Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, March 5, 2025

655 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $289.29/cwt +8.54 vs last sale · ≈ $2,154/hd at 744 lb · 68 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $283.67/cwt +2.81 vs last sale · ≈ $1,597/hd at 563 lb · 41 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $327.57/cwt +12.63 vs last sale · ≈ $1,411/hd at 431 lb · 36 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 655 559 372
Feeder cattle 549 467 311
Slaughter cattle 64 78 43
Replacement cattle 42 14 18

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers sold steady except; softer undertone on 500-700 lbs with more fleshy new-crop and plainer old-crop calves on offer compared to last week. Feeder heifers under 550 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher; over 550 lbs sold steady with very good demand for weaned thin-fleshed packages. Market active for good quality weaned calf packages and yearlings. Slaughter cows sold steady with good demand. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00 higher with very 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
300 300 1 330.00 $330.00 $990 —
372–385 value added 373 17 400.00–422.50 $417.15 $1,556 —
400–441 value added 420 16 350.00–417.00 $376.92 $1,583 -10.56
450–486 value added 467 19 350.00–392.50 $369.22 $1,724 +11.54
505–535 value added 520 8 320.00–350.00 $328.57 $1,709 -1.93
530 530 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,564 -14.52
555–588 value added 583 17 315.00–320.00 $315.29 $1,838 -10.14
600–605 value added 601 4 276.00–280.00 $277.01 $1,665 -36.60
650–699 value added 669 21 270.00–291.00 $287.24 $1,922 -12.76
665–690 678 4 252.00–271.00 $260.74 $1,768 —
715–735 value added 720 4 257.00–260.00 $258.01 $1,858 -23.43
746 fancy 746 64 291.25 $291.25 $2,173 —
767 value added 767 5 266.00 $266.00 $2,040 +5.92
780 780 2 257.50 $257.50 $2,008 —
800 800 3 248.00 $248.00 $1,984 +7.00
885 885 1 252.00 $252.00 $2,230 +16.00
1015 1015 1 217.00 $217.00 $2,203 —
1035 fancy 1035 1 240.00 $240.00 $2,484 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–345 330 2 292.50–300.00 $296.42 $978 —
370 370 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,110 —
470–475 473 4 320.00 $320.00 $1,514 +24.60
555 555 1 252.50 $252.50 $1,401 -15.00
740 740 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,813 —
805 805 1 226.00 $226.00 $1,819 +11.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 307.00 $307.00 $1,658 +35.16
565 565 1 272.50 $272.50 $1,540 —
890 890 2 217.00 $217.00 $1,931 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 value added 280 1 343.00 $343.00 $960 —
290 290 1 307.50 $307.50 $892 —
307–345 326 6 305.00–310.00 $307.40 $1,002 —
315–340 value added 328 2 321.00–330.00 $325.33 $1,067 +4.33
350–360 355 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,065 -0.26
365–395 value added 381 7 320.00–360.00 $343.62 $1,309 +15.49
410–436 430 4 285.00–290.00 $288.81 $1,242 —
405–447 value added 431 32 295.00–347.50 $332.41 $1,433 +17.47
450–490 473 3 280.00–285.00 $282.27 $1,335 +6.30
450–495 value added 475 12 288.00–335.00 $316.75 $1,505 +14.55
500–540 value added 517 22 280.00–300.00 $289.74 $1,498 +9.07
500–535 523 6 270.00–276.00 $272.01 $1,423 -0.55
550–597 value added 563 37 279.00–290.00 $284.82 $1,604 +1.62
550–575 564 4 270.00–276.00 $273.01 $1,540 +0.35
600–640 620 2 241.00–247.00 $243.90 $1,512 -1.11
605–637 value added 624 5 250.00–270.00 $259.39 $1,619 +1.89
655–690 673 5 240.00–242.00 $240.39 $1,618 -2.26
655–690 value added 678 14 250.00–260.00 $256.51 $1,739 -14.20
701 701 4 254.50 $254.50 $1,784 —
700–745 708 19 233.00–240.00 $234.97 $1,664 —
705–720 value added 716 4 247.00–259.00 $249.95 $1,790 +4.95
756 756 3 237.00 $237.00 $1,792 +6.34
800–820 808 3 200.00–215.00 $205.40 $1,660 -10.60
862 862 2 227.00 $227.00 $1,957 —
910 910 1 227.00 $227.00 $2,066 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
376–380 377 4 237.50–243.00 $241.61 $911 +4.11
415–441 430 7 240.00–280.00 $258.06 $1,110 —
450 450 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,035 —
502 502 2 267.50 $267.50 $1,343 +13.48
575 575 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,380 -5.55
620–648 641 8 200.00–232.50 $206.65 $1,325 -13.35
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,080 —
605 605 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,422 -6.00
735 735 1 221.00 $221.00 $1,624 —
760 760 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,672 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 257.50 $257.50 $670 +32.50
500 500 1 247.50 $247.50 $1,238 —
565 565 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,186 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1505 1505 1 144.00 $144.00 $2,167 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 365.00 $365.00 $1,241 -22.00
350–365 358 2 310.00–370.00 $340.63 $1,219 —
365 value added 365 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,350 —
446 446 3 315.00 $315.00 $1,405 —
455–480 472 3 305.00–330.00 $313.04 $1,478 +15.51
465–495 value added 473 6 330.00–380.00 $352.48 $1,667 +22.48
505–545 value added 528 21 285.00–335.00 $294.54 $1,555 +5.12
550–575 value added 565 7 280.00–305.00 $291.45 $1,647 —
570 570 1 264.00 $264.00 $1,505 -6.00
600–645 623 5 250.00–271.00 $258.28 $1,609 +4.16
680–685 683 2 244.00–250.00 $246.99 $1,687 +14.49
705–721 713 9 227.00–245.00 $239.17 $1,705 —
915 915 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,784 —
1045 1045 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,776 —
1080 1080 2 173.00 $173.00 $1,868 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 302.50 $302.50 $998 -5.12
365 365 2 280.00 $280.00 $1,022 +2.50
410–420 415 2 245.00–295.00 $269.70 $1,119 —
455–490 478 3 245.00–308.00 $288.02 $1,377 +11.71
500 500 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,175 -16.31
595 595 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,398 -28.00
615 615 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,353 —
655–665 660 2 220.00–230.00 $224.96 $1,485 -4.77
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,035 —
470–485 475 3 220.00–222.00 $220.68 $1,048 —
590 590 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,357 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
585 585 1 256.00 $256.00 $1,498 -8.00

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1280–1465 1387 75-80% 7 133.00–137.50 $135.05 $1,873 +5.34
1240–1700 1452 75-80% 6 120.00–131.50 $127.74 $1,855 -14.08
1375–1625 1505 75-80% 5 138.50–143.50 $140.86 $2,120 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845–920 878 85-90% 3 105.00–111.00 $107.43 $943 —
930–1235 1089 85-90% 8 123.00–134.00 $127.59 $1,389 +36.80
1145–1295 1231 85-90% 4 114.00–122.00 $118.02 $1,453 —
1330 1330 85-90% 1 93.00 $93.00 $1,237 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050 1050 80-85% 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,407 —
1175–1440 1346 80-85% 5 124.00–131.00 $128.29 $1,727 -18.18
1215–1570 1389 80-85% 4 143.50–152.00 $147.75 $2,052 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105 1105 1 144.00 $144.00 $1,591 —
1220–2000 1668 4 174.00–198.00 $182.78 $3,049 —
1315–2250 1769 6 155.00–174.00 $162.90 $2,882 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
910–1205 1078 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 136.00–146.00 $141.09 $1,521
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
950–1335 1076 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 123.00–128.50 $125.15 $1,347

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1040–1415 1228 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,400.00–2,450.00 $2,428.82
955–1515 1237 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,850.00–2,400.00 $2,127.36
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
945 945 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00
1015 1015 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
865 865 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,825.00 $1,825.00

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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
1025 1025 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00 —
1060–1575 1229 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 2,550.00–2,875.00 $2,678.72 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1015 1015 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00 —
1195 1195 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00 —
1265 1265 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00 —
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
995 995 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —

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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.