Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, January 11, 2023

1,475 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $168.52/cwt +25.52 vs last sale · ≈ $1,221/hd at 725 lb · 151 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $166.95/cwt +28.28 vs last sale · ≈ $1,132/hd at 678 lb · 89 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $181.06/cwt +12.06 vs last sale · ≈ $1,068/hd at 590 lb · 87 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,475 458 1,205
Feeder cattle 1,254 324 1,089
Slaughter cattle 122 109 92
Replacement cattle 99 25 24

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers under 600 lbs sold 3.00 to 5.00 higher with good demand for weaned packages. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs sold 1.00 to 3.00 higher with good demand for weaned packages. Yearlings sold steady with good demand. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 2.00 higher with good demand. Slaughter bulls sold steady 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
360 value added 360 5 202.00 $202.00 $727 —
355–377 371 11 175.00–185.00 $182.13 $676 -5.37
400–440 425 9 170.00–185.00 $177.87 $756 —
420–440 value added 438 17 185.00–205.00 $201.82 $884 -10.68
450–480 462 3 175.00–185.00 $180.36 $833 +5.36
452–485 value added 471 14 186.50–207.00 $189.44 $892 +6.91
500–546 value added 529 33 177.00–188.50 $183.59 $971 +7.35
500–547 539 6 173.00–177.00 $175.49 $946 +4.18
565–595 578 6 160.00–174.00 $165.72 $958 -3.28
553–596 value added 591 81 177.00–187.00 $182.20 $1,077 —
602–635 value added 613 20 161.00–176.00 $169.02 $1,036 +0.05
625–633 630 5 154.00 $154.00 $970 —
655–665 660 2 157.00–159.00 $158.01 $1,043 —
665–695 value added 679 4 160.00–169.00 $164.66 $1,118 -0.98
707–728 value added 714 41 161.00–165.00 $163.39 $1,167 +1.06
712–735 722 6 146.00–152.00 $148.01 $1,069 —
750 750 1 156.00 $156.00 $1,170 —
767 value added 767 14 174.25 $174.25 $1,336 +14.91
830 830 42 174.75 $174.75 $1,450 +26.75
944 944 8 150.50 $150.50 $1,421 —
955 955 3 151.00 $151.00 $1,442 —
1055 1055 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,266 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 160.00 $160.00 $576 +12.50
495 495 1 159.00 $159.00 $787 +12.00
500–545 525 4 142.00–159.00 $149.75 $786 —
590 590 1 141.00 $141.00 $832 —
665–695 674 4 130.00–139.00 $134.44 $906 —
710–745 730 3 135.00–143.00 $139.34 $1,017 +4.34
830 830 1 147.00 $147.00 $1,220 —
885 885 2 144.00 $144.00 $1,274 —
995 995 1 101.00 $101.00 $1,005 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 176.00 $176.00 $695 —
440 440 1 178.00 $178.00 $783 —
542 542 2 168.00 $168.00 $911 —
565–580 577 5 162.00–174.00 $164.35 $948 —
780 780 1 141.00 $141.00 $1,100 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
170 170 1 150.00 $150.00 $255 —
205–235 226 4 150.00–165.00 $159.06 $359 +27.94
265 265 1 150.00 $150.00 $398 —
311–345 fancy 324 5 165.00–170.00 $166.91 $541 —
325 325 1 157.50 $157.50 $512 +22.50
360–382 371 7 150.00–166.00 $157.64 $585 +26.64
350–395 fancy 373 5 169.00–184.00 $175.31 $654 —
385–395 value added 390 2 173.00–178.00 $175.53 $685 +14.53
400–440 value added 421 36 165.00–181.00 $170.01 $716 +0.66
405–440 427 12 150.00–162.50 $156.43 $668 +7.43
450–485 value added 465 20 160.00–174.00 $167.65 $780 -0.36
460–497 479 11 152.00–159.00 $156.40 $749 +8.24
505–546 value added 520 44 155.00–170.00 $160.09 $832 -2.10
505–540 528 7 142.00–155.00 $150.80 $796 -3.17
550–595 570 19 143.00–155.00 $151.03 $861 —
550–589 value added 577 49 151.50–162.50 $156.86 $905 -15.87
600–645 value added 613 22 140.00–151.00 $143.85 $882 -14.26
605–647 629 11 131.00–140.00 $135.22 $851 —
653–685 660 5 131.00–134.00 $133.20 $879 -5.47
678–695 value added 679 84 146.00–171.10 $168.96 $1,147 —
700–730 712 15 120.00–131.00 $126.96 $904 —
726 thin fleshed 726 136 173.10 $173.10 $1,257 —
755–771 767 9 124.00–132.00 $127.04 $974 —
854–855 854 14 136.00–138.00 $136.71 $1,168 —
893 893 4 103.00 $103.00 $920 —
905 905 1 128.00 $128.00 $1,158 —
913–935 925 9 94.00–110.00 $100.82 $933 —
960 960 1 99.00 $99.00 $950 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
190 190 1 152.50 $152.50 $290 —
250–295 277 3 122.50–135.00 $126.79 $351 —
315–345 329 9 120.00–141.00 $132.47 $436 —
355–390 375 3 125.00–132.00 $128.94 $484 —
410–446 436 8 129.00–141.00 $133.67 $583 +10.23
470–495 483 2 129.00–131.00 $130.03 $628 —
540 540 1 135.00 $135.00 $729 +24.49
555–585 569 8 113.00–133.00 $123.51 $703 -7.49
610–630 617 3 105.00–127.00 $115.79 $714 -18.21
650–695 669 9 110.00–129.00 $121.81 $815 —
710–742 724 10 102.50–120.00 $111.42 $807 —
772–785 776 3 101.00–110.00 $104.03 $807 +3.03
835 835 1 94.00 $94.00 $785 -9.00
900 900 1 90.00 $90.00 $810 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
577 577 2 147.00 $147.00 $848 —
670 670 1 134.00 $134.00 $898 —
720–747 738 3 116.00–127.00 $119.58 $883 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 1 115.00 $115.00 $466 —
490 490 1 110.00 $110.00 $539 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320–340 338 8 165.00–167.50 $165.30 $559 —
365–390 378 2 172.50–185.00 $178.96 $676 +9.96
420–437 427 10 151.00–172.00 $163.38 $698 —
435 value added 435 2 180.00 $180.00 $783 +1.28
460–495 480 15 155.00–175.00 $164.59 $790 +5.10
455–492 value added 485 5 178.00–186.00 $184.50 $895 +9.50
510–545 527 13 150.00–161.00 $156.31 $824 -6.96
510–545 value added 537 18 163.00–176.00 $171.56 $921 -4.71
559–580 value added 561 10 164.00–169.00 $168.48 $945 —
550–585 566 7 150.00–163.00 $157.48 $891 -2.52
600–640 value added 625 20 142.00–158.00 $150.08 $938 +7.08
625–645 630 4 135.00–141.00 $138.47 $872 +4.43
655–685 670 2 135.00–139.00 $136.96 $918 —
673 value added 673 3 149.00 $149.00 $1,003 —
705–710 value added 708 2 139.00–142.00 $140.51 $995 —
700–725 713 5 126.00–137.00 $129.97 $927 +4.97
755–765 763 5 116.00–136.00 $128.99 $984 —
805 805 3 126.00 $126.00 $1,014 +6.00
875 875 2 111.00 $111.00 $971 —
900–940 926 4 110.00–114.00 $113.00 $1,046 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–295 280 5 142.50–159.00 $152.05 $426 —
310 310 3 150.00 $150.00 $465 +17.50
380–390 385 2 150.00–163.00 $156.42 $602 —
405 405 1 142.00 $142.00 $575 —
450 450 1 152.50 $152.50 $686 —
500–542 522 4 143.00–147.50 $146.15 $763 —
658–685 665 4 121.00–135.00 $124.61 $829 +9.61
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 120.00 $120.00 $330 —
365–395 382 3 110.00–130.00 $121.55 $464 —
450–475 463 2 122.50–125.00 $123.78 $573 —
535 535 1 130.00 $130.00 $696 +1.00
605 605 1 125.00 $125.00 $756 —
660 660 1 102.50 $102.50 $676 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 2 150.00 $150.00 $788 —
765 765 1 125.00 $125.00 $956 —
890 890 1 105.00 $105.00 $934 —
960 960 1 109.00 $109.00 $1,046 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830–1250 1016 85-90% 9 42.00–54.00 $49.54 $503 -15.41
935–1140 1018 85-90% 8 54.00–62.00 $57.30 $583 -7.65
935–1330 1111 85-90% 21 62.50–73.00 $67.39 $749 —
1140–1240 1208 85-90% 5 76.00–87.00 $78.95 $954 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1240 1240 80-85% 1 59.00 $59.00 $732 -13.42
1035–1590 1247 80-85% 16 71.50–78.00 $74.57 $930 +2.15
1140–1450 1254 80-85% 7 64.00–71.00 $68.47 $859 —
1110–1490 1369 80-85% 13 78.00–88.50 $83.41 $1,142 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1645 1347 75-80% 9 71.50–78.00 $75.55 $1,018 —
1275–1590 1480 75-80% 11 78.00–81.00 $79.45 $1,176 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1420–1920 1670 2 90.00–91.50 $90.86 $1,517 —
1525–2005 1674 6 110.50–122.00 $113.87 $1,906 —
1570–1945 1751 7 96.00–109.50 $103.28 $1,808 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1180–1355 1285 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,100.00–1,375.00 $1,196.66
840–1505 1301 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 18 975.00–1,430.00 $1,258.16
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
965 965 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 650.00 $650.00
810–1325 1030 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11 600.00–925.00 $756.60
870–1190 1078 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 800.00–950.00 $845.70
1100 1100 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 685.00 $685.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
870–940 908 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 900.00–950.00 $924.36
955 955 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 775.00 $775.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
845 845 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 660.00 $660.00

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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
1045–1505 1304 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 11 725.00–1,110.00 $1,030.79 —
1450 1450 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,150.00 $1,150.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1305–1640 1390 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 1,275.00–1,350.00 $1,325.02 —

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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.