Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, September 21, 2022

850 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $183.91/cwt +18.99 vs last sale · ≈ $1,161/hd at 631 lb · 49 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $148.77/cwt -6.44 vs last sale · ≈ $784/hd at 527 lb · 40 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $152.00/cwt -6.32 vs last sale · ≈ $726/hd at 477 lb · 34 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 850 836 682
Feeder cattle 750 687 626
Slaughter cattle 53 96 43
Replacement cattle 47 53 13

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers uneven with 400-500 lbs 5.00 higher; 500-600 lbs 5.00 lower; yearlings steady. Feeder heifers sold 2.00 to 4.00 lower with decline on fleshy 400-600 lb calves. Buyers showing preference for long-weaned and yearling packages. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold steady to 1.00 lower with good 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
262 262 4 191.00 $191.00 $500 —
330–335 333 4 183.00–192.00 $187.47 $624 —
350–353 value added 353 11 212.00–212.50 $212.05 $749 +15.55
357–370 361 4 185.00–192.00 $188.04 $679 —
403–435 411 4 177.00–192.00 $188.03 $773 +4.82
405–435 value added 420 22 200.00–219.00 $213.25 $896 +7.54
458–490 471 12 183.00–190.00 $185.43 $873 +1.36
450–495 value added 476 17 191.00–200.00 $196.11 $933 -5.79
500–542 516 21 162.00–178.00 $170.32 $879 -3.74
538 value added 538 9 191.00 $191.00 $1,028 -7.82
550 value added 550 6 179.00 $179.00 $984 -1.00
557–590 575 5 162.00–175.00 $167.09 $961 -5.99
605–622 value added 612 9 165.00–178.00 $172.39 $1,055 +6.07
607–635 621 4 150.00–151.00 $150.49 $935 -7.77
637 thin fleshed 637 36 190.50 $190.50 $1,213 —
650–692 value added 669 23 160.00–183.50 $168.64 $1,128 -7.33
720 value added 720 2 174.00 $174.00 $1,253 +6.22
750–780 value added 765 2 160.00–168.00 $163.92 $1,254 -2.34
827–837 829 10 156.00–169.50 $166.43 $1,380 +10.24
921 921 3 146.50 $146.50 $1,349 —
1015 1015 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,370 ±0.00
1055 1055 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,403 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 162.50 $162.50 $471 +17.50
300–340 327 3 160.00–176.00 $164.90 $539 —
370–380 377 3 172.00 $172.00 $648 —
415 415 1 148.00 $148.00 $614 +8.00
455 455 1 151.00 $151.00 $687 -4.36
505–532 528 24 140.00–155.00 $151.73 $801 -6.29
550–590 566 4 142.00–157.00 $147.96 $837 -10.04
605 605 2 131.00 $131.00 $793 —
677–690 682 4 144.00–148.00 $145.26 $991 +3.26
715 715 1 142.00 $142.00 $1,015 —
750 750 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,088 —
885 885 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,159 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413 413 4 187.00 $187.00 $772 +12.00
486 486 3 164.00 $164.00 $797 —
540 540 1 161.00 $161.00 $869 -5.00
600 value added 600 2 156.00 $156.00 $936 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 146.00 $146.00 $321 —
255–290 270 5 150.00–175.00 $165.83 $448 —
334 334 5 150.00 $150.00 $501 -3.58
334 value added 334 9 160.00 $160.00 $534 —
360–395 375 15 140.00–162.00 $153.54 $576 +1.09
387–395 value added 390 3 160.00–174.00 $164.73 $642 -6.45
400–430 416 7 148.00–155.00 $151.16 $629 +0.57
410–448 value added 435 16 153.00–161.00 $157.21 $684 -7.46
462–475 value added 467 9 154.00–163.00 $158.18 $739 -5.93
452–495 481 25 145.00–155.00 $149.78 $720 -3.05
500–547 527 29 141.00–152.00 $145.93 $769 -5.33
524–532 value added 527 11 155.00–157.00 $156.27 $824 -1.04
558–577 570 12 143.00–149.00 $145.84 $831 -3.09
600–646 value added 617 9 150.00–166.00 $158.90 $980 +5.30
600–635 617 5 130.00–139.00 $134.01 $827 -7.73
660–665 663 2 132.00–135.00 $133.49 $885 -10.18
703 value added 703 3 148.00 $148.00 $1,040 -5.50
725 725 2 133.50 $133.50 $968 -3.96
755 755 1 132.00 $132.00 $997 -1.64
815 815 1 123.00 $123.00 $1,002 —
866 866 3 121.00 $121.00 $1,048 —
1100 1100 1 109.00 $109.00 $1,199 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–285 273 4 125.00–141.00 $132.39 $361 -0.76
345 345 1 142.00 $142.00 $490 —
351–390 371 9 122.50–147.00 $139.69 $518 +11.15
400 400 2 131.00 $131.00 $524 -0.69
473–487 480 8 133.00–139.00 $135.84 $652 +0.77
500–525 508 3 130.00–131.00 $130.34 $662 -7.69
570–575 573 3 126.00–137.00 $130.68 $749 -3.32
600–645 618 7 120.00–134.00 $129.93 $803 -2.07
705–715 710 2 82.00–122.00 $101.86 $723 -20.14
865 865 1 85.00 $85.00 $735 —
930 930 1 82.00 $82.00 $763 —
950 950 1 108.00 $108.00 $1,026 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 1 136.00 $136.00 $653 -10.00
587 587 4 135.00 $135.00 $792 —
680 680 1 131.00 $131.00 $891 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 127.00 $127.00 $368 —
520 520 1 102.00 $102.00 $530 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110 1110 1 109.00 $109.00 $1,210 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 190.00 $190.00 $522 +20.00
325–340 333 2 170.00–172.00 $171.02 $569 -13.95
350 350 1 177.50 $177.50 $621 -8.83
400 400 1 160.00 $160.00 $640 -15.19
455–470 463 2 162.50–163.00 $162.75 $754 +4.26
465–487 value added 478 5 178.00–190.00 $184.30 $881 -9.69
510–535 523 4 150.00–155.00 $152.56 $798 -6.98
550–590 565 11 151.00–161.00 $154.59 $873 -1.28
605–640 623 3 135.00–141.00 $137.97 $860 -7.04
685 685 2 135.00–138.00 $136.50 $935 —
705–712 709 4 140.00–141.00 $140.50 $996 +2.50
790 790 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,066 —
880 880 1 111.00 $111.00 $977 -5.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–290 273 2 142.50–155.00 $148.35 $405 +13.35
355–395 382 3 149.00–155.00 $152.59 $583 +10.09
440 440 1 135.00 $135.00 $594 -12.12
465–495 480 2 142.00–145.00 $143.55 $689 +1.92
540–541 541 4 130.00–139.00 $136.75 $740 -9.23
555–580 568 2 135.00–139.00 $136.96 $778 -8.55
680 680 1 122.00 $122.00 $830 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500 500 1 148.00 $148.00 $740 —
622–645 630 3 137.00 $137.00 $863 —
653 653 3 137.00 $137.00 $895 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280–295 288 2 126.00–130.00 $127.95 $368 —
445 445 1 132.50 $132.50 $590 —
485 485 1 113.00 $113.00 $548 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1465 1465 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
735–1125 946 85-90% 8 49.00–62.00 $58.09 $550 -9.69
900–1100 1019 85-90% 4 63.00–67.00 $64.68 $659 -10.85
995–1145 1070 85-90% 2 78.50–79.50 $78.96 $845 —
1005–1170 1083 85-90% 6 72.50–75.50 $73.71 $798 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050–1275 1172 80-85% 3 74.00–77.50 $75.93 $890 —
1075–1455 1265 80-85% 2 86.50–89.00 $87.56 $1,108 +10.67
1120–1465 1309 80-85% 7 80.00–84.00 $82.07 $1,074 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1095–1245 1170 75-80% 2 82.50–83.00 $82.77 $968 —
1565 1565 75-80% 1 77.00 $77.00 $1,205 —
1355–1805 1603 75-80% 4 88.00–90.00 $88.79 $1,423 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165 1165 1 90.00 $90.00 $1,048 —
1130–1830 1355 9 93.00–114.00 $105.40 $1,428 —
1570–1905 1720 7 116.00–128.00 $120.68 $2,076 —

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Bred Cows

Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
850–875 863 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 570.00–650.00 $610.58
885–890 888 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 650.00 $650.00
860–1035 948 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 625.00–650.00 $638.65
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1185–1220 1203 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,050.00–1,385.00 $1,178.72
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
870 870 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 825.00 $825.00
1165 1165 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 700.00 $700.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1025–1285 1163 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 900.00–1,130.00 $1,030.40 —
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
815–1045 930 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 785.00–825.00 $802.53 —
1040–1145 1093 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 760.00–810.00 $783.80 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1430–1435 1433 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,350.00–1,400.00 $1,374.96 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
971 971 41 122.30 $122.30 $1,188 —

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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.