Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, January 29, 2025

1,127 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $276.55/cwt +18.63 vs last sale · ≈ $1,687/hd at 610 lb · 105 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $264.43/cwt ≈ $1,867/hd at 706 lb · 93 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $271.78/cwt ≈ $2,081/hd at 766 lb · 77 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,127 239 743
Feeder cattle 1,027 225 632
Slaughter cattle 68 10 88
Replacement cattle 32 4 23

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers and heifers sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with most advance over 550 lbs with very good demand for weaned packages and yearlings. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 2.00 higher with good demand. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00 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
300–345 value added 315 3 325.00–345.00 $332.30 $1,047 —
363–380 value added 368 6 379.00–400.00 $390.81 $1,438 —
392–395 393 3 330.00–367.00 $354.60 $1,394 +13.50
400–433 value added 418 20 330.00–356.00 $340.47 $1,423 -37.35
405–425 418 3 321.00–322.00 $321.32 $1,343 —
455–488 value added 473 20 330.00–373.00 $354.41 $1,676 -28.90
470–482 479 7 313.00–320.00 $316.58 $1,516 -5.92
500–515 510 4 292.00–301.00 $297.03 $1,515 +17.03
500–547 value added 530 10 314.00–320.00 $316.29 $1,676 -3.71
550–576 value added 562 10 314.00–338.00 $326.61 $1,836 +14.51
550–583 572 15 290.00–300.00 $290.80 $1,663 —
630–640 635 2 272.00–277.00 $274.52 $1,743 +2.02
600–649 value added 636 56 285.00–309.00 $292.57 $1,861 -5.71
660–676 value added 666 8 292.00 $292.00 $1,945 +23.50
657–692 684 13 260.00–272.00 $266.51 $1,823 +16.51
713–735 value added 715 19 262.00–286.00 $283.40 $2,026 —
720–730 725 3 242.00–250.00 $244.65 $1,774 —
750 750 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,875 —
763–781 value added 766 75 261.50–274.25 $272.36 $2,086 —
803 803 4 228.00 $228.00 $1,831 —
810–826 822 4 237.00–245.00 $243.03 $1,998 —
860–885 877 3 226.00–227.00 $226.67 $1,988 —
955 955 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,929 —
955–990 967 3 210.00–212.00 $210.68 $2,037 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 1 290.00 $290.00 $942 —
370–385 378 2 277.00–300.00 $288.73 $1,091 -23.77
450–481 469 9 245.00–310.00 $279.11 $1,309 —
510–530 523 3 242.50–265.00 $257.69 $1,348 —
560 560 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,428 -5.58
630–635 633 2 256.00–260.00 $257.99 $1,633 —
660–695 674 6 232.00–247.00 $242.07 $1,632 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565–572 570 3 258.00–280.00 $272.73 $1,555 —
610–627 621 3 260.00–265.00 $261.64 $1,625 —
695 695 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,738 —
745 745 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,758 —
785 785 2 246.00 $246.00 $1,931 —
892 892 2 234.00 $234.00 $2,087 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 value added 235 1 340.00 $340.00 $799 —
285–295 value added 288 3 315.00–342.50 $324.06 $933 —
290 290 1 310.00 $310.00 $899 —
335 335 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,055 +19.89
325–346 value added 341 4 320.00–322.00 $321.52 $1,096 +6.52
360–385 value added 372 6 311.00–339.00 $322.51 $1,200 +20.01
380–390 385 7 290.00–300.00 $298.59 $1,150 +14.03
412 412 2 280.00 $280.00 $1,154 —
400–449 value added 430 24 293.00–310.00 $301.09 $1,295 +11.58
450–482 value added 462 25 290.00–306.00 $298.51 $1,379 +8.69
455–495 482 6 278.00–289.00 $281.23 $1,356 +19.67
502–540 value added 517 13 272.50–290.00 $279.84 $1,447 -6.16
525–545 531 4 257.00–270.00 $264.22 $1,403 +0.41
555–590 value added 567 26 270.00–290.00 $277.56 $1,574 +5.95
550–590 579 14 256.00–270.00 $266.03 $1,540 +18.53
605–630 value added 610 102 250.00–281.25 $277.67 $1,694 +17.67
610–620 615 3 235.00–240.00 $238.33 $1,466 -9.17
650–675 658 12 235.00–246.00 $243.05 $1,599 —
655–685 value added 663 35 253.00–258.50 $256.58 $1,701 -0.42
702 value added 702 79 270.00 $270.00 $1,895 —
715–739 729 14 228.00–239.00 $233.01 $1,699 —
805–835 820 2 209.00–210.00 $209.51 $1,718 —
995 995 1 182.50 $182.50 $1,816 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205–225 213 3 235.00–270.00 $248.24 $529 —
315–325 318 3 280.00–287.00 $282.31 $898 +22.17
350–382 371 4 240.00–287.50 $269.17 $999 —
405–435 420 2 230.00–247.50 $239.06 $1,004 —
452–495 469 9 237.50–267.50 $255.37 $1,198 +20.37
500–540 518 14 237.00–257.00 $249.91 $1,295 +4.91
555–590 569 8 220.00–243.00 $234.85 $1,336 +2.96
605–648 633 5 212.00–224.00 $216.14 $1,368 —
662–680 676 8 223.00–234.00 $231.30 $1,564 +4.65
725–730 727 3 209.00–220.00 $212.68 $1,546 —
775–780 778 2 210.00–211.00 $210.50 $1,638 +10.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 291.00 $291.00 $684 —
455 455 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,274 —
500–538 532 6 260.00–262.00 $261.69 $1,392 —
705 705 1 228.00 $228.00 $1,607 —
750 750 1 193.00 $193.00 $1,448 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 520 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,092 —
615 615 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,138 —
665 665 1 182.50 $182.50 $1,214 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1252 1252 2 154.00 $154.00 $1,928 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275–290 283 2 325.00–355.00 $340.40 $963 —
385–390 388 2 355.00–370.00 $362.45 $1,406 +7.45
405–410 value added 408 5 320.00–350.00 $337.94 $1,379 +15.44
420–445 431 6 298.00–326.00 $314.84 $1,357 +7.34
457–475 463 3 285.00–296.00 $292.24 $1,353 +2.24
455–468 value added 465 7 336.00–351.00 $342.64 $1,593 —
512–525 516 9 271.00–285.00 $280.78 $1,449 —
502–545 value added 524 11 291.00–317.00 $301.89 $1,582 +23.89
550–572 value added 560 9 285.00–307.00 $296.58 $1,661 —
561–582 574 9 259.00–285.00 $273.53 $1,570 —
600–642 613 6 248.00–256.00 $251.93 $1,544 —
600–645 value added 618 7 258.00–270.00 $262.81 $1,624 +2.81
650–660 value added 654 12 255.00–265.00 $259.34 $1,696 —
650–665 661 4 246.00–252.00 $248.51 $1,643 —
700–745 722 4 207.00–224.00 $218.85 $1,580 —
750–770 760 2 200.00–210.00 $204.93 $1,557 —
785 785 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,578 —
810 810 3 200.00 $200.00 $1,620 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 292.50 $292.50 $658 —
325–335 330 2 280.00–325.00 $302.16 $997 —
350–390 372 6 285.00–315.00 $302.04 $1,124 —
405–445 425 2 265.00–290.00 $276.91 $1,177 —
452–495 472 6 260.00–306.00 $280.70 $1,325 —
520–530 523 3 250.00–280.00 $264.90 $1,385 —
550–560 553 3 246.00–256.00 $250.70 $1,386 —
627–647 637 4 230.00–240.00 $234.92 $1,496 —
655–685 665 11 221.00–240.00 $230.32 $1,532 —
705–712 710 3 212.00–213.00 $212.67 $1,510 —
750–755 753 2 200.00–212.00 $206.02 $1,551 +13.52
880–885 883 2 170.00–171.00 $170.50 $1,506 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 332.50 $332.50 $1,097 —
545 545 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,286 —
717 717 2 212.00 $212.00 $1,520 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,067 -15.00
505–520 513 2 212.00–232.50 $222.40 $1,141 —
550 550 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,100 -7.50
605 605 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,270 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1065 1065 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1725 1415 75-80% 13 119.00–132.50 $128.23 $1,814 —
1285–1760 1524 75-80% 7 133.00–138.50 $134.94 $2,056 —
1570–1620 1597 75-80% 3 140.50–141.00 $140.83 $2,249 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1465 1216 80-85% 7 133.00–139.00 $135.37 $1,646 —
1210–1430 1287 80-85% 7 127.00–132.00 $129.75 $1,670 -4.17
1085–1720 1356 80-85% 7 140.00–147.50 $142.37 $1,931 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985 985 85-90% 1 101.00 $101.00 $995 -10.00
765–1120 1003 85-90% 5 109.00–118.00 $112.85 $1,132 —
945–1190 1084 85-90% 4 120.00–127.00 $124.27 $1,347 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1370 1370 1 142.00 $142.00 $1,945 +32.00
1400–2130 1713 9 147.00–166.00 $158.68 $2,718 —
1900–2015 1971 4 166.00–175.00 $171.32 $3,377 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
915–1075 988 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 161.00–164.00 $161.99 $1,600

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
932–1080 982 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,750.00–1,950.00 $1,794.88
935–1100 1010 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,750.00–2,025.00 $1,931.93
1025 1025 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
910 910 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00
905–960 933 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,550.00–1,700.00 $1,622.79
1025–1190 1101 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,425.00–1,625.00 $1,531.41

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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
1220 1220 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,450.00 $2,450.00 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1170 1170 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,075.00 $2,075.00 —

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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.