Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards Market Report, Richmond, KY

Richmond, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, September 29, 2023

1,344 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $251.88/cwt +18.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,996/hd at 792 lb · 168 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $252.97/cwt -18.10 vs last sale · ≈ $1,620/hd at 640 lb · 74 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $215.25/cwt ≈ $1,888/hd at 877 lb · 63 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,344 1,147 993
Feeder cattle 1,183 1,077 862
Slaughter cattle 97 66 102
Replacement cattle 64 4 29

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale: Feeder steers sold 4.00 to 6.00 lower with best demand being the weaned/preconditioned packages. Feeder heifers sold down 6.00 to 8.00. Feeder bulls sold down 3.00 to 5.00. Slaughter cows and bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower across the board with the exception of a few high quality/high dressing animals. Supply included: 88% Feeder Cattle (60% Steers, 6% Dairy Steers, 24% Heifers, 9% Bulls, 0% Dairy Heifers); 7% Slaughter Cattle (91% Cows, 9% Bulls); 5% Replacement Cattle (39% Bred Cows, 61% Cow-Calf Pairs). Feeder cattle supply over 600 lbs was 74%.

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
210–240 225 2 227.50 $227.50 $512 —
250 fancy 250 1 267.50 $267.50 $669 —
270 270 1 220.00 $220.00 $594 -45.00
425–430 427 3 230.00–245.00 $239.96 $1,025 -0.04
432–447 value added 443 10 250.00–267.50 $253.53 $1,123 —
471–482 474 7 222.50–237.50 $232.08 $1,100 —
477–478 value added 478 9 257.50–264.00 $262.56 $1,255 -12.44
510–543 531 12 217.50–238.00 $230.15 $1,222 -30.85
555–587 566 19 220.00–238.00 $230.91 $1,307 -24.09
585 value added 585 5 255.00 $255.00 $1,492 -19.00
600–645 626 18 217.50–232.50 $224.89 $1,408 —
645 value added 645 56 262.00 $262.00 $1,690 -9.07
667 667 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,467 -13.16
729 729 28 214.00 $214.00 $1,560 -26.61
752–792 772 4 214.00–231.00 $222.28 $1,716 -10.20
793 value added 793 164 252.60 $252.60 $2,003 +3.60
845 value added 845 59 247.50 $247.50 $2,091 +12.52
859 value added 859 41 233.00 $233.00 $2,001 —
865–870 867 3 210.00–230.00 $219.16 $1,900 +0.16
901–945 910 6 206.00–216.00 $209.06 $1,902 -0.89
911 value added 911 56 229.80 $229.80 $2,093 -4.54
950 950 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,900 —
950 value added 950 55 225.10 $225.10 $2,138 +1.54
1061 1061 13 190.00 $190.00 $2,016 -4.00
1083 value added 1083 56 217.75 $217.75 $2,358 —
1115 1115 1 194.00 $194.00 $2,163 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 1 217.50 $217.50 $663 —
355 355 1 180.00 $180.00 $639 -50.00
445 445 2 210.00 $210.00 $934 —
465 465 1 190.00 $190.00 $884 —
510 510 1 197.50 $197.50 $1,007 -23.74
580 580 2 191.00 $191.00 $1,108 —
670 670 1 173.00 $173.00 $1,159 -47.00
715–740 731 4 170.00–192.00 $176.07 $1,287 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555–585 570 2 150.00–162.50 $156.41 $892 —
750 750 1 167.50 $167.50 $1,256 —
800 800 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,200 —
855–870 863 2 140.00–152.00 $145.95 $1,260 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 177.50 $177.50 $515 —
535 535 3 195.00 $195.00 $1,043 -5.00
705 705 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,163 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
575 575 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,251 —
652 652 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,239 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 192.50 $192.50 $751 -27.50
412 412 2 220.00 $220.00 $906 —
496 496 4 203.00 $203.00 $1,007 -19.51
521 521 14 231.00 $231.00 $1,204 -10.55
611 611 3 225.00 $225.00 $1,375 -1.18
725 725 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,240 —
877 value added 877 63 215.25 $215.25 $1,888 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 192.50 $192.50 $462 —
288 288 3 180.00 $180.00 $518 —
315 315 1 177.50 $177.50 $559 -37.50
385–396 394 7 180.00–200.00 $186.77 $736 -16.23
415–447 437 6 190.00–199.00 $196.21 $857 -4.79
452–495 478 11 179.00–200.00 $186.71 $892 -24.10
511–517 513 7 190.00–195.00 $193.56 $993 -22.93
585–597 590 6 167.00–177.00 $172.20 $1,016 -32.80
625 625 18 185.00 $185.00 $1,156 -18.68
655–690 665 4 162.50–169.00 $166.10 $1,105 -33.90
700–739 733 18 150.00–161.00 $160.20 $1,174 -24.13
750 750 2 138.00 $138.00 $1,035 -48.17
897 897 4 145.00 $145.00 $1,301 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 150.00 $150.00 $300 —
380 380 1 155.00 $155.00 $589 —
417–440 432 6 160.00–167.00 $162.79 $703 -15.21
455–495 475 5 157.50–170.00 $164.66 $782 -20.36
505–535 517 6 160.00–174.00 $169.89 $878 —
550 550 1 147.50 $147.50 $811 -31.50
615–630 623 2 140.00–150.00 $145.06 $904 -38.04
667–685 672 4 140.00–160.00 $149.92 $1,007 —
710 710 2 140.00 $140.00 $994 -37.50
842 842 2 147.00 $147.00 $1,238 —
930 930 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,209 —
1005 1005 1 76.00 $76.00 $764 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 171.00 $171.00 $581 —
420–445 425 7 165.00–187.50 $179.71 $764 —
455–485 462 9 163.00–187.50 $175.24 $810 —
525 525 1 167.50 $167.50 $879 —
570 570 1 170.00 $170.00 $969 —
610 610 1 156.00 $156.00 $952 —
650–685 662 3 150.00 $150.00 $993 —
720 720 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,008 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
502 502 2 203.00 $203.00 $1,019 —
581–585 583 5 188.00–200.00 $195.18 $1,138 -9.07
611 611 3 177.50 $177.50 $1,085 —
674 674 5 171.00 $171.00 $1,153 -10.00
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430–445 438 2 140.00–150.00 $144.91 $635 —
453–490 466 6 141.00–147.50 $144.33 $673 —
540–545 543 2 130.00–155.00 $142.44 $773 —
725 725 1 120.00 $120.00 $870 -40.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
150 150 2 275.00 $275.00 —
Medium 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625 625 1 153.00 $153.00 $956 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 2 245.00 $245.00 $551 —
265 265 2 230.00 $230.00 $610 —
360 360 1 237.50 $237.50 $855 -12.50
384–395 fancy 386 6 260.00–275.00 $262.56 $1,013 —
425 425 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,020 —
456–495 479 11 210.00–232.00 $223.30 $1,070 -12.70
508 fancy 508 4 247.50 $247.50 $1,257 —
505–530 513 7 229.00–237.50 $231.32 $1,187 +19.38
552–591 565 16 209.00–225.00 $216.64 $1,224 +5.64
605–635 625 3 206.00–208.00 $207.35 $1,296 +1.35
682 682 2 199.00 $199.00 $1,357 -1.00
707 707 2 176.00 $176.00 $1,244 -14.00
755 755 2 172.00 $172.00 $1,299 -22.00
945 945 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,323 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–230 220 2 200.00–220.00 $209.55 $461 —
300–315 305 3 190.00–210.00 $203.11 $619 —
437 437 2 190.00 $190.00 $830 —
480–495 490 3 207.50–210.00 $209.18 $1,025 -2.21
515–545 530 2 200.00–204.00 $202.06 $1,071 +15.82
575–595 582 3 172.50–182.00 $178.76 $1,040 -23.48
635 635 1 192.50 $192.50 $1,222 —
655–695 674 5 168.00–175.00 $171.34 $1,155 -21.66
700–745 723 2 162.50–182.00 $171.95 $1,243 +1.95
895 895 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,432 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 150.00 $150.00 $412 —
340 340 1 182.50 $182.50 $620 —
365 365 1 140.00 $140.00 $511 —
500 500 1 177.40 $177.40 $887 —
735 735 3 164.00 $164.00 $1,205 +4.00
790 790 1 125.00 $125.00 $988 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 197.50 $197.50 $741 —
532 532 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,011 —
610 610 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,159 —
790 790 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,284 —
805 805 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,308 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 120.00 $120.00 $258 —
350 350 1 160.00 $160.00 $560 —
695 695 1 127.00 $127.00 $883 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
595 595 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,130 -5.41

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1295 1101 80-85% 8 68.50–79.50 $75.32 $829 —
975–1400 1212 80-85% 30 80.00–89.50 $85.77 $1,040 —
855–1575 1258 80-85% 35 90.00–99.00 $94.64 $1,191 -5.53
1165–1400 1301 80-85% 7 100.00–114.00 $103.06 $1,341 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830–930 886 85-90% 4 82.00–85.00 $83.27 $738 —
775–1065 944 85-90% 7 71.00–78.00 $75.24 $710 —
940–995 968 85-90% 2 66.00–69.50 $67.80 $656 -9.21
925–1245 1085 85-90% 2 30.00–44.00 $35.97 $390 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1495 1495 75-80% 1 82.50 $82.50 $1,233 -27.00
1470–2085 1702 75-80% 9 93.50–98.50 $95.34 $1,623 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1340 1340 1 99.00 $99.00 $1,327 —
1395–1645 1543 3 109.00–115.00 $112.58 $1,737 —
1290–2245 1789 7 122.00–137.00 $127.63 $2,283 —

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
895 895 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 875.00 $875.00
900–1330 1115 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 700.00–1,225.00 $1,013.12
790–1445 1164 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 14 435.00–1,410.00 $1,109.54
1525 1525 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,460.00 $1,460.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1235–1420 1308 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 1,400.00–1,500.00 $1,459.78 —
1520 1520 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,675.00 $1,675.00 —
1455–1690 1534 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 12 1,310.00–1,800.00 $1,605.29 —
1505–1760 1668 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 1,510.00–2,000.00 $1,778.46 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 380 1 72.50 $72.50 $276 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
715–738 736 10 81.00–109.00 $106.28 $782 —
944 944 60 182.40 $182.40 $1,722 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
655 655 1 132.50 $132.50 $868 —

↑ Back to top

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.