Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, October 23, 2024

735 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $264.27/cwt +23.66 vs last sale · ≈ $1,636/hd at 619 lb · 44 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $270.01/cwt +7.64 vs last sale · ≈ $1,544/hd at 572 lb · 37 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $239.42/cwt -0.28 vs last sale · ≈ $1,371/hd at 573 lb · 31 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 735 567 629
Feeder cattle 615 430 521
Slaughter cattle 83 120 88
Replacement cattle 37 17 20

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers 400-800 lbs sold 3.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand for weaned thin-fleshed packages. Feeder heifers sold mostly steady; few weaned 400-500 lbs 3.00 higher with good demand. Softer undertone for featherweight steers and heifers in a lite test. Yearlings light test. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 4.00 lower with moderate to good 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 value added 345 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,104 -17.50
375–395 value added 385 9 320.00–355.00 $325.47 $1,253 -4.53
385 385 2 300.00–317.00 $308.50 $1,188 —
400–436 value added 416 12 298.00–325.00 $306.57 $1,275 +4.21
425–435 430 2 287.00–292.50 $289.72 $1,246 +19.99
455–490 475 5 265.00–272.00 $268.87 $1,277 +4.88
460–492 value added 481 19 275.00–287.00 $279.72 $1,345 -0.31
500–543 value added 524 21 268.00–282.00 $276.33 $1,448 +4.80
515–542 534 10 262.00–267.50 $264.77 $1,414 +11.03
550–594 value added 572 31 267.00–275.00 $271.11 $1,551 +4.48
555–580 572 6 261.00–266.00 $264.34 $1,512 +5.62
600–647 value added 616 34 252.50–278.00 $269.21 $1,658 +25.23
615–647 629 10 242.00–250.00 $247.48 $1,557 +10.24
656 value added 656 3 270.00 $270.00 $1,771 —
660 660 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,600 +4.30
705–706 value added 705 16 259.00–261.50 $259.63 $1,830 —
745 745 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,788 —
822 822 4 235.00 $235.00 $1,932 —
920 920 4 205.00 $205.00 $1,886 -2.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 270.00 $270.00 $891 -7.50
405–445 425 2 235.00–247.50 $240.96 $1,024 —
500–535 519 5 240.00–256.00 $247.86 $1,286 +2.86
600 600 2 232.00–235.00 $233.50 $1,401 —
752–755 753 3 221.00–226.00 $222.67 $1,677 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
552–560 555 3 260.00–270.00 $266.63 $1,480 +8.30
870 870 1 194.00 $194.00 $1,688 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 fancy 285 1 292.50 $292.50 $834 —
345 value added 345 1 262.50 $262.50 $906 -32.47
350–380 value added 367 9 260.00–281.00 $267.77 $983 -17.23
365–380 371 9 250.00–259.00 $255.98 $950 -5.07
405–417 value added 412 7 250.00–252.50 $251.00 $1,034 -1.31
405–447 431 9 238.00–244.00 $241.14 $1,039 -1.81
450–470 463 3 245.00–250.00 $246.62 $1,142 +6.20
460–480 value added 467 22 247.00–268.00 $257.89 $1,204 +9.47
510–545 value added 525 11 244.00–255.00 $247.48 $1,299 -0.12
500–547 531 18 230.00–243.00 $235.97 $1,253 -0.78
555–595 value added 561 7 243.00–244.00 $243.43 $1,366 -0.21
552–586 576 24 230.00–241.00 $238.25 $1,372 +4.07
600–616 value added 614 12 239.00–245.00 $244.10 $1,499 +9.02
600–632 624 9 234.00 $234.00 $1,460 +16.00
655 value added 655 3 236.00 $236.00 $1,546 —
790 790 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,588 —
826 826 3 206.00 $206.00 $1,702 —
830 830 2 190.00–195.00 $192.50 $1,598 —
855–865 860 2 195.00–196.00 $195.50 $1,681 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 2 220.00 $220.00 $616 —
312–318 316 5 227.00–230.00 $228.81 $723 -6.15
350–378 373 9 221.00–236.00 $232.28 $866 -1.90
401–445 416 8 215.00–231.00 $222.39 $925 +2.90
450–485 459 8 220.00–228.00 $223.92 $1,028 -3.45
500–535 522 3 217.00–230.00 $222.46 $1,161 -2.80
560–595 579 6 210.00–233.00 $218.47 $1,265 -3.97
640–645 643 4 192.00–223.00 $208.31 $1,339 +2.31
650 650 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,381 +42.50
725 725 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,341 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450–475 456 4 217.00–225.00 $219.08 $999 -18.92
510–520 515 2 227.00–240.00 $233.44 $1,202 —
580 580 3 228.00 $228.00 $1,322 -9.00
605–610 608 2 181.00–200.00 $190.54 $1,158 —
775 775 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,465 —
830 830 1 192.00 $192.00 $1,594 —
860 860 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,548 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 212.00 $212.00 $827 -3.00
430 430 1 200.00 $200.00 $860 —
450 450 1 215.00 $215.00 $968 —
500–520 506 5 200.00–212.00 $203.80 $1,031 -6.20
577 577 2 206.00 $206.00 $1,189 +0.45
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1490–1545 1518 2 140.00–158.00 $149.16 $2,264 —

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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 1 255.00 $255.00 $752 —
335 335 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,005 +32.50
375–385 380 2 300.00–310.00 $305.07 $1,159 +17.85
385 value added 385 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,232 ±0.00
400–430 fancy 415 2 290.00–300.00 $294.82 $1,224 —
420–445 432 10 256.00–270.00 $261.13 $1,128 +0.23
455–480 471 4 250.00–275.00 $257.56 $1,213 +5.82
510–530 522 3 240.00–250.00 $245.06 $1,279 -4.41
525–545 value added 536 8 254.00–263.00 $256.68 $1,376 —
555–595 568 4 245.00–251.00 $249.18 $1,415 +7.94
570 value added 570 2 255.00 $255.00 $1,454 -5.00
610–630 624 4 227.00–237.00 $230.45 $1,438 +7.81
650–657 655 3 235.00–237.00 $236.34 $1,548 +16.37
715–720 718 2 212.00 $212.00 $1,522 +2.34
755 755 1 204.00 $204.00 $1,540 +0.95
865 865 2 174.00 $174.00 $1,505 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 290.00 $290.00 $624 —
310 310 1 252.50 $252.50 $783 —
432 432 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,037 +7.12
515–545 527 6 230.00–238.00 $235.45 $1,241 +10.45
570–575 573 2 229.00–238.00 $233.48 $1,338 +8.47
665 665 1 221.00 $221.00 $1,470 —
715 715 1 187.00 $187.00 $1,337 +17.00
860 860 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,299 +20.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,000 —
450 450 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,125 —
505–545 523 3 230.00–241.00 $237.36 $1,241 —
570 570 1 227.50 $227.50 $1,297 -7.50
615–635 625 2 212.00–215.00 $213.52 $1,334 -21.48
700–745 723 2 191.00–196.00 $193.42 $1,398 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 200.00 $200.00 $530 —
330–340 335 2 200.00–225.00 $212.69 $713 —
485 485 2 217.00 $217.00 $1,052 +2.00
500–510 503 3 208.00–215.00 $212.64 $1,070 +9.31

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–1065 940 85-90% 3 83.00–91.00 $87.96 $827 —
880–1240 996 85-90% 6 94.00–103.00 $98.82 $984 +6.82
755–1165 1009 85-90% 12 104.00–112.00 $108.81 $1,098 +0.44
1025–1290 1182 85-90% 9 116.00–131.50 $121.21 $1,433 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1190–1800 1444 75-80% 8 126.50–138.00 $129.36 $1,868 +5.51
1120–1650 1449 75-80% 10 120.00–126.50 $122.48 $1,775 -1.37
1200–1655 1459 75-80% 10 110.00–119.00 $113.22 $1,652 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080–1360 1198 80-85% 6 119.00–126.00 $122.74 $1,470 —
1160–1575 1272 80-85% 5 116.00–118.00 $117.20 $1,491 -16.02
1120–1715 1319 80-85% 13 127.00–138.00 $131.23 $1,731 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1690–1805 1748 2 142.00–156.00 $149.23 $2,609 —
1490–2015 1762 3 164.00–170.00 $167.30 $2,948 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1005–1215 1110 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,500.00–1,625.00 $1,568.41
1195 1195 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00
1210 1210 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,485.00 $1,485.00
1285 1285 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
847–920 871 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 825.00–1,000.00 $886.59
975 975 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1240 1240 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
735 735 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 760.00 $760.00

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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
1315 1315 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00 —
1540 1540 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,125.00 $2,125.00 —
1570–1775 1673 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,700.00–2,375.00 $2,058.18 —

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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.