Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, March 13, 2024

1,249 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $242.83/cwt +14.83 vs last sale · ≈ $1,511/hd at 622 lb · 111 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $254.31/cwt +37.31 vs last sale · ≈ $1,675/hd at 659 lb · 104 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $261.58/cwt +10.87 vs last sale · ≈ $1,480/hd at 566 lb · 90 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,249 372 1,140
Feeder cattle 1,165 311 1,084
Slaughter cattle 69 43 52
Replacement cattle 15 18 4

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers sold sharply higher on weaned packages with very good demand. Feeder heifers sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher; some 5-550 lb weaned packages sharply higher with very good demand. Slaughter cows sold 3.00 to 7.00 higher with most improvement on lean offerings. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 1.00 higher 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
290–295 value added 291 6 328.00–330.00 $329.66 $959 —
315 315 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,008 ±0.00
332–345 value added 339 4 335.00–360.00 $352.87 $1,196 —
351–390 value added 370 21 335.00–393.00 $370.43 $1,371 +20.43
400–446 value added 420 49 314.00–393.00 $362.40 $1,522 +17.89
420 420 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,176 +4.62
455–488 value added 471 23 311.00–352.50 $335.28 $1,579 +17.30
470–495 480 3 286.00–295.00 $290.93 $1,396 +16.93
515 fancy 515 1 343.00 $343.00 $1,766 —
507–547 value added 526 26 291.00–332.00 $316.30 $1,664 +34.31
558–595 value added 575 26 284.00–310.00 $296.89 $1,707 +27.33
565–592 583 3 280.00–281.00 $280.32 $1,634 —
615 thin fleshed 615 1 297.00 $297.00 $1,827 —
600–649 value added 636 35 260.00–289.00 $280.29 $1,783 +9.46
663–695 value added 670 19 255.00–283.00 $274.85 $1,841 —
700–721 value added 715 6 238.00–260.00 $254.75 $1,821 +7.72
758–783 value added 776 30 241.50–248.00 $242.50 $1,882 +3.50
815 value added 815 7 228.00 $228.00 $1,858 —
800–838 833 15 220.00–222.00 $221.74 $1,847 —
875 value added 875 5 227.00 $227.00 $1,986 —
939 939 10 206.50 $206.50 $1,939 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 304.00 $304.00 $821 +64.00
330–345 338 2 280.00 $280.00 $946 —
370 value added 370 1 270.00 $270.00 $999 —
360–395 378 2 297.00–300.00 $298.43 $1,128 +26.05
450 value added 450 1 298.00 $298.00 $1,341 —
475 475 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,188 -9.00
520 520 1 244.00 $244.00 $1,269 —
715 715 1 223.00 $223.00 $1,594 —
815 815 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,671 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
618 value added 618 6 250.00 $250.00 $1,545 —
756 756 3 225.00 $225.00 $1,701 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410 410 1 207.00 $207.00 $849 —
495 495 1 221.00 $221.00 $1,094 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–295 277 3 301.00–310.00 $305.43 $846 —
310 310 1 295.00 $295.00 $914 +12.28
310–340 value added 328 14 295.00–314.00 $308.66 $1,012 +10.40
350–375 364 5 267.50–290.00 $280.44 $1,021 -2.99
358–395 value added 377 14 281.00–304.00 $283.84 $1,070 -8.66
410–435 426 6 241.00–250.00 $246.80 $1,051 +9.30
400–447 value added 427 62 259.50–303.00 $276.32 $1,180 +1.89
451–492 value added 460 60 254.00–299.00 $279.98 $1,288 +13.23
470 470 3 247.00 $247.00 $1,161 +9.54
500–547 value added 522 80 249.00–290.00 $267.47 $1,396 +22.30
520–535 528 2 237.00–239.00 $237.99 $1,257 +7.99
550–590 563 3 235.00–240.00 $238.25 $1,341 +2.25
550–595 value added 566 87 244.00–270.00 $262.38 $1,485 +9.22
600–610 604 4 190.00–220.00 $202.59 $1,224 -18.41
607–640 value added 623 107 238.00–256.00 $244.33 $1,522 +9.33
657 fancy 657 74 260.50 $260.50 $1,711 —
654–673 value added 660 23 239.00–245.50 $243.25 $1,605 +9.25
672 672 2 224.00 $224.00 $1,505 +24.00
673–677 675 5 225.00–227.00 $225.80 $1,524 +25.80
700–717 value added 703 10 238.00–239.50 $239.19 $1,682 +4.19
700–745 714 7 180.00–220.00 $200.44 $1,431 +26.44
717–740 720 8 206.00–225.50 $222.99 $1,606 +48.99
755 value added 755 4 230.50 $230.50 $1,740 —
760–780 770 2 199.00–212.00 $205.58 $1,583 +24.58
801 801 3 197.00 $197.00 $1,578 —
878 878 3 202.00 $202.00 $1,774 +21.09
915 915 1 194.00 $194.00 $1,775 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205 205 1 250.00 $250.00 $512 —
260–290 274 4 251.00–270.00 $261.32 $716 +23.64
335–340 337 3 231.00–265.00 $242.45 $817 —
370–380 375 2 261.00–270.00 $265.56 $996 +18.61
400–425 413 3 224.00–230.00 $228.06 $942 —
465–497 488 5 220.00–230.00 $224.02 $1,093 -7.98
535–545 542 3 200.00–235.00 $218.45 $1,184 -2.93
562–580 569 4 201.00–230.00 $217.79 $1,239 —
615–625 620 2 161.00–189.00 $175.11 $1,086 -5.89
650–685 660 4 178.00–188.00 $183.44 $1,211 —
732 732 2 159.00 $159.00 $1,164 —
755–795 775 2 166.00–178.00 $171.85 $1,332 —
800–820 810 4 167.00–169.00 $168.01 $1,361 —
930 930 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,404 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 2 260.00 $260.00 $1,131 +51.00
510–535 523 2 225.00–230.00 $227.56 $1,190 +17.56
585 585 1 207.00 $207.00 $1,211 —
605 605 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,331 —
745 745 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,266 —
750 750 1 174.00 $174.00 $1,305 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 220.00 $220.00 $506 —
365 365 1 200.00 $200.00 $730 —
530 530 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,113 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 value added 290 2 342.50 $342.50 $993 —
325 325 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,040 +20.00
362–385 value added 372 4 330.00–375.00 $360.93 $1,343 +24.64
382–395 388 5 299.00–315.00 $307.30 $1,192 +12.30
400–446 value added 433 21 289.00–360.00 $332.53 $1,440 +42.49
435 435 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,044 —
456–495 value added 472 12 270.00–300.00 $288.67 $1,363 -10.70
470–485 478 2 295.00–304.00 $299.43 $1,431 +31.93
510–515 513 2 263.00–282.00 $272.55 $1,398 +13.55
505–545 value added 527 16 270.00–330.00 $299.27 $1,577 +28.06
575 value added 575 1 276.00 $276.00 $1,587 —
600 thin fleshed 600 3 265.00 $265.00 $1,590 —
600–635 620 3 234.00–247.00 $240.76 $1,493 +18.76
616–635 value added 621 4 239.00–265.00 $258.35 $1,604 —
675–690 value added 688 9 239.00–252.00 $250.58 $1,724 —
700–715 value added 707 6 235.00–247.00 $241.15 $1,705 —
740–745 743 2 220.00–223.00 $221.51 $1,646 —
755–795 777 5 201.00–219.00 $211.11 $1,640 +22.11
800–815 811 5 187.00–211.00 $200.79 $1,628 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 267.50 $267.50 $655 —
390 390 2 237.50–296.00 $266.75 $1,040 —
445 445 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,112 —
475–480 478 2 229.00–245.00 $237.04 $1,133 -14.13
525–527 526 3 225.00–240.00 $229.99 $1,210 —
562 562 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,349 +18.00
600–620 607 3 210.00–220.00 $213.41 $1,295 +1.38
700–705 702 3 184.00–199.00 $189.02 $1,327 —
805 805 1 153.00 $153.00 $1,232 —
880 880 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,496 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
562 562 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,349 —
675 675 1 233.00 $233.00 $1,573 —
790 790 2 206.00 $206.00 $1,627 —
800 800 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,600 —
870 870 1 168.00 $168.00 $1,462 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–280 273 2 227.00–233.00 $230.08 $628 +17.08
440 440 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,012 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
990–1125 1074 80-85% 4 109.00–115.00 $112.97 $1,213 —
1210 1210 80-85% 1 103.00 $103.00 $1,246 -16.71
945–1500 1231 80-85% 19 120.00–144.00 $127.48 $1,569 +7.77
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1120 1120 75-80% 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,187 —
1205–1785 1439 75-80% 16 120.00–135.00 $127.43 $1,834 +8.48
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
710–1110 910 85-90% 2 86.00–87.00 $86.39 $786 —
920–970 948 85-90% 3 102.00–110.00 $105.59 $1,001 —
930–1365 1073 85-90% 6 110.00–120.00 $116.96 $1,255 +27.50

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1955 1652 10 135.00–158.50 $144.83 $2,393 —
1265–2255 1920 3 110.00–131.00 $119.67 $2,298 —

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1245–1525 1385 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,410.00–1,900.00 $1,679.77

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
635 635 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 675.00 $675.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1152 1152 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,300.00 $2,300.00 —
1225–1420 1323 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,400.00–2,600.00 $2,507.37 +1,007.37

↑ 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.