Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass South Stockyards (Thursday) Market Report

Stanford, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 5, 2024

1,738 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 $240.05/cwt +0.81 vs last sale · ≈ $2,106/hd at 877 lb · 241 head
light 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $243.38/cwt -9.53 vs last sale · ≈ $1,999/hd at 821 lb · 127 head
light 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $239.45/cwt +2.03 vs last sale · ≈ $2,222/hd at 928 lb · 120 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,738 1,683 2,185
Feeder cattle 1,638 1,590 2,111
Slaughter cattle 96 89 72
Replacement cattle 4 4 2

Market comments — USDA reporter

There was no sale last week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Compared to two weeks ago, Feeder steers under 700 lbs 15.00-20.00 higher, over 700 lbs steady to 2.00 lower, Feeder and yearling heifers 10.00-15.00 higher with most increase on weaned packages and loads, Very good demand for feeder classes, Good demand for yearling classes. Slaughter cows 8.00-12.00 higher, Slaughter bulls 2.00-4.00 higher, Very 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
327 fancy 327 2 332.50 $332.50 $1,087 +29.11
389 fancy 389 5 337.00 $337.00 $1,311 +32.00
405–440 419 6 295.00–315.00 $307.68 $1,289 +39.11
400–431 fancy 426 16 320.00–357.50 $339.25 $1,445 +48.74
450–480 465 2 305.00–312.50 $308.63 $1,435 +32.70
457–480 fancy 468 6 320.00–340.00 $329.42 $1,542 +35.11
500–536 value added 527 33 295.00–322.50 $302.60 $1,595 +25.65
500–540 528 14 262.00–281.00 $272.30 $1,438 +11.34
556–579 value added 575 17 287.50–309.00 $304.51 $1,751 +23.03
550–593 578 11 260.00–279.00 $273.52 $1,581 +11.68
607–645 value added 617 29 260.00–287.50 $279.09 $1,722 +19.69
652–687 value added 674 83 260.00–277.00 $269.29 $1,815 —
695 695 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,668 -4.75
705–745 value added 714 18 250.00–263.00 $257.66 $1,840 -1.98
715 715 3 235.00–240.00 $238.33 $1,704 +9.43
750–795 783 14 230.00–245.00 $239.38 $1,874 +12.25
800–825 809 5 225.00–235.00 $232.42 $1,880 +3.74
802–842 value added 822 122 236.50–249.50 $243.83 $2,004 +0.33
850–897 value added 877 238 238.00–241.75 $240.21 $2,107 +0.97
885–892 890 3 221.00–231.00 $227.68 $2,026 —
927–928 value added 928 120 238.00–240.90 $239.45 $2,222 +2.03
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 235.00 $235.00 $928 -17.50
480 480 2 242.50 $242.50 $1,164 -14.50
547 547 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,368 +15.60
557–565 558 6 245.00–253.00 $246.35 $1,375 +6.35
755 755 1 222.00 $222.00 $1,676 —
840 840 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,764 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105 1105 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,602 —
1355 1355 1 177.50 $177.50 $2,405 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 fancy 245 1 307.50 $307.50 $753 +43.50
290 fancy 290 1 290.00 $290.00 $841 ±0.00
302 fancy 302 2 302.50 $302.50 $914 +25.00
372–395 fancy 380 4 280.00–293.00 $288.24 $1,095 —
403–445 fancy 420 12 287.50–317.50 $299.11 $1,256 +33.39
410–436 427 6 260.00–270.00 $268.40 $1,146 +33.47
455–490 fancy 478 28 282.50–295.00 $290.49 $1,389 +36.60
450–495 489 12 257.50–270.00 $260.64 $1,275 +22.30
500–546 value added 522 38 252.50–282.50 $261.57 $1,365 -3.89
510–537 528 3 230.00–249.00 $236.12 $1,247 -3.38
555–565 559 7 230.00–247.50 $235.66 $1,317 -5.77
550–585 value added 581 31 250.00–264.00 $262.23 $1,524 +5.73
600–640 618 14 220.00–232.50 $227.64 $1,407 -3.84
620–624 value added 623 76 254.00–279.00 $260.22 $1,621 +10.22
651 value added 651 75 268.75 $268.75 $1,750 —
665–672 670 10 230.00–235.00 $231.70 $1,552 +8.69
710 value added 710 75 261.25 $261.25 $1,855 —
707–735 719 44 215.00–231.00 $227.99 $1,639 +18.49
750 value added 750 48 251.00 $251.00 $1,882 +24.57
760–792 780 25 223.00–233.50 $226.68 $1,768 +9.68
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 1 180.00 $180.00 $819 -43.02
547 547 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,231 +3.73
560–597 587 5 200.00–222.50 $216.69 $1,272 +1.39
612–620 617 8 200.00–221.00 $208.28 $1,285 +4.21
660 660 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,188 -30.00
700–702 701 3 180.00–204.00 $196.02 $1,374 —
767–787 777 4 201.00–207.50 $204.29 $1,587 —
830 830 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,494 —
890 890 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,446 +2.50
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1130–1140 1135 2 140.00–142.50 $141.26 $1,603 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 fancy 330 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,040 —
380 fancy 380 1 307.50 $307.50 $1,168 —
420–440 fancy 435 4 305.00–315.00 $312.59 $1,360 +21.34
478–495 fancy 482 4 302.50–322.50 $317.37 $1,530 +27.37
485–497 493 3 290.00–292.50 $290.82 $1,434 +17.39
500–526 fancy 514 6 287.50–307.50 $302.14 $1,553 +22.14
535 535 1 272.50 $272.50 $1,458 +15.28
550 fancy 550 1 302.50 $302.50 $1,664 —
550–590 580 8 267.50–272.00 $270.93 $1,571 +15.63
601–640 611 5 235.00–245.00 $238.47 $1,457 -1.77
617 fancy 617 5 277.50 $277.50 $1,712 +22.50
655 fancy 655 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,703 —
700–731 720 7 225.00–231.00 $228.10 $1,642 +4.34
710–735 fancy 723 2 247.50 $247.50 $1,789 —
750 750 1 232.50 $232.50 $1,744 —
815 815 1 202.50 $202.50 $1,650 —
870 870 1 197.50 $197.50 $1,718 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,122 +15.00
495 495 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,163 -16.86
525 525 1 247.50 $247.50 $1,299 +17.50
635 635 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,397 +6.43
725 725 1 177.50 $177.50 $1,287 —
775 775 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,628 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1125–1390 1258 80-85% 2 103.00–109.00 $106.32 $1,338 -0.33
1095–1515 1273 80-85% 10 110.00–118.00 $114.87 $1,462 +8.22
1130–1480 1323 80-85% 19 121.00–137.00 $126.04 $1,668 +30.12
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1505–1765 1581 75-80% 10 120.00–141.00 $125.63 $1,986 +2.80
1460–1900 1599 75-80% 4 111.00–119.00 $114.49 $1,831 —
1870–1990 1930 75-80% 2 105.00–107.00 $105.97 $2,045 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
935–1000 968 85-90% 2 97.00–107.00 $102.17 $989 —
1040–1150 1090 85-90% 3 121.00–135.00 $125.80 $1,371 +29.88
1105 1105 85-90% 1 118.00 $118.00 $1,304 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–1785 1483 2 155.00–162.50 $157.98 $2,343 —
1290–1925 1592 5 141.00–148.00 $143.96 $2,292 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
945–1080 1013 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 142.50–145.00 $143.67 $1,455

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
930–970 950 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,500.00–2,100.00 $1,806.32

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1392 value added 1392 36 169.00 $169.00 $2,352 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1920 1920 2 115.00 $115.00 $2,208 —

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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.