Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, December 13, 2023

790 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $189.75/cwt ≈ $1,334/hd at 703 lb · 78 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $203.47/cwt +1.38 vs last sale · ≈ $1,169/hd at 574 lb · 40 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $210.70/cwt +4.33 vs last sale · ≈ $1,409/hd at 669 lb · 36 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 790 1,068 1,186
Feeder cattle 635 930 1,051
Slaughter cattle 109 118 108
Replacement cattle 46 20 27

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 attractive quality calf packages; over 600 lbs sold steady to 3.00 lower in a light test. Feeder heifers sold unevenly steady with moderate demand. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00 to 3.00 lower with moderate 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
325 325 1 262.50 $262.50 $853 +22.50
365 fancy 365 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,058 —
375–390 383 4 258.00–272.50 $265.39 $1,016 +12.85
415 fancy 415 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,204 —
407–445 value added 435 14 246.00–290.00 $257.37 $1,120 +2.64
450–477 value added 470 24 240.00–270.00 $258.55 $1,215 +4.61
523–543 value added 532 27 240.00–257.00 $249.92 $1,330 +9.73
550–565 value added 558 7 240.00–243.00 $241.71 $1,349 +10.97
579 579 28 236.00 $236.00 $1,366 —
605–632 value added 625 24 214.00–224.00 $219.67 $1,373 +1.78
620–631 626 6 200.00 $200.00 $1,252 -7.08
664–680 667 15 191.00–203.00 $200.56 $1,338 -4.86
666–677 value added 670 21 213.00–219.50 $217.94 $1,460 +9.94
722 value added 722 4 199.00 $199.00 $1,437 -3.50
731–739 737 13 188.50–190.00 $188.96 $1,393 —
795 795 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,503 +0.71
829 829 5 183.00 $183.00 $1,517 -5.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 180.00 $180.00 $396 —
370–390 380 2 237.50–241.00 $239.20 $909 —
400–430 420 3 222.50–227.50 $224.09 $941 —
477 477 2 231.00 $231.00 $1,102 +7.81
510–520 515 4 226.00–233.00 $228.23 $1,175 +4.44
550–560 555 5 223.00–236.00 $228.59 $1,269 +4.74
633 633 3 174.00 $174.00 $1,101 -28.00
705 705 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,269 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
672 672 2 189.00 $189.00 $1,270 —
700–717 709 4 181.00–182.00 $181.49 $1,287 —
923 923 3 152.00 $152.00 $1,403 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–345 value added 323 2 215.00–216.00 $215.53 $696 —
400–402 401 4 190.00–192.00 $191.00 $766 -5.34
426–448 value added 444 27 208.00–215.00 $208.75 $927 -8.47
450–475 459 7 190.00–198.00 $195.51 $897 +5.51
450–488 value added 468 9 202.00–212.00 $206.56 $967 +6.56
500 500 5 184.00–191.00 $188.20 $941 -3.13
526–535 value added 529 20 200.00–214.00 $207.52 $1,098 -2.03
550–580 564 5 185.00–192.00 $189.28 $1,068 +5.30
553–591 value added 576 35 200.00–214.00 $205.50 $1,184 +1.34
608–636 value added 622 18 190.00–206.00 $198.18 $1,233 -6.36
615–624 623 7 170.00–181.00 $171.55 $1,069 —
690–695 690 18 170.00–174.00 $170.22 $1,175 -14.28
703 value added 703 78 189.75 $189.75 $1,334 —
852 852 5 143.00 $143.00 $1,218 —
1015 1015 2 135.00 $135.00 $1,370 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 180.00 $180.00 $486 —
330–340 335 4 165.00–182.50 $178.06 $597 +9.63
365–395 376 4 160.00–185.00 $174.02 $654 +0.40
435–445 439 4 152.50–165.00 $156.85 $689 -25.58
450–485 461 6 162.50–185.00 $172.71 $796 -5.19
505–540 530 4 171.00–182.50 $176.03 $933 +3.83
555–575 565 2 169.00–180.00 $174.40 $985 +1.80
605–615 608 3 141.00–159.00 $147.07 $894 -10.51
662–698 681 7 140.00–155.00 $143.94 $980 —
740 740 3 148.00 $148.00 $1,095 +7.21
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 1 180.00 $180.00 $549 —
475 475 1 160.00 $160.00 $760 —
564 564 6 160.00 $160.00 $902 -10.00
792 792 7 162.00 $162.00 $1,283 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 142.50 $142.50 $534 —
405 405 1 136.00 $136.00 $551 —
500–517 509 4 120.00–142.00 $130.82 $666 —
600 600 1 110.00 $110.00 $660 -15.06

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360–365 363 3 240.00–260.00 $251.72 $914 +14.91
427 427 2 230.00 $230.00 $982 -1.42
475 475 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,009 -18.44
562–590 577 5 200.00–223.00 $212.99 $1,229 -7.16
622–635 628 5 175.00–183.00 $178.62 $1,122 -14.37
650–695 684 4 161.00–186.00 $178.93 $1,224 -1.42
740 740 1 168.00 $168.00 $1,243 -16.65
760–770 763 3 161.00–170.00 $166.97 $1,274 +7.35
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 200.00 $200.00 $530 —
325 325 1 185.00 $185.00 $601 -5.00
470–480 473 3 170.00–187.50 $179.93 $851 -21.64
500–535 511 4 181.00–195.00 $189.06 $966 -1.32
550–590 570 2 172.00–197.00 $184.94 $1,054 -17.92
605 605 1 162.50 $162.50 $983 —
690 690 1 157.50 $157.50 $1,087 -3.50
940 940 1 109.00 $109.00 $1,025 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 157.50 $157.50 $528 —
360 360 1 155.00 $155.00 $558 —
427 427 2 135.00 $135.00 $576 +10.00
487 487 2 152.00 $152.00 $740 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865 865 1 142.00 $142.00 $1,228 —
905 905 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,176 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1095 1095 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —
1685 1685 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1540 1336 75-80% 10 74.00–82.00 $78.99 $1,055 —
1125–1690 1419 75-80% 12 83.00–87.50 $84.99 $1,206 —
1195–1870 1616 75-80% 18 88.00–105.00 $97.40 $1,574 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1085 986 85-90% 6 58.00–69.00 $64.66 $638 —
815–1245 1054 85-90% 12 70.00–74.00 $72.32 $762 -9.56
890–1245 1070 85-90% 12 75.00–82.50 $78.58 $841 -3.30
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
995–1290 1141 80-85% 6 76.00–82.50 $80.47 $918 —
975–1475 1188 80-85% 13 83.00–86.50 $84.53 $1,004 —
1120–1555 1318 80-85% 9 88.00–94.50 $90.61 $1,194 +4.08

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1067–1440 1242 4 97.00–103.00 $99.30 $1,233 —
1430–1875 1584 7 110.00–119.00 $112.87 $1,788 —
1795 1795 1 123.00 $123.00 $2,208 —

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1020 1020 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 935.00 $935.00
735–1255 1037 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11 725.00–1,000.00 $905.96
1210 1210 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 925.00 $925.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
990–1270 1066 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,060.00–1,500.00 $1,275.55
1070–1465 1268 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,075.00–1,335.00 $1,225.26

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
925 925 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
975 975 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00
985–1015 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,125.00–1,175.00 $1,150.38
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
850 850 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 835.00 $835.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1565 1565 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1175 1175 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 950.00 $950.00 —

↑ 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.