Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards Market Report

Albany, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, September 27, 2023

1,159 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $229.14/cwt -12.66 vs last sale · ≈ $1,324/hd at 578 lb · 85 head
light 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $235.80/cwt ≈ $1,892/hd at 802 lb · 79 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $256.81/cwt +19.87 vs last sale · ≈ $1,696/hd at 660 lb · 76 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,159 929 493
Feeder cattle 1,083 803 432
Slaughter cattle 55 75 58
Replacement cattle 21 51 3

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 500lbs sold 4.00 to 6.00 lower with feeder steers over 500lbs mostly steady. Feeder heifers sold 6.00 to 8.00 lower with instances of sharply lower. Weaned preconditioned packages of calves still bringing a premium with fleshy new crop calves facing discounts. Slaughter cows sold 5.00 to 7.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower.

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
237 237 2 255.00 $255.00 $604 —
347 347 2 270.00 $270.00 $937 -4.96
360 360 6 255.00 $255.00 $918 -12.50
417–420 value added 419 11 282.50–288.00 $287.01 $1,203 -12.99
420–427 425 7 240.00–250.00 $247.18 $1,051 —
455–477 474 8 239.00–262.50 $253.46 $1,201 -21.82
495 value added 495 7 269.00 $269.00 $1,332 —
527 value added 527 10 271.00 $271.00 $1,428 -3.63
505–542 530 26 245.00–264.00 $257.79 $1,366 +2.25
550–593 563 46 240.00–255.00 $254.03 $1,430 +5.65
600–646 value added 617 20 264.00–269.00 $267.09 $1,648 +5.39
605–640 624 8 231.00–251.00 $237.53 $1,482 -8.68
654–674 value added 658 53 257.00–265.00 $263.30 $1,733 —
652–677 666 23 232.00–253.00 $241.87 $1,611 +4.93
705–740 718 7 221.00–237.00 $230.77 $1,657 -10.95
760–765 763 2 217.50–225.00 $221.24 $1,688 —
802 value added 802 69 236.50 $236.50 $1,897 —
803–805 804 10 229.00–232.00 $231.00 $1,857 —
860 860 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,892 —
896 value added 896 67 231.00 $231.00 $2,070 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,116 -1.00
502–542 524 5 230.00–237.50 $233.28 $1,222 +3.66
560–590 575 2 225.00–230.00 $227.57 $1,309 -6.94
602–620 607 6 210.00–225.00 $218.95 $1,329 —
670–690 680 2 219.00–220.00 $219.51 $1,493 +4.50
707 707 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,485 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 1 215.00 $215.00 $978 —
500–530 520 3 219.00–230.00 $224.22 $1,166 —
560–592 581 3 210.00–220.00 $213.21 $1,239 —
615 615 1 196.00 $196.00 $1,205 —
660 660 1 204.00 $204.00 $1,346 —
745 745 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,497 -18.00
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 510 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,046 —
687 687 3 188.00 $188.00 $1,292 —
715 715 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,287 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 200.00 $200.00 $570 -33.92
320–340 335 5 207.00–220.00 $215.12 $721 -11.54
370–395 379 12 207.00–220.00 $211.22 $801 -14.83
403–447 420 36 217.00–232.50 $226.33 $951 +1.41
443 value added 443 4 237.50 $237.50 $1,052 -5.50
450–485 471 22 218.00–233.00 $227.99 $1,074 -9.26
511–525 value added 514 15 229.00–235.00 $233.77 $1,202 -9.23
500–548 527 32 206.00–225.00 $219.26 $1,156 -10.02
550–595 575 5 205.00–213.00 $209.20 $1,203 -25.14
560–595 value added 578 80 225.50–235.00 $230.39 $1,332 -22.61
610–640 619 31 201.00–235.00 $224.70 $1,391 -7.28
655–684 681 11 197.00–199.00 $198.83 $1,354 -21.31
696 value added 696 5 228.00 $228.00 $1,587 —
700–740 727 3 187.00–199.00 $195.15 $1,419 -38.85
930 930 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,604 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 202.00 $202.00 $404 —
320–345 338 4 200.00–202.50 $200.59 $678 +8.09
380–395 385 3 200.00–202.50 $200.82 $773 -11.18
410–445 431 5 210.00–212.50 $211.33 $911 +5.88
455–490 475 6 200.00–211.00 $208.44 $990 -0.86
505–540 521 7 192.50–203.00 $198.25 $1,033 -8.22
570 570 1 197.00 $197.00 $1,123 -14.01
605–645 630 8 185.00–197.00 $191.51 $1,207 -11.54
720–725 723 2 173.00–178.00 $175.49 $1,269 +2.49
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 162.50 $162.50 $536 —
397 397 2 180.00 $180.00 $715 —
410–437 424 4 180.00–190.00 $186.13 $789 —
450 450 1 175.00 $175.00 $788 —
510 510 1 176.00 $176.00 $898 —
561–595 567 13 182.00–189.00 $187.44 $1,063 —
647 647 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,229 —
682–690 686 5 171.00–178.00 $174.99 $1,200 —
760–780 770 2 135.00–170.00 $152.27 $1,172 -21.73
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455–460 458 2 187.50–202.50 $195.04 $893 -22.96
545 545 1 197.50 $197.50 $1,076 +3.50
550–570 560 2 197.00–210.00 $203.62 $1,140 -6.38
650 650 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,235 +12.45
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 510 1 173.00 $173.00 $882 —
555–575 565 2 170.00 $170.00 $960 —
615 615 1 160.00 $160.00 $984 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 140.00 $140.00 $399 —
335 335 1 140.00 $140.00 $469 —
450–475 463 2 140.00–150.00 $145.14 $672 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
610 610 1 151.00 $151.00 $921 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 245.00 $245.00 $564 -42.75
290 290 1 230.00 $230.00 $667 —
335–345 340 2 250.00–265.00 $257.61 $876 -2.56
355 fancy 355 1 270.00 $270.00 $958 —
350–395 372 9 240.00–260.00 $250.27 $931 -12.70
400–435 416 9 230.00–247.50 $241.04 $1,003 -26.05
452 452 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,040 -25.79
512 fancy 512 2 252.50 $252.50 $1,293 -3.50
500–535 516 17 225.00–237.50 $229.25 $1,183 +2.25
565–570 567 6 195.00–207.00 $203.00 $1,151 -20.74
605–640 622 10 183.00–214.00 $200.83 $1,249 -20.17
650–695 661 4 198.00–239.00 $208.77 $1,380 -17.23
720–725 722 3 187.50–194.00 $190.51 $1,375 +20.26
765–775 770 3 186.00–195.00 $191.65 $1,476 +15.65
910 910 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,374 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 210.00 $210.00 $556 —
315 315 2 225.00 $225.00 $709 -15.00
375 375 1 230.00 $230.00 $862 —
425–437 433 3 210.00–225.00 $214.91 $931 -22.59
450–495 475 17 210.00–222.50 $217.39 $1,033 -20.11
525–542 537 4 210.00–215.00 $212.52 $1,141 +10.86
550–590 571 8 191.00–205.00 $200.02 $1,142 -7.51
602–635 614 7 180.00–194.00 $188.13 $1,155 -12.48
670 670 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,306 +3.49
730 730 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,248 —
795 795 1 173.00 $173.00 $1,375 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 1 199.00 $199.00 $925 -13.50
510–523 520 4 188.00–195.00 $189.72 $987 —
555–590 568 4 170.00–185.00 $179.56 $1,020 +19.56
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425–435 430 2 215.00–220.00 $217.53 $935 —
515–540 528 2 183.00–188.00 $185.56 $980 -5.44
575–580 578 2 181.00–190.00 $185.52 $1,072 +2.52
600 600 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,146 +15.00

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1025 968 85-90% 3 40.00–60.00 $49.62 $480 —
895–1275 1120 85-90% 10 66.00–78.00 $73.63 $825 -18.12
880–1265 1132 85-90% 15 80.00–90.00 $85.06 $963 -6.69
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165–1425 1322 80-85% 6 91.00–98.00 $94.01 $1,243 +6.53
1350–1690 1461 80-85% 4 83.00–86.00 $84.49 $1,234 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1455 1455 75-80% 1 76.00 $76.00 $1,106 —
1395–1575 1460 75-80% 5 84.00–94.00 $88.37 $1,290 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305–1350 1328 2 100.00 $100.00 $1,328 —
1475–2200 1864 7 120.00–127.00 $121.94 $2,273 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
942 942 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,017.00 $1,017.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,090.00 $1,090.00
1140 1140 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 970.00 $970.00
1205 1205 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,160.00 $1,160.00
1075–1340 1206 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 890.00–1,420.00 $1,230.17
1460 1460 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,290.00 $1,290.00

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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.