Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass South Stockyards (Thursday) Market Report

Stanford, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 20, 2025

1,002 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 $325.25/cwt -0.75 vs last sale · ≈ $3,015/hd at 927 lb · 176 head
light 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $327.81/cwt -12.45 vs last sale · ≈ $2,727/hd at 832 lb · 132 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $322.83/cwt ≈ $2,818/hd at 873 lb · 128 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,002 1,062 1,683
Feeder cattle 921 978 1,590
Slaughter cattle 69 74 89
Replacement cattle 12 10 4

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Thursday: Feeder steers under 400 lbs 8.00-12.00 higher, over 400 lbs 10.00-15.00 lower, Feeder heifers steady to 10.00 lower, Moderate demand for feeder and yearling classes. Slaughter cows 2.00-4.00 lower, Slaughter bulls steady, 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
225 fancy 225 1 485.00 $485.00 $1,091 —
330 fancy 330 1 445.00 $445.00 $1,468 —
355 fancy 355 1 465.00 $465.00 $1,651 +37.63
375 375 1 390.00 $390.00 $1,462 —
405–430 fancy 418 2 415.00–417.50 $416.29 $1,740 -8.31
503 503 3 337.00 $337.00 $1,695 -21.21
606–641 value added 637 58 341.00–348.00 $347.52 $2,214 -4.18
605–647 644 15 317.50–325.00 $320.51 $2,064 -10.09
650–695 680 3 312.50–315.00 $313.30 $2,130 -21.66
702 value added 702 21 338.00 $338.00 $2,373 -24.32
752 752 6 300.00 $300.00 $2,256 —
826–838 value added 832 132 325.00–330.75 $327.81 $2,727 -12.69
871 871 3 305.00 $305.00 $2,657 —
858–889 value added 873 125 321.00–325.50 $323.26 $2,822 —
921–935 value added 927 176 322.75–327.75 $325.25 $3,015 —
953 value added 953 58 313.75 $313.75 $2,990 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420–445 433 2 295.00–330.00 $313.01 $1,355 —
480 480 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,248 -60.93
525 525 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,470 -45.10
560 560 1 312.50 $312.50 $1,750 -7.50
755–780 761 5 272.50–295.00 $287.41 $2,187 -17.71
810–825 818 2 275.00–285.00 $279.95 $2,290 -18.79
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,215 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–395 375 4 380.00–387.50 $383.55 $1,438 +7.27
402–445 425 5 362.50–372.50 $367.86 $1,563 +3.86
500–549 528 14 310.00–320.00 $318.57 $1,682 -26.43
561–575 568 6 310.00–335.00 $322.65 $1,833 -9.80
600–645 632 9 285.00–310.00 $305.37 $1,930 +2.72
666–693 683 13 280.00–297.50 $293.89 $2,007 -9.16
840–842 841 4 255.00–275.00 $264.99 $2,229 —
940 940 1 260.00 $260.00 $2,444 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–322 315 3 290.00–320.00 $310.47 $978 +15.47
380 380 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,216 ±0.00
405–430 419 11 285.00–301.00 $294.41 $1,234 +34.41
450–495 471 10 265.00–325.00 $281.89 $1,328 -34.88
505–540 524 10 255.00–301.00 $279.85 $1,466 —
557–595 574 13 250.00–305.00 $283.02 $1,625 -17.46
600 600 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,320 -30.00
705–745 725 2 235.00–267.50 $250.80 $1,818 +10.80
750–780 765 3 220.00–230.00 $223.33 $1,708 +10.83
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
522–535 526 3 225.00–260.00 $248.14 $1,305 —
600 600 1 247.50 $247.50 $1,485 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080 1080 1 215.00 $215.00 $2,322 +14.51

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 365.00 $365.00 $1,077 -17.50
297 fancy 297 2 465.00 $465.00 $1,381 —
310–345 fancy 332 3 412.50–432.50 $423.71 $1,407 —
350–375 367 3 382.50–402.50 $396.14 $1,454 —
400–445 430 8 385.00–400.00 $393.33 $1,691 —
457–485 466 6 375.00–392.50 $384.90 $1,794 +5.38
505–540 523 7 340.00–365.00 $350.47 $1,833 +1.92
500–546 fancy 525 7 375.00–389.00 $382.96 $2,011 +5.46
550–580 fancy 568 15 377.50–395.00 $383.68 $2,179 +1.68
555–595 576 5 340.00–360.00 $350.50 $2,019 -6.34
620–645 631 5 310.00–335.00 $317.98 $2,006 -16.27
656 656 3 307.50 $307.50 $2,017 -7.58
700–745 725 3 280.00–295.00 $289.97 $2,102 -2.51
755 755 3 300.00 $300.00 $2,265 -1.00
825 825 1 282.50 $282.50 $2,331 -9.99
955 955 1 255.00 $255.00 $2,435 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370–390 380 2 360.00–362.50 $361.28 $1,373 +56.28
505–523 517 3 300.00 $300.00 $1,551 -4.27
580 580 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,508 -53.15
610–645 628 3 270.00–280.00 $276.66 $1,737 -23.34
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500 500 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,250 —
585 585 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,755 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1245 1245 80-85% 1 157.00 $157.00 $1,955 +29.08
1235–1355 1298 80-85% 4 125.00–134.00 $130.44 $1,693 +24.65
1210–1415 1303 80-85% 3 110.00–116.00 $111.97 $1,459 -34.42
1165–1440 1318 80-85% 11 135.00–149.00 $141.45 $1,864 -4.94
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875–1170 996 85-90% 5 135.00–150.00 $139.40 $1,388 —
880–1280 1020 85-90% 7 90.00–110.00 $104.91 $1,070 -40.64
1125–1185 1165 85-90% 3 122.00–128.00 $125.39 $1,461 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1845 1845 75-80% 1 150.00 $150.00 $2,768 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1535–1765 1666 5 148.00–176.00 $166.30 $2,771 —
1455–1910 1667 6 180.00–186.00 $182.60 $3,044 —
1725–1750 1738 2 194.00–199.00 $196.52 $3,416 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1125 1125 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 202.50 $202.50 $2,278
1275 1275 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 165.00 $165.00 $2,104

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1060 1060 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500 500 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,000 —

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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
1165 1165 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,725.00 $3,725.00 —
1205 1205 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,450.00 $3,450.00 —
1380–1575 1434 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 2,600.00–3,750.00 $3,397.82 —
1555 1555 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 3,600.00 $3,600.00 —
1565 1565 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 3,400.00 $3,400.00 —

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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.