Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards Market Report

Albany, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, October 30, 2024

651 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 $258.17/cwt -7.99 vs last sale · ≈ $1,891/hd at 732 lb · 82 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $250.36/cwt +4.91 vs last sale · ≈ $1,980/hd at 791 lb · 70 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $263.28/cwt +10.25 vs last sale · ≈ $1,751/hd at 665 lb · 37 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 651 678 701
Feeder cattle 566 560 614
Slaughter cattle 80 89 74
Replacement cattle 5 29 13

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 600lbs sold 2.00 to 4.00 higher. Feeder steers over 600lbs sold mostly steady. Feeder heifers sold steady to 4.00 higher. Weaned and preconditioned feeders still bringing large premiums. Slaughter cows and 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
286 fancy 286 3 330.00 $330.00 $944 —
345 345 2 295.00 $295.00 $1,018 -12.22
420 value added 420 1 342.50 $342.50 $1,438 +7.50
400–445 425 3 285.00–315.00 $300.18 $1,276 +1.95
450 value added 450 2 331.00 $331.00 $1,490 +13.14
465–490 480 7 282.50–310.00 $300.10 $1,440 +5.21
507–537 524 6 275.00–290.00 $281.70 $1,476 +8.52
524 value added 524 15 309.00 $309.00 $1,619 —
558–595 581 12 272.50–285.00 $277.19 $1,610 +6.20
602–630 value added 611 14 272.50–285.00 $282.31 $1,725 -5.45
600–640 616 13 252.50–262.50 $258.12 $1,590 -7.20
652–691 value added 663 12 273.00–285.00 $281.87 $1,869 —
650–692 666 25 245.00–260.00 $254.35 $1,694 +1.32
710–740 728 9 248.00–255.00 $251.24 $1,829 -3.54
715–734 value added 733 73 259.00–260.00 $259.03 $1,899 -13.97
775–790 783 3 236.00–248.00 $241.70 $1,893 -3.75
791 value added 791 67 250.75 $250.75 $1,983 —
805–810 808 2 230.00–237.50 $233.76 $1,889 —
855–896 887 6 217.00–226.00 $223.56 $1,983 —
915 915 1 219.00 $219.00 $2,004 +6.00
985 985 1 204.00 $204.00 $2,009 -4.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 272.50 $272.50 $858 —
420 420 2 257.50–270.00 $263.75 $1,108 —
495 495 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,312 -17.59
525–537 534 4 250.00–267.50 $258.69 $1,381 +1.86
570–595 582 3 245.00–255.00 $250.28 $1,457 +3.57
610–625 618 2 237.50–247.50 $242.44 $1,498 -7.56
685–695 690 3 236.00–242.50 $239.48 $1,652 —
755–790 773 2 222.00–225.00 $223.47 $1,727 -2.53
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450 450 2 275.00 $275.00 $1,238 -2.50
560–595 578 2 237.50–242.50 $240.08 $1,388 —
685–690 688 2 232.50 $232.50 $1,600 —
705–740 723 2 217.50–230.00 $223.60 $1,617 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 1 242.50 $242.50 $970 -20.00
605–640 623 2 227.50 $227.50 $1,417 +7.50
665 665 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,330 —
755–785 770 2 202.50–209.00 $205.69 $1,584 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1390 1295 2 172.00–185.00 $178.02 $2,305 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
560 560 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,260 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–335 323 2 236.00–242.50 $239.12 $772 -1.99
370–390 380 5 240.00–255.00 $244.06 $927 -3.34
375–387 fancy 384 9 267.50–270.00 $269.73 $1,036 —
415 415 1 252.50 $252.50 $1,048 +11.30
407–425 value added 416 4 262.50–267.50 $264.95 $1,102 +2.45
460 460 2 240.00–247.50 $243.75 $1,121 -0.92
458–473 value added 466 12 257.50 $257.50 $1,200 +3.06
502–540 514 9 237.50–257.50 $244.39 $1,256 +8.74
519 value added 519 7 262.00 $262.00 $1,360 +12.00
553 value added 553 5 257.50 $257.50 $1,424 -10.00
560–597 579 6 232.50–252.50 $244.35 $1,415 +3.14
617 value added 617 6 246.00 $246.00 $1,518 -1.50
615–647 631 6 222.50–240.00 $233.36 $1,473 +0.60
655 value added 655 9 241.00 $241.00 $1,579 —
660–680 670 7 207.50–227.50 $216.14 $1,448 -16.54
706 value added 706 7 227.00 $227.00 $1,603 —
720–745 733 2 185.00–190.00 $187.54 $1,375 -12.46
780 780 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,521 -18.06
815 815 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,386 —
855 855 1 168.00 $168.00 $1,436 —
920–925 924 8 180.00–191.00 $181.37 $1,676 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 1 230.00 $230.00 $644 —
360 360 1 237.50 $237.50 $855 +1.69
410–440 431 5 220.00–230.00 $227.28 $980 +2.70
465–490 473 5 220.00–235.00 $228.47 $1,081 +2.73
500–540 516 6 217.50–227.50 $220.80 $1,139 -2.62
620 620 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,240 -12.97
665–695 679 5 190.00–202.50 $194.08 $1,318 -13.92
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 1 200.00 $200.00 $870 -16.99
530–545 538 2 200.00–210.00 $204.93 $1,103 -7.20
635–640 638 2 179.00–187.50 $183.27 $1,169 -18.33
675–690 683 4 172.00–185.00 $181.10 $1,237 -14.90
770 770 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,194 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 520 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,222 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165 1165 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,864 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 210 1 302.50 $302.50 $635 —
310 fancy 310 3 322.50 $322.50 $1,000 —
310 310 1 280.00 $280.00 $868 —
375 fancy 375 2 305.00 $305.00 $1,144 —
360–395 382 6 280.00–290.00 $286.86 $1,096 -11.87
415 fancy 415 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,245 —
425–435 433 6 282.50–292.50 $289.62 $1,254 +4.46
465–490 478 2 267.50–280.00 $273.91 $1,309 -7.34
505 fancy 505 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,364 —
500–545 516 6 245.00–265.00 $253.24 $1,307 -2.82
555–595 578 7 232.50–247.50 $237.74 $1,374 -1.66
615–630 620 4 222.50–232.50 $228.10 $1,414 -6.57
655–662 660 3 223.00–232.50 $226.14 $1,493 -5.43
700–717 714 6 219.00–221.00 $219.33 $1,566 -12.67
820 820 1 182.50 $182.50 $1,496 -15.50
850–865 858 2 181.00–187.50 $184.28 $1,581 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 1 267.50 $267.50 $1,110 ±0.00
451–485 460 4 255.00–265.00 $262.36 $1,207 +7.39
510–545 527 3 235.00–242.50 $238.25 $1,256 -1.50
595 595 2 223.00 $223.00 $1,327 —
665 665 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,446 +7.50
700 700 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,400 —
760 760 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,368 —
880 880 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,496 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,164 +4.92
590 590 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,328 +7.52
610–625 618 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,143 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 180.00 $180.00 $621 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
755–1235 942 85-90% 9 79.00–94.00 $89.54 $843 —
820–1225 1093 85-90% 13 110.00–116.00 $113.41 $1,240 —
1040–1175 1102 85-90% 3 120.00–124.00 $122.41 $1,349 +9.07
970–1350 1123 85-90% 12 99.00–108.00 $103.36 $1,161 -9.98
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195–1425 1279 80-85% 10 117.00–127.00 $121.23 $1,551 —
1220–1440 1317 80-85% 5 109.00–117.00 $113.25 $1,492 —
1420 1420 80-85% 1 136.00 $136.00 $1,931 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440–1560 1500 75-80% 2 117.00–119.00 $118.04 $1,771 —
1400–1775 1576 75-80% 4 124.00–131.00 $128.49 $2,025 —
1690 1690 75-80% 1 96.00 $96.00 $1,622 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1475–1480 1478 2 130.00–137.00 $133.51 $1,973 -8.79
1355–2015 1575 6 142.00–147.00 $144.11 $2,270 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
980 980 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1035 1035 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1035 1035 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1060 1060 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,020.00 $1,020.00
1115 1115 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00

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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
1405 1405 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
635 635 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,080 —
805 805 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,288 —

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Heifer Pairs

Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
850 850 (<2 yrs)Open 1 1,310.00 $1,310.00 —

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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.