Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, January 18, 2023

681 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $152.46/cwt +11.49 vs last sale · ≈ $933/hd at 612 lb · 41 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $166.24/cwt +2.58 vs last sale · ≈ $794/hd at 478 lb · 29 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $171.18/cwt +4.57 vs last sale · ≈ $713/hd at 417 lb · 26 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 681 1,475 469
Feeder cattle 499 1,254 405
Slaughter cattle 80 122 42
Replacement cattle 102 99 22

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers sold 2.00 to 4.00 lower with moderate demand on an average through good quality offering. Feeder heifers sold 2.00 to 4.00 higher on a good through attractive quality offering. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 3.00 lower with moderate demand. Slaughter bulls sold 1.00 to 2.00 lower 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
345 345 1 178.00 $178.00 $614 —
386 value added 386 10 218.00 $218.00 $841 +16.00
396 396 7 191.00 $191.00 $756 +8.87
410–440 value added 425 2 186.00–195.00 $190.34 $809 -11.48
415–435 425 4 169.00–180.00 $172.20 $732 -5.67
450–470 458 3 167.00–171.00 $169.63 $777 -10.73
500–534 value added 520 13 176.00–184.00 $181.06 $942 -2.53
542–545 543 3 168.00–171.00 $170.00 $923 -5.49
555–588 value added 568 20 175.00–182.50 $179.87 $1,022 -2.33
555–582 569 4 168.00–169.00 $168.49 $959 +2.77
605–649 value added 631 21 160.00–170.00 $165.64 $1,045 -3.38
658–688 value added 666 17 164.00–167.00 $165.63 $1,103 +0.97
705–730 value added 721 5 150.00–163.00 $156.83 $1,131 -6.56
715–730 723 2 146.00–148.00 $146.99 $1,063 -1.02
761–764 value added 763 10 150.00–157.00 $154.21 $1,177 -20.04
848 848 4 145.50 $145.50 $1,234 -29.25
1025 1025 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,230 —
1110 1110 2 128.00 $128.00 $1,421 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 2 142.00–167.50 $154.75 $379 —
315–330 323 2 158.00–159.00 $158.51 $512 —
510–525 515 3 162.50–167.00 $164.03 $845 +14.28
585 585 1 147.00 $147.00 $860 +6.00
700–745 730 3 124.00–133.00 $126.88 $926 -12.46
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
780 780 1 144.00 $144.00 $1,123 +3.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 value added 265 2 170.00 $170.00 $450 —
275 275 1 162.50 $162.50 $447 +12.50
308 value added 308 4 192.00 $192.00 $591 —
315–320 316 6 152.50–167.00 $163.39 $516 +5.89
360–380 370 2 160.00–161.00 $160.51 $594 +2.87
350–397 value added 372 10 171.00–181.00 $174.26 $648 -1.27
400–435 413 3 155.00–159.00 $156.73 $647 +0.30
404–445 value added 417 23 161.00–180.00 $173.07 $722 +3.06
450–495 464 4 150.00–156.00 $153.91 $714 -2.49
460–498 value added 480 25 160.00–173.00 $168.21 $807 +0.56
510–527 value added 514 16 169.00–170.00 $169.87 $873 +9.78
535 535 1 156.00 $156.00 $835 +5.20
550–580 565 2 146.00–152.00 $148.92 $841 -2.11
555–588 value added 572 9 159.00–165.00 $161.39 $923 +4.53
600–632 value added 611 38 142.00–156.25 $153.66 $939 +9.81
605–630 620 3 135.00–140.00 $137.30 $851 +2.08
650–675 value added 659 5 145.00–152.00 $148.79 $981 -20.17
650–695 676 6 130.00–136.00 $132.95 $899 -0.25
706 value added 706 4 145.00 $145.00 $1,024 —
705–720 712 3 122.00–125.00 $124.01 $883 -2.95
713 713 3 138.00 $138.00 $984 +11.04
762–790 771 11 122.00–130.00 $127.78 $985 +0.74
807 value added 807 2 142.00 $142.00 $1,146 —
850 850 1 121.00 $121.00 $1,028 -15.71
856 value added 856 4 143.00 $143.00 $1,224 —
875 875 1 128.00 $128.00 $1,120 +25.00
970 970 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,038 +8.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 142.50 $142.50 $335 —
322–340 330 4 142.50–150.00 $144.81 $478 +12.34
390–395 393 3 120.00–130.00 $124.18 $488 -4.76
445 445 1 130.00 $130.00 $578 -3.67
450–495 461 8 120.00–140.00 $128.27 $591 -1.76
512 512 2 133.00 $133.00 $681 -2.00
600–620 610 2 114.00–130.00 $122.13 $745 +6.34
655–687 679 4 114.00–126.00 $120.56 $819 -1.25
750–765 759 4 101.00–117.00 $105.51 $801 +1.48
870–875 873 2 107.50–108.00 $107.75 $941 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
591 591 4 138.00 $138.00 $816 -9.00
752 752 2 110.00 $110.00 $827 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 115.00 $115.00 $299 —
305 305 1 107.00 $107.00 $326 —
430 430 1 100.00 $100.00 $430 -15.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–290 278 2 160.00 $160.00 $445 —
315–320 318 2 160.00–180.00 $170.08 $541 +4.78
383–385 value added 384 4 192.50 $192.50 $739 —
390–395 393 3 160.00–172.50 $165.01 $648 -13.95
400 value added 400 2 182.50 $182.50 $730 +2.50
405–440 423 2 160.00–166.00 $162.88 $689 -0.50
455 455 1 154.00 $154.00 $701 -10.59
463–495 value added 481 8 174.00–188.00 $179.75 $865 -4.75
500 500 1 152.00 $152.00 $760 -4.31
500–530 value added 515 4 165.00–172.50 $168.64 $868 -2.92
555–575 value added 567 3 164.00–170.00 $166.99 $947 -1.49
565–570 568 2 155.00–160.00 $157.49 $895 +0.01
626 value added 626 4 156.00 $156.00 $977 +5.92
700 700 6 135.00–136.50 $136.25 $954 +6.28
755–795 775 2 127.00–131.00 $128.95 $999 -0.04
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 152.50 $152.50 $351 —
290 290 2 154.00–156.00 $155.00 $450 +2.95
440 440 1 141.00 $141.00 $620 -1.00
460–480 470 2 130.00–134.00 $132.04 $621 -20.46
520 520 1 135.00 $135.00 $702 -11.15
565–570 568 2 135.00–139.00 $137.01 $778 —
690 690 1 121.00 $121.00 $835 -3.61
720 720 1 111.00 $111.00 $799 —
760 760 1 115.00 $115.00 $874 —
865 865 1 105.00 $105.00 $908 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
371 371 3 150.00 $150.00 $556 —
518 518 3 154.00 $154.00 $798 +4.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 1 102.50 $102.50 $318 —
515–520 518 2 110.00–115.00 $112.51 $583 -17.49
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1685 1685 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 2,225.00 $2,225.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1090 998 85-90% 9 42.50–54.00 $47.64 $475 —
895–1120 1023 85-90% 4 73.50–77.50 $76.37 $781 +19.07
865–1305 1103 85-90% 17 63.50–72.00 $66.96 $739 -0.43
955–1320 1112 85-90% 16 56.00–62.50 $60.04 $668 -7.35
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1375 1191 80-85% 8 74.50–84.00 $78.46 $934 —
1060–1315 1206 80-85% 10 67.00–73.50 $70.26 $847 +11.26
1200–1310 1260 80-85% 4 60.00–66.50 $64.26 $810 -4.21
1470 1470 80-85% 1 49.00 $49.00 $720 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1675 1354 75-80% 7 70.00–74.00 $72.24 $978 —
1165–1740 1567 75-80% 9 74.00–82.00 $76.56 $1,200 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165–1665 1411 4 94.00–103.00 $99.16 $1,399 —
1275–1565 1420 2 84.00–92.00 $88.41 $1,255 —
1555–1800 1678 2 112.00 $112.00 $1,879 -1.87

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
785–1165 957 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 9 82.00–96.00 $89.64 $858
1080 1080 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 102.00 $102.00 $1,102
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
925–1115 1012 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 10 69.00–80.00 $75.80 $767

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
945–1325 1098 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 875.00–1,400.00 $1,122.56
910–1365 1100 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 14 875.00–1,270.00 $1,069.05
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
740–1095 866 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 685.00–825.00 $748.21
780–1130 945 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 625.00–825.00 $713.03

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
890 890 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
735 735 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 750.00 $750.00

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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
1275–1505 1381 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 1,275.00–1,475.00 $1,351.81 +26.79
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1090–1370 1202 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,100.00–1,250.00 $1,164.36 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 2 56.00 $56.00 $330 —

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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.