Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards Market Report

Albany, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, January 15, 2025

1,385 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $287.64/cwt +3.42 vs last sale · ≈ $1,958/hd at 681 lb · 134 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $248.96/cwt +19.56 vs last sale · ≈ $1,795/hd at 721 lb · 106 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $268.74/cwt +8.00 vs last sale · ≈ $2,102/hd at 782 lb · 104 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,385 527 0
Feeder cattle 1,291 467 0
Slaughter cattle 43 49 0
Replacement cattle 51 11 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers sold 5.00 to 7.00 higher with some instances of sharply higher. Slaughter cows sold sharply higher. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00 to 7.00 higher. Good demand for all feeder and slaughter classes.

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
254 fancy 254 5 420.00 $420.00 $1,067 —
312 fancy 312 2 417.50 $417.50 $1,303 —
335–340 338 2 392.50–402.50 $397.46 $1,343 —
375–392 388 4 355.00–362.50 $356.81 $1,384 —
410–442 428 11 355.00–367.50 $360.81 $1,544 +10.44
415–445 fancy 432 6 372.50–380.00 $376.19 $1,625 —
455–495 473 9 342.50–350.00 $345.28 $1,633 +1.45
510–525 value added 518 4 340.00–355.00 $347.61 $1,801 —
502–537 520 50 317.50–337.50 $329.62 $1,714 +9.23
552–570 560 9 300.00–322.50 $318.57 $1,784 +17.46
570–586 value added 577 7 329.00–332.50 $330.52 $1,907 —
606–632 value added 625 15 300.00–312.50 $303.75 $1,898 +10.52
610–645 627 21 275.00–297.50 $285.84 $1,792 +4.27
670–691 value added 680 85 290.30–297.50 $290.61 $1,976 -1.58
650–695 682 49 277.50–289.00 $282.49 $1,927 +5.51
710–730 value added 720 21 275.00–288.00 $284.55 $2,049 +12.41
725–745 736 4 250.00–270.00 $260.23 $1,915 -5.16
755–783 value added 782 84 270.00–272.50 $270.03 $2,112 —
770–795 782 20 250.00–267.50 $263.30 $2,059 +2.56
815–823 value added 823 72 260.00–269.00 $268.73 $2,212 —
805–837 828 9 242.50–257.50 $254.00 $2,103 +10.00
850–875 852 21 248.25–255.00 $249.30 $2,124 +18.79
910–932 929 11 240.00–241.00 $240.82 $2,237 —
990 990 1 227.50 $227.50 $2,252 +12.50
1170 1170 1 200.00 $200.00 $2,340 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 357.50 $357.50 $1,233 —
415–432 426 3 340.00–345.00 $341.62 $1,455 —
460–480 473 7 322.50–327.50 $325.00 $1,537 +5.83
520–545 536 4 302.50–312.50 $309.45 $1,659 +8.55
580–590 586 5 280.00–297.50 $288.52 $1,691 +4.65
640 640 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,728 +27.50
665 665 1 267.50 $267.50 $1,779 —
735–740 738 2 234.00–235.00 $234.50 $1,731 —
825 825 1 232.50 $232.50 $1,918 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515 515 1 277.50 $277.50 $1,429 —
582 582 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,571 —
675–695 682 3 242.50–245.00 $244.15 $1,665 —
725 725 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,559 +5.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,568 —
690 690 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,690 -7.50

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215–226 223 4 305.00–320.00 $308.61 $688 —
270–280 273 3 325.00–337.50 $332.53 $908 —
300–315 308 3 317.50–322.50 $320.01 $986 —
336 value added 336 10 347.50 $347.50 $1,168 —
350–390 fancy 363 4 340.00–350.00 $343.16 $1,246 —
350–399 379 19 322.50–337.50 $331.87 $1,258 +19.69
405–445 418 17 312.50–335.00 $326.63 $1,365 +12.84
417–435 value added 424 29 340.00–352.50 $347.57 $1,474 —
450–471 value added 461 6 335.00–342.50 $340.00 $1,567 +4.64
457–495 477 19 317.50–327.50 $320.61 $1,529 +11.75
505–545 value added 517 9 305.00–312.50 $309.65 $1,601 +4.77
500–537 525 62 280.00–297.50 $291.69 $1,531 +11.66
560–588 value added 579 46 282.50–291.00 $285.38 $1,652 -1.37
565–595 581 5 272.50–280.00 $276.06 $1,604 +9.61
604–636 value added 615 45 275.00–282.50 $278.77 $1,714 +5.16
605–635 625 23 257.50–273.00 $269.74 $1,686 +5.94
652–681 667 12 255.00–260.00 $255.42 $1,704 +1.72
682 value added 682 5 270.00 $270.00 $1,841 —
719 value added 719 84 253.00 $253.00 $1,819 —
700–740 728 22 227.50–235.00 $233.55 $1,700 +4.15
750–796 782 6 217.50–230.00 $226.62 $1,772 +2.90
805–810 value added 809 17 227.00–235.00 $232.66 $1,882 —
800–831 816 10 205.00–210.00 $207.38 $1,692 -8.72
862–876 870 14 218.00–221.00 $219.21 $1,907 —
950 950 8 211.50 $211.50 $2,009 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 2 305.00–310.00 $307.50 $1,092 —
440 440 1 272.50 $272.50 $1,199 -19.15
466–496 486 12 282.50–297.50 $292.44 $1,421 +10.95
525–545 532 3 270.00–277.50 $272.47 $1,450 —
555–590 573 3 255.00–265.00 $260.06 $1,490 —
635–642 640 3 250.00–252.50 $251.67 $1,611 +11.67
675–695 688 22 230.00–242.50 $234.75 $1,615 +9.81
760–775 765 3 200.00–210.00 $203.38 $1,556 —
800–820 808 4 185.00–200.00 $192.54 $1,556 —
895 895 2 185.00–202.50 $193.75 $1,734 —
960 960 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,824 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,036 —
450–460 453 3 260.00–267.50 $264.96 $1,200 +7.46
565 565 1 232.50 $232.50 $1,314 —
615–645 636 4 218.00–235.00 $228.37 $1,452 +18.37
651 651 3 215.00 $215.00 $1,400 —
785 785 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,334 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
445 445 1 297.50 $297.50 $1,324 —
465 465 8 315.00 $315.00 $1,465 —
500 500 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,350 —
550 550 2 282.50 $282.50 $1,554 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
445 445 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,079 —
590–595 592 3 250.00–260.00 $253.35 $1,500 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–290 267 3 350.00–365.00 $355.44 $949 —
300 300 2 340.00–345.00 $342.50 $1,028 —
365–392 380 9 355.00–372.50 $363.35 $1,381 +2.44
400–425 415 11 350.00–365.00 $359.80 $1,493 +27.30
475–487 483 3 340.00–350.00 $343.28 $1,658 +21.08
501–520 fancy 506 4 332.50–342.50 $339.93 $1,720 —
505–540 520 6 297.50–315.00 $307.11 $1,597 +13.57
565–595 587 9 275.00–292.50 $279.10 $1,638 +1.12
620–628 626 5 260.00–270.00 $262.49 $1,643 -8.75
670–680 675 2 247.50–250.00 $248.74 $1,679 —
726–735 728 4 240.00–247.50 $241.89 $1,761 -3.11
790–795 791 4 217.50–227.50 $224.99 $1,780 +2.49
910 910 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,820 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 322.50 $322.50 $951 —
320 320 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,040 —
368–395 378 5 340.00–342.50 $341.04 $1,289 —
400–430 414 4 325.00–337.50 $330.63 $1,369 —
460–495 480 4 315.00–325.00 $319.35 $1,533 —
500 500 1 292.50 $292.50 $1,462 —
625 625 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,500 +5.00
720 720 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,602 +5.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,154 —
450–480 470 3 302.50–307.50 $304.10 $1,429 —
630 630 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,260 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460–490 475 2 302.50–317.50 $309.76 $1,471 —
715 715 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,537 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1440–1555 1498 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 2,500.00–2,925.00 $2,720.66 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–1565 1343 80-85% 14 140.00–154.00 $144.99 $1,947 +19.19
1230–1440 1359 80-85% 8 127.00–139.00 $134.93 $1,834 +19.95
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855–1265 1030 85-90% 3 104.00–109.00 $106.20 $1,094 +17.56
870–1230 1048 85-90% 4 111.00–118.00 $115.25 $1,208 +26.61
985–1170 1087 85-90% 5 87.00–96.00 $91.15 $991 -14.88
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440–1775 1566 75-80% 5 140.00–150.00 $144.72 $2,266 —
1860 1860 75-80% 1 138.00 $138.00 $2,567 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1560–2370 1884 7 152.00–157.00 $155.13 $2,923 —
2575 2575 1 140.00 $140.00 $3,605 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1060 1060 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,750.00 $1,750.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1130 1130 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,850.00 $1,850.00
1210 1210 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 3,000.00 $3,000.00
1260–1370 1315 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,785.00–1,800.00 $1,792.19
1275–1580 1473 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,580.00–2,100.00 $1,950.00
1595 1595 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00
1735 1735 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,425.00 $2,425.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
770 770 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00
775 775 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00

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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
1128 1128 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 3,000.00 $3,000.00 —
1240 1240 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,075.00 $2,075.00 —
1195–1565 1393 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,900.00–2,750.00 $2,405.08 —
1565 1565 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,810.00 $2,810.00 —
1765 1765 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,675.00 $2,675.00 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1265 1265 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,075.00 $2,075.00 —

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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.