Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass South Stockyards (Thursday) Market Report

Stanford, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 21, 2024

1,683 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $237.42/cwt -1.07 vs last sale · ≈ $2,187/hd at 921 lb · 178 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $257.48/cwt +0.64 vs last sale · ≈ $1,873/hd at 727 lb · 171 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $225.81/cwt +16.36 vs last sale · ≈ $1,749/hd at 774 lb · 152 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,683 1,368 1,316
Feeder cattle 1,590 1,212 1,159
Slaughter cattle 89 154 153
Replacement cattle 4 2 4

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Thursday: Feeder steers under 700 lbs 6.00-8.00 lower, over 700 lbs steady to 2.00 higher, Feeder and yearling heifers 3.00-5.00 higher, Good to moderate demand for feeder and yearling classes. Slaughter cows 6.00-10.00 higher, Slaughter bulls 2.00-4.00 lower, 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
265–290 fancy 279 4 307.50–320.00 $313.33 $874 -35.87
300–340 fancy 317 3 300.00–307.50 $303.39 $962 -11.04
345 345 2 281.00 $281.00 $969 +21.00
380–390 387 3 270.00–285.00 $279.96 $1,083 -7.04
397 fancy 397 2 305.00 $305.00 $1,211 -0.93
403–440 fancy 415 6 285.00–297.00 $290.51 $1,206 -23.91
405–435 415 5 263.00–280.00 $268.57 $1,115 -18.93
450–485 463 7 270.00–281.00 $275.93 $1,278 -10.74
455–492 fancy 486 8 287.00–297.00 $294.31 $1,430 -12.29
501–535 value added 508 13 275.00–280.00 $276.95 $1,407 -5.14
510–545 532 12 250.00–270.00 $260.96 $1,388 +0.73
555–584 value added 576 12 272.50–284.00 $281.48 $1,621 -10.79
550–592 580 18 255.00–270.00 $261.84 $1,519 -4.78
602–633 619 12 231.00–245.00 $241.04 $1,492 -1.92
605–649 value added 622 33 250.00–261.00 $259.40 $1,613 -3.64
660–695 674 15 242.50–249.00 $244.75 $1,650 +3.85
705–743 value added 727 159 250.00–269.50 $259.64 $1,888 +2.31
716–746 733 12 225.00–235.00 $228.90 $1,678 -9.27
760–797 775 7 223.00–230.00 $227.13 $1,760 -8.37
782–787 value added 786 71 243.00–248.25 $247.44 $1,945 -2.56
807 fancy 807 70 266.60 $266.60 $2,151 —
813 value added 813 40 243.50 $243.50 $1,980 —
831–840 834 24 227.00–232.00 $228.68 $1,907 +8.68
876–890 value added 883 120 238.50–240.00 $239.24 $2,112 —
916–928 value added 921 178 232.25–244.90 $237.42 $2,187 -2.08
965 965 1 211.00 $211.00 $2,036 +1.00
1003 value added 1003 50 228.75 $228.75 $2,294 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 252.50 $252.50 $997 —
440 440 1 247.50 $247.50 $1,089 +17.50
465 465 2 257.00 $257.00 $1,195 +1.24
510–530 522 3 222.50–241.00 $234.40 $1,224 +19.40
580 580 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,392 +3.79
622 622 2 217.50 $217.50 $1,353 -3.50
705 705 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,480 -11.69
945 945 1 193.00 $193.00 $1,824 —
970 970 1 197.00 $197.00 $1,911 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 1 202.50 $202.50 $739 —
605–625 615 2 190.00–212.50 $201.07 $1,237 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 fancy 210 1 264.00 $264.00 $554 —
292 fancy 292 2 290.00 $290.00 $847 +12.50
300 fancy 300 1 277.50 $277.50 $832 —
315–340 332 4 242.50–255.00 $252.04 $837 +13.50
350–383 375 4 252.50–255.00 $254.42 $954 +19.42
410–443 fancy 427 26 251.00–280.00 $265.72 $1,135 +4.27
405–445 429 7 230.00–240.00 $234.93 $1,008 -4.98
455–477 fancy 461 9 251.00–263.00 $253.89 $1,170 -7.28
455–497 475 22 230.00–248.00 $238.34 $1,132 -4.41
511–547 value added 518 24 250.00–269.00 $265.46 $1,375 +11.05
500–545 521 15 230.00–247.50 $239.50 $1,248 -1.88
550–580 value added 564 41 252.50–262.50 $256.50 $1,447 —
550–586 576 12 231.00–247.50 $241.43 $1,391 +1.88
607 value added 607 20 250.00 $250.00 $1,518 +14.36
613–627 621 8 223.00–235.00 $231.48 $1,437 +10.81
655–670 663 5 222.00–225.00 $223.01 $1,479 +7.16
684–690 value added 688 16 254.00–259.50 $257.79 $1,774 +23.53
700 700 4 205.00–211.00 $209.50 $1,466 -4.37
765 765 10 217.00 $217.00 $1,660 +7.55
761–791 value added 775 142 223.25–229.75 $226.43 $1,755 —
906 value added 906 58 219.00 $219.00 $1,984 —
965–989 985 6 170.00–172.50 $170.41 $1,679 -12.59
1035 1035 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,785 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 380 1 200.00 $200.00 $760 -15.37
450–460 455 2 221.00–225.00 $223.02 $1,015 —
535–540 538 2 217.50–225.00 $221.27 $1,190 +8.79
560–575 566 7 210.00–225.00 $215.30 $1,219 -2.33
615–637 630 3 200.00–212.50 $204.07 $1,286 —
660 660 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,386 —
720–745 738 5 175.00–200.00 $191.03 $1,410 +10.98
888 888 6 160.00 $160.00 $1,421 -2.25
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220 1220 2 158.00 $158.00 $1,928 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360–375 368 2 294.00–295.00 $294.51 $1,084 +28.05
400 fancy 400 2 287.50–295.00 $291.25 $1,165 -30.00
410–425 422 7 260.00–275.00 $262.30 $1,107 -25.70
465 fancy 465 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,348 —
460–495 474 8 260.00–283.00 $273.43 $1,296 -11.57
527–541 536 7 240.00–265.00 $257.22 $1,379 +3.65
536 fancy 536 4 280.00 $280.00 $1,501 +5.89
555–592 571 11 241.00–260.00 $255.30 $1,458 -2.29
625 fancy 625 2 255.00 $255.00 $1,594 +4.39
626–647 637 10 239.00–247.50 $240.24 $1,530 +12.77
702–712 707 4 222.50–225.00 $223.76 $1,582 +16.11
920–925 923 2 172.50–177.50 $175.01 $1,615 -4.02
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
381 381 3 240.00 $240.00 $914 -9.00
405 405 1 240.00 $240.00 $972 -20.00
465–471 470 4 250.00–257.50 $251.86 $1,184 +9.72
500 500 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,150 +1.52
565 565 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,158 -28.77
605–642 627 4 211.00–217.50 $213.57 $1,339 +8.57
685–690 688 2 200.00–219.00 $209.53 $1,442 +11.00
825 825 1 152.50 $152.50 $1,258 —
990 990 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,188 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–1425 1288 80-85% 7 104.00–111.00 $106.65 $1,374 -7.99
1225–1430 1328 80-85% 2 90.00–101.00 $95.92 $1,274 -12.17
1165–1470 1339 80-85% 20 113.00–132.00 $119.65 $1,602 +11.56
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855 855 85-90% 1 85.00 $85.00 $727 —
890–1150 1012 85-90% 3 106.00–110.00 $107.60 $1,089 —
1000–1105 1053 85-90% 2 113.00–119.00 $116.15 $1,223 +18.20
985–1150 1063 85-90% 6 90.00–101.00 $95.92 $1,020 -2.03
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1400–1670 1535 75-80% 2 110.00–111.00 $110.46 $1,696 —
650–1850 1551 75-80% 7 121.00–126.00 $122.83 $1,905 +11.18

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1775 1507 5 130.00–141.00 $135.98 $2,049 —
1530–2265 1754 4 144.00–149.00 $146.43 $2,568 —
2005 2005 1 150.00 $150.00 $3,008 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
985 985 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,674

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
930–1450 1190 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,525.00–2,000.00 $1,814.39
1210 1210 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,050.00 $2,050.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930 930 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,395 —

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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.