Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards Market Report, Richmond, KY

Richmond, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, December 1, 2023

1,301 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $204.46/cwt -14.04 vs last sale · ≈ $1,987/hd at 972 lb · 216 head
light 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $215.96/cwt -6.03 vs last sale · ≈ $1,967/hd at 911 lb · 179 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $216.42/cwt +46.42 vs last sale · ≈ $1,432/hd at 662 lb · 95 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,301 1,000 1,685
Feeder cattle 1,219 937 1,555
Slaughter cattle 71 53 115
Replacement cattle 11 10 15

Market comments — USDA reporter

No comparison to last week due to be closed for the thanksgiving holiday.

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
418–437 424 6 242.50–247.50 $244.22 $1,035 -0.10
460–471 469 5 231.00–242.50 $233.26 $1,094 -11.74
498 value added 498 4 260.00 $260.00 $1,295 —
565–585 574 16 235.00–249.00 $238.16 $1,367 +3.16
600–632 614 11 208.00–221.00 $215.76 $1,325 —
617 value added 617 4 236.00 $236.00 $1,456 +2.00
650–683 679 8 204.00–211.00 $210.16 $1,427 -18.84
690 value added 690 7 222.00 $222.00 $1,532 —
705–742 724 8 201.00–211.00 $206.13 $1,492 +5.29
768 768 9 217.00 $217.00 $1,667 —
804 value added 804 91 224.75 $224.75 $1,807 —
832 832 2 206.00 $206.00 $1,714 —
865 865 6 205.00 $205.00 $1,773 —
878 value added 878 64 219.75 $219.75 $1,929 -1.51
906–920 value added 911 179 214.25–217.00 $215.96 $1,967 -6.03
971–972 value added 972 216 203.95–205.00 $204.46 $1,987 -14.04
1005 1005 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,920 —
1090 1090 1 193.00 $193.00 $2,104 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–370 360 2 220.00 $220.00 $792 -2.90
420 420 1 215.00 $215.00 $903 —
452–471 464 12 223.00–228.00 $224.24 $1,040 +9.80
505 505 1 204.00 $204.00 $1,030 -6.00
550–590 579 4 217.00–229.00 $221.25 $1,281 +11.25
620 620 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,116 -10.68
673–693 690 29 180.00–196.00 $193.26 $1,333 +3.26
711–745 734 9 180.00–194.00 $184.52 $1,354 -2.98
750 750 1 182.00 $182.00 $1,365 —
810 810 1 186.00 $186.00 $1,507 —
860 860 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,505 —
940 940 1 184.00 $184.00 $1,730 —
986 986 4 165.00 $165.00 $1,627 -19.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 2 231.00 $231.00 $1,247 —
750–765 759 5 185.00–190.00 $186.98 $1,419 —
825 825 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,526 —
1145 1145 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,729 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
617 617 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,111 +3.51
675 675 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,215 -8.74
700 700 2 160.00 $160.00 $1,120 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 1 206.00 $206.00 $1,215 +11.00
702 702 2 171.00 $171.00 $1,200 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815 815 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,206 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
710 710 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,136 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 fancy 210 2 255.00 $255.00 $536 —
275 275 2 222.50 $222.50 $612 +3.18
342 342 2 225.00 $225.00 $770 +22.50
360–395 366 8 223.00–237.50 $226.65 $830 —
412–425 418 12 212.00–230.00 $219.61 $918 +10.29
465–487 477 11 190.00–200.00 $197.48 $942 -10.52
505–525 511 10 192.00–205.00 $197.26 $1,008 +7.30
568 value added 568 6 212.00 $212.00 $1,204 —
564–597 578 24 190.00–205.00 $198.47 $1,147 —
606 606 8 194.00 $194.00 $1,176 +22.71
660 660 16 200.00 $200.00 $1,320 +30.00
662 value added 662 79 219.75 $219.75 $1,455 —
750 750 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,275 +23.42
810 810 1 157.00 $157.00 $1,272 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 2 187.50–192.50 $190.00 $532 —
305–313 311 5 180.00–197.50 $194.07 $604 +4.75
355 355 1 190.00 $190.00 $674 +6.68
405–435 421 16 190.00–200.00 $195.85 $825 +2.62
480–493 489 5 179.00–185.00 $180.80 $884 -0.64
520–530 526 17 180.00–185.00 $183.54 $965 +13.54
550–588 578 10 176.00–190.00 $183.89 $1,063 +14.48
615 615 1 182.00 $182.00 $1,119 +22.63
652–693 685 10 170.00–175.00 $170.95 $1,171 +13.37
725–730 728 2 144.00–152.50 $148.26 $1,079 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 1 182.50 $182.50 $785 -6.50
450–455 453 3 180.00–185.00 $183.35 $831 +3.35
565–580 570 3 170.00–180.00 $176.61 $1,007 —
605–637 612 11 185.00–195.00 $190.40 $1,165 +27.87
650–695 680 3 160.00–167.00 $162.23 $1,103 -7.77
785 785 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,178 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490–491 491 6 160.00–170.00 $168.34 $827 +9.34
520–540 530 2 168.00–175.00 $171.43 $909 +21.43
565–570 568 2 170.00 $170.00 $966 —
645 645 1 145.00 $145.00 $935 —
945 945 1 104.00 $104.00 $983 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
497 497 2 170.00 $170.00 $845 —
632 632 2 175.00 $175.00 $1,106 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
585 585 1 137.00 $137.00 $801 —
653 653 3 132.50 $132.50 $865 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
600–610 605 2 152.50–155.00 $153.74 $930 —
Medium 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
560 560 1 117.50 $117.50 $658 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 240.00 $240.00 $756 ±0.00
355–367 362 8 235.00–250.00 $243.23 $880 -8.72
375 fancy 375 1 265.00 $265.00 $994 —
405 fancy 405 6 261.00 $261.00 $1,057 —
442–446 445 8 234.00–244.00 $241.52 $1,075 -2.44
456–475 461 4 230.00–235.00 $231.29 $1,066 —
503–535 512 5 215.00–225.00 $219.45 $1,124 +13.80
552–557 555 8 205.00–216.00 $210.48 $1,168 +10.48
580 fancy 580 3 235.00 $235.00 $1,363 —
610–649 640 9 201.00–215.00 $203.27 $1,301 +15.27
650–658 656 5 190.00–202.00 $192.38 $1,262 +19.41
797 797 4 163.00 $163.00 $1,299 —
810 810 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,256 —
886 886 14 159.00 $159.00 $1,409 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 3 227.00 $227.00 $545 —
435 435 1 215.00 $215.00 $935 -3.24
460–475 468 2 212.50 $212.50 $994 +3.97
565 565 1 197.00 $197.00 $1,113 —
650–660 658 4 180.00–184.00 $180.99 $1,191 +20.99
720–730 728 4 139.00 $139.00 $1,012 —
755 755 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,004 —
800 800 1 132.00 $132.00 $1,056 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
492 492 5 229.00 $229.00 $1,127 —
565 565 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,074 +15.00
711–723 717 6 155.00–159.00 $157.02 $1,126 —
855 855 1 143.00 $143.00 $1,223 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 1 210.00 $210.00 $966 —
640 640 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,088 —
672 672 5 171.00 $171.00 $1,149 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 1 160.00 $160.00 $736 —
645 645 1 150.00 $150.00 $968 —
730 730 1 133.00 $133.00 $971 —
985 985 1 122.50 $122.50 $1,207 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 155.00 $155.00 $450 —
540 540 1 125.00 $125.00 $675 —
697 697 2 150.00 $150.00 $1,046 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
615–620 618 2 170.00–174.00 $172.01 $1,063 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
740–810 775 85-90% 2 49.00–50.00 $49.52 $384 —
725–1085 910 85-90% 4 64.00–70.00 $66.81 $608 +0.30
855–1120 963 85-90% 6 85.00–92.50 $87.89 $846 +9.29
815–1250 1019 85-90% 14 72.00–83.00 $78.56 $801 -11.14
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1410 1215 80-85% 16 89.00–98.00 $92.76 $1,127 —
1200–1340 1287 80-85% 5 77.00–86.50 $83.72 $1,077 +2.30
1515 1515 80-85% 1 102.50 $102.50 $1,553 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1450–1505 1476 75-80% 4 84.00–91.00 $87.34 $1,289 —
1310–1740 1514 75-80% 8 95.00–101.50 $98.45 $1,491 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1590–1670 1630 2 93.00–109.00 $100.80 $1,643 —
1695–1870 1775 5 113.00–119.00 $116.27 $2,064 —
1655–2120 1908 5 121.50–128.50 $125.16 $2,388 —

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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)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 785.00 $785.00
1165 1165 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 925.00 $925.00
1375 1375 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,150.00 $1,150.00

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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
1505 1505 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —
1515 1515 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,485.00 $1,485.00 —

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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.