Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass South Stockyards (Thursday) Market Report

Stanford, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 7, 2024

1,422 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 $250.68/cwt +12.85 vs last sale · ≈ $2,080/hd at 830 lb · 202 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $247.11/cwt +2.61 vs last sale · ≈ $2,111/hd at 854 lb · 176 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $275.41/cwt +27.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,938/hd at 704 lb · 141 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,422 1,933 2,275
Feeder cattle 1,287 1,796 2,135
Slaughter cattle 104 128 134
Replacement cattle 31 9 6

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Thursday: Feeder and yearling steers 2.00-4.00 higher, Feeder heifers under 700 lbs 3.00-5.00 higher, over 700 lbs steady, Good demand for feeder and yearling classes. Slaughter cows 2.00-4.00 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
377 fancy 377 2 332.00 $332.00 $1,252 +10.61
410–448 fancy 429 11 300.00–330.00 $314.41 $1,349 -0.07
441 441 4 289.00 $289.00 $1,274 —
482–490 484 8 270.00–289.00 $284.19 $1,375 +12.67
505–545 531 6 250.00–267.50 $256.04 $1,360 -8.52
565–574 value added 571 7 272.50–274.00 $272.92 $1,558 +0.83
580–595 586 18 252.50–268.00 $266.08 $1,559 +6.93
614–642 value added 626 12 250.00–260.00 $255.72 $1,601 -5.26
621–644 633 10 235.00–249.00 $242.13 $1,533 -1.79
650–683 669 13 232.50–245.00 $239.53 $1,602 +0.57
655–687 value added 671 11 250.00–257.50 $254.44 $1,707 -0.56
703 fancy 703 133 277.40 $277.40 $1,950 —
703–733 717 8 230.00–245.00 $242.34 $1,738 +14.84
762 value added 762 69 260.00 $260.00 $1,981 +8.00
826–831 value added 829 184 251.50–255.75 $252.93 $2,097 —
827–841 836 18 226.00–228.50 $227.68 $1,903 -10.15
854 value added 854 175 247.25 $247.25 $2,112 +2.66
880 880 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,958 -4.50
914 value added 914 58 229.00 $229.00 $2,093 -8.23
951 value added 951 59 234.00 $234.00 $2,225 —
1017 value added 1017 34 225.75 $225.75 $2,296 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 5 240.00–244.00 $243.20 $1,325 +5.18
551–577 567 8 240.00–247.50 $244.77 $1,388 +10.02
650 650 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,365 -10.00
825 825 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,753 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
650 650 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,381 —
845 845 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,690 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280–285 283 2 235.00–260.00 $247.39 $700 +12.21
315–345 330 2 232.50–245.00 $238.47 $787 -4.91
350–395 383 7 230.00–250.00 $242.94 $930 +4.53
427–437 432 4 230.00 $230.00 $994 -11.05
445 fancy 445 3 265.00 $265.00 $1,179 +12.50
470–480 477 3 230.00–249.00 $242.76 $1,158 +4.51
450–495 fancy 483 7 250.00–267.50 $255.70 $1,235 +1.93
500–536 value added 521 12 260.00–270.00 $262.05 $1,365 +7.19
505–548 534 13 235.00–245.00 $242.27 $1,294 -0.26
555–589 572 17 232.50–246.00 $240.31 $1,375 +5.09
600–642 617 9 217.50–235.00 $225.69 $1,393 +1.05
668–692 681 19 218.00–235.00 $226.30 $1,541 —
700–728 725 13 195.00–215.00 $212.36 $1,540 +9.37
753 value added 753 68 236.25 $236.25 $1,779 —
855–896 869 9 182.50–200.00 $193.98 $1,686 —
942 value added 942 34 208.00 $208.00 $1,959 —
950–966 962 4 162.50–177.50 $173.80 $1,672 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 1 205.00 $205.00 $636 +1.18
400–446 434 8 212.50–223.00 $218.19 $947 +25.80
450 450 1 200.00 $200.00 $900 -1.49
540 540 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,202 +6.79
555–592 578 7 200.00–225.00 $211.54 $1,223 +5.61
600–635 617 3 160.00–200.00 $179.62 $1,108 -16.31
698 698 3 190.00 $190.00 $1,326 +6.42
730–735 733 3 160.00 $160.00 $1,173 -20.00
750–795 763 6 160.00–182.50 $171.26 $1,307 +6.26
830–835 833 2 170.00–172.50 $171.25 $1,427 -18.64
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
550 550 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,210 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 fancy 260 3 330.00 $330.00 $858 —
340 fancy 340 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,071 -1.54
350 fancy 350 2 310.00 $310.00 $1,085 -8.31
430–442 fancy 438 3 310.00–315.00 $313.36 $1,373 -3.43
465–495 480 2 272.50–285.00 $278.55 $1,337 +18.84
513–537 fancy 523 5 270.00–277.50 $274.42 $1,435 —
515–535 524 4 245.00–267.50 $257.50 $1,349 +12.13
555–575 565 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,384 +2.73
576 fancy 576 3 272.50 $272.50 $1,570 —
622–645 fancy 630 4 242.50–244.00 $242.88 $1,530 +2.88
645 645 4 210.00–220.00 $215.00 $1,387 -13.37
660–685 676 8 212.50–230.00 $226.22 $1,529 +5.01
700 700 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,452 -1.91
785 785 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,570 +2.28
800–815 808 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,495 -0.53
855–880 868 2 182.50–190.00 $186.30 $1,617 +16.30
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
406–447 425 10 217.50–235.00 $230.17 $978 -9.84
475–490 485 4 252.50 $252.50 $1,225 +11.56
507–542 529 13 209.00–235.00 $224.88 $1,190 +13.31
575 575 1 227.50 $227.50 $1,308 +10.00
685 685 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,370 +5.09
735–745 740 2 182.00–200.00 $190.94 $1,413 —
780 780 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,412 +21.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
442 442 2 215.00 $215.00 $950 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1240 1240 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 2,700.00 $2,700.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–1470 1305 80-85% 9 99.00–111.00 $106.27 $1,387 -10.35
1285–1460 1384 80-85% 5 120.00–127.00 $122.86 $1,700 —
1330–1475 1393 80-85% 6 112.00–117.00 $114.80 $1,599 —
1340–1500 1420 80-85% 2 92.00–95.00 $93.42 $1,327 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1500–1795 1608 75-80% 6 115.00–119.00 $116.29 $1,870 -18.03
1525–1725 1624 75-80% 7 120.00–128.00 $122.31 $1,986 -12.01
1640 1640 75-80% 1 95.00 $95.00 $1,558 -39.32
1545–1890 1702 75-80% 3 109.00–113.00 $111.39 $1,896 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1170 1104 85-90% 5 103.00–113.00 $106.50 $1,176 —
965–1180 1110 85-90% 4 89.00–98.00 $94.91 $1,054 —
1005–1175 1112 85-90% 3 116.00–118.00 $117.30 $1,304 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1445 1445 1 159.00 $159.00 $2,298 —
1665–2280 1904 5 135.00–149.00 $139.84 $2,663 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
990–1130 1066 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 140.00–170.00 $153.06 $1,632

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1270 1270 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00
1135–1665 1292 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 20 1,475.00–2,150.00 $1,787.01
1415–1455 1435 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,625.00–1,800.00 $1,711.28

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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
1525 1525 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,700.00 $2,700.00 —
1885 1885 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,450.00 $2,450.00 —

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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.