Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, March 24, 2021

913 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Bluegrass Stockyard report →

heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $134.11/cwt +7.25 vs last sale · ≈ $1,045/hd at 779 lb · 73 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $129.17/cwt +3.38 vs last sale · ≈ $740/hd at 573 lb · 48 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $121.36/cwt -1.46 vs last sale · ≈ $756/hd at 623 lb · 43 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 913 694 500
Feeder cattle 755 591 373
Slaughter cattle 101 77 110
Replacement cattle 57 26 17

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers and heifers under 600 lbs sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher with good demand for weaned packages. Yearlings limited comparison. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold mostly steady with moderate demand.

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
290 290 1 162.50 $162.50 $471 —
350–385 368 14 157.50–166.00 $160.94 $592 +3.44
405–411 410 5 155.00–159.50 $158.61 $650 +2.21
402–448 value added 422 18 160.00–175.00 $166.76 $704 +2.56
450–495 478 4 148.00–153.00 $150.85 $721 —
450–495 value added 478 27 159.00–170.00 $166.04 $794 +2.69
520–535 524 4 140.00–150.00 $147.45 $773 +0.61
515–544 value added 530 20 152.50–170.00 $160.17 $849 +6.17
562–585 566 6 143.00–151.00 $148.46 $840 +8.96
562–585 value added 568 11 152.00–158.00 $155.46 $883 +5.73
600–634 value added 620 19 141.00–153.00 $146.17 $906 +1.36
605–635 620 2 132.00–134.00 $133.02 $825 -0.91
650–680 671 5 129.00–137.00 $132.57 $890 -0.20
654–680 value added 672 22 137.50–141.00 $139.61 $938 -0.86
706–738 value added 716 11 127.00–131.00 $128.17 $918 -2.25
770 770 1 124.00 $124.00 $955 ±0.00
760–797 value added 779 72 128.50–135.00 $134.25 $1,046 +6.25
815–821 819 5 120.50 $120.50 $987 -1.09
870 870 2 115.00 $115.00 $1,000 —
928 928 3 112.00 $112.00 $1,039 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565 565 1 134.00 $134.00 $757 —
653 653 4 132.00 $132.00 $862 —
711 711 4 124.00 $124.00 $882 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 1 145.00 $145.00 $450 —
550–582 567 4 130.00–136.00 $134.55 $763 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
287 287 2 137.50 $137.50 $395 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
212 value added 212 2 150.00 $150.00 $318 —
260–295 278 2 135.00–137.50 $136.17 $379 +5.17
316–340 value added 320 9 140.00–145.00 $142.20 $455 -1.08
305–340 322 5 130.00–137.50 $133.47 $430 -2.73
350–395 value added 371 13 139.00–144.00 $141.70 $526 +2.16
350–390 375 3 131.00–137.50 $135.25 $507 +3.87
400–430 419 5 130.00–135.00 $131.97 $553 +1.49
400–445 value added 431 21 136.00–146.00 $138.43 $597 +2.85
450–465 value added 455 11 136.00–146.00 $138.55 $630 +6.56
461–490 475 9 129.00–134.00 $132.30 $628 +4.22
500–540 value added 521 36 127.50–132.50 $129.55 $675 +3.75
505–540 525 3 118.00–125.00 $121.73 $639 +0.13
555–585 561 5 120.00–124.00 $122.37 $686 +1.52
552–595 value added 574 43 126.50–132.00 $129.96 $746 +1.70
607–645 value added 615 23 120.00–130.00 $126.57 $778 +2.00
600–644 632 20 110.00–119.00 $115.37 $729 +0.73
670–680 675 2 114.00–117.00 $115.49 $780 +7.49
678 value added 678 3 126.00 $126.00 $854 —
700–718 711 5 109.00–110.00 $109.61 $779 +6.78
765 765 1 115.00 $115.00 $880 +1.50
760–775 769 7 101.00–107.00 $103.27 $794 -10.23
815–827 821 4 93.00–98.00 $95.52 $784 —
835 835 4 102.50 $102.50 $856 —
907 907 2 98.50 $98.50 $893 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
411–445 424 7 110.00–116.00 $111.80 $474 -8.20
452–495 474 7 119.00–127.00 $125.23 $594 +6.23
565–595 580 2 113.00–117.50 $115.19 $668 —
625–635 632 3 97.50–107.00 $100.63 $636 -1.39
685 685 1 105.00 $105.00 $719 +1.02
705–730 715 4 85.00–89.00 $87.73 $627 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515–520 518 2 119.00–121.00 $120.00 $622 -3.00
564 value added 564 7 124.00 $124.00 $699 —
675 675 2 106.00 $106.00 $716 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
445 445 1 102.50 $102.50 $456 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 155.00 $155.00 $356 —
250 250 2 147.50 $147.50 $369 —
300–340 319 4 152.50–162.50 $157.48 $502 +2.48
380 380 1 163.00 $163.00 $619 +9.00
415–445 430 2 142.50–147.50 $145.09 $624 +1.46
426–447 value added 439 8 150.00–160.00 $155.68 $683 —
455–490 474 4 140.00–151.00 $145.75 $691 +1.80
475–485 value added 483 8 153.00–162.50 $157.54 $761 +3.88
522–525 523 3 145.00–147.00 $145.67 $762 +5.61
540 value added 540 2 154.00 $154.00 $832 —
550–555 value added 554 4 154.00–155.00 $154.75 $857 +5.75
556–585 564 5 143.00–147.00 $144.23 $813 +5.15
600–610 value added 605 17 126.00–136.50 $133.88 $810 —
640 640 1 130.00 $130.00 $832 +11.00
656–663 value added 658 10 128.00–135.00 $130.61 $859 —
675 675 1 125.00 $125.00 $844 +4.99
715–745 734 5 104.00–112.00 $109.21 $802 -5.79
782–785 783 3 107.00–109.00 $108.33 $848 —
810 810 1 101.00 $101.00 $818 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 2 137.50 $137.50 $296 -2.50
265–285 278 3 139.00–147.50 $144.80 $403 +3.37
320 320 1 142.50 $142.50 $456 -1.50
400 400 1 142.50 $142.50 $570 +6.75
455 455 1 135.00 $135.00 $614 —
515–537 528 7 125.00–130.00 $126.70 $669 —
585 585 1 123.00 $123.00 $720 -5.00
795 795 1 100.00 $100.00 $795 —
855 855 1 92.00 $92.00 $787 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 130.00 $130.00 $260 —
395 395 1 123.00 $123.00 $486 —
527 527 2 119.00 $119.00 $627 —
560 560 1 116.00 $116.00 $650 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
640–648 646 4 115.00–121.00 $116.49 $753 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1550 1550 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 1,410.00 $1,410.00 —
1905 1905 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)N/A 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040 1040 80-85% 1 49.00 $49.00 $510 —
965–1490 1210 80-85% 13 52.00–59.50 $57.29 $693 —
1095–1635 1320 80-85% 23 60.50–73.00 $63.81 $842 +0.92
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–1320 1000 85-90% 16 39.00–49.00 $44.22 $442 -8.31
885–1220 1064 85-90% 5 49.00–53.50 $50.52 $538 —
1070 1070 85-90% 1 58.00 $58.00 $621 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260–1370 1305 75-80% 4 55.00–59.00 $57.15 $746 —
1285–1795 1509 75-80% 14 60.50–67.00 $63.43 $957 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200 1200 1 75.50 $75.50 $906 —
1230–1330 1280 2 82.00 $82.00 $1,050 —
1475–1930 1760 5 89.00–99.50 $93.48 $1,645 -1.45

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
769 769 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 800.00 $800.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
985 985 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 79.00 $79.00 $778
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
635 635 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 625.00 $625.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
930–1230 1066 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 785.00–1,125.00 $975.08
1235–1255 1245 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 800.00 $800.00
1095–1425 1281 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 850.00–1,060.00 $916.08
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
785–945 865 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 700.00 $700.00
1060 1060 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 625.00 $625.00
1260 1260 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 675.00 $675.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
747–890 795 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 500.00–600.00 $562.67
1135 1135 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 585.00 $585.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
635 635 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 525.00 $525.00
775 775 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 650.00 $650.00

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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
1090–1465 1275 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 1,075.00–1,260.00 $1,159.79 —
1580 1580 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 1 95.00 $95.00 $309 —

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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.