Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, February 8, 2023

1,069 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $177.15/cwt +11.15 vs last sale · ≈ $1,357/hd at 766 lb · 89 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $174.70/cwt +11.70 vs last sale · ≈ $825/hd at 472 lb · 59 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $179.21/cwt -0.98 vs last sale · ≈ $1,208/hd at 674 lb · 55 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,069 469 564
Feeder cattle 791 351 449
Slaughter cattle 190 97 101
Replacement cattle 88 21 14

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steer and heifer calves under 600 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand. Yearlings sold steady with good demand. Slaughter cows sold 5.00 to 10.00 lower with moderate 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
275–285 277 5 192.50–205.00 $202.43 $561 —
375–385 value added 384 8 214.00–241.00 $237.70 $913 +23.70
405–406 value added 406 4 192.50–207.50 $203.76 $827 —
410–446 430 6 190.00–197.50 $192.23 $827 —
455–475 467 5 190.00–197.50 $192.27 $898 +3.27
460–495 value added 484 8 204.00–227.00 $211.05 $1,021 —
500–505 502 3 185.00–187.00 $186.33 $935 +6.33
500–543 value added 522 28 193.00–216.50 $211.23 $1,103 +27.49
573–597 value added 582 22 187.00–199.00 $193.14 $1,124 —
608–645 value added 616 19 164.00–195.00 $185.28 $1,141 +5.80
650–690 670 2 159.00–160.00 $159.51 $1,069 —
661–696 value added 674 53 167.00–184.75 $179.95 $1,213 -0.24
702–748 value added 718 22 155.00–170.00 $163.20 $1,172 -2.80
764 thin fleshed 764 66 180.95 $180.95 $1,382 —
752–798 value added 770 20 166.00–171.50 $168.28 $1,296 +2.28
760–790 780 3 152.00–154.00 $152.65 $1,191 —
845 845 4 155.00 $155.00 $1,310 —
850 850 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,275 —
925 925 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,388 —
1295 1295 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,424 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270–275 273 2 148.00–166.00 $157.08 $429 —
375 375 1 162.50 $162.50 $609 —
400–405 402 5 157.50–182.50 $163.65 $658 —
475–480 478 2 160.00–167.50 $163.77 $783 —
505–515 508 3 175.00–178.00 $176.33 $896 +19.02
555–581 571 7 160.00–170.00 $162.78 $929 +5.28
680 680 1 134.00 $134.00 $911 —
725 725 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,088 +17.50
815 815 1 144.00 $144.00 $1,174 —
912 912 4 128.00 $128.00 $1,167 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410 410 2 160.00 $160.00 $656 —
585 585 1 178.00 $178.00 $1,041 +14.00
620 620 1 162.00 $162.00 $1,004 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
252 value added 252 4 182.50 $182.50 $460 —
320 320 1 160.00 $160.00 $512 -2.25
335–345 value added 336 7 187.00–191.00 $187.59 $630 +17.59
365–390 381 6 159.00–178.00 $171.54 $654 +14.04
370–395 value added 387 4 180.00–183.00 $181.36 $702 —
410–446 value added 436 24 168.00–186.00 $179.08 $781 —
440–442 441 4 160.00–162.00 $161.00 $710 +2.64
455–487 value added 466 40 168.00–188.00 $179.02 $834 +16.02
465–495 486 19 160.00–167.00 $165.62 $805 —
505–545 value added 529 27 161.00–175.00 $170.28 $901 +9.28
525–540 533 3 150.00–160.00 $154.97 $826 —
550–585 value added 564 24 157.50–167.00 $160.70 $906 +1.70
575–596 589 13 148.00–155.00 $152.92 $901 —
608–635 value added 622 14 149.00–159.00 $155.40 $967 +0.40
655 655 1 140.00 $140.00 $917 +6.00
680 value added 680 7 148.00 $148.00 $1,006 -24.70
705–740 718 4 120.00–134.00 $124.59 $895 —
775 775 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,008 —
965 965 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,110 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270–290 282 3 132.50–147.50 $140.99 $398 —
305 305 1 148.00 $148.00 $451 —
350–390 373 3 139.00–150.00 $145.32 $542 +5.32
415–440 430 8 130.00–150.00 $143.42 $617 —
455–462 461 5 143.00–148.00 $147.01 $678 —
501–545 522 9 118.00–142.00 $133.02 $694 +3.82
600–645 624 8 127.00–138.00 $130.91 $817 —
650–675 663 2 128.00 $128.00 $849 +3.00
700 700 1 90.00 $90.00 $630 -20.00
775 775 1 110.00 $110.00 $852 —
835 835 1 114.00 $114.00 $952 —
860 860 1 102.00 $102.00 $877 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 157.50 $157.50 $622 —
495 495 1 156.00 $156.00 $772 —
720 720 1 117.00 $117.00 $842 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 125.00 $125.00 $281 +17.50
340 340 1 105.00 $105.00 $357 +5.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1310 1310 1 109.00 $109.00 $1,428 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 186.00 $186.00 $549 —
310–340 327 7 180.00–196.00 $188.67 $617 +13.67
385 385 1 197.50 $197.50 $760 +25.00
412 value added 412 2 200.00 $200.00 $824 —
400–435 421 7 170.00–194.00 $183.31 $772 —
450–485 460 4 170.00–180.00 $177.55 $817 -11.45
460–495 value added 478 26 190.00–201.00 $197.00 $942 —
515 515 1 150.00 $150.00 $772 -17.00
500–538 value added 525 14 178.00–200.00 $190.54 $1,000 —
552–575 value added 561 7 173.00–195.00 $189.77 $1,065 —
550–590 573 3 154.00–172.00 $161.44 $925 +9.44
625–645 value added 633 3 155.00–162.00 $157.64 $998 —
610–645 636 5 145.00–157.00 $151.05 $961 —
650–675 663 2 148.00–154.00 $151.06 $1,002 —
685 value added 685 11 154.00 $154.00 $1,055 —
717–733 725 8 141.00–144.00 $143.13 $1,038 —
765 765 1 123.00 $123.00 $941 —
823 823 10 120.00 $120.00 $988 —
877 877 2 110.00 $110.00 $965 -11.00
935 935 1 114.00 $114.00 $1,066 +5.00
955–991 987 8 100.00–110.00 $108.79 $1,074 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 145.00 $145.00 $341 —
345 345 1 148.00 $148.00 $511 -19.50
395 395 1 165.00 $165.00 $652 —
435 435 1 147.00 $147.00 $639 —
473 473 4 150.00 $150.00 $710 -5.00
510–520 515 2 142.50–152.50 $147.55 $760 —
575–590 583 2 147.00–152.50 $149.71 $873 —
1025 1025 1 89.00 $89.00 $912 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
422 422 2 147.50 $147.50 $622 —
516 516 3 161.00 $161.00 $831 —
730 730 1 133.00 $133.00 $971 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
720–1005 898 85-90% 5 46.00–59.00 $53.90 $484 —
895–1255 1051 85-90% 22 64.00–71.00 $67.30 $707 -14.69
870–1450 1095 85-90% 20 72.00–76.00 $74.19 $812 —
915–1335 1112 85-90% 17 77.00–87.00 $79.60 $885 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050–1470 1248 80-85% 26 77.00–84.50 $80.21 $1,001 —
1070–1600 1298 80-85% 29 85.00–107.00 $92.96 $1,207 +7.63
1185–1420 1318 80-85% 6 74.00–77.00 $75.83 $999 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1860 1368 75-80% 13 76.50–85.00 $81.56 $1,116 —
1300–1475 1388 75-80% 2 75.50–76.00 $75.73 $1,051 —
1235–1625 1428 75-80% 10 85.50–97.50 $90.65 $1,294 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135–1165 1150 2 88.00–92.00 $90.03 $1,035 —
1160–1915 1598 15 94.00–109.00 $101.35 $1,620 —
1405–2045 1805 9 110.50–138.00 $121.60 $2,195 -3.72

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1010–1040 1025 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 900.00–985.00 $941.88
1115–1410 1214 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 16 925.00–1,400.00 $1,075.75
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
770–955 863 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 650.00–825.00 $746.88
830–1020 937 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 620.00–950.00 $816.93

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1225–1570 1436 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 1,400.00–1,525.00 $1,449.65 —
1350–1577 1501 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,050.00–1,385.00 $1,284.59 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1105–1205 1155 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 975.00–1,100.00 $1,034.79 —
970–1525 1265 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 1,075.00–1,300.00 $1,231.77 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
550 550 4 121.00 $121.00 $666 —
690 690 1 119.00 $119.00 $821 —
780 780 6 127.00 $127.00 $991 —

↑ Back to top

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.