Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, July 30, 2025

214 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $343.43/cwt +14.11 vs last sale · ≈ $1,833/hd at 534 lb · 18 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $368.45/cwt +9.70 vs last sale · ≈ $1,909/hd at 518 lb · 13 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 214 200 514
Feeder cattle 156 154 405
Slaughter cattle 27 38 51
Replacement cattle 31 8 58

Market comments — USDA reporter

No trends in the feeder or slaughter markets due to a light test , however the feeder market appeared stronger and with good demand for weaned calves. Slaughter cows and bulls appeared stronger in spots as well with a limited supply and good demand. Buyers were active today and willing pay premiums for quality feeders and higher yielding slaughter animals.

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
315 315 1 390.00 $390.00 $1,228 —
375 thin fleshed 375 1 425.00 $425.00 $1,594 —
400–445 437 6 390.00–400.00 $398.47 $1,741 —
455 455 2 395.00 $395.00 $1,797 +50.36
500–525 518 7 340.00–342.00 $340.55 $1,764 +0.55
518 value added 518 6 401.00 $401.00 $2,077 —
570–595 589 4 337.00–355.00 $341.36 $2,011 +6.46
596 value added 596 5 370.00 $370.00 $2,205 —
620 620 1 311.00 $311.00 $1,928 -25.83
660–670 665 2 307.50–320.00 $313.70 $2,086 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 210 1 340.00 $340.00 $714 —
335–340 338 2 355.00–375.00 $364.93 $1,233 —
380 380 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,235 —
445 445 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,602 —
452 452 2 370.00 $370.00 $1,672 —
630 630 1 274.00 $274.00 $1,726 —
785 785 1 280.00 $280.00 $2,198 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 495 3 370.00 $370.00 $1,832 —
545 545 1 347.50 $347.50 $1,894 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175 1175 1 230.00 $230.00 $2,702 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 2 347.50–360.00 $353.75 $1,291 +13.75
405–445 420 6 350.00–367.50 $360.18 $1,513 +15.66
455–460 458 2 330.00–340.00 $335.03 $1,534 -13.84
505–540 517 3 305.00–325.00 $318.48 $1,647 -10.84
532–545 value added 537 15 339.00–349.50 $348.42 $1,871 —
555 555 1 287.50 $287.50 $1,596 -39.93
550–558 value added 556 4 339.00–340.00 $339.25 $1,886 —
590–595 594 4 310.00–325.00 $321.27 $1,908 -6.16
622–627 625 4 300.00–312.00 $305.98 $1,912 +20.65
717 717 2 290.00 $290.00 $2,079 +18.73
770 770 1 280.00 $280.00 $2,156 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320–345 333 2 300.00–315.00 $307.22 $1,023 —
470–495 487 3 305.00–308.00 $307.03 $1,495 —
520–545 533 2 295.00–300.00 $297.56 $1,586 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 1 291.00 $291.00 $1,717 —
640 640 1 293.00 $293.00 $1,875 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465–490 478 2 260.00–270.00 $264.87 $1,266 -70.13

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 2 392.00 $392.00 $1,294 +27.00
390 390 1 380.00 $380.00 $1,482 -20.00
450–492 479 5 349.00–365.00 $358.42 $1,717 +14.18
505–545 527 3 317.00–325.00 $320.64 $1,690 +5.84
555–576 571 4 300.00–329.00 $321.95 $1,838 +15.80
618 618 3 322.00 $322.00 $1,990 —
740 740 1 285.00 $285.00 $2,109 +15.00
905 905 1 229.00 $229.00 $2,072 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 2 320.00–355.00 $337.50 $793 —
335–345 340 2 375.00 $375.00 $1,275 —
360–398 387 6 330.00–375.00 $360.51 $1,395 —
470 470 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,292 —
610 610 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,830 —
730–740 735 2 240.00–257.00 $248.44 $1,826 —
765 765 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,798 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555–580 568 2 295.00–300.00 $297.56 $1,690 —
652 652 2 290.00 $290.00 $1,891 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1355 1355 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 3,550.00 $3,550.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
670 670 85-90% 1 75.00 $75.00 $502 —
750 750 85-90% 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,406 —
815–1245 965 85-90% 6 133.00–148.00 $141.90 $1,369 —
965–1155 1080 85-90% 3 156.50–163.00 $159.11 $1,718 +2.20
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440 1440 75-80% 1 165.00 $165.00 $2,376 —
1390–1610 1506 75-80% 8 172.00–181.00 $177.29 $2,670 +0.45
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260–1345 1293 80-85% 3 171.00–192.00 $179.98 $2,327 +35.88
1425 1425 80-85% 1 159.50 $159.50 $2,273 -22.03

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1430–1700 1565 2 218.00–223.50 $220.99 $3,458 —
1625–1910 1768 2 209.50–210.50 $210.04 $3,714 —
YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440 1440 1 164.00 $164.00 $2,362 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
785–865 825 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,575.00–1,700.00 $1,640.53
910–925 918 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,825.00–2,300.00 $2,060.56
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,550.00 $2,550.00
960–1165 1037 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 2,125.00–2,675.00 $2,379.37
1005–1070 1038 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,250.00–2,325.00 $2,288.67
1015–1190 1080 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,100.00–2,625.00 $2,423.80
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
820 820 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
545 545 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00

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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
1315 1315 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 3,300.00 $3,300.00 —
1370 1370 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 3,400.00 $3,400.00 +975.00
1395–1525 1460 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 3,400.00–3,450.00 $3,426.11 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1105 1105 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,750.00 $2,750.00 —

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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.