Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards Market Report

Albany, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, September 20, 2023

929 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Blue Grass Stockyards report →

heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $245.70/cwt +0.70 vs last sale · ≈ $2,106/hd at 857 lb · 67 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $241.80/cwt +9.01 vs last sale · ≈ $1,396/hd at 577 lb · 40 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $238.68/cwt +8.12 vs last sale · ≈ $1,126/hd at 472 lb · 38 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 929 1,154 685
Feeder cattle 803 1,021 619
Slaughter cattle 75 117 61
Replacement cattle 51 16 5

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers sold 2.00 to 4.00 higher. Feeder heifers sold 4.00 to 6.00 higher. Good demand for weaned preconditioned feeders. Fleshy bawling calves facing discounts. Slaughter cows sold 3.00 to 5.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady.

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
255–275 265 2 285.00–295.00 $289.81 $768 —
315–320 318 2 270.00–280.00 $274.96 $874 -10.04
385 385 1 267.50 $267.50 $1,030 -9.41
430 value added 430 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,290 +21.54
450–493 473 10 259.00–283.00 $275.28 $1,302 +13.03
510–535 520 7 246.00–264.00 $255.54 $1,329 +0.69
505–542 value added 532 8 274.00–276.00 $274.63 $1,461 +10.91
583–585 value added 584 5 261.00–276.00 $269.99 $1,577 +2.99
565–591 585 12 241.00–255.00 $248.38 $1,453 -7.68
611–640 620 5 239.00–251.00 $246.21 $1,527 +4.06
605–645 value added 630 26 255.00–268.00 $261.70 $1,649 +2.15
650–690 671 5 230.00–239.00 $236.94 $1,590 -5.62
730–746 734 22 236.00–249.00 $241.72 $1,774 -6.39
857 value added 857 67 245.70 $245.70 $2,106 +0.70
931 931 5 228.00 $228.00 $2,123 +42.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 230.00 $230.00 $851 —
498 498 3 231.00 $231.00 $1,150 —
510–545 528 2 226.00–233.00 $229.62 $1,212 —
575–595 585 2 234.00–235.00 $234.51 $1,372 —
695–697 696 4 210.00–220.00 $215.01 $1,496 —
805–830 827 10 194.00–199.00 $198.51 $1,642 —
913–930 916 5 182.00–191.00 $189.17 $1,733 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 350 1 170.00 $170.00 $595 —
522 522 2 170.00 $170.00 $887 —
695 695 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,112 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 1 220.00 $220.00 $957 -12.50
710 710 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,555 +5.00
750 750 1 211.00 $211.00 $1,582 +5.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225–245 240 4 237.50–242.50 $238.67 $573 +16.17
280–295 286 5 220.00–240.00 $233.92 $669 +6.45
300–340 328 7 220.00–232.50 $226.66 $743 -2.69
355–385 367 13 222.50–237.50 $226.05 $830 -3.02
400–430 415 12 220.00–228.00 $224.92 $933 -2.74
435 value added 435 4 240.00–246.00 $243.00 $1,057 —
455–493 471 31 228.00–241.00 $237.25 $1,117 +8.43
475 value added 475 7 245.00 $245.00 $1,164 +4.00
500–546 523 24 219.00–238.00 $229.28 $1,199 -1.12
546 value added 546 3 243.00 $243.00 $1,327 —
550–595 565 24 221.00–240.00 $234.34 $1,324 +5.52
596 value added 596 16 253.00 $253.00 $1,508 —
603–645 619 29 220.00–238.00 $231.98 $1,436 +5.21
651–655 654 8 215.00–225.00 $220.14 $1,440 +1.12
705 705 1 234.00 $234.00 $1,650 +42.00
731 value added 731 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,754 —
785 785 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,492 -8.03
810–840 827 3 193.00–200.00 $197.04 $1,630 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–295 273 2 210.00–217.50 $213.44 $583 —
345 345 1 192.50 $192.50 $664 -20.00
355 355 1 212.00 $212.00 $753 +3.68
420–440 432 5 192.50–215.00 $205.45 $888 -3.10
465–492 486 5 200.00–213.00 $209.30 $1,017 -6.58
510–520 515 2 203.00–210.00 $206.47 $1,063 -6.18
550–585 569 7 210.00–216.00 $211.01 $1,201 -1.50
605–620 611 4 198.00–214.00 $203.05 $1,241 -8.70
660 660 2 202.00 $202.00 $1,333 +2.00
705 705 2 173.00 $173.00 $1,220 —
840 840 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,470 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
379 379 5 195.00 $195.00 $739 -5.00
420 420 1 192.50 $192.50 $808 -15.00
470 470 1 218.00 $218.00 $1,025 +28.00
545 545 2 187.00–201.00 $194.00 $1,057 -22.00
585 585 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,228 —
670–695 683 2 175.00–180.00 $177.55 $1,213 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
766 766 3 174.00 $174.00 $1,333 —
810–840 820 3 150.00–156.00 $153.95 $1,262 —
865 865 2 144.00 $144.00 $1,246 +4.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225–245 239 4 275.00–292.50 $287.75 $688 +22.75
250 250 2 255.00 $255.00 $638 -18.78
305–345 316 4 250.00–270.00 $260.17 $822 +2.04
355–390 366 12 252.50–280.00 $262.97 $962 -5.31
402–440 424 11 252.50–287.50 $267.09 $1,132 +0.69
460–490 469 15 250.00–272.50 $255.79 $1,200 -11.79
520 fancy 520 1 256.00 $256.00 $1,331 -7.31
510–547 529 11 220.00–238.00 $227.00 $1,201 -20.26
551–596 568 10 217.00–230.00 $223.74 $1,271 -8.67
600 600 1 221.00 $221.00 $1,326 +2.09
670 670 2 226.00 $226.00 $1,514 +7.00
740–745 744 4 170.00–171.00 $170.25 $1,267 -28.82
780 780 1 176.00 $176.00 $1,373 -24.00
820 820 1 161.00 $161.00 $1,320 —
855 855 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,471 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 240.00 $240.00 $792 —
400–410 405 2 237.50 $237.50 $962 -7.50
475 475 1 237.50 $237.50 $1,128 +5.00
505–545 527 5 196.00–208.00 $201.66 $1,063 -23.93
550–590 572 12 199.00–211.00 $207.53 $1,187 -14.37
605–645 626 5 195.00–205.00 $200.61 $1,256 +0.61
650–695 674 10 187.00–198.00 $191.51 $1,291 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
407 407 2 192.50 $192.50 $783 —
472 472 2 212.50 $212.50 $1,003 —
580 580 1 160.00 $160.00 $928 —
625 625 2 180.00–181.00 $180.50 $1,128 —
665 665 1 179.00 $179.00 $1,190 —
735 735 1 168.00 $168.00 $1,235 —
865 865 1 146.00 $146.00 $1,263 —
905 905 1 110.00 $110.00 $996 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
347 347 4 224.00 $224.00 $777 —
545 545 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,041 -9.00
580 580 1 183.00 $183.00 $1,061 -26.00
625 625 2 176.00 $176.00 $1,100 —
655 655 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,244 +7.50
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
453 453 3 206.00 $206.00 $933 —
Medium 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450 450 1 160.00 $160.00 $720 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1045 1045 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 1,175.00 $1,175.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–955 925 85-90% 2 58.00–70.00 $63.81 $590 —
915–1140 1034 85-90% 12 80.00–84.00 $82.42 $852 —
880–1285 1120 85-90% 16 85.00–96.00 $91.75 $1,028 —
1120 1120 85-90% 1 98.00 $98.00 $1,098 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1430 1266 80-85% 11 90.00–104.00 $95.90 $1,214 -15.28
1290–1325 1308 80-85% 2 86.00–89.00 $87.48 $1,144 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1400 1400 75-80% 1 109.00 $109.00 $1,526 —
1430–1900 1570 75-80% 12 90.00–103.00 $95.80 $1,504 -6.70

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–2135 1678 13 120.00–129.00 $124.47 $2,089 —
1495–2200 1848 2 116.00–119.00 $117.21 $2,166 —
1770–2200 1968 3 130.00–138.00 $134.11 $2,639 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
725–1010 868 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 875.00–1,350.00 $1,151.51
1125 1125 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,190.00 $1,190.00
890–1350 1157 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,090.00–1,825.00 $1,475.20
1105–1235 1160 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,040.00–1,220.00 $1,123.53
1130–1365 1231 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,150.00–1,675.00 $1,343.92
1260 1260 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,170.00 $1,170.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
980 980 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,030.00 $1,030.00
980 980 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 850.00 $850.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1025 1025 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,010.00 $1,010.00

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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
1155–1505 1251 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 1,250.00–2,150.00 $1,692.31 —
1280 1280 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,685.00 $1,685.00 —
1330 1330 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,520.00 $1,520.00 —
1405–1425 1415 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 1,575.00–1,910.00 $1,743.68 —
1570 1570 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,935.00 $1,935.00 —
1725–1730 1728 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,225.00 $2,225.00 —
1860 1860 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,140.00 $2,140.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 2 207.50 $207.50 $456 —

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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.