Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, March 1, 2023

506 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $183.58/cwt ≈ $1,456/hd at 793 lb · 42 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $176.93/cwt +17.92 vs last sale · ≈ $1,093/hd at 618 lb · 40 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $184.02/cwt +11.53 vs last sale · ≈ $1,331/hd at 723 lb · 31 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 506 441 1,161
Feeder cattle 419 347 1,033
Slaughter cattle 60 69 112
Replacement cattle 27 25 16

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers traded 5.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand for weaned calf packages suitable for grass. Feeder heifers sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher with very good demand for weaned calf packages suitable for grass. Very good demand for yearlings in a limited comparison. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher on high dressing cows. Slaughter bulls sold 10.00 to 15.00 higher with very 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
367 367 4 190.00 $190.00 $697 —
375 value added 375 2 214.00 $214.00 $802 -1.00
420 value added 420 1 220.00 $220.00 $924 +8.00
420 420 1 187.00 $187.00 $785 -3.00
468–475 469 9 190.00–195.00 $194.44 $912 +2.44
455–498 value added 487 4 212.50–217.00 $215.95 $1,052 +17.57
500–540 value added 515 18 200.00–225.00 $217.82 $1,122 +8.45
552–584 value added 576 10 210.00–220.00 $215.46 $1,241 +22.91
600–630 value added 612 10 194.00–206.00 $201.23 $1,232 +26.12
665 665 1 161.00 $161.00 $1,071 —
657–692 value added 673 7 168.00–194.00 $181.25 $1,220 +7.55
710 710 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,207 —
722–730 value added 724 29 177.00–187.00 $184.99 $1,339 +12.50
778–796 value added 793 42 181.00–184.00 $183.58 $1,456 —
800 800 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,200 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 1 171.00 $171.00 $812 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
287–295 290 3 177.50–186.00 $180.39 $523 +7.91
320–335 330 4 170.00–175.00 $173.27 $572 +3.62
310–344 value added 339 9 180.00–192.00 $181.66 $616 -10.90
355–385 value added 373 3 180.00–185.00 $182.43 $680 +1.98
350–390 380 8 173.00–178.00 $175.30 $666 +17.72
400 400 2 172.50 $172.50 $690 +1.37
410–445 value added 426 18 178.00–201.00 $184.77 $787 +4.90
475 475 1 164.00 $164.00 $779 -8.00
465–494 value added 484 11 177.00–184.00 $180.53 $874 +2.88
530 530 3 162.00–171.00 $168.00 $890 —
505–544 value added 532 26 175.00–186.00 $181.88 $968 +13.08
552–598 value added 571 18 171.00–183.50 $179.98 $1,028 +13.68
573–575 574 5 170.00–171.00 $170.60 $979 —
610–630 value added 617 38 164.00–183.25 $177.98 $1,098 +18.97
625–640 633 2 155.00–159.00 $157.02 $994 —
650–675 value added 670 9 160.00–171.00 $168.69 $1,130 +10.17
713 value added 713 3 150.00 $150.00 $1,070 ±0.00
825 825 1 129.00 $129.00 $1,064 +1.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 250 1 146.00 $146.00 $365 —
315 315 2 150.00–166.00 $158.00 $498 —
350–360 356 5 140.00–162.00 $156.46 $557 —
420–440 427 3 142.00–145.00 $143.20 $611 +8.20
475 475 2 160.00–161.00 $160.50 $762 +7.97
500–545 528 3 121.00–149.00 $138.12 $729 -11.88
650 650 1 130.00 $130.00 $845 +6.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 162.00 $162.00 $713 —
505 505 1 164.00 $164.00 $828 —
550–595 583 5 161.00–167.00 $164.65 $960 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 132.00 $132.00 $449 —
485 485 1 125.00 $125.00 $606 -1.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320 1320 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,663 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–225 218 2 193.00–197.00 $195.07 $425 +2.57
285 285 1 200.00 $200.00 $570 +11.44
330 value added 330 1 205.00 $205.00 $676 -12.50
350–385 value added 370 4 217.50–222.50 $219.40 $812 +11.17
400–440 value added 424 9 200.00–225.00 $211.19 $895 -0.28
400–437 425 3 190.00 $190.00 $808 -12.50
455–465 value added 460 2 205.00–212.50 $208.79 $960 +7.62
460–472 468 3 171.00–180.00 $173.95 $814 -14.07
520–540 value added 527 3 175.00–200.00 $184.53 $972 —
578 578 4 164.00 $164.00 $948 -8.29
590–595 value added 593 2 172.00–174.00 $173.00 $1,026 -12.13
615–640 628 2 156.00–157.00 $156.49 $983 +3.49
685 685 1 145.00 $145.00 $993 —
705–717 713 3 143.00–150.00 $147.69 $1,053 —
860 860 1 124.00 $124.00 $1,066 —
900 900 1 116.00 $116.00 $1,044 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 190.00 $190.00 $446 —
285–290 288 2 180.00–182.00 $180.99 $521 —
325 325 1 187.50 $187.50 $609 —
460–475 468 2 140.00–148.00 $143.94 $674 -17.24
522 522 2 141.00 $141.00 $736 -19.67
550–580 565 2 160.00–161.00 $160.49 $907 +10.88
790 790 1 127.00 $127.00 $1,003 -8.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 1 182.00 $182.00 $874 +12.00
525 525 1 166.00 $166.00 $872 —
577 577 2 160.00 $160.00 $923 —
600 600 1 161.00 $161.00 $966 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 140.00 $140.00 $525 —
405 405 1 125.00 $125.00 $506 +12.50
510 510 1 128.00 $128.00 $653 —
565 565 1 125.00 $125.00 $706 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1280 1280 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 1,335.00 $1,335.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725–975 893 85-90% 5 40.00–58.00 $50.56 $452 —
875–1085 992 85-90% 3 59.00–64.00 $62.36 $619 —
800–1185 1048 85-90% 7 70.00–78.50 $74.99 $786 +20.63
920–1265 1076 85-90% 7 79.00–85.00 $82.39 $887 +7.53
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1360 1220 80-85% 6 81.00–86.00 $85.07 $1,038 -13.50
1160–1360 1230 80-85% 5 87.00–117.00 $100.54 $1,237 +1.97
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1240–1600 1431 75-80% 4 80.00–86.00 $82.94 $1,187 —
1280–1685 1471 75-80% 7 87.00–119.00 $98.94 $1,455 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1790 1426 5 98.00–111.00 $107.15 $1,528 —
1800–2060 1916 5 134.00–151.50 $142.28 $2,726 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1140 1140 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 98.00 $98.00 $1,117

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
827–1285 939 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,050.00–1,200.00 $1,085.68
1067–1380 1230 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,000.00–1,285.00 $1,096.93
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
995 995 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 910.00 $910.00
985–1215 1100 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 900.00–950.00 $927.61

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
790 790 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,010.00 $1,010.00
975 975 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 925.00 $925.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
680–710 695 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 800.00–900.00 $851.08

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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
1190 1190 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00 —

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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.