Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, August 16, 2023

710 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $258.50/cwt ≈ $1,998/hd at 773 lb · 130 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $253.15/cwt +23.15 vs last sale · ≈ $1,577/hd at 623 lb · 26 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $221.65/cwt -8.93 vs last sale · ≈ $1,267/hd at 571 lb · 25 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 710 521 504
Feeder cattle 612 424 411
Slaughter cattle 74 87 63
Replacement cattle 24 10 30

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers and heifers sold steady to 5.00 higher on weaned good quality offerings; bawling calves and average quality individuals facing discounts. Very good demand for yearlings in a limited comparison. Slaughter cows sold 5.00 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
345 345 1 263.00 $263.00 $907 —
356–382 value added 361 10 272.00–276.00 $275.15 $993 +11.15
400–436 value added 416 18 258.00–282.00 $267.57 $1,113 +9.48
425 425 1 247.50 $247.50 $1,052 +6.14
465 465 1 244.00 $244.00 $1,135 -2.52
467–475 value added 470 3 250.00–259.00 $255.97 $1,203 -1.61
500–501 value added 501 7 253.00–254.00 $253.14 $1,268 -1.93
535 535 2 242.00 $242.00 $1,295 -4.00
567–595 value added 581 4 252.50–260.00 $256.34 $1,489 +0.06
555–589 583 6 247.00–249.00 $248.68 $1,450 +7.68
620–625 value added 623 6 234.00–240.00 $236.99 $1,476 +6.99
623 thin fleshed 623 20 258.00 $258.00 $1,607 —
695–697 value added 696 5 239.00–240.00 $239.40 $1,666 +0.48
710 710 1 233.00 $233.00 $1,654 —
770 770 2 239.00 $239.00 $1,840 —
773 thin fleshed 773 128 258.80 $258.80 $2,001 —
837 thin fleshed 837 17 251.50 $251.50 $2,105 —
880 880 1 226.00 $226.00 $1,989 —
1200 1200 1 121.00 $121.00 $1,452 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 1 237.50 $237.50 $998 +15.00
455 455 1 222.00 $222.00 $1,010 +21.67
525–540 538 6 234.00–237.00 $234.49 $1,262 +9.49
555–581 575 4 202.50–230.00 $223.36 $1,284 -8.64
605–625 615 2 203.00–206.00 $204.52 $1,258 —
682 682 6 226.00 $226.00 $1,541 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,056 -5.00
510 510 1 241.00 $241.00 $1,229 +7.00
605 605 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,361 —
730 730 1 226.00 $226.00 $1,650 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–225 216 5 220.00–231.00 $225.38 $487 —
272–295 282 12 232.50–237.00 $234.60 $662 —
300 300 1 215.00 $215.00 $645 —
310–342 value added 338 8 237.00–256.00 $253.82 $858 +27.42
355–387 value added 367 14 237.50–254.00 $250.14 $918 +8.52
365–390 378 2 212.50–222.50 $217.67 $823 +11.54
412–435 value added 423 8 230.00–233.00 $230.75 $976 -0.58
420–440 430 4 223.00–229.00 $227.23 $977 —
450–480 470 7 215.00–225.00 $221.33 $1,040 —
455–492 value added 473 15 229.00–238.00 $233.25 $1,103 +1.86
500–540 value added 512 9 225.00–234.00 $228.80 $1,171 +1.30
512–535 530 11 214.00–225.00 $221.62 $1,175 +11.03
550–587 570 21 215.00–223.00 $220.39 $1,256 +9.39
565–587 value added 579 4 227.00–231.00 $228.24 $1,322 -3.49
600–620 613 4 200.00–207.50 $201.90 $1,238 -11.07
657–687 672 4 210.00–213.00 $211.53 $1,421 +2.98
685 685 1 214.00 $214.00 $1,466 +5.45
700 700 1 214.00 $214.00 $1,498 +22.00
735–743 740 6 179.00–189.00 $186.33 $1,379 -5.67
915 915 1 186.00 $186.00 $1,702 +35.00
930 930 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,590 +20.00
960–995 978 2 171.00–179.00 $174.93 $1,711 —
1010 1010 1 157.00 $157.00 $1,586 —
1105 1105 1 144.00 $144.00 $1,591 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 175.00 $175.00 $350 —
265 265 1 191.00 $191.00 $506 —
440 440 2 196.00 $196.00 $862 -14.00
455–495 484 4 182.00–213.00 $192.73 $933 —
515–545 527 11 186.00–210.00 $199.47 $1,051 -2.49
585–590 587 3 179.00–190.00 $186.31 $1,094 -23.69
632–640 636 11 183.00–194.00 $191.44 $1,218 +31.44
775 775 1 166.00 $166.00 $1,286 —
910 910 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,228 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
575 575 1 213.00 $213.00 $1,225 —
631 631 3 219.00 $219.00 $1,382 —
703 703 3 214.00 $214.00 $1,504 —
765 765 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,300 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 140.00 $140.00 $553 —
585 585 2 151.00 $151.00 $883 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 2 240.00 $240.00 $516 —
265 265 1 240.00 $240.00 $636 +4.00
325–345 334 4 253.00–260.00 $258.22 $862 +0.72
350–390 370 4 245.00–259.00 $250.91 $928 +7.93
390 value added 390 2 270.00–284.00 $277.00 $1,080 +13.80
402–433 value added 421 5 259.00–260.00 $259.38 $1,092 +21.47
443 443 3 256.00 $256.00 $1,134 +24.30
475 475 1 241.00 $241.00 $1,145 +9.00
507 value added 507 2 244.00 $244.00 $1,237 +4.02
515–525 520 2 221.00–225.00 $223.02 $1,160 -10.17
550–575 559 11 192.00–233.00 $223.42 $1,249 +7.42
603 value added 603 8 225.50 $225.50 $1,360 +2.00
640–646 643 10 190.00–205.50 $201.71 $1,297 +0.86
650 650 1 203.00 $203.00 $1,320 +6.13
700–730 715 2 186.00–189.00 $187.47 $1,340 —
785 785 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,484 —
895 895 2 184.00 $184.00 $1,647 —
920 920 1 144.00 $144.00 $1,325 -28.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–235 218 5 195.00–218.00 $204.50 $446 —
250–260 254 4 205.00–237.50 $223.02 $566 -6.98
325 325 1 205.00 $205.00 $666 —
385 385 1 230.00 $230.00 $886 +32.55
415 415 1 226.00 $226.00 $938 +9.76
452–495 476 12 190.00–222.00 $212.90 $1,013 +6.09
502–545 513 14 170.00–228.00 $217.45 $1,116 +8.60
550–570 559 4 210.00–225.00 $217.73 $1,217 +29.22
695 695 1 188.00 $188.00 $1,307 —
740 740 1 179.00 $179.00 $1,325 —
775 775 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,240 —
835 835 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,420 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–265 258 2 205.00–210.00 $207.43 $535 —
535–545 540 2 190.00–193.00 $191.49 $1,034 -28.04
568–595 573 5 208.00–220.00 $217.51 $1,246 -2.49
605–625 612 3 199.00–210.00 $206.25 $1,262 -1.25
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1435 1435 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 2,175.00 $2,175.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1495 1346 75-80% 8 98.00–109.00 $103.33 $1,391 -6.49
1130–1815 1398 75-80% 14 109.50–117.00 $112.79 $1,577 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
735 735 85-90% 1 72.00 $72.00 $529 —
950–1030 986 85-90% 4 84.50–88.00 $85.90 $847 —
875–1135 1008 85-90% 4 101.00–110.50 $106.54 $1,074 +16.55
840–1240 1037 85-90% 8 88.00–101.00 $94.20 $977 -11.81
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970–1445 1153 80-85% 4 91.00–95.00 $92.63 $1,068 —
1090–1430 1249 80-85% 6 99.50–107.00 $103.44 $1,292 —
940–1415 1258 80-85% 7 109.00–118.50 $113.66 $1,430 -7.09

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1535–1670 1609 4 114.00–127.00 $121.57 $1,956 —
1630 1630 1 93.00 $93.00 $1,516 —
1420–2300 1814 8 127.00–138.50 $133.02 $2,413 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1105 1105 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,235.00 $1,235.00
1240 1240 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1285 1285 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
795 795 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 775.00 $775.00
895 895 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 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
1270–1395 1333 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,425.00–1,625.00 $1,529.69 —

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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.