Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass South Stockyards (Thursday) Market Report

Stanford, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, March 20, 2025

1,664 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 $322.66/cwt +33.87 vs last sale · ≈ $2,177/hd at 675 lb · 168 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $258.65/cwt +3.11 vs last sale · ≈ $2,501/hd at 967 lb · 119 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $334.46/cwt -16.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,617/hd at 483 lb · 79 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,664 2,078 2,022
Feeder cattle 1,570 1,910 1,915
Slaughter cattle 90 144 104
Replacement cattle 4 24 3

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Thursday: Feeder steers under 500 lbs 8.00-12.00 lower, 500-700 lbs 5.00-8.00 higher, over 700 lbs 2.00-3.00 higher, Feeder heifers under 400 lbs 3.00-5.00 higher, 400-500 lbs 8.00-12.00 lower, over 500 lbs steady, Good to very good demand for feeder and yearling classes. Slaughter cows 2.00-4.00 higher, Slaughter bulls 4.00-6.00 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
245 fancy 245 1 397.50 $397.50 $974 —
315–345 fancy 330 2 390.00–435.00 $413.52 $1,365 +14.80
356–385 fancy 363 10 400.00–430.00 $418.68 $1,520 -3.90
375–380 378 3 320.00–335.00 $330.04 $1,248 -29.96
400–435 fancy 412 3 372.50–410.00 $389.05 $1,603 -27.48
440–445 442 3 310.00–347.50 $322.59 $1,426 -13.66
455–490 fancy 473 16 355.00–370.00 $366.36 $1,733 -14.45
476–498 483 13 337.00–347.00 $342.26 $1,653 +12.26
510–545 519 13 300.00–325.00 $317.23 $1,646 —
500–547 value added 522 33 327.50–360.00 $346.57 $1,809 +0.31
526 fancy 526 8 384.00 $384.00 $2,020 —
551 fancy 551 5 372.50 $372.50 $2,052 —
550–585 value added 575 15 327.50–360.00 $352.18 $2,025 -3.85
555–595 581 15 291.00–318.00 $307.40 $1,786 +22.48
610–615 612 3 270.00–297.00 $281.49 $1,723 +5.99
610–637 value added 622 38 303.00–339.00 $326.33 $2,030 +9.30
653–695 value added 674 163 300.00–330.00 $323.62 $2,181 +31.52
690–697 696 5 290.00–297.50 $291.49 $2,029 +7.98
700–734 value added 722 78 280.00–310.00 $300.76 $2,171 +16.76
773–785 value added 779 49 277.00–278.00 $277.49 $2,162 -24.25
785 785 3 259.00–265.00 $261.00 $2,049 —
807–835 value added 825 11 259.00–271.00 $262.42 $2,165 -7.08
810–839 834 9 242.50–257.00 $252.95 $2,110 +15.45
854 value added 854 5 259.00 $259.00 $2,212 +0.44
861 fancy 861 62 279.95 $279.95 $2,410 —
860–880 866 9 235.00–257.00 $251.04 $2,174 —
913 value added 913 9 240.00 $240.00 $2,191 -22.16
951–984 value added 967 119 241.00–263.10 $258.65 $2,501 +3.11
1077 1077 2 230.00 $230.00 $2,477 +5.27
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,539 +43.00
563 563 4 285.00 $285.00 $1,605 —
827 827 2 221.00 $221.00 $1,828 —
865 865 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,990 —
930 930 2 207.00 $207.00 $1,925 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,122 —
555 555 1 263.00 $263.00 $1,460 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1255 1255 1 197.00 $197.00 $2,472 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205–230 fancy 211 4 367.50–417.50 $403.89 $852 —
265 265 4 325.00–330.00 $328.75 $871 —
291 fancy 291 3 403.00 $403.00 $1,173 +24.88
315 315 2 300.00–315.00 $307.50 $969 —
300–345 fancy 324 9 337.50–401.00 $386.38 $1,252 -14.93
350–392 fancy 370 27 335.00–425.00 $383.37 $1,418 -3.60
370 370 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,184 -13.00
400–445 422 3 292.50–295.00 $294.21 $1,242 -22.57
410–448 fancy 426 42 322.50–389.00 $359.29 $1,531 -10.30
450–497 fancy 483 69 320.00–373.00 $338.45 $1,635 -16.57
450–497 486 10 290.00–317.50 $306.89 $1,491 -5.36
503–534 value added 519 46 307.00–337.50 $327.18 $1,698 +8.20
510–540 523 5 288.00–297.50 $292.64 $1,531 +4.33
556–585 value added 562 31 300.00–315.00 $304.88 $1,713 -6.12
555–599 582 35 275.00–298.00 $288.95 $1,682 -4.78
611–640 value added 619 23 275.00–292.50 $281.52 $1,743 -6.94
632–637 635 6 260.00–267.50 $262.49 $1,667 +9.99
650–690 665 15 247.00–268.00 $261.42 $1,738 +15.34
650–690 value added 682 58 275.00–288.50 $286.32 $1,953 +5.93
707–710 value added 708 20 260.00–277.00 $273.59 $1,937 —
702–740 715 4 233.00–242.00 $236.58 $1,692 -1.81
753 value added 753 36 254.00 $254.00 $1,913 -12.75
756–765 758 6 243.00–249.00 $244.01 $1,850 +6.18
810 value added 810 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,984 —
810–835 826 7 217.00–230.00 $222.88 $1,841 —
870 870 1 216.00 $216.00 $1,879 -23.00
865–885 value added 881 15 240.00–248.00 $246.64 $2,173 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 287.50 $287.50 $1,136 —
440 440 1 272.50 $272.50 $1,199 —
460–485 468 3 270.00–280.00 $273.45 $1,280 -9.85
540 540 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,458 —
565–580 573 3 260.00–270.00 $264.97 $1,518 +4.97
610–620 615 2 222.50–235.00 $228.70 $1,407 —
665–690 678 2 240.00–247.50 $243.68 $1,652 +14.07
727 727 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,527 —
750–765 754 7 220.00–225.00 $221.09 $1,667 +17.49
820 820 4 210.00 $210.00 $1,722 —
870 870 1 209.00 $209.00 $1,818 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1065 1043 2 195.00–202.50 $198.83 $2,074 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,000 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205 205 1 350.00 $350.00 $718 —
292–297 fancy 295 4 385.00–395.00 $390.04 $1,151 —
295 295 2 295.00 $295.00 $870 —
337–345 fancy 341 7 400.00–425.00 $414.70 $1,414 +24.05
355–395 fancy 379 13 372.50–427.50 $401.67 $1,522 +6.30
370–395 387 3 317.50–350.00 $328.72 $1,272 +4.72
400–447 fancy 426 36 339.00–415.00 $375.38 $1,599 -12.99
430 430 3 300.00–332.50 $318.33 $1,369 —
450–497 fancy 471 28 335.00–390.00 $352.18 $1,659 -8.75
470–495 485 5 312.50–332.50 $323.86 $1,571 +13.48
503–541 fancy 512 35 320.00–360.00 $340.40 $1,743 +17.79
525–530 528 2 302.50–315.00 $308.72 $1,630 +23.72
551–585 fancy 556 14 325.00–359.00 $345.93 $1,923 +14.96
555–595 582 7 302.50–317.50 $304.54 $1,772 +19.85
603–622 fancy 613 13 300.00–320.00 $312.71 $1,917 +14.77
605–635 621 7 285.00–297.50 $292.65 $1,817 +27.33
663–677 669 7 291.00–293.00 $292.42 $1,956 +33.17
670 fancy 670 1 302.50 $302.50 $2,027 +21.76
700–720 fancy 707 3 282.50 $282.50 $1,997 +11.86
725 725 1 257.50 $257.50 $1,867 —
755–782 772 4 250.00–260.00 $255.06 $1,969 +18.73
800–845 826 4 215.00–230.00 $226.37 $1,870 +19.64
890 890 1 227.50 $227.50 $2,025 +20.51
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375–392 386 3 290.00–310.00 $296.47 $1,144 +11.47
402–430 411 3 280.00–292.50 $284.36 $1,169 —
505–525 515 3 230.00–282.50 $264.18 $1,361 —
575 575 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,495 -9.00
605–635 620 3 250.00–262.50 $254.07 $1,575 +11.57
655–685 669 4 247.50–257.50 $250.04 $1,673 +12.02
760–775 768 2 232.50–235.00 $233.76 $1,795 —
865 865 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,795 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165–1390 1267 80-85% 5 122.00–131.00 $127.33 $1,613 +11.31
1200–1420 1310 80-85% 3 110.00–119.00 $115.08 $1,508 -10.28
1135–1470 1321 80-85% 28 132.00–158.00 $142.06 $1,877 +16.70
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1165 1016 85-90% 4 107.00–117.50 $110.19 $1,120 -15.20
1015–1205 1098 85-90% 4 132.00–137.00 $133.90 $1,470 —
1105 1105 85-90% 1 100.00 $100.00 $1,105 —
1175 1175 85-90% 1 128.00 $128.00 $1,504 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1545 1545 75-80% 1 119.00 $119.00 $1,839 —
1480–1660 1564 75-80% 7 144.00–169.00 $153.30 $2,398 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1660 1440 3 164.00–166.00 $164.94 $2,375 —
1415–2555 1930 6 171.00–190.00 $182.26 $3,518 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1315 1315 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 170.00 $170.00 $2,236

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1075 1075 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1250 1250 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00

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Beef Dairy Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410 410 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,168 —

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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
1220 1220 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
811 value added 811 63 232.80 $232.80 $1,888 —

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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.