Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, March 19, 2025

751 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $270.07/cwt -5.74 vs last sale · ≈ $2,206/hd at 817 lb · 58 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $319.60/cwt +12.26 vs last sale · ≈ $1,659/hd at 519 lb · 50 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $357.08/cwt +29.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,503/hd at 421 lb · 27 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 751 738 532
Feeder cattle 611 623 444
Slaughter cattle 72 90 71
Replacement cattle 68 25 17

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers and heifers sold steady with very good demand for weaned thin-fleshed packages suitable for grass. Yearling steers and heifers firm in a limited comparison with very good demand. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold steady with very good demand for lean cows and high dressing bulls.

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
345 345 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,380 —
360–380 371 4 382.00–400.00 $390.48 $1,449 +23.85
367–390 value added 380 7 410.00–457.50 $434.20 $1,650 —
400–435 value added 427 18 375.00–440.00 $398.12 $1,700 —
435 435 1 337.50 $337.50 $1,468 -37.50
460–485 value added 471 17 370.00–390.00 $383.22 $1,805 —
460–485 472 3 350.00–360.00 $354.95 $1,675 -46.33
505–535 value added 517 7 353.00–382.50 $375.15 $1,940 —
530 530 1 329.00 $329.00 $1,744 -2.44
550–582 570 5 297.50–320.00 $311.53 $1,776 -20.53
552–590 value added 573 18 338.00–365.00 $358.73 $2,056 +11.76
600–635 value added 613 22 319.00–349.00 $340.14 $2,085 —
600–645 623 4 297.00–305.00 $300.55 $1,872 +4.55
667 value added 667 2 306.00 $306.00 $2,041 —
650–692 680 6 294.00–300.00 $297.82 $2,025 +1.16
710 710 2 258.00 $258.00 $1,832 -16.99
817–830 817 58 260.00–270.25 $270.07 $2,206 +23.41
855 855 5 250.00 $250.00 $2,138 —
1065 1065 1 235.00 $235.00 $2,503 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 1 305.00 $305.00 $976 —
400 400 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,200 -55.00
515–545 530 2 292.00–292.50 $292.26 $1,549 —
550 550 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,622 —
605–630 622 3 284.00–286.00 $285.35 $1,775 +17.35
890 890 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,958 +25.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
612 612 2 267.00 $267.00 $1,634 —
665 665 1 274.00 $274.00 $1,822 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 value added 245 1 370.00 $370.00 $906 —
255–270 value added 260 3 352.50–392.50 $377.02 $980 —
255–275 268 4 325.00–332.50 $328.05 $879 —
315–340 332 3 325.00–327.00 $325.63 $1,081 -41.13
310–348 value added 335 10 350.00–400.00 $380.87 $1,276 —
365 365 1 332.50 $332.50 $1,214 -51.69
370–395 value added 386 25 349.00–421.00 $378.90 $1,463 —
400–430 421 5 313.00–327.50 $318.21 $1,340 -5.62
400–445 value added 421 22 335.00–390.00 $365.91 $1,540 —
465–485 473 4 320.00–327.00 $324.70 $1,536 +9.26
455–495 value added 476 12 330.00–360.00 $337.90 $1,608 —
500–515 507 3 287.00–295.00 $291.52 $1,478 -11.60
500–545 value added 520 47 305.00–330.00 $321.39 $1,671 —
550–595 value added 563 18 297.00–327.00 $311.64 $1,755 —
607–635 value added 620 11 275.00–316.00 $288.46 $1,788 —
600–645 630 9 247.00–260.00 $250.43 $1,578 -28.88
655 value added 655 21 298.00 $298.00 $1,952 —
655–680 668 4 240.00–243.00 $240.76 $1,608 -19.30
700–747 734 8 238.00–245.00 $239.60 $1,759 +5.60
810 810 1 224.00 $224.00 $1,814 —
869 869 6 244.00 $244.00 $2,120 —
970 970 1 197.00 $197.00 $1,911 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–290 273 2 270.00–301.00 $286.50 $782 —
340 340 1 305.00 $305.00 $1,037 -30.83
355–380 370 3 287.50–305.00 $297.38 $1,100 -26.66
465–475 470 2 275.00–280.00 $277.47 $1,304 -6.55
540 540 1 248.00 $248.00 $1,339 -6.06
590 590 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,622 +15.00
610–630 620 2 228.00–232.00 $230.03 $1,426 +45.03
705–740 717 3 227.00–230.00 $228.67 $1,640 —
775 775 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,782 +25.00
865 865 1 217.00 $217.00 $1,877 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1275 1275 1 156.00 $156.00 $1,989 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
175 175 1 325.00 $325.00 $569 —
235 fancy 235 1 400.00 $400.00 $940 —
300–340 319 4 355.00–380.00 $368.73 $1,176 -31.01
327 fancy 327 2 405.00 $405.00 $1,324 —
365–375 370 2 355.00–375.00 $364.86 $1,350 —
360–390 value added 374 5 400.00–450.00 $420.86 $1,574 —
400–440 422 11 347.50–387.50 $378.17 $1,596 -16.62
450–495 480 15 347.50–370.00 $358.41 $1,720 -19.82
503–510 value added 504 5 333.00–336.00 $335.39 $1,690 —
505–525 511 6 292.50–320.00 $302.06 $1,544 -33.19
550–565 value added 556 6 325.00–337.00 $331.51 $1,843 —
555–595 575 8 287.50–320.00 $308.70 $1,775 -17.66
602–615 value added 609 5 268.00–287.50 $278.72 $1,697 —
620–645 638 4 256.00–267.00 $261.29 $1,667 -25.71
653–692 value added 663 10 275.00–288.00 $286.05 $1,897 —
720 value added 720 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,944 —
717–735 726 4 227.00–238.00 $232.43 $1,687 -25.07
750 value added 750 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,950 —
755–785 770 2 240.00–245.00 $242.55 $1,868 -13.87
820–842 831 4 230.00–235.00 $232.47 $1,932 -7.53
880 880 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,672 —
915 915 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,839 +11.64
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 2 335.00 $335.00 $955 —
305–330 324 8 245.00–342.50 $316.55 $1,026 —
370–385 378 2 330.00–360.00 $345.30 $1,305 -4.70
445 445 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,402 -45.00
485–495 490 2 265.00–290.00 $277.37 $1,359 -57.84
540 540 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,458 -39.98
550–592 578 3 267.50–280.00 $271.46 $1,569 -43.05
620 620 1 244.00 $244.00 $1,513 -14.00
650–675 663 2 230.00–245.00 $237.36 $1,574 -13.90
740 740 1 239.00 $239.00 $1,769 +1.00
772 772 2 224.00 $224.00 $1,729 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
680–685 682 3 265.00–273.00 $270.32 $1,844 —
720 720 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,728 —
945 945 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,701 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 1 210.00 $210.00 $850 —
465–475 470 2 224.00–250.00 $236.86 $1,113 —
610 610 1 223.00 $223.00 $1,360 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870 870 85-90% 1 92.00 $92.00 $800 —
830–1075 981 85-90% 5 105.00–110.00 $108.57 $1,065 +8.13
885–1265 1054 85-90% 12 125.00–140.00 $132.28 $1,394 -5.06
845–1260 1078 85-90% 6 112.00–116.00 $113.75 $1,226 -13.20
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1130 1130 80-85% 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,582 —
1100–1505 1242 80-85% 17 144.00–167.00 $152.14 $1,890 —
1330 1330 80-85% 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,769 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1740 1412 75-80% 6 134.00–142.00 $136.84 $1,932 —
1450–1590 1528 75-80% 3 123.00–130.00 $126.95 $1,940 —
1340–1725 1563 75-80% 6 143.00–147.50 $146.00 $2,282 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1140–1610 1358 3 151.00–162.00 $158.27 $2,149 —
1155–1570 1363 2 120.00–122.00 $120.85 $1,647 —
1365–1930 1758 6 172.00–190.00 $180.74 $3,177 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
890–1005 948 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 150.00–159.00 $154.23 $1,462
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
905–935 920 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 134.00–140.00 $137.05 $1,261

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1010–1270 1140 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,800.00–2,100.00 $1,932.89
1150 1150 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00
1075–1405 1245 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,750.00–2,200.00 $1,910.40
1165–1350 fancy 1258 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,275.00–2,425.00 $2,344.48
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
885–1100 993 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,300.00–1,425.00 $1,378.86

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
865 865 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
845 845 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00

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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
1300–1750 1426 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 2,500.00–3,000.00 $2,788.15 —
1427 fancy 1427 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 3,275.00 $3,275.00 —
1573 fancy 1573 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 3,200.00 $3,200.00 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1155 1155 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,825.00 $1,825.00 —

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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.