Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report, Mt. Sterling, KY

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, September 8, 2021

1,025 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $164.50/cwt +26.82 vs last sale · ≈ $1,215/hd at 739 lb · 141 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $157.08/cwt +0.33 vs last sale · ≈ $1,201/hd at 765 lb · 111 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $146.83/cwt +2.86 vs last sale · ≈ $752/hd at 512 lb · 79 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,025 563 674
Feeder cattle 902 487 588
Slaughter cattle 80 57 60
Replacement cattle 43 19 26

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers under 600 lbs sold 1.00 to 3.00 lower with more new crop fleshy offerings on the market compared to last week. Very good demand for yearling packages. Heifers sold unevenly steady with good demand. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold 2.00 to 4.00 lower with moderate demand.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
327–345 333 3 160.00–161.00 $160.65 $535 —
387 387 2 155.00 $155.00 $600 -12.50
400–420 410 2 151.00–157.50 $154.33 $633 +3.33
405–435 value added 418 6 160.00–169.00 $162.37 $679 -13.19
450–485 value added 462 9 156.00–170.00 $162.15 $749 -3.91
450–485 470 7 150.00–155.00 $152.13 $715 —
500–540 523 14 145.00–154.00 $148.53 $777 +1.29
525–540 value added 528 24 154.50–158.00 $156.32 $825 -4.25
555–585 574 9 140.00–149.00 $144.64 $830 -3.48
600–635 619 4 138.00–140.00 $139.50 $864 —
600–638 value added 622 16 141.00–151.00 $147.83 $920 -10.33
682 value added 682 2 144.00 $144.00 $982 -12.79
710–720 715 2 131.00–136.00 $133.52 $955 -4.16
739 thin fleshed 739 139 164.95 $164.95 $1,219 —
759 thin fleshed 759 58 164.00 $164.00 $1,245 —
771 771 53 149.50 $149.50 $1,153 —
820 820 17 144.50 $144.50 $1,185 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 1 150.00 $150.00 $458 -2.50
385 385 1 149.00 $149.00 $574 +6.50
400 400 1 135.00 $135.00 $540 —
484 484 5 140.00 $140.00 $678 —
535 535 1 141.00 $141.00 $754 —
553–580 559 8 136.00–140.00 $139.10 $778 —
600–637 627 4 125.00–131.00 $129.48 $812 +3.48
660–675 668 3 129.00–137.00 $134.03 $895 —
860 860 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,084 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505–515 512 3 132.00–135.00 $132.99 $681 —
643 643 3 140.00 $140.00 $900 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 1 130.00 $130.00 $526 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 135.00 $135.00 $270 —
255 255 1 140.00 $140.00 $357 —
300–333 319 6 137.50–145.00 $139.64 $445 -7.86
350–382 value added 363 7 146.00–150.00 $147.39 $535 -11.25
405–430 422 3 132.50–143.00 $136.92 $578 +2.02
400–446 value added 429 20 143.00–152.00 $146.76 $630 +3.28
450–482 468 12 130.00–135.00 $132.44 $620 -7.56
455–487 value added 468 14 141.00–147.50 $144.93 $678 -1.58
500–525 511 6 130.00–135.00 $131.33 $671 -2.67
500–538 value added 512 73 140.00–151.50 $148.10 $758 +2.38
552–567 value added 553 69 139.00–153.00 $151.18 $836 +7.12
575–593 589 4 133.00 $133.00 $783 -2.00
600–613 value added 607 7 138.00–141.00 $139.87 $849 —
615 615 2 134.00 $134.00 $824 +5.50
605–637 626 3 125.00–126.00 $125.68 $787 -2.82
655 655 4 130.00 $130.00 $852 +1.00
680 680 1 128.00 $128.00 $870 -6.54
750 750 1 110.00 $110.00 $825 —
805–820 813 2 101.00–106.00 $103.52 $842 -13.48
820 820 1 92.00 $92.00 $754 -25.00
1030 1030 1 80.00 $80.00 $824 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 129.00 $129.00 $484 +13.00
460–485 478 4 131.00–133.00 $131.75 $630 —
500–540 520 2 120.00–124.00 $121.92 $634 -2.58
555–585 570 4 111.00–128.00 $121.91 $695 +1.43
615–645 623 4 118.00–119.00 $118.26 $737 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 130.00 $130.00 $429 —
412 412 2 138.00 $138.00 $569 —
477 477 2 131.00 $131.00 $625 —
566–570 567 4 122.00–131.00 $128.74 $730 —
745 745 1 113.00 $113.00 $842 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382 382 2 112.50 $112.50 $430 —
485 485 2 117.50 $117.50 $570 —
530 530 1 104.00 $104.00 $551 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 150.00 $150.00 $360 —
255–285 270 2 142.50–147.00 $144.63 $391 —
325–345 336 7 151.00–163.00 $156.47 $526 -6.03
360–395 376 12 152.00–162.50 $157.18 $591 -8.34
402–416 fancy 410 6 152.00–161.00 $157.89 $647 -8.25
400–435 419 5 142.00–147.50 $143.94 $603 -16.06
455–470 fancy 459 7 153.00–161.00 $158.66 $728 —
455–492 480 8 142.00–150.00 $144.77 $695 -9.87
500–545 530 17 131.00–144.00 $138.47 $734 -0.48
550–595 587 13 134.00–140.00 $137.42 $807 +3.42
600–640 612 8 125.00–135.00 $129.59 $793 —
631 fancy 631 3 135.50 $135.50 $855 —
655–685 673 10 123.00–126.00 $124.03 $835 -9.97
700–730 720 3 109.00–113.00 $110.30 $794 —
810–842 829 7 102.50–108.00 $104.80 $869 -6.18
925 925 1 90.00 $90.00 $832 -11.00
970 970 1 99.00 $99.00 $960 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–262 261 4 129.00–142.50 $135.78 $354 —
350–395 372 8 140.00–150.00 $145.74 $542 +8.24
400–435 418 2 137.50–143.00 $140.13 $586 -4.87
455–475 461 4 132.00–137.00 $135.21 $623 —
515–545 525 3 122.00–130.00 $126.08 $662 -0.92
567–580 571 3 123.00–128.00 $126.31 $721 +4.97
650–685 666 5 117.00–125.00 $119.55 $796 +17.05
725 725 1 106.00 $106.00 $768 —
765–776 773 4 103.00–107.00 $106.01 $819 —
920–945 933 2 83.00–85.00 $84.01 $784 —
980 980 1 76.00 $76.00 $745 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 380 1 142.50 $142.50 $542 —
465 465 1 137.00 $137.00 $637 —
555–577 566 4 129.00–130.00 $129.49 $733 —
707–730 715 3 114.00–117.00 $115.98 $829 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 2 122.50 $122.50 $441 —
440 440 1 122.50 $122.50 $539 —
475 475 1 126.00 $126.00 $598 +4.00
515–532 526 3 110.00–121.00 $113.59 $597 -8.41

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Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1540 1241 80-85% 20 64.00–68.00 $66.48 $825 +0.12
1070–1330 1251 80-85% 4 57.50–61.00 $59.45 $744 —
1205–1520 1368 80-85% 12 69.50–75.50 $72.34 $990 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315–1530 1407 75-80% 7 69.00–71.00 $69.94 $984 —
1305–1630 1453 75-80% 10 64.00–68.00 $66.38 $965 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870–1230 1059 85-90% 6 57.00–61.00 $59.58 $631 -8.85
870–1495 1080 85-90% 8 46.00–56.00 $50.90 $550 -17.53
1115 1115 85-90% 1 64.50 $64.50 $719 —

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1435–1935 1656 7 94.50–100.50 $97.74 $1,619 —
1420–1910 1662 5 88.00–93.50 $90.41 $1,503 —
1340–2075 1708 2 81.00–83.00 $81.78 $1,397 -22.45

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Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
805–975 890 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 75.00–78.00 $76.36 $680

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1005–1330 1212 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 825.00–880.00 $862.96
880–1465 1216 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 810.00–990.00 $902.89
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1035–1260 1148 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 725.00–750.00 $736.27
1095–1295 1195 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 675.00–775.00 $729.18

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1240–1510 1361 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 1,025.00–1,325.00 $1,139.69 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1250 1250 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 760.00 $760.00 —
1300 1300 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 925.00 $925.00 —
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
835 835 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 860.00 $860.00 —

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Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 1 86.00 $86.00 $348 —
520 520 1 81.00 $81.00 $421 —

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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.