Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, April 2, 2025

640 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $288.31/cwt -3.32 vs last sale · ≈ $1,803/hd at 625 lb · 36 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $328.52/cwt +0.32 vs last sale · ≈ $1,541/hd at 469 lb · 27 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 bulls $341.58/cwt -0.25 vs last sale · ≈ $1,767/hd at 517 lb · 25 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 640 756 306
Feeder cattle 422 654 254
Slaughter cattle 117 72 45
Replacement cattle 101 30 7

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers under 500 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 lower with moderate demand; over 500 lbs 5.00 to 10.00 higher with good demand. Feeder heifers 450-600 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand; featherweights 5.00 to 10.00 lower with moderate demand. Yearlings light test. Buyers showing preference for long-weaned calf packages suitable for grass. Fleshy short-weaned calves facing discounts. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 4.00 lower with moderate demand. Slaughter bulls sold steady in a lite test.

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
325 325 1 390.00 $390.00 $1,268 —
375–391 385 7 365.00–400.00 $387.88 $1,493 +0.38
435 435 1 342.50 $342.50 $1,490 -33.11
440–445 value added 443 5 380.00–393.00 $387.84 $1,718 -1.71
452–478 value added 468 7 365.00–385.00 $379.86 $1,778 -7.54
492 492 2 350.00 $350.00 $1,722 -12.04
552–582 value added 569 11 326.00–374.00 $358.44 $2,040 +5.88
610–620 value added 612 10 334.00–343.00 $339.99 $2,081 +18.32
616 thin fleshed 616 5 364.00 $364.00 $2,242 —
630–645 638 2 285.00–297.00 $291.07 $1,857 -10.30
650–670 664 4 298.00–304.00 $301.52 $2,002 —
678–695 value added 683 13 318.00–322.50 $321.09 $2,193 -16.74
701–715 value added 706 5 290.00–297.00 $295.39 $2,085 +7.86
755–766 value added 764 24 275.75–284.00 $277.45 $2,120 —
868–899 888 11 241.00–244.00 $241.98 $2,149 -13.00
921 921 3 262.00 $262.00 $2,413 —
1060 1060 1 190.00 $190.00 $2,014 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565 565 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,610 —
623 623 2 255.00 $255.00 $1,589 -45.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,495 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
600 600 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,380 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 302.50 $302.50 $650 —
310–345 328 2 305.00–314.00 $309.26 $1,014 -20.87
350–370 358 5 295.00–322.00 $303.44 $1,086 -35.16
416–445 value added 432 9 322.50–350.00 $337.27 $1,457 -15.33
440 440 1 317.00 $317.00 $1,395 +17.69
451–487 value added 467 20 323.00–352.00 $335.56 $1,567 +4.54
470–482 475 7 307.00–317.00 $308.41 $1,465 +8.38
500 fancy 500 3 345.00 $345.00 $1,725 —
500–527 521 16 290.00–310.00 $307.21 $1,601 +14.49
555–572 566 5 295.00–309.00 $300.82 $1,703 +13.40
567 fancy 567 6 331.00 $331.00 $1,877 +5.50
600–645 618 14 276.00–284.00 $276.74 $1,710 +17.48
600–645 value added 630 22 286.00–302.00 $295.68 $1,863 +0.96
650–682 value added 669 4 285.00–294.00 $290.81 $1,946 —
670 670 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,742 -15.98
761–790 768 5 227.00–240.00 $235.53 $1,809 -16.47
805–845 813 5 231.00–233.00 $232.58 $1,891 —
878 878 3 220.00 $220.00 $1,932 —
926 926 3 180.00 $180.00 $1,667 -38.47
990 990 1 196.00 $196.00 $1,940 —
1007 1007 2 200.00 $200.00 $2,014 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 287.50 $287.50 $632 +37.50
320 320 2 280.00–282.50 $281.25 $900 —
350–390 365 5 265.00–287.50 $279.48 $1,020 -1.78
410 410 1 305.00 $305.00 $1,250 +23.38
455–480 466 4 275.00–300.00 $288.81 $1,346 +29.07
500–523 518 11 270.00–280.00 $271.78 $1,408 —
560–587 578 3 250.00–280.00 $259.69 $1,501 -5.31
670–690 679 4 200.00–240.00 $217.35 $1,476 -9.65
780 780 1 223.00 $223.00 $1,739 —
800 800 2 195.00 $195.00 $1,560 +5.00
920 920 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,564 —
992 992 2 155.00 $155.00 $1,538 -34.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 470 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,340 —
585 585 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,638 —
622 622 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,493 -20.00
653 653 3 220.00 $220.00 $1,437 —
835 835 1 207.00 $207.00 $1,728 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 520 2 200.00–207.00 $203.50 $1,058 -46.50
645 645 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,290 ±0.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115 1115 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,896 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
288 288 3 322.00 $322.00 $927 -57.19
330–345 338 2 325.00–350.00 $337.22 $1,140 -5.12
357 357 2 375.00 $375.00 $1,339 -3.86
370 fancy 370 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,480 -3.45
400–415 408 2 350.00–372.50 $361.46 $1,475 —
450–475 value added 460 6 350.00–385.00 $370.27 $1,703 +4.01
480–483 482 5 320.00–350.00 $325.97 $1,571 -12.21
516 fancy 516 8 363.00 $363.00 $1,873 —
500–545 value added 518 14 330.00–352.50 $338.81 $1,755 -3.02
500–540 518 3 292.50–300.00 $297.40 $1,541 —
565–576 value added 570 7 320.00–336.00 $328.81 $1,874 -4.75
567–592 585 10 285.00–316.00 $297.09 $1,738 -16.13
600 value added 600 2 308.00 $308.00 $1,848 +11.80
600–635 617 3 290.00–295.00 $291.72 $1,800 —
655 value added 655 1 315.00 $315.00 $2,063 +42.50
705 value added 705 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,762 —
800–840 811 5 200.00–239.00 $219.97 $1,784 -4.03
850 850 1 227.00 $227.00 $1,930 +8.00
900–935 923 3 210.00–214.00 $211.30 $1,950 +20.30
980 980 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,862 —
1005 1005 1 200.00 $200.00 $2,010 —
1150 1150 1 177.50 $177.50 $2,041 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 315.00 $315.00 $630 -15.00
430–435 433 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,299 -38.25
500 500 1 292.00 $292.00 $1,460 +0.75
550 550 1 282.50 $282.50 $1,554 +5.12
635 635 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,714 +30.00
660–670 665 2 254.00–258.00 $256.02 $1,703 -3.98
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 297.00 $297.00 $1,158 —
490 value added 490 2 302.50 $302.50 $1,482 —
525 525 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,496 —
635 635 1 258.00 $258.00 $1,638 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
605–625 615 2 220.00–230.00 $225.08 $1,384 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1495 1228 80-85% 9 114.00–129.50 $125.63 $1,543 —
1040–1465 1243 80-85% 12 133.00–138.00 $136.08 $1,691 —
1010–1475 1266 80-85% 18 139.00–152.50 $142.46 $1,804 -4.47
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1435 1266 75-80% 15 133.00–138.00 $136.49 $1,728 —
1216–1620 1342 75-80% 18 138.00–145.00 $140.92 $1,891 —
1295–1755 1493 75-80% 4 116.00–129.00 $125.95 $1,880 +8.47
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765–1065 925 85-90% 6 80.00–98.00 $92.27 $853 —
875–1145 1028 85-90% 5 90.00–107.50 $99.88 $1,027 -18.52
870–1195 1063 85-90% 8 110.00–126.50 $117.98 $1,254 —
1050–1275 1154 85-90% 6 127.00–140.00 $132.07 $1,524 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865–1560 1243 3 112.00–140.00 $129.79 $1,613 —
1435–1465 1450 2 167.00–169.00 $168.01 $2,436 —
1445–2070 1764 9 171.00–186.00 $178.58 $3,150 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
885–1215 1062 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 12 142.00–164.00 $150.96 $1,603
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
870–1095 1010 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 130.00–142.00 $137.83 $1,392

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1085 1085 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,850.00 $1,850.00
1085–1300 1177 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,925.00–2,425.00 $2,244.41
1025–1450 1265 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 14 1,900.00–2,325.00 $2,180.29
1115–1482 fancy 1337 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 2,700.00–2,825.00 $2,743.56
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
795–1060 935 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,425.00–1,800.00 $1,625.98
820–1100 1006 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,500.00–1,750.00 $1,650.30

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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
1120–1540 1252 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 11 2,500.00–3,175.00 $2,974.78 —
1170–1375 fancy 1273 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 3,200.00–3,400.00 $3,291.94 —
1445 fancy 1445 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 3,275.00 $3,275.00 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1010–1300 1126 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 2,400.00–2,600.00 $2,499.67 —
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1075 1075 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —

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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.