle 113 79 114
Replacement cattle 19 1 10

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Thursday the feeder market was stronger with a good quality offering. Feeder steers were 3.00 to 8.00 higher across the board and had some spots of sharply higher and with strong demand. Light weight heifers 300-350 lbs and yearling heifers 750 lbs and over were 2.00 to 4.00 lower with a good supply, while the 400-700 lbs heifers were mostly steady to 4.00 higher with good demand. Slaughter cows were steady to 2.00 higher with good demand and slaughter bulls were 2.00 to 3.00 lower with a good supply.

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
298 fancy 298 3 332.50 $332.50 $991 —
320 fancy 320 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,040 +8.32
366–392 376 9 310.00–320.00 $314.23 $1,182 +21.73
400–432 fancy 425 5 339.00–350.00 $343.51 $1,460 +28.44
405–440 426 5 303.00–323.00 $314.96 $1,342 +19.96
455–485 fancy 475 3 317.00–325.00 $322.45 $1,532 +14.38
465–498 487 15 290.00–308.00 $301.23 $1,467 +12.49
501–525 value added 508 15 315.00–330.00 $321.98 $1,636 +12.67
506–547 538 24 297.00–312.50 $301.35 $1,621 —
565–595 573 10 280.00–293.00 $286.56 $1,642 +4.59
560–593 value added 579 43 300.00–317.50 $304.95 $1,766 +4.81
605–630 609 8 266.00–280.00 $268.31 $1,634 +4.89
605–633 value added 628 7 297.00–304.00 $300.42 $1,887 +6.20
650–678 value added 652 107 280.00–304.00 $298.95 $1,949 +18.95
650–675 669 5 261.00–276.00 $266.62 $1,784 +13.04
700–745 723 13 228.00–245.00 $237.53 $1,717 +9.53
708–742 value added 725 83 250.00–269.50 $264.75 $1,919 +19.55
753–788 value added 777 14 240.00–251.00 $248.55 $1,931 +9.58
750–796 790 19 219.00–233.00 $222.25 $1,756 -7.75
815–845 834 25 212.00–225.00 $221.24 $1,845 +1.24
834–845 value added 836 97 239.00–244.00 $243.22 $2,033 +16.40
850–855 853 2 212.00–221.00 $216.51 $1,847 —
882–895 value added 889 125 230.75–232.50 $231.58 $2,059 +6.42
900–945 905 15 196.50–201.00 $197.11 $1,784 —
905–918 value added 918 59 217.00–230.70 $230.47 $2,116 +10.47
960 value added 960 56 227.00 $227.00 $2,179 —
955–962 962 14 210.00–211.00 $210.07 $2,021 —
1032 1032 2 195.00 $195.00 $2,012 —
1075–1085 value added 1085 52 193.00–205.50 $205.26 $2,227 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 290.00 $290.00 $972 —
380 380 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,083 —
405–440 423 2 279.00–285.00 $281.88 $1,192 —
490 490 1 278.00 $278.00 $1,362 —
505–546 540 8 279.00–291.00 $283.00 $1,528 —
565–590 573 3 247.50–252.00 $250.46 $1,435 —
610–642 626 6 249.00–257.50 $253.21 $1,585 —
662–695 670 8 242.00–250.00 $248.23 $1,663 —
720–747 743 6 217.00–230.00 $219.10 $1,628 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 222.50 $222.50 $868 -17.50
415 415 1 252.50 $252.50 $1,048 ±0.00
515–540 528 2 230.00–240.00 $234.88 $1,240 —
715 715 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,144 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–340 332 3 280.00–290.00 $283.17 $940 -3.83
320–335 fancy 332 5 301.00–302.50 $301.29 $1,000 -6.19
355–390 fancy 375 7 295.00–309.00 $303.32 $1,137 +0.38
350–392 381 5 280.00–293.00 $286.94 $1,093 +12.50
400–417 fancy 405 14 285.00–295.00 $290.38 $1,176 +0.20
400–447 430 27 267.00–277.50 $271.32 $1,167 +5.12
451–478 fancy 459 24 270.00–275.00 $271.52 $1,246 -1.15
460–496 478 31 258.00–267.00 $263.71 $1,261 +1.25
500–542 524 30 250.00–265.00 $257.61 $1,350 +14.57
502–530 value added 524 46 267.00–277.00 $272.28 $1,427 +6.04
565 565 1 229.00 $229.00 $1,294 -16.24
550–590 value added 577 29 250.00–262.00 $256.65 $1,481 -3.53
605–636 620 14 226.00–240.00 $232.38 $1,441 +8.41
600–645 value added 625 18 242.00–256.00 $250.29 $1,564 +4.82
651–697 value added 692 45 249.00–259.50 $258.40 $1,788 +17.75
690–696 695 5 226.00–230.00 $228.71 $1,590 -5.17
700–732 value added 711 36 230.50–241.00 $234.09 $1,664 —
705–742 731 8 211.00–220.00 $214.44 $1,568 -7.56
755–776 769 26 212.00–231.00 $221.30 $1,702 -3.28
831–841 840 58 196.00–199.50 $199.32 $1,674 -13.66
892 892 17 200.00 $200.00 $1,784 -14.10
915 915 1 198.00 $198.00 $1,812 -8.00
1005 1005 1 186.00 $186.00 $1,869 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330–345 338 2 270.00 $270.00 $913 —
350–365 358 5 260.00–277.50 $269.64 $965 —
411–445 424 9 248.00–260.00 $255.95 $1,085 —
450–490 477 6 250.00–260.00 $256.10 $1,222 —
500–545 523 2 239.00–241.00 $240.04 $1,255 —
560–565 563 2 235.00–237.00 $236.00 $1,329 —
600–625 613 2 225.00–227.00 $226.02 $1,386 —
670–691 685 5 210.00–225.00 $216.57 $1,484 —
720–730 725 2 192.00–195.00 $193.51 $1,403 —
790 790 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,501 —
985 985 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,428 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 257.50 $257.50 $760 +42.50
315 315 1 227.50 $227.50 $717 -22.50
421 421 3 237.00 $237.00 $998 —
450–470 460 3 220.00–235.00 $228.41 $1,051 -16.68
555 555 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,221 ±0.00
665 665 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,197 -20.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1190 1190 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,797 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 fancy 265 1 322.50 $322.50 $855 -14.56
315–330 fancy 323 2 327.50–330.00 $328.72 $1,062 —
357–390 fancy 368 9 300.00–315.00 $309.70 $1,140 -1.80
410–448 fancy 437 19 310.00–322.50 $315.88 $1,380 -0.35
415–449 444 8 285.00–298.00 $288.26 $1,280 —
450–497 465 19 292.00–310.00 $306.12 $1,423 +13.39
465–485 fancy 475 6 313.00–330.00 $324.67 $1,542 +12.10
500–545 516 12 275.00–292.50 $286.87 $1,480 +26.87
520–525 fancy 523 3 302.00–320.00 $314.04 $1,642 +15.75
560–580 fancy 571 7 297.00–299.00 $298.13 $1,702 +8.71
550–595 575 11 269.00–287.50 $277.80 $1,597 +11.60
615–635 fancy 622 3 275.00–280.00 $276.70 $1,721 +7.09
620–645 634 4 255.00–267.50 $260.07 $1,649 +12.07
660 fancy 660 5 262.00–269.00 $263.40 $1,738 —
670–675 671 5 248.00–255.00 $250.81 $1,683 +5.81
735 735 1 239.00 $239.00 $1,757 +10.14
770–795 783 2 225.00–230.00 $227.54 $1,782 —
805–830 811 4 207.00–217.00 $214.44 $1,739 +21.44
1030 1030 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,802 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460–470 465 2 272.50–285.00 $278.68 $1,296 —
520–540 530 2 251.00–270.00 $260.32 $1,380 —
600 600 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,470 —
655 655 1 241.00 $241.00 $1,579 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 240.00 $240.00 $888 -10.00
425 425 1 192.50 $192.50 $818 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965–1670 1220 80-85% 31 120.00–142.00 $128.23 $1,564 —
1095–1395 1248 80-85% 9 102.00–116.00 $110.58 $1,380 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
635–835 760 85-90% 5 51.00–72.00 $64.03 $487 —
925–965 945 85-90% 2 91.00–92.00 $91.49 $865 -16.94
870–1100 953 85-90% 7 120.00–140.00 $125.63 $1,197 —
760–1300 1026 85-90% 21 100.00–117.00 $108.74 $1,116 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260–1610 1464 75-80% 12 124.00–142.00 $129.13 $1,890 —
1220–1590 1484 75-80% 4 113.00–118.00 $115.79 $1,718 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–2255 1777 3 151.00–155.00 $153.13 $2,721 —
1440–2615 1926 10 162.00–170.00 $164.66 $3,171 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
920 920 (<2 yrs)Open 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,398

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
970 970 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00
1265 1265 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00
1140–1485 1308 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,300.00–2,125.00 $1,748.30

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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
875 875 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,650.00 $1,650.00 —
970 970 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00 —
985–1265 1125 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,325.00–1,500.00 $1,423.39 —
1195–1565 1380 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 2,500.00–3,000.00 $2,783.51 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 1 201.00 $201.00 $814 +3.50

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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.