Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, October 30, 2024

765 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $274.46/cwt +10.19 vs last sale · ≈ $1,724/hd at 628 lb · 71 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $251.49/cwt +12.07 vs last sale · ≈ $1,461/hd at 581 lb · 68 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $236.33/cwt -3.44 vs last sale · ≈ $1,470/hd at 622 lb · 45 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 765 735 421
Feeder cattle 626 615 293
Slaughter cattle 80 83 114
Replacement cattle 59 37 14

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers and heifers sold unevenly steady to firm with very good demand for weaned packages and yearlings and a slightly softer undertone for fleshy calves. Yearling steers noticeably higher in a lite test. Quality was good through attractive today. Slaughter cows sold 4.00 to 6.00 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
330–340 value added 335 2 322.00–322.50 $322.25 $1,080 +2.25
325–342 336 3 310.00–312.00 $310.64 $1,044 —
385 value added 385 3 321.00 $321.00 $1,236 -4.47
415–436 value added 428 10 285.00–317.00 $298.71 $1,278 -7.86
425–445 442 10 261.00–271.00 $268.81 $1,188 -20.91
451–485 461 8 257.00–266.00 $259.84 $1,198 -9.03
470–485 value added 478 8 267.00–270.00 $268.52 $1,284 -11.20
503–547 value added 506 26 269.00–290.50 $288.71 $1,461 +12.38
505–538 524 8 251.00–261.00 $258.81 $1,356 -5.96
555–585 564 14 250.00–261.00 $258.05 $1,455 -6.29
566 value added 566 5 270.00 $270.00 $1,528 -1.11
625–643 value added 627 58 265.50–283.85 $279.97 $1,755 +10.76
630–645 633 13 242.00–252.00 $249.89 $1,582 +2.41
665 665 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,596 -2.50
662–670 value added 666 8 263.00–267.50 $265.24 $1,766 -4.76
700–707 704 6 231.00–240.00 $233.66 $1,645 —
727–741 value added 732 24 255.00–259.00 $256.52 $1,878 -3.11
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 275.00 $275.00 $756 —
390 390 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,112 —
475 475 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,140 —
510 510 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,275 +2.14
575 575 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,438 —
607–625 611 5 234.00–238.00 $234.82 $1,435 +1.32
683 683 3 237.00 $237.00 $1,619 —
728–745 735 5 190.00–210.00 $201.89 $1,484 —
816 816 3 221.00 $221.00 $1,803 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
740 740 2 212.00 $212.00 $1,569 —
875 875 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,794 +11.00
945 945 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,805 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–1505 1303 2 147.00–168.00 $155.87 $2,031 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 1 207.00 $207.00 $890 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 250 1 251.00 $251.00 $628 —
317 value added 317 2 272.50 $272.50 $864 +10.00
340 340 1 247.50 $247.50 $842 —
357 value added 357 2 262.50 $262.50 $937 -5.27
390 390 1 251.00 $251.00 $979 -4.98
427–445 value added 429 9 253.00–265.00 $263.62 $1,131 +12.62
410–440 430 11 239.00–245.00 $240.53 $1,034 -0.61
450–495 value added 473 2 250.00–251.00 $250.48 $1,185 -7.41
465–490 478 2 235.00–240.00 $237.57 $1,136 -9.05
500–530 value added 506 5 245.00–247.00 $246.19 $1,246 -1.29
527–545 532 8 238.00–243.00 $239.61 $1,275 +3.64
565–586 579 7 235.00–240.00 $236.57 $1,370 -1.68
580–588 value added 581 61 244.50–255.25 $253.20 $1,471 +9.77
600–645 620 3 220.00–230.00 $223.23 $1,384 -10.77
600–642 value added 622 42 231.00–243.00 $237.27 $1,476 -6.83
657 657 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,511 —
686 686 5 218.00 $218.00 $1,495 —
704 value added 704 30 249.75 $249.75 $1,758 —
767 value added 767 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,764 —
933 933 3 180.00 $180.00 $1,679 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
292 292 2 234.00 $234.00 $683 +14.00
310 310 3 227.00–234.00 $231.67 $718 +2.86
360–395 380 3 220.00–237.50 $231.13 $878 -1.15
457–480 467 4 220.00–230.00 $224.34 $1,048 +0.42
520 520 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,144 -2.46
565 565 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,243 +1.53
642 642 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,220 -18.31
675 675 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,215 -32.50
730–745 736 5 167.00–187.00 $174.42 $1,284 -10.58
766–770 768 8 176.00–188.00 $180.51 $1,386 —
880 880 1 162.00 $162.00 $1,426 —
905 905 1 159.00 $159.00 $1,439 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
689 689 5 202.00 $202.00 $1,392 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 202.00 $202.00 $667 —
375 375 1 210.00 $210.00 $788 -2.00
410–435 423 2 207.00–216.00 $211.63 $895 +11.63
540 540 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,080 -3.80

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215–225 218 3 272.50–300.00 $290.55 $633 —
290–295 292 3 290.00–300.00 $293.37 $857 +38.37
315–340 328 2 280.00–290.00 $285.19 $935 -14.81
370–390 380 2 310.00–317.00 $313.59 $1,192 +8.52
405 fancy 405 2 285.00 $285.00 $1,154 -9.82
440 440 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,100 -11.13
460 value added 460 1 262.00 $262.00 $1,205 —
450–495 476 6 240.00–251.00 $245.28 $1,168 -12.28
500–515 506 10 239.00–250.00 $244.84 $1,239 -0.22
505–520 value added 508 9 254.00–275.00 $261.93 $1,331 +5.25
560–564 value added 563 6 258.00–259.00 $258.17 $1,453 +3.17
550–583 569 10 239.00–256.00 $243.86 $1,388 -5.32
630 630 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,449 -0.45
670–685 678 2 230.00–231.00 $230.51 $1,563 -5.83
705–710 708 3 205.00–210.00 $208.34 $1,475 -3.66
840 840 2 178.00 $178.00 $1,495 —
940 940 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,701 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
217 217 2 234.00 $234.00 $508 -56.00
270–295 283 2 240.00–255.00 $247.17 $699 —
320 320 2 275.00 $275.00 $880 +22.50
370–385 380 3 240.00–270.00 $249.74 $949 —
545 545 1 231.00 $231.00 $1,259 -4.45
555–575 568 3 228.00–239.00 $231.58 $1,315 -1.90
610 610 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,281 —
695 695 2 208.00 $208.00 $1,446 -13.00
800 800 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,376 —
915 915 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,354 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 300.00 $300.00 $900 —
395 395 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,047 —
750–755 753 3 185.00–192.50 $187.49 $1,412 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370–390 380 2 213.00–232.50 $223.01 $847 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145–1705 1373 75-80% 13 112.50–119.50 $115.68 $1,588 —
1000–1600 1378 75-80% 12 105.00–110.50 $108.24 $1,492 —
1145–1725 1427 75-80% 3 120.00–126.00 $122.42 $1,747 -6.94
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010 1010 85-90% 1 86.00 $86.00 $869 -22.81
910–1155 1052 85-90% 6 90.00–100.00 $96.63 $1,017 —
915–1275 1055 85-90% 16 100.00–110.00 $104.25 $1,100 —
1125–1270 1198 85-90% 2 112.00–118.00 $115.18 $1,380 -6.03
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1370 1263 80-85% 6 108.00–113.00 $110.29 $1,393 -6.91
1120–1580 1277 80-85% 6 113.50–119.00 $115.79 $1,479 -1.41
1190–1455 1290 80-85% 3 120.00–128.00 $125.01 $1,613 +7.81

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1395 1395 1 145.00 $145.00 $2,023 —
1370–1880 1686 4 149.50–159.00 $154.80 $2,610 —
1615–1870 1748 5 161.00–174.00 $167.25 $2,924 +18.02

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1120–1185 1155 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 132.00–141.00 $137.75 $1,591

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
915–1275 1184 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,525.00–2,050.00 $1,695.81
1060–1320 1190 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,525.00–1,625.00 $1,580.46
1105–1305 1198 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,550.00–2,125.00 $1,824.65
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
840–1090 967 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 800.00–1,500.00 $1,209.05
1185 1185 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00

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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
1210–1445 1305 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 2,100.00–2,600.00 $2,362.89 +637.89
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1150 1150 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00 —
1080–1420 1250 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,425.00–1,775.00 $1,623.80 —
1420 1420 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
730 730 1 102.00 $102.00 $745 —

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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.