Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, November 20, 2024

577 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $244.51/cwt -6.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,294/hd at 529 lb · 42 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $236.64/cwt -10.41 vs last sale · ≈ $1,478/hd at 625 lb · 29 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $263.89/cwt -3.48 vs last sale · ≈ $1,484/hd at 562 lb · 20 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 577 594 810
Feeder cattle 461 501 677
Slaughter cattle 73 61 111
Replacement cattle 43 32 22

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers and heifers sold steady to 3.00 lower on fleshy offerings with good demand for long-weaned preconditioned calves. Yearlings lightly tested. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 2.00 higher with moderate demand. Slaughter bulls sold steady 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
385 value added 385 5 320.00–329.00 $321.80 $1,239 —
400–420 410 2 275.00–277.50 $276.28 $1,133 +3.29
410 value added 410 2 292.50 $292.50 $1,199 +4.47
456–480 value added 466 10 275.00–288.00 $281.48 $1,312 -0.54
475–490 478 7 260.00–263.00 $262.42 $1,254 -6.06
507–525 value added 516 5 265.00–272.50 $268.95 $1,388 -6.19
520–536 530 8 255.00–260.00 $258.25 $1,369 -3.34
550–568 value added 561 17 260.00–268.00 $265.47 $1,489 -2.53
567–580 571 3 249.00–258.00 $254.95 $1,456 -3.05
600–642 621 5 240.00–244.00 $241.19 $1,498 +0.52
620–641 value added 639 10 252.00–254.00 $253.81 $1,622 -6.92
663–670 value added 666 16 248.00–259.50 $254.11 $1,692 +3.26
670–685 674 4 246.00–247.00 $246.25 $1,660 —
703–713 value added 706 12 238.00–240.50 $239.66 $1,692 —
702–722 715 7 230.00–237.00 $232.40 $1,662 +4.41
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360–370 365 3 240.00–275.00 $256.51 $936 -24.77
415 415 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,038 —
460–490 475 2 250.00–257.00 $253.61 $1,205 -4.39
500–540 530 6 239.00–242.00 $239.47 $1,269 -3.52
575 575 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,380 —
605 605 1 238.00 $238.00 $1,440 +8.00
665–685 671 4 225.00–238.00 $233.20 $1,565 —
735–737 736 4 224.00 $224.00 $1,649 +6.97
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
488 488 5 247.00 $247.00 $1,205 —
670 670 3 223.00 $223.00 $1,494 -20.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500 500 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,075 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–277 273 3 247.50–257.50 $254.26 $694 —
310–320 314 4 240.00–265.00 $247.04 $776 —
367–390 379 7 240.00–257.00 $249.38 $945 -0.62
373–397 value added 380 9 262.50–280.00 $273.21 $1,038 +14.06
400–435 value added 418 4 246.00–251.00 $248.40 $1,038 -3.97
431 431 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,034 -1.99
460–490 471 7 235.00–240.00 $238.27 $1,122 -1.31
460–490 value added 473 9 248.00–256.00 $250.66 $1,186 -4.02
500–540 value added 526 27 243.00–251.50 $247.30 $1,301 -4.84
520–540 535 15 232.00–242.50 $239.48 $1,281 +2.40
550 value added 550 2 244.00–248.00 $246.00 $1,353 -10.34
552–585 570 6 232.00–238.00 $235.47 $1,342 -3.76
605–630 618 2 224.00–231.00 $227.43 $1,406 +0.03
605–648 value added 625 27 234.00–243.50 $237.32 $1,483 -20.30
665–690 679 4 218.00–219.00 $218.49 $1,484 -5.66
720–732 728 6 209.00–216.00 $210.82 $1,535 +4.82
755–790 773 2 197.00–203.00 $200.07 $1,547 —
802 802 2 194.00 $194.00 $1,556 —
885 885 1 197.00 $197.00 $1,743 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 1 230.00 $230.00 $702 —
365 365 1 220.00 $220.00 $803 -15.00
420–445 435 6 221.00–234.00 $227.60 $990 -4.10
460–490 471 4 220.00–231.00 $225.28 $1,061 -1.62
505 505 3 220.00 $220.00 $1,111 -0.12
560–581 573 9 223.00–226.00 $224.11 $1,284 -4.36
625 625 3 210.00–211.00 $210.67 $1,317 +0.67
660–675 668 2 200.00–210.00 $204.94 $1,369 +8.94
825 825 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,423 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
552–575 564 4 223.00–225.00 $224.02 $1,263 —
690 690 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,449 -2.00
925 925 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,619 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080–1235 1158 2 160.00–170.00 $165.33 $1,915 +15.33
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 215.00 $215.00 $796 —
425 425 1 200.00 $200.00 $850 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 380 1 276.00 $276.00 $1,049 -7.68
385 value added 385 1 305.00 $305.00 $1,174 —
420 420 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,092 —
400–440 value added 427 8 260.00–290.00 $272.13 $1,162 +11.33
450–481 value added 465 8 270.00–275.00 $271.94 $1,265 +7.23
450–495 474 9 240.00–260.00 $251.23 $1,191 +0.98
500–523 value added 512 6 263.00–270.00 $266.57 $1,365 +1.96
505–545 529 7 244.00–255.00 $249.92 $1,322 -1.11
560–585 570 3 250.00–254.00 $252.63 $1,440 +3.71
605–635 620 4 220.00–224.00 $221.95 $1,376 -1.55
608–633 value added 621 6 245.00–246.00 $245.49 $1,524 +15.49
650–660 value added 655 2 237.00–241.00 $239.02 $1,566 —
650–685 673 5 218.00–220.00 $219.60 $1,478 -4.40
730 730 2 200.00–206.00 $203.00 $1,482 —
760–785 775 7 190.00–201.00 $197.27 $1,529 -6.20
902 902 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,624 —
1055 1055 1 136.00 $136.00 $1,435 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 272.50 $272.50 $818 +17.50
460–485 468 3 230.00–241.00 $237.20 $1,110 +12.20
555–565 561 4 227.00–238.00 $233.50 $1,310 —
620 620 4 193.00 $193.00 $1,197 —
650–680 665 3 190.00–213.00 $204.17 $1,358 -6.63
875 875 2 168.00–174.00 $171.00 $1,496 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 1 230.00 $230.00 $886 —
435 435 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,066 —
515 515 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,215 —
600 600 2 229.00 $229.00 $1,374 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 210.00 $210.00 $704 -10.00
455 455 1 200.00 $200.00 $910 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–1390 1294 75-80% 6 104.00–109.00 $106.82 $1,382 -4.96
1160–1685 1391 75-80% 12 108.00–115.00 $111.62 $1,553 —
1320–1910 1579 75-80% 6 117.00–126.50 $119.22 $1,882 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1130 1130 80-85% 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,198 —
1110–1770 1286 80-85% 10 108.00–115.00 $112.09 $1,441 +18.09
1215–1775 1446 80-85% 5 117.00–123.50 $118.88 $1,719 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–1125 983 85-90% 3 85.00–90.00 $87.79 $863 -5.78
945–1065 1005 85-90% 2 109.00–112.00 $110.59 $1,111 —
835–1165 1014 85-90% 5 100.00–103.00 $102.11 $1,035 +1.54
985–1265 1091 85-90% 5 92.00–98.00 $95.37 $1,040 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1065–1455 1289 4 116.00–135.00 $125.30 $1,615 —
1280–1895 1624 9 140.00–154.00 $148.22 $2,407 —
1570–2055 1881 4 157.00–158.00 $157.79 $2,968 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
970 970 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 117.00 $117.00 $1,135

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
950–1125 1047 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,575.00–1,750.00 $1,654.82
1060 1060 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00
1112–1335 1183 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,500.00–1,675.00 $1,579.45
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
895–1225 1063 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,150.00–1,475.00 $1,300.14
1275 1275 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
820 820 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 885.00 $885.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
805 805 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
1125 1125 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
710 710 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 950.00 $950.00

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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
1155–1285 1241 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 2,225.00–2,500.00 $2,376.31 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1120 1120 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 140.00 $140.00 $413 —

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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.