Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, September 20, 2023

1,242 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $243.84/cwt +16.63 vs last sale · ≈ $1,525/hd at 625 lb · 188 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $248.68/cwt +22.64 vs last sale · ≈ $1,435/hd at 577 lb · 108 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $234.24/cwt +5.64 vs last sale · ≈ $1,102/hd at 471 lb · 65 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,242 1,033 850
Feeder cattle 1,052 884 750
Slaughter cattle 135 120 53
Replacement cattle 55 29 47

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady with good demand; very good demand for weaned packages and yearlings. Some weaned heifers 400-600 lbs 3.00 to 5.00 higher with very good demand. Slaughter cows sold 5.00 to 8.00 lower with light to 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
385 385 2 250.00 $250.00 $962 -7.68
405–445 423 4 250.00–256.00 $251.54 $1,064 —
437 value added 437 2 261.00 $261.00 $1,141 -1.96
455–486 471 14 246.00–259.00 $254.77 $1,200 +5.42
480–495 value added 485 3 261.00–264.00 $262.02 $1,271 -5.37
500–545 value added 507 38 258.00–280.00 $260.75 $1,322 -24.25
505–540 515 11 250.00–256.00 $252.35 $1,300 -0.42
560–585 567 8 243.00–251.00 $248.98 $1,412 +3.07
558–590 value added 568 7 258.00–275.00 $263.41 $1,496 -11.42
600–625 620 5 236.00–240.00 $237.38 $1,472 -2.62
628–630 value added 628 6 240.00–256.50 $253.74 $1,593 +3.26
650–666 value added 664 47 252.50–252.75 $252.72 $1,678 —
670 670 1 238.00 $238.00 $1,595 +7.81
750–795 773 2 235.00–236.00 $235.51 $1,820 —
872 fancy 872 60 247.00 $247.00 $2,154 —
905–910 908 3 202.00–208.00 $206.01 $1,871 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–370 360 2 202.50–215.00 $208.92 $752 —
465–480 475 3 230.00–231.00 $230.33 $1,094 +7.22
580–590 585 2 230.00–238.00 $234.03 $1,369 +6.75
600–641 620 7 206.00–221.00 $218.51 $1,355 -1.49
670–685 674 7 210.00–220.00 $212.90 $1,435 —
705–720 710 3 202.00–225.00 $210.77 $1,496 +2.04
795 795 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,590 —
840 840 1 193.00 $193.00 $1,621 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525–548 543 5 238.00–240.00 $238.39 $1,294 —
580–585 584 5 235.00–242.00 $237.80 $1,389 —
625–645 635 2 230.00–235.00 $232.46 $1,476 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 1 210.00 $210.00 $914 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–335 315 3 214.00–220.00 $217.87 $686 -8.24
327 value added 327 2 236.00 $236.00 $772 —
350–382 369 10 225.00–235.00 $230.24 $850 +12.38
365–392 value added 381 8 245.00–255.00 $251.54 $958 —
415–427 421 6 222.50–230.00 $228.77 $963 +4.73
400–445 value added 427 25 231.00–258.00 $239.86 $1,024 +6.47
451–483 value added 465 39 234.00–244.00 $238.90 $1,111 +7.32
455–495 479 26 220.00–232.00 $227.25 $1,089 +3.68
500–542 522 8 218.00–226.00 $221.87 $1,158 -1.86
505–542 value added 530 31 229.00–252.00 $241.44 $1,280 +7.64
552–590 563 8 219.00–224.00 $220.65 $1,242 -2.23
550–597 value added 578 100 226.00–258.00 $250.92 $1,450 +20.03
600–615 607 15 213.00–230.00 $217.31 $1,319 +0.68
600–646 value added 627 173 230.00–258.50 $246.14 $1,543 +16.33
700–730 715 2 190.00–193.00 $191.53 $1,369 —
755–760 758 2 194.00–199.00 $196.51 $1,490 —
850–875 869 4 170.00–191.00 $175.14 $1,522 +4.14
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–285 275 2 170.00–202.50 $185.66 $511 -11.02
310–325 316 6 187.50–205.00 $199.26 $630 +11.76
365–390 378 2 180.00–210.00 $194.50 $735 +12.00
445 445 4 191.00–210.00 $201.50 $897 -5.68
512–545 523 3 208.00–218.00 $214.53 $1,122 +7.07
580–590 585 2 181.00–215.00 $197.85 $1,157 -21.15
630–640 635 2 190.00–200.00 $194.96 $1,238 +9.70
660–695 682 9 172.00–192.00 $184.72 $1,260 +14.72
700 700 1 161.00 $161.00 $1,127 -8.41
790 790 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,185 -25.00
810–840 822 3 140.00–166.00 $156.81 $1,289 —
850 850 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,292 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505–525 515 2 217.00 $217.00 $1,118 -1.94
552–577 565 4 210.00–220.00 $215.11 $1,215 —
615–627 620 5 215.00–216.00 $215.40 $1,335 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230 1230 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,660 -24.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 250 1 150.00 $150.00 $375 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 245.00 $245.00 $723 -9.00
300–310 303 3 250.00–254.00 $251.36 $762 +8.40
372–395 388 11 240.00–260.00 $249.56 $968 +5.95
415–447 431 4 237.00–243.00 $240.11 $1,035 -4.87
435 value added 435 1 248.00 $248.00 $1,079 -10.45
452–465 value added 460 5 242.00–249.00 $244.75 $1,126 —
460–485 473 9 230.00–239.00 $234.96 $1,111 -5.98
507–521 517 13 230.00–236.00 $232.15 $1,200 -0.43
597 597 2 232.00 $232.00 $1,385 -2.75
600–635 618 10 195.00–210.00 $201.80 $1,247 -5.49
660–695 677 6 190.00–204.00 $197.20 $1,335 -11.80
705–725 715 2 186.00–192.00 $188.96 $1,351 -16.04
770–795 791 11 181.00–223.00 $196.59 $1,555 —
895 895 1 188.00 $188.00 $1,683 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–290 275 3 185.00–242.50 $209.15 $575 —
325–335 328 3 215.00–241.00 $225.49 $740 +5.49
350–395 373 7 216.00–230.00 $222.16 $829 +2.29
400–427 419 5 215.00–230.00 $223.12 $935 +12.88
450–495 475 15 202.50–236.00 $223.17 $1,060 +2.10
510–545 526 4 195.00–228.00 $207.62 $1,092 -7.48
555–595 577 9 191.00–221.00 $208.88 $1,205 -7.45
617–645 628 6 185.00–191.00 $188.64 $1,185 -8.24
650–660 653 3 180.00–186.00 $183.98 $1,201 —
745 745 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,222 —
755 755 1 162.00 $162.00 $1,223 -8.00
860 860 1 167.50 $167.50 $1,440 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625 625 1 197.00 $197.00 $1,231 —
667 667 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,201 —
710 710 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,314 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–425 415 2 175.00–209.00 $191.59 $795 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085–1580 1275 75-80% 5 87.00–97.00 $91.74 $1,170 —
1180–1715 1404 75-80% 15 97.00–107.50 $102.68 $1,442 —
1300–1865 1529 75-80% 11 107.50–116.50 $111.26 $1,701 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1630 1238 80-85% 13 96.00–106.50 $101.56 $1,257 -8.06
1075–1380 1238 80-85% 8 107.00–115.00 $110.14 $1,364 +0.52
1100–1365 1274 80-85% 8 91.00–98.00 $93.92 $1,197 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855–1265 1006 85-90% 7 61.00–82.00 $77.60 $781 —
815–1205 1023 85-90% 12 85.00–101.00 $92.54 $947 —
985–1095 1030 85-90% 4 84.00–86.00 $85.01 $876 —
1055–1150 1098 85-90% 4 99.00–103.00 $101.02 $1,109 +1.91

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260–1665 1461 5 105.50–113.00 $109.60 $1,601 —
1265–2125 1663 20 118.00–129.00 $123.99 $2,062 —
1500–2180 1768 17 130.00–144.00 $134.75 $2,382 -6.52

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
885 885 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 103.00 $103.00 $912

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
805–1170 978 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 700.00–1,025.00 $884.99
935–1295 1084 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12 800.00–1,110.00 $987.94
1150–1270 1210 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 950.00–975.00 $961.88
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
970 970 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,150.00 $1,150.00
995–1365 1099 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,110.00–1,625.00 $1,293.56
1180–1275 1215 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,150.00–1,275.00 $1,205.15
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
825 825 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 700.00 $700.00
1025 1025 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 775.00 $775.00
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
830 830 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 675.00 $675.00
920 920 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 650.00 $650.00

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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
1115 1115 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 925.00 $925.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
717 717 7 140.00 $140.00 $1,004 —

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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.