Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards Market Report

Albany, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, January 31, 2024

1,166 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $239.77/cwt +21.04 vs last sale · ≈ $1,780/hd at 742 lb · 154 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $220.86/cwt +7.62 vs last sale · ≈ $1,485/hd at 672 lb · 85 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $255.16/cwt +14.91 vs last sale · ≈ $1,603/hd at 628 lb · 73 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,166 1,296 291
Feeder cattle 1,133 1,229 272
Slaughter cattle 32 48 19
Replacement cattle 1 19 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers sold sharply higher on a good quality offering. Good demand for feeder calves weaned with shots and favorable body condition. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 4.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold 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
317 fancy 317 2 330.00 $330.00 $1,046 —
335 335 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,005 —
361–372 fancy 365 5 322.50–325.00 $323.52 $1,181 —
380–397 391 3 302.50–312.50 $305.74 $1,195 +23.24
410–445 value added 430 16 315.00–325.00 $318.64 $1,370 +15.37
430–445 441 7 297.50–305.00 $302.48 $1,334 +25.25
450–454 value added 452 16 309.00 $309.00 $1,397 —
467–497 480 5 273.00–295.00 $283.93 $1,363 +22.74
510–522 value added 519 42 299.00–304.00 $299.52 $1,555 +17.02
520–545 534 11 277.50–285.00 $281.89 $1,505 +32.01
558–564 value added 561 14 279.00–280.00 $279.43 $1,568 +19.43
560–591 575 55 259.00–275.00 $266.05 $1,530 +29.04
600–640 620 18 235.00–252.50 $243.98 $1,513 +3.73
600–641 value added 631 55 254.00–263.00 $258.82 $1,633 —
655–680 value added 673 49 250.00–257.00 $253.28 $1,705 —
675–689 681 11 230.00–240.00 $235.40 $1,603 -2.01
705–732 721 12 218.00–230.00 $226.00 $1,629 +22.00
711–747 value added 744 142 235.00–246.00 $240.93 $1,793 +21.07
752–795 786 41 210.00–225.00 $216.96 $1,705 +5.46
824–835 value added 825 13 223.50–224.00 $223.54 $1,844 —
840 840 2 210.00–217.00 $213.50 $1,793 +9.68
850–870 861 10 204.00–212.00 $210.01 $1,808 +5.01
900–941 931 8 190.00–204.00 $200.18 $1,864 +1.18
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 250.00 $250.00 $662 —
362 362 2 270.00 $270.00 $977 —
400–410 405 2 242.50–255.00 $248.83 $1,008 -4.54
507–525 510 17 245.00–260.00 $247.56 $1,263 +19.99
585–593 591 5 240.00 $240.00 $1,418 +7.00
605–645 630 7 212.50–230.00 $225.25 $1,419 +11.55
660–690 674 5 214.00–222.00 $218.97 $1,476 +9.78
750 750 1 208.00 $208.00 $1,560 +13.00
820 820 1 197.00 $197.00 $1,615 —
885 885 2 193.00 $193.00 $1,708 +13.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
347 347 2 260.00 $260.00 $902 —
410 410 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,107 —
620–647 638 3 220.00–233.00 $228.79 $1,460 +15.81
675 675 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,502 —
740 740 1 196.00 $196.00 $1,450 —
775–785 780 2 200.00–208.00 $203.97 $1,591 —
850 850 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,700 -6.13
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,029 —
638 638 3 205.00 $205.00 $1,308 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450–495 473 2 190.00–205.00 $197.14 $932 —
525 525 1 227.50 $227.50 $1,194 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
685 685 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,164 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335–345 340 2 242.50–247.50 $244.96 $833 +12.13
353–377 365 6 237.50–252.50 $245.62 $897 —
398 fancy 398 3 267.50 $267.50 $1,065 —
405–420 value added 419 21 267.50–277.50 $271.31 $1,137 +23.81
400–443 429 13 242.00–262.50 $254.96 $1,094 +19.28
465–495 477 23 238.00–258.00 $246.56 $1,176 +19.41
478 value added 478 14 267.00 $267.00 $1,276 +17.15
500–540 522 40 230.00–241.00 $238.34 $1,244 +7.73
500–544 value added 527 27 245.00–253.00 $247.33 $1,303 +8.13
552–562 value added 561 52 242.00–251.00 $247.73 $1,390 +11.95
550–595 570 16 226.00–239.00 $233.49 $1,331 +12.22
605–637 619 16 213.00–226.00 $221.53 $1,371 +21.08
651–672 value added 666 31 223.00–225.00 $223.19 $1,486 +9.19
659–698 676 54 217.00–221.00 $219.52 $1,484 +22.52
700–745 735 5 186.00–193.00 $187.94 $1,381 -3.06
730–745 value added 740 3 203.00–208.00 $206.36 $1,527 —
755 value added 755 6 209.00 $209.00 $1,578 +14.62
760–765 761 4 180.00–190.00 $185.01 $1,408 -3.29
1025 1025 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,640 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
302–335 322 5 215.00–222.50 $220.94 $711 —
380 380 1 230.00 $230.00 $874 —
400 400 1 232.50 $232.50 $930 —
458–495 467 4 235.00–236.00 $235.26 $1,099 +24.24
570–595 589 4 210.00–220.00 $217.58 $1,282 +17.46
600 600 1 208.00 $208.00 $1,248 +23.66
690–692 691 3 199.00–207.00 $204.34 $1,412 +24.34
755–780 765 4 172.00–176.00 $174.23 $1,333 +22.23
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
347 347 2 192.50 $192.50 $668 +2.50
485 485 2 206.00 $206.00 $999 —
505 505 1 192.00 $192.00 $970 —
555–595 572 3 185.00–200.00 $194.19 $1,111 +14.95
605–645 631 4 174.00–187.00 $180.92 $1,142 +28.92
675–697 689 8 173.00–191.00 $180.83 $1,246 +27.12
770 770 1 154.00 $154.00 $1,186 +26.50
925 925 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,202 —
970 970 1 139.00 $139.00 $1,348 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 1 220.00 $220.00 $671 —
500–540 527 3 213.00–215.00 $214.37 $1,130 —
590 590 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,292 +17.00
605–640 620 3 204.00–215.00 $210.50 $1,305 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426 426 3 170.00 $170.00 $724 —
540 540 1 170.00 $170.00 $918 —
605–620 613 2 160.00 $160.00 $981 —
697 697 2 168.00 $168.00 $1,171 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 1 200.00 $200.00 $980 +24.00
570 570 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,083 —
635 635 1 192.00 $192.00 $1,219 +24.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085 1085 1 159.00 $159.00 $1,725 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
372 fancy 372 2 315.00 $315.00 $1,172 +5.00
361–395 375 6 292.50–307.50 $299.05 $1,121 +9.11
405–430 413 6 275.00–282.50 $277.89 $1,148 +11.28
415–440 fancy 432 5 297.00–302.50 $300.94 $1,300 +0.94
450 fancy 450 1 292.50 $292.50 $1,316 +17.50
485–497 490 7 245.00–259.00 $254.95 $1,249 +0.66
510 fancy 510 2 265.00 $265.00 $1,352 +17.50
515–522 519 4 229.00–247.50 $238.19 $1,236 +6.44
550–555 553 4 239.00–243.00 $241.51 $1,336 +16.51
640–648 646 4 213.00–214.00 $213.25 $1,378 +11.25
660–680 673 8 195.00–210.00 $206.01 $1,386 +9.01
700–745 732 4 185.00–197.00 $193.95 $1,420 +8.65
750–752 751 3 188.00–190.00 $189.33 $1,422 +16.34
830 830 1 183.00 $183.00 $1,519 —
965 965 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,448 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205 205 1 260.00 $260.00 $533 —
505–510 507 3 205.00–210.00 $206.68 $1,048 -4.32
570–597 588 3 194.00–212.00 $206.18 $1,212 -5.51
860 860 1 161.00 $161.00 $1,385 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410 410 2 265.00 $265.00 $1,086 —
540 540 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,215 —
550–580 565 2 212.00–220.00 $215.89 $1,220 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
482 482 2 208.00 $208.00 $1,003 —
760 760 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,330 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
580 580 1 160.00 $160.00 $928 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 222.50 $222.50 $868 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085–1310 1212 80-85% 5 112.00–126.00 $116.04 $1,406 +10.99
1220 1220 80-85% 1 95.00 $95.00 $1,159 -10.05
1170–1395 1295 80-85% 6 98.00–109.00 $105.16 $1,362 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030 1030 85-90% 1 80.00 $80.00 $824 —
915–1155 1035 85-90% 2 50.00–58.00 $53.54 $554 —
1010–1130 1073 85-90% 4 96.00–100.00 $98.28 $1,055 +2.27
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1520–1840 1684 75-80% 5 112.00–123.00 $118.07 $1,988 —
1720 1720 75-80% 1 108.00 $108.00 $1,858 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165–1500 1333 2 110.00 $110.00 $1,466 —
1405–1985 1695 2 126.00–128.00 $126.83 $2,150 —
1885 1885 1 124.00 $124.00 $2,337 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1100 1100 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 950.00 $950.00

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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.