Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards Market Report

Richmond, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, December 13, 2024

949 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 $259.24/cwt +19.69 vs last sale · ≈ $1,996/hd at 770 lb · 74 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $247.55/cwt +1.05 vs last sale · ≈ $2,168/hd at 876 lb · 62 head
light 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $251.75/cwt +27.58 vs last sale · ≈ $2,346/hd at 932 lb · 62 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 949 798 877
Feeder cattle 797 764 799
Slaughter cattle 74 26 70
Replacement cattle 78 8 8

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers sold 3.00 to 5.00 higher. Yearling steers sold 2.00 to 3.00 higher. Good demand for all feeder classes. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 4.00 lower with slaughter bulls 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
308 308 2 327.50 $327.50 $1,009 —
360 360 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,152 —
352–385 fancy 365 5 372.50–390.00 $381.02 $1,391 —
405 value added 405 1 375.00 $375.00 $1,519 —
410–432 426 6 345.00–350.00 $345.81 $1,473 +25.64
460–467 463 5 315.00–330.00 $321.05 $1,486 -1.51
500–542 532 25 305.00–315.00 $312.10 $1,660 -5.55
551–565 value added 553 6 297.50–305.00 $303.72 $1,680 —
555–599 583 8 282.50–285.00 $284.11 $1,656 +16.00
600–636 622 10 270.00–285.00 $277.85 $1,728 —
610–635 value added 631 8 292.50–297.50 $293.10 $1,849 +16.70
680–692 688 17 250.00–262.50 $255.13 $1,755 +7.63
705 705 3 252.50 $252.50 $1,780 +8.62
760 760 6 245.00 $245.00 $1,862 +5.45
771 value added 771 68 260.50 $260.50 $2,008 —
870 870 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,914 —
876 value added 876 61 248.00 $248.00 $2,172 +1.50
932 value added 932 62 251.75 $251.75 $2,346 +27.50
975 975 1 210.00 $210.00 $2,048 —
1007 value added 1007 59 244.80 $244.80 $2,465 +21.05
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 1 267.50 $267.50 $1,458 —
560–597 577 5 245.00–260.00 $251.86 $1,453 -18.14
605–641 632 4 240.00–245.00 $243.80 $1,541 —
655–665 662 3 240.00–252.50 $244.12 $1,616 —
712–738 728 5 232.50–237.50 $234.46 $1,707 —
770 770 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,732 ±0.00
860 860 3 200.00 $200.00 $1,720 —
1050 1050 1 205.00 $205.00 $2,152 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–430 418 2 315.00–320.00 $317.57 $1,327 —
580 580 1 252.50 $252.50 $1,464 —
645 645 3 242.50–257.50 $248.33 $1,602 —
741 741 3 230.00 $230.00 $1,704 —
870–877 876 9 202.50–215.00 $210.28 $1,842 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 1 297.50 $297.50 $1,264 —
615 615 4 220.00 $220.00 $1,353 —
705 705 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,463 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 1 200.00 $200.00 $970 —
555 555 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,235 —
625 625 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,188 —
735 735 1 197.50 $197.50 $1,452 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725 725 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,559 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 295.00 $295.00 $634 —
277 277 2 317.50 $317.50 $879 +32.50
330 fancy 330 1 292.50 $292.50 $965 —
320–345 333 2 275.00–285.00 $280.19 $933 +1.11
360 fancy 360 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,134 —
365–392 373 8 290.00–292.50 $290.66 $1,084 +23.87
400–410 406 4 262.50–272.50 $269.36 $1,094 +11.86
422 value added 422 5 280.00 $280.00 $1,182 -12.50
470–485 480 6 262.50–277.50 $271.22 $1,302 +17.48
460–495 value added 481 10 285.00–297.50 $290.29 $1,396 +11.29
505–507 value added 506 8 277.50–282.50 $280.00 $1,417 +1.02
505–535 520 11 255.00–272.50 $264.27 $1,374 +15.98
554 value added 554 6 272.50 $272.50 $1,510 —
559–567 560 11 250.00–267.50 $264.28 $1,480 +17.56
600–635 622 35 227.50–245.00 $234.51 $1,459 +13.02
733 733 6 236.00 $236.00 $1,730 +7.42
776–777 776 7 212.50–224.00 $220.71 $1,713 —
831 831 3 190.00 $190.00 $1,579 —
902–942 922 4 200.00–205.00 $202.45 $1,867 —
1035 1035 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,966 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 1 267.50 $267.50 $1,030 —
440 440 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,056 +5.85
455–462 460 3 250.00–257.50 $252.47 $1,161 +12.47
507–538 521 9 237.50–242.50 $240.00 $1,250 +8.37
560 560 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,358 +22.50
625–648 640 7 212.50–222.50 $216.36 $1,385 +16.36
720–740 730 2 195.00–200.00 $197.47 $1,442 -8.80
760 760 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,558 +10.10
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,334 +19.57
550–580 561 4 240.00–255.00 $246.22 $1,381 —
645 645 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,322 -10.40
655–680 672 3 200.00–215.00 $210.12 $1,412 —
736 736 8 230.00 $230.00 $1,693 —
885 885 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,726 —
920 920 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,702 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–395 375 2 230.00–240.00 $234.73 $880 —
400 400 1 225.00 $225.00 $900 +3.33
562 562 2 227.50 $227.50 $1,279 +32.50
600 600 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,200 —
680 680 1 202.50 $202.50 $1,377 +7.50
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
572 572 2 237.50 $237.50 $1,358 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
237 237 2 335.00 $335.00 $794 —
260 260 1 335.00 $335.00 $871 —
320 fancy 320 1 367.50 $367.50 $1,176 —
387 387 2 337.50 $337.50 $1,306 +15.00
400–420 407 5 320.00–335.00 $330.50 $1,345 —
460–480 474 4 310.00–325.00 $316.93 $1,502 -13.18
515 fancy 515 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,648 —
507–542 526 13 292.50–312.50 $305.79 $1,608 +9.80
560–590 568 4 265.00–282.50 $271.17 $1,540 -2.33
603–635 612 7 250.00–270.00 $252.89 $1,548 -14.84
655–657 656 3 255.00–262.50 $260.01 $1,706 -7.46
715–720 718 2 220.00–237.50 $228.72 $1,642 -8.78
750–775 767 3 215.00–230.00 $223.32 $1,713 —
805–840 829 10 185.00–200.00 $196.48 $1,629 -8.52
950–970 957 3 192.50–197.50 $194.19 $1,858 +9.19
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–335 320 4 290.00–310.00 $304.77 $975 —
372 372 5 315.00 $315.00 $1,172 —
415 415 1 307.50 $307.50 $1,276 —
495 495 4 305.00 $305.00 $1,510 +40.00
515 515 1 257.50 $257.50 $1,326 -18.50
555–575 562 3 255.00–270.00 $260.12 $1,462 +2.62
645 645 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,564 ±0.00
655 655 3 235.00 $235.00 $1,539 -7.50
950 950 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,639 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 297.50 $297.50 $848 —
420 420 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,260 —
472 472 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,416 -17.50
515–535 525 2 267.50–270.00 $268.73 $1,411 +8.73
570–595 586 4 247.50–250.00 $249.39 $1,461 -11.61
617–636 630 6 240.00–242.50 $240.42 $1,515 +0.42
670–685 678 2 240.00–242.50 $241.26 $1,636 +8.73
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
970–1020 990 (<2 yrs)N/A 5 1,875.00–1,950.00 $1,900.00 —
1315–1530 1423 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 2,075.00–2,150.00 $2,109.67 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,274 -20.00
603–640 612 4 210.00–220.00 $217.39 $1,330 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
445 445 2 285.00 $285.00 $1,268 —
570 570 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,368 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–1155 1137 80-85% 3 99.00–101.00 $100.35 $1,141 -3.65
1075–1425 1244 80-85% 28 102.00–111.50 $106.87 $1,329 —
1155–1390 1268 80-85% 6 112.50–119.00 $116.63 $1,479 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875–1185 1011 85-90% 8 91.00–99.00 $94.96 $960 —
945–1075 1013 85-90% 6 103.50–110.00 $106.30 $1,077 —
965–1210 1062 85-90% 3 83.50–89.50 $86.35 $917 -18.12
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1445–1645 1545 75-80% 5 115.50–123.00 $117.76 $1,819 —
1285–1940 1598 75-80% 7 104.00–114.00 $109.52 $1,750 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350–1755 1598 3 138.00–144.00 $141.45 $2,260 —
1340–1890 1615 2 133.00–135.00 $133.83 $2,161 —
1750–1820 1787 3 153.00–158.00 $155.99 $2,788 —

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
760 thin fleshed 760 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,275.00 $1,275.00
795 795 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00
850–1210 1007 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11 1,525.00–2,350.00 $1,937.03
1015 1015 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,775.00 $1,775.00
920–1315 1168 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,400.00–2,025.00 $1,790.64
1015–1330 1173 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,825.00–2,400.00 $2,151.12
1005–1575 1187 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 15 1,525.00–2,300.00 $1,899.52
1220 1220 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00
1130–1460 1245 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,300.00–2,450.00 $2,355.76
1070–1505 1249 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 1,650.00–2,125.00 $1,855.21
1320–1360 1340 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,675.00–1,700.00 $1,687.69
1425 1425 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
885 885 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,775.00 $1,775.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1100 1100 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,550.00 $2,550.00 —
1295 1295 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,150.00 $2,150.00 —
1170–1455 1313 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,550.00–2,750.00 $2,639.14 —
1100–1600 1368 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,650.00–3,075.00 $2,667.48 —
1200–1505 1388 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,925.00–2,225.00 $2,129.80 —
1520 1520 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00 —

↑ Back to top

Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1415 1415 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00 —

↑ 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.