Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards Market Report

Albany, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, December 11, 2024

750 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 $241.86/cwt ≈ $2,126/hd at 879 lb · 121 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $282.88/cwt +14.81 vs last sale · ≈ $1,769/hd at 625 lb · 42 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $260.96/cwt -17.28 vs last sale · ≈ $1,371/hd at 525 lb · 29 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 750 563 604
Feeder cattle 675 411 488
Slaughter cattle 56 126 84
Replacement cattle 19 26 32

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to firm. Good demand for all classes of feeders. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 4.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold 3.00 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
325 fancy 325 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,251 ±0.00
370–385 376 4 362.50–365.00 $364.39 $1,370 +0.82
385 fancy 385 1 412.50 $412.50 $1,588 +19.95
415–441 434 5 330.00–350.00 $344.68 $1,496 +14.77
435–448 value added 443 5 360.00–382.50 $366.39 $1,623 +6.39
455–463 value added 461 8 350.00–372.50 $354.34 $1,634 —
460–495 481 8 327.50–347.50 $336.60 $1,619 +7.33
502–505 value added 505 13 340.00–342.50 $340.58 $1,720 +8.76
520–547 534 10 310.00–325.00 $319.48 $1,706 +7.39
550–590 561 24 297.50–317.50 $306.97 $1,722 -5.87
600–642 618 14 260.00–277.50 $265.51 $1,641 +2.41
605–647 value added 629 28 288.50–297.00 $291.57 $1,834 +12.57
650–656 655 6 255.00–261.00 $258.50 $1,693 -4.86
705–745 725 18 240.00–257.50 $247.36 $1,793 +2.18
760–778 775 7 240.00–249.00 $241.64 $1,873 +2.13
813 value added 813 11 241.50 $241.50 $1,963 —
835 835 1 237.50 $237.50 $1,983 —
879 value added 879 120 242.00 $242.00 $2,127 —
880 880 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,980 —
1040 1040 1 205.00 $205.00 $2,132 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,260 ±0.00
500–517 511 3 277.50–295.00 $283.20 $1,447 -1.80
555–590 579 18 285.00–291.00 $288.67 $1,671 —
600–647 630 6 240.00–255.00 $247.46 $1,559 +17.46
670 670 2 247.50 $247.50 $1,658 +6.14
790 790 1 227.50 $227.50 $1,797 —
845 845 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,796 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,416 —
557 557 7 285.00 $285.00 $1,587 +42.50
622 622 2 247.50 $247.50 $1,539 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510–535 523 2 250.00–262.50 $256.40 $1,341 +1.40
575–580 578 2 255.00–267.50 $261.22 $1,510 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820 820 1 202.50 $202.50 $1,660 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 1 307.50 $307.50 $984 +7.50
360–397 378 6 280.00–307.50 $290.89 $1,100 -3.91
380–397 fancy 391 3 310.00–312.50 $310.81 $1,215 -14.19
405–440 420 6 282.50–300.00 $291.07 $1,222 -1.58
405–440 value added 423 7 305.00–317.50 $311.15 $1,316 -1.84
460–477 value added 464 9 292.50–305.00 $300.26 $1,393 +3.62
465–488 478 14 270.00–287.50 $278.53 $1,331 -0.10
502–505 value added 503 3 277.50–280.00 $278.34 $1,400 -17.92
505–546 528 26 252.50–272.50 $258.95 $1,367 -14.48
558–570 value added 560 11 269.00–275.00 $270.11 $1,513 +0.14
550–595 568 10 240.00–252.50 $246.25 $1,399 -8.61
612 value added 612 6 257.00 $257.00 $1,573 -4.78
615–630 625 4 237.50–247.50 $242.53 $1,516 -8.10
650–667 655 7 230.00–241.00 $237.80 $1,558 -3.01
705–727 718 7 212.50–225.00 $217.76 $1,564 -7.55
775 775 2 212.50 $212.50 $1,647 -5.50
800–840 827 3 185.00–190.00 $188.39 $1,558 —
915 value added 915 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,967 —
945 945 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,606 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 270.00 $270.00 $972 —
420–445 431 4 250.00–260.00 $255.51 $1,101 -11.99
465–495 472 7 250.00–265.00 $262.75 $1,240 +0.71
500–540 524 8 237.50–250.00 $246.54 $1,292 -0.96
555 555 1 237.50 $237.50 $1,318 +1.30
612–635 619 4 220.00–230.00 $226.20 $1,400 +6.20
660–690 675 3 200.00–215.00 $204.89 $1,383 —
700–745 727 10 195.00–209.00 $202.94 $1,475 +15.44
750–795 773 2 182.50–190.00 $186.14 $1,439 -3.86
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 240.00 $240.00 $816 —
455–480 468 2 215.00–235.00 $224.73 $1,052 +4.73
540–545 542 3 220.00–235.00 $228.31 $1,237 —
570–577 575 3 212.50–213.00 $212.67 $1,223 -4.71
642 642 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,348 +12.50
695 695 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,251 -12.50
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 6 225.00 $225.00 $1,024 —
522 522 5 210.00 $210.00 $1,096 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450–470 460 2 262.50–270.00 $266.17 $1,224 —
507 507 2 227.50 $227.50 $1,153 —
595 595 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,368 -17.50
685 685 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,456 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,043 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 330.00 $330.00 $792 —
335 335 1 375.00 $375.00 $1,256 —
370 370 1 365.00 $365.00 $1,350 +22.50
420–425 424 7 322.50–347.50 $342.90 $1,454 +44.68
450–495 475 13 310.00–330.00 $317.41 $1,508 +4.76
505 fancy 505 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,591 —
500–548 537 15 277.50–300.00 $281.41 $1,511 -16.95
555–590 575 6 257.50–275.00 $266.60 $1,533 -4.61
612 fancy 612 2 265.00 $265.00 $1,622 —
605–641 629 11 230.00–245.00 $239.16 $1,504 -0.84
683–695 686 4 230.00 $230.00 $1,578 ±0.00
700–725 710 5 215.00–225.00 $221.48 $1,573 +1.48
780–790 785 2 207.50–208.00 $207.75 $1,631 -7.20
800–805 803 2 200.00–202.50 $201.25 $1,616 —
930 930 1 182.50 $182.50 $1,697 -7.50
950 950 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,781 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 1 300.00 $300.00 $975 —
445 445 1 272.50 $272.50 $1,213 —
450–485 472 5 290.00–307.50 $303.15 $1,431 —
535 535 1 252.50 $252.50 $1,351 —
595 595 3 230.00–247.50 $241.67 $1,438 +4.17
665 665 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,430 —
830 830 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,494 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
542 542 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,355 —
550–555 553 2 245.00–252.50 $248.73 $1,375 —
685 685 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,507 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455–495 475 2 275.00–285.00 $279.79 $1,329 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1225 1225 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 2,225.00 $2,225.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765–1375 1061 85-90% 7 69.00–89.00 $80.45 $854 -39.92
1025–1125 1077 85-90% 3 104.00–115.00 $109.77 $1,182 -10.60
1040–1445 1197 85-90% 9 91.00–100.00 $95.47 $1,143 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1335–1425 1380 75-80% 3 101.00–106.00 $103.28 $1,425 —
1330–1575 1492 75-80% 6 110.00–115.00 $112.74 $1,682 +3.74
1565–1770 1675 75-80% 3 117.00–119.00 $118.02 $1,977 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1185–1365 1258 80-85% 3 120.00–122.00 $121.04 $1,523 -2.29
1310 1310 80-85% 1 104.00 $104.00 $1,362 -2.64
1300–1495 1369 80-85% 4 109.00–117.00 $112.80 $1,544 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1385–1935 1598 3 118.00–130.00 $124.52 $1,990 —
1660–2285 2030 8 134.00–145.00 $139.13 $2,824 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1025 1025 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,875.00 $1,875.00
1045 1045 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,125.00 $2,125.00
1065 1065 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,950.00 $1,950.00
1115 1115 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,670.00 $1,670.00
1085–1295 1183 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,025.00–2,275.00 $2,111.98
1170–1275 1226 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,950.00–2,375.00 $2,240.42
1320 1320 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00
1470 1470 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,585.00 $1,585.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1190 1190 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00

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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
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,825.00 $1,825.00 —
1400 1400 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,425.00 $2,425.00 —

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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.