Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, February 15, 2023

735 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $174.93/cwt +0.22 vs last sale · ≈ $830/hd at 475 lb · 43 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $180.81/cwt +4.32 vs last sale · ≈ $767/hd at 424 lb · 41 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $171.27/cwt +8.07 vs last sale · ≈ $1,234/hd at 720 lb · 33 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 735 1,069 927
Feeder cattle 591 791 737
Slaughter cattle 87 190 157
Replacement cattle 57 88 33

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers under 600 lbs sold 5.00 to 10..00 higher with very good demand for weaned packages. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs sold 2.00 to 4.00 higher with very good demand for weaned packages. Yearlings lightly tested. Slaughter cows sold steady with good demand. Slaughter bulls sold 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
210 value added 210 1 215.00 $215.00 $452 —
250 250 1 207.50 $207.50 $519 +5.07
330 value added 330 3 214.00–217.50 $215.50 $711 —
340 340 1 201.00 $201.00 $683 —
370 value added 370 4 214.00 $214.00 $792 -23.70
405–440 value added 415 27 221.00–247.50 $240.48 $998 +36.72
420–445 429 4 200.00–205.00 $201.74 $865 +9.51
450–495 469 7 192.50–200.00 $197.49 $926 +5.22
460–495 value added 475 11 208.00–239.00 $224.02 $1,064 +12.97
500–510 505 2 184.00–190.00 $187.03 $945 +0.70
510–548 value added 537 17 196.00–229.00 $213.32 $1,146 +2.09
550–560 557 3 190.00–191.00 $190.67 $1,062 —
566–591 value added 578 13 198.00–214.00 $205.92 $1,190 +12.78
625 625 1 150.00 $150.00 $938 —
600–645 value added 633 19 165.00–199.00 $188.53 $1,193 +3.25
650–690 value added 671 15 167.00–190.00 $171.95 $1,154 -8.00
719–720 value added 720 32 168.50–173.50 $171.78 $1,237 +8.58
730 730 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,132 —
785 value added 785 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,287 -4.28
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 177.50 $177.50 $657 +15.00
462–495 475 5 160.00–189.00 $179.77 $854 +16.00
505 505 1 161.00 $161.00 $813 -15.33
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 1 169.00 $169.00 $887 —
660 660 1 169.00 $169.00 $1,115 —
770 770 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,163 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440 1440 1 123.00 $123.00 $1,771 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 144.00 $144.00 $389 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–330 317 3 162.50–166.00 $164.86 $523 +4.86
315–332 value added 322 7 175.00–180.00 $177.75 $572 -9.84
355–395 value added 382 15 172.50–190.00 $180.71 $690 -0.65
400–440 419 4 155.00–170.00 $164.21 $688 +3.21
402–448 value added 425 37 170.00–192.50 $182.61 $776 +3.53
455–495 472 14 160.00–170.00 $165.48 $781 -0.14
455–488 value added 476 29 175.00–183.00 $179.49 $854 +0.47
500–547 value added 519 22 169.00–174.00 $172.00 $893 +1.72
510–545 523 4 151.00–166.00 $161.36 $844 +6.39
550–595 571 6 156.00–163.00 $160.57 $917 +7.65
550–588 value added 571 17 164.00–168.50 $165.99 $948 +5.29
610–622 value added 617 6 156.00–170.00 $160.30 $989 +4.90
640 640 1 141.00 $141.00 $902 —
655–675 value added 660 11 145.00–155.00 $151.00 $997 +3.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 2 154.00–160.00 $157.00 $377 —
255–280 266 5 136.00–164.00 $148.11 $394 +7.12
315–345 327 3 148.00–160.00 $154.17 $504 +6.17
363–370 365 4 130.00–145.00 $133.80 $488 -11.52
400–445 433 5 126.00–142.50 $137.29 $594 -6.13
450–490 475 4 143.00–159.00 $149.38 $710 +2.37
500–520 512 6 121.00–151.00 $141.91 $727 +8.89
552 552 2 122.50 $122.50 $676 —
625–647 640 3 122.00–126.00 $124.70 $798 -6.21
670–695 678 4 121.00–129.00 $124.04 $841 -3.96
730 730 1 128.00 $128.00 $934 +38.00
750 750 1 124.00 $124.00 $930 +14.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 160.00 $160.00 $480 —
500–512 508 3 149.00–154.00 $150.64 $765 —
560 560 2 150.00 $150.00 $840 —
617 617 2 143.00 $143.00 $882 —
725 725 1 125.00 $125.00 $906 +8.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 125.00 $125.00 $431 +20.00
380–385 383 2 117.50–123.00 $120.27 $461 —

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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 1 200.00 $200.00 $550 +14.00
325–345 338 5 193.00–200.00 $197.19 $667 +8.52
355–385 value added 362 11 209.00–232.50 $222.54 $806 —
358–380 362 10 195.00–200.00 $195.53 $708 -1.97
410–440 433 4 170.00–177.50 $175.72 $761 -7.59
440 value added 440 2 202.00 $202.00 $889 +2.00
450–495 value added 476 11 192.00–203.00 $198.89 $947 +1.89
470–490 477 8 170.00–188.00 $174.04 $830 -3.51
500–525 value added 507 10 177.50–209.00 $195.47 $991 +4.93
565–585 value added 578 5 176.00–183.00 $179.77 $1,039 -10.00
600 600 3 141.00–156.00 $151.00 $906 —
605–635 value added 613 14 158.00–173.00 $166.75 $1,022 +9.11
652–675 value added 660 10 156.00–171.00 $162.96 $1,076 +8.96
650–675 662 3 141.00–143.00 $142.01 $940 -9.05
705 value added 705 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,058 —
785 785 1 139.00 $139.00 $1,091 +16.00
900–915 908 2 102.00–116.00 $109.06 $990 -4.94
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 165.00 $165.00 $446 —
340 340 1 177.50 $177.50 $604 +29.50
370–390 382 3 152.50–171.00 $162.98 $623 -2.02
415–440 425 5 142.00–162.50 $153.41 $652 +6.41
485–490 488 2 152.50–157.00 $154.74 $755 +4.74
550–565 558 2 155.00–156.00 $155.49 $868 +5.78
705 705 1 104.00 $104.00 $733 —
770 770 2 114.00 $114.00 $878 —
825 825 2 101.00 $101.00 $833 —
930 930 1 87.00 $87.00 $809 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 172.50 $172.50 $474 —
365 365 1 175.00 $175.00 $639 —
515 515 1 159.00 $159.00 $819 -2.00
555 555 1 159.00 $159.00 $882 —
641 641 3 165.00 $165.00 $1,058 —
685 685 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,014 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 130.00 $130.00 $390 —
355 355 1 120.00 $120.00 $426 —
465–470 468 2 107.50–128.00 $117.80 $551 —
560 560 1 132.00 $132.00 $739 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890–1080 1009 85-90% 4 57.00–66.00 $62.15 $627 —
880–1220 1016 85-90% 12 72.00–78.00 $75.23 $764 —
910–1220 1069 85-90% 8 79.00–94.00 $85.36 $912 +18.06
860–1315 1097 85-90% 5 66.00–70.00 $67.50 $740 -6.69
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1360 1146 80-85% 6 78.00–83.50 $81.02 $928 —
1095–1500 1304 80-85% 14 84.00–104.00 $92.97 $1,212 +17.14
1390–1395 1393 80-85% 2 73.00–74.50 $73.75 $1,027 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1095–1480 1359 75-80% 5 77.00–83.00 $79.68 $1,083 -1.88
1185–1590 1373 75-80% 10 85.00–95.00 $89.46 $1,228 +7.90
1710 1710 75-80% 1 65.00 $65.00 $1,112 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1225 1218 2 75.00–88.00 $81.54 $993 —
1630–2005 1831 6 108.00–126.00 $114.47 $2,096 -7.13
1350–2365 1893 6 100.00–108.00 $105.82 $2,003 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
980–1360 1190 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 90.00–105.00 $95.39 $1,135
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
790–970 880 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 84.00–90.00 $86.69 $763

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
880–1225 1074 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 900.00–1,050.00 $988.52
1075 fancy 1075 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00
795–1470 1160 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 875.00–1,075.00 $976.67
1175 1175 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 935.00 $935.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900–950 925 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 725.00–750.00 $737.84

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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
995 995 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 675.00 $675.00 —
1095 1095 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 910.00 $910.00 —
970–1540 1235 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 875.00–1,175.00 $1,032.82 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1100–1495 1264 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 6 1,300.00–1,475.00 $1,401.41 —
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
885–910 898 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 650.00–770.00 $710.84 —

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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.