Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass South Stockyards (Thursday) Market Report

Stanford, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, April 25, 2024

1,630 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $278.99/cwt -18.52 vs last sale · ≈ $1,897/hd at 680 lb · 218 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $227.55/cwt -3.80 vs last sale · ≈ $2,015/hd at 885 lb · 166 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $275.76/cwt +9.28 vs last sale · ≈ $1,456/hd at 528 lb · 119 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,630 1,786 2,064
Feeder cattle 1,524 1,654 1,919
Slaughter cattle 95 113 142
Replacement cattle 11 19 3

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
275–280 278 2 305.00–312.00 $308.53 $858 —
285–295 fancy 290 2 317.50–337.50 $327.67 $950 -4.83
300–347 fancy 341 8 329.00–365.00 $356.87 $1,217 +31.87
355–380 fancy 364 7 325.00–365.00 $342.01 $1,245 —
380–386 385 5 305.00–310.00 $306.99 $1,182 -7.24
400–440 414 4 282.50–301.00 $291.97 $1,209 -22.99
400–430 fancy 423 12 310.00–332.50 $323.21 $1,367 -20.30
450–490 fancy 466 15 310.00–329.00 $319.42 $1,488 -3.03
472–492 485 9 291.00–303.00 $300.77 $1,459 -0.46
519–546 value added 533 35 300.00–335.00 $317.74 $1,694 -4.24
530–545 535 3 279.00–291.00 $283.40 $1,516 -17.95
550–590 value added 573 47 300.00–315.00 $303.07 $1,737 -1.88
580–595 584 4 292.50–297.50 $293.77 $1,716 +7.21
601–645 value added 615 39 275.00–307.00 $300.03 $1,845 -0.39
625–645 632 3 265.00–272.50 $268.38 $1,696 +0.07
655–692 value added 680 217 277.25–307.50 $279.01 $1,897 -19.94
685 685 1 274.00 $274.00 $1,877 +7.38
704–719 value added 715 62 263.00–278.00 $272.42 $1,948 +7.67
725–745 737 8 240.00–255.00 $243.99 $1,798 +6.46
760–775 765 3 244.00–249.00 $245.69 $1,880 +23.44
820 820 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,804 -1.24
825 value added 825 7 230.00 $230.00 $1,898 -13.22
872–898 value added 885 155 224.50–229.00 $227.94 $2,017 -3.64
890 890 11 222.00 $222.00 $1,976 —
901 value added 901 58 229.00 $229.00 $2,063 -1.47
1105 value added 1105 29 186.00 $186.00 $2,055 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 225.00 $225.00 $878 +2.50
440–445 443 2 231.00–239.00 $235.02 $1,041 -17.48
585 585 2 200.00–230.00 $215.00 $1,258 —
613–630 617 4 242.00–243.00 $242.26 $1,495 —
655 655 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,539 —
780–795 788 2 200.00–210.00 $204.95 $1,615 —
880 880 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,663 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440–442 441 3 267.00–273.00 $268.99 $1,186 -12.89
530 530 3 267.50 $267.50 $1,418 -15.50
575 575 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,524 +14.54

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–235 fancy 218 2 315.00–320.00 $317.70 $693 —
265 265 1 305.00 $305.00 $808 —
265–285 fancy 270 4 315.00–320.00 $318.68 $860 —
305–340 324 5 285.00–302.50 $292.88 $949 +9.71
315–340 fancy 328 3 310.00–312.50 $311.64 $1,022 +10.35
350–395 383 7 285.00–305.00 $297.37 $1,139 +10.43
360–395 fancy 385 10 307.00–317.50 $311.12 $1,198 +7.80
410–445 429 12 260.00–272.50 $266.82 $1,145 -4.50
400–447 fancy 435 37 282.00–309.00 $295.88 $1,287 +5.50
450–495 473 22 255.00–276.00 $270.25 $1,278 +6.54
475–485 fancy 477 5 280.00–288.00 $286.37 $1,366 +14.85
500–543 525 44 251.00–273.00 $265.29 $1,393 +7.68
526–549 value added 530 75 275.00–290.00 $281.91 $1,494 +9.63
564 value added 564 5 280.00 $280.00 $1,579 +23.35
553–599 582 27 257.00–269.00 $261.52 $1,522 +32.52
602–638 value added 618 50 251.00–264.00 $258.95 $1,600 +8.66
620–648 639 18 231.00–249.00 $243.46 $1,556 +11.08
650–693 675 23 228.00–249.00 $238.72 $1,611 +10.01
653–695 value added 683 20 250.00–255.00 $252.02 $1,721 -6.38
705–708 value added 706 17 239.50–250.00 $241.36 $1,704 +7.27
717–734 730 9 230.00–234.00 $233.13 $1,702 +18.69
750–792 776 54 214.00–228.80 $228.08 $1,770 +6.78
815 815 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,646 +2.68
876 876 3 202.00 $202.00 $1,770 +2.00
1024 value added 1024 40 175.75 $175.75 $1,800 —
1030 1030 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,689 -22.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–340 325 2 242.50–257.50 $250.35 $814 +22.85
415–445 435 4 230.00–250.00 $240.33 $1,045 +3.33
450–490 470 2 220.00–241.00 $230.95 $1,085 +2.54
500 500 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,150 —
570–590 578 3 210.00–235.00 $225.09 $1,301 +5.09
605–610 608 2 180.00–190.00 $184.98 $1,125 —
660–685 673 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,279 +10.00
700–720 714 4 170.00–180.00 $177.48 $1,267 —
780 780 1 157.50 $157.50 $1,228 —
830 830 1 154.00 $154.00 $1,278 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 3 242.00 $242.00 $1,270 +1.96
555–587 575 4 240.00–245.00 $241.84 $1,391 +5.84
640 640 1 222.00 $222.00 $1,421 -4.02
690 690 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,484 -1.57
745 745 2 192.50 $192.50 $1,434 -1.01
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1360 1360 1 124.00 $124.00 $1,686 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225–245 fancy 235 2 355.00 $355.00 $834 —
295 295 1 270.00 $270.00 $796 —
325–345 fancy 335 2 322.50–337.50 $330.22 $1,106 +1.50
350–370 fancy 361 4 325.00–335.00 $330.59 $1,193 +20.89
350–392 380 7 300.00–318.00 $305.41 $1,161 —
407 thin fleshed 407 6 335.00 $335.00 $1,363 —
405–440 426 8 280.00–300.00 $283.13 $1,206 -5.13
400–442 fancy 434 13 305.00–327.00 $317.52 $1,378 +1.64
450–495 472 11 283.00–302.50 $294.88 $1,392 -11.24
480–499 fancy 491 20 305.00–331.00 $313.26 $1,538 -11.41
500–545 517 16 273.00–293.00 $288.90 $1,494 +2.03
500–545 fancy 526 13 295.00–329.00 $313.61 $1,650 -0.43
551–590 566 22 270.00–289.00 $282.54 $1,599 +4.74
570–582 fancy 577 4 296.00–301.00 $297.62 $1,717 -0.51
600–625 fancy 612 11 279.00–287.50 $282.85 $1,731 +6.15
615–640 633 8 255.00–275.00 $269.70 $1,707 +9.63
655–685 fancy 662 5 270.00–279.00 $272.38 $1,803 +8.98
660–687 677 5 249.00–264.00 $253.92 $1,719 +3.11
706–735 fancy 720 8 256.00–261.00 $258.58 $1,862 —
715–730 723 2 240.00–245.00 $242.53 $1,753 +3.53
765 765 1 227.50 $227.50 $1,740 -0.04
840 840 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,840 +4.56
1005 1005 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,899 +14.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 240.00 $240.00 $684 —
415–445 430 2 200.00–215.00 $207.24 $891 +14.74
450–480 465 2 212.50–240.00 $225.81 $1,050 —
500 500 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,200 —
555–580 568 2 230.00–234.00 $231.96 $1,318 —
620–645 633 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,329 —
880 880 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,320 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 1 269.00 $269.00 $1,116 —
495 495 1 262.50 $262.50 $1,299 -16.18
570–575 573 2 260.00–263.00 $261.49 $1,498 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050–1330 1178 80-85% 11 102.00–114.00 $110.86 $1,306 —
1040–1445 1217 80-85% 8 125.00–136.00 $128.82 $1,568 +0.59
1235 1235 80-85% 1 91.00 $91.00 $1,124 -19.58
1030–1665 1293 80-85% 17 115.00–124.00 $120.09 $1,553 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830–1035 933 85-90% 2 82.00–91.00 $86.99 $812 -4.50
740–1145 969 85-90% 8 116.00–143.00 $125.48 $1,216 -0.15
760–1510 1011 85-90% 9 90.00–106.00 $99.05 $1,001 -9.69
860–1230 1051 85-90% 7 105.00–115.00 $112.31 $1,180 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1400–1775 1556 75-80% 10 125.00–143.00 $131.14 $2,041 —
1405–1830 1563 75-80% 6 113.00–124.00 $117.20 $1,832 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1615 1615 1 155.00 $155.00 $2,503 —
1665–2460 1974 7 142.00–151.00 $147.47 $2,911 —
2225–2405 2315 2 127.00–133.00 $129.88 $3,007 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
800–940 875 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 139.00–167.50 $151.25 $1,323

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1205–1475 1340 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,600.00 $1,600.00
Large 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
905 905 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 775.00 $775.00

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
610 610 2 159.00 $159.00 $970 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
644 644 7 231.00 $231.00 $1,488 —

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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
1185 1185 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00 —
1295 1295 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00 —
1365–1385 1375 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,925.00–2,150.00 $2,038.32 -745.19

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
695 695 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,112 —

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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.