Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass South Stockyards (Thursday) Market Report

Stanford, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, July 25, 2024

2,106 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $245.69/cwt +5.76 vs last sale · ≈ $1,899/hd at 773 lb · 336 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $268.43/cwt +9.28 vs last sale · ≈ $2,062/hd at 768 lb · 248 head
light 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $255.96/cwt -5.66 vs last sale · ≈ $2,107/hd at 823 lb · 132 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,106 2,018 1,073
Feeder cattle 2,001 1,922 987
Slaughter cattle 85 93 86
Replacement cattle 20 3 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Thursday: Feeder steers under 400 lbs 10.00-12.00 higher, over 400 lbs and up steady to 5.00 lower, Feeder heifers under 400 lbs 3.00-5.00 higher, 400-500 lbs 8.00-10.00 lower, over 500 lbs steady except 700-800 lbs they were 2.00-4.00 higher, Moderate to good demand for feeder and yearling classes. Demand followed the quality of the cattle. Slaughter cows and bulls 6.00-8.00 lower, Moderate 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
210–240 fancy 230 3 352.50–387.50 $376.85 $867 —
255–295 fancy 283 9 340.00–390.00 $357.65 $1,012 +22.65
300 fancy 300 1 357.50 $357.50 $1,072 —
340 340 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,020 —
360–370 365 2 300.00–310.00 $305.07 $1,114 +25.07
390–395 fancy 392 6 337.50–374.00 $356.51 $1,398 +30.62
430–437 435 3 285.00–291.00 $289.02 $1,257 +1.52
460–496 478 11 279.00–305.00 $295.61 $1,413 -4.81
500–535 value added 520 23 290.00–311.00 $306.87 $1,596 -4.73
500–540 528 12 265.00–286.00 $273.56 $1,444 -2.27
550–590 566 14 266.00–282.50 $278.42 $1,576 +3.61
550–596 value added 568 17 290.00–307.50 $300.00 $1,704 +1.00
605–630 value added 621 27 272.50–292.00 $279.00 $1,733 -4.75
600–637 625 3 234.00–240.00 $238.08 $1,488 -11.92
650–684 value added 669 107 254.00–286.40 $278.40 $1,862 -7.54
675 675 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,620 -22.46
710–720 713 5 227.00–245.00 $237.83 $1,696 -3.14
725–731 value added 725 78 250.00–282.10 $280.86 $2,036 -0.19
755–795 value added 768 239 250.00–276.00 $269.38 $2,069 +4.87
755–786 776 9 239.00–246.00 $243.09 $1,886 -1.91
801–845 value added 823 131 246.00–266.80 $256.20 $2,109 -6.26
830 830 1 224.00 $224.00 $1,859 -6.94
865–885 875 4 223.00–240.00 $234.70 $2,054 +12.70
896–898 value added 897 115 249.50–252.95 $251.30 $2,254 +5.36
925 925 2 218.00 $218.00 $2,016 -21.00
931 value added 931 19 242.75 $242.75 $2,260 -5.24
985–987 987 6 210.00–221.00 $219.17 $2,163 —
999 value added 999 57 236.75 $236.75 $2,365 —
1007 value added 1007 54 240.00 $240.00 $2,417 +5.63
1087 value added 1087 96 232.50 $232.50 $2,527 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 1 240.00 $240.00 $852 —
435 435 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,174 —
480 480 1 272.00 $272.00 $1,306 +5.69
550–595 573 3 227.50–255.00 $244.08 $1,399 —
660 660 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,518 —
945 945 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,805 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
221 fancy 221 3 380.00 $380.00 $840 +45.00
255–285 fancy 270 2 322.50–347.50 $334.31 $903 +4.31
305–315 310 2 300.00 $300.00 $930 +14.32
300–330 fancy 319 11 302.50–330.00 $309.63 $988 +4.63
350–378 fancy 373 7 302.50–315.00 $312.46 $1,165 -2.21
367–390 385 10 277.50–298.00 $286.80 $1,104 +12.01
406–415 fancy 408 4 286.00–295.00 $292.71 $1,194 -17.40
420–445 431 15 260.00–278.00 $270.05 $1,164 —
454–465 fancy 461 18 283.00–285.00 $283.66 $1,308 -3.88
450–497 475 34 262.00–277.50 $269.95 $1,282 -6.94
505–545 521 24 241.00–263.00 $252.07 $1,313 -2.86
515–545 value added 535 3 271.00–276.00 $272.60 $1,458 -2.37
555–577 value added 568 8 267.50–269.00 $268.63 $1,526 -1.37
550–595 570 20 242.50–265.00 $252.66 $1,440 -5.94
609–612 value added 612 48 255.00–272.00 $269.88 $1,652 +9.85
600–640 625 13 221.00–236.00 $230.91 $1,443 -9.27
655–687 673 22 221.00–231.00 $225.53 $1,518 -15.27
712–725 716 3 218.00–221.00 $219.01 $1,568 —
750–790 767 3 216.00–221.00 $218.95 $1,679 -9.05
757–791 value added 773 333 243.70–248.80 $245.93 $1,901 +5.53
810–820 815 2 199.00–215.00 $207.05 $1,687 -11.95
858–887 875 7 200.00–219.00 $207.99 $1,820 —
900–913 912 15 201.00–209.50 $208.94 $1,906 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340–347 345 3 255.00–270.00 $259.93 $897 +25.06
385 385 1 240.00 $240.00 $924 +10.00
420–445 435 5 234.00–255.00 $248.74 $1,082 —
452–490 472 14 230.00–257.50 $247.99 $1,171 -1.01
540 540 1 232.50 $232.50 $1,256 +9.99
550–590 568 7 220.00–240.00 $232.15 $1,319 -6.18
620–637 631 3 200.00–212.00 $208.07 $1,313 —
675–685 678 3 200.00–216.00 $205.31 $1,392 -2.62
735 735 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,525 -7.96
805 805 1 182.00 $182.00 $1,465 —
920 920 4 181.00 $181.00 $1,665 -6.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 fancy 285 2 347.50 $347.50 $990 -12.50
320–325 fancy 323 2 330.00–380.00 $355.19 $1,147 +25.19
333 333 3 312.50 $312.50 $1,041 +12.50
350–395 370 6 292.50–307.50 $301.60 $1,116 +4.10
380–395 fancy 383 6 317.50–337.50 $332.54 $1,274 +11.49
415–435 fancy 422 3 309.00–322.50 $313.77 $1,324 -12.40
400–445 427 16 280.00–305.00 $290.73 $1,241 +10.85
472–497 485 11 278.00–301.00 $285.00 $1,382 -8.04
500–517 fancy 512 8 290.00–302.00 $296.06 $1,516 -2.72
500–545 520 15 260.00–283.00 $268.90 $1,398 -12.48
550–575 561 7 272.00–281.00 $277.70 $1,558 +7.86
570 fancy 570 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,682 -0.78
605–625 fancy 612 12 255.00–287.50 $274.12 $1,678 +12.18
650 fancy 650 2 250.00–259.00 $254.50 $1,654 —
670–697 685 7 230.00–243.00 $237.77 $1,629 -6.99
700–735 715 7 220.00–233.00 $223.25 $1,596 -11.22
770–790 780 2 224.00–226.00 $225.01 $1,755 -1.99
860 860 1 216.00 $216.00 $1,858 —
905–935 926 4 205.00–216.00 $209.24 $1,938 +8.63
1075 1075 1 199.00 $199.00 $2,139 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 250.00 $250.00 $862 -17.50
427–437 432 4 270.00–279.00 $274.45 $1,186 —
465–490 480 14 230.00–273.00 $254.22 $1,220 +31.72
560–590 575 2 220.00–227.50 $223.65 $1,286 -34.75
665–685 675 2 222.50–225.00 $223.77 $1,510 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110–1325 1254 80-85% 4 110.00 $110.00 $1,379 -29.60
1075–1475 1280 80-85% 13 120.00–127.00 $124.41 $1,592 -15.19
1140–1435 1324 80-85% 16 129.00–143.00 $132.92 $1,760 +7.83
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820–1265 975 85-90% 4 99.00–109.00 $102.69 $1,001 +1.69
845–1180 992 85-90% 5 113.00–118.00 $115.70 $1,148 +14.70
855–1090 994 85-90% 7 121.00–128.00 $124.43 $1,237 +23.43
1060 1060 85-90% 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,389 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1405–1835 1577 75-80% 5 129.00–141.00 $133.45 $2,105 -8.72
1540–1615 1587 75-80% 3 122.00–127.00 $124.01 $1,968 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1410–1595 1480 4 132.00–146.00 $139.32 $2,062 —
1500–1820 1617 5 151.00–156.00 $154.47 $2,498 -24.32
1565–2065 1823 4 162.00–170.00 $166.90 $3,043 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1020 1020 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,530

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1100–1220 1150 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,825.00–2,225.00 $2,085.52
1205–1317 1260 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,750.00–2,025.00 $1,903.25
1160–1445 1342 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 1,875.00–2,300.00 $2,167.02

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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
1375 1375 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 1 200.00 $200.00 $710 —

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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.