Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, September 3, 2025

693 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $378.83/cwt -10.45 vs last sale · ≈ $1,785/hd at 471 lb · 29 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 bulls $354.54/cwt -5.79 vs last sale · ≈ $1,863/hd at 526 lb · 23 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $413.04/cwt +18.95 vs last sale · ≈ $2,143/hd at 519 lb · 21 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 693 628 974
Feeder cattle 508 544 896
Slaughter cattle 72 67 65
Replacement cattle 113 17 13

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was stronger with a good quality offering. Good quality feeder steers 400 lbs and under were sharply higher and in strong demand, while the 500-700 lbs steers were 4.00 to 8.00 higher with a good supply and strong demand for weaned packages. Feeder heifers 350 lbs and under appeared sharply higher and in strong demand, while the 400-600 lbs heifers were steady to 2.00 higher. Slaughter cows were 3.00 to 4.00 lower with a good supply and slaughter bulls were steady 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
225 thin fleshed 225 1 605.00 $605.00 $1,361 —
245 fancy 245 1 550.00 $550.00 $1,348 +35.00
285 fancy 285 2 565.00–587.50 $576.25 $1,642 +51.25
310–332 fancy 325 3 577.00–595.00 $582.73 $1,894 +82.73
350–385 373 5 460.00–492.50 $469.54 $1,751 +32.04
387–395 fancy 392 5 500.00–517.00 $506.72 $1,986 +6.86
415 fancy 415 1 472.50 $472.50 $1,961 —
405–445 424 4 427.50–450.00 $437.64 $1,856 —
450–490 479 6 415.00–440.00 $420.58 $2,015 +0.58
500–530 518 5 387.00–400.00 $392.02 $2,031 +19.52
501–536 value added 519 16 414.00–437.50 $419.61 $2,178 -0.39
550–572 566 5 370.00–385.00 $380.28 $2,152 +8.63
580 value added 580 1 397.00 $397.00 $2,303 -0.31
600–635 619 7 370.00–392.00 $383.74 $2,375 +21.24
616–632 value added 624 8 406.00–412.00 $409.04 $2,552 +14.89
655–660 658 5 330.00–340.00 $336.99 $2,217 —
660 value added 660 1 393.00 $393.00 $2,594 +4.05
700 700 1 375.00 $375.00 $2,625 +51.00
750 750 1 335.00 $335.00 $2,512 —
975 975 1 265.00 $265.00 $2,584 +22.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 1 415.00 $415.00 $1,349 —
365 365 1 395.00 $395.00 $1,442 —
425 425 1 390.00 $390.00 $1,658 +12.19
455–490 476 5 370.00–382.50 $376.36 $1,791 -17.20
540 540 1 372.00 $372.00 $2,009 +14.50
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,610 —
500–545 528 5 330.00–340.00 $335.93 $1,774 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450 450 1 355.00 $355.00 $1,598 —
680 680 1 297.00 $297.00 $2,020 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
248 248 3 415.00 $415.00 $1,029 —
265–290 fancy 278 3 430.00–435.00 $433.26 $1,204 —
290 290 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,160 +8.21
300–340 fancy 320 8 407.00–432.50 $423.09 $1,354 —
300–332 value added 321 3 440.00–452.50 $443.89 $1,425 —
320–345 336 5 387.50–402.50 $391.35 $1,315 —
360–390 376 10 385.00–397.50 $389.74 $1,465 -12.29
401–442 426 10 377.50–400.00 $389.14 $1,658 -6.64
450–497 471 28 370.00–395.00 $380.75 $1,793 +2.39
480 480 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,560 -53.36
500–545 value added 522 9 372.50–380.00 $377.43 $1,970 -4.57
500–540 524 11 350.00–368.00 $359.41 $1,883 +3.72
555–590 value added 566 13 360.00–365.00 $362.62 $2,052 +3.32
550–597 573 5 330.00–355.00 $349.47 $2,002 +8.46
600 value added 600 1 369.00 $369.00 $2,214 —
600–645 619 9 340.00–356.00 $349.09 $2,161 +18.47
650–652 652 6 334.00–335.00 $334.83 $2,183 -9.14
695 695 1 300.00 $300.00 $2,085 -12.96
700–741 729 8 297.00–316.00 $306.00 $2,231 +5.83
765 765 1 285.00 $285.00 $2,180 -0.51
835 835 1 275.00 $275.00 $2,296 -14.92
870 870 1 282.00 $282.00 $2,453 +47.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 377.50 $377.50 $1,114 +27.50
320–345 333 2 360.00–380.00 $369.62 $1,231 +19.62
355–393 385 12 355.00–372.50 $368.20 $1,418 +3.20
405–445 430 4 355.00–375.00 $366.91 $1,578 +16.91
450–465 458 2 350.00–365.00 $357.62 $1,638 —
505–542 532 7 320.00–337.00 $331.27 $1,762 +13.27
550–567 559 4 320.00–327.00 $323.45 $1,808 +6.45
612–620 616 4 330.00 $330.00 $2,033 +34.18
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,121 —
377–380 378 3 337.50–340.00 $339.16 $1,282 —
422–445 437 7 322.50–337.50 $325.36 $1,422 —
465–495 474 4 335.00–340.00 $337.47 $1,600 +19.41
528 528 3 300.00 $300.00 $1,584 +6.53
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,635 ±0.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 fancy 225 1 550.00 $550.00 $1,238 —
255 thin fleshed 255 1 605.00 $605.00 $1,543 —
300–345 315 3 460.00–472.50 $467.14 $1,471 +27.14
320–327 value added 325 4 550.00–570.00 $565.00 $1,836 —
315–347 fancy 336 7 507.50–527.50 $517.31 $1,738 +9.96
360–380 368 5 490.00–500.00 $495.60 $1,824 +40.54
360–385 fancy 371 6 517.00–522.00 $520.36 $1,931 +20.36
410–430 fancy 419 5 482.50–490.00 $485.02 $2,032 -6.70
418–440 430 11 450.00–477.50 $457.57 $1,968 -9.09
455–465 460 2 425.00–435.00 $429.95 $1,978 -35.74
500–545 524 17 340.00–355.00 $345.71 $1,812 -12.50
520–533 fancy 530 6 375.00–385.00 $379.56 $2,012 -10.44
560–580 569 4 330.00–342.50 $337.46 $1,920 -2.27
600–610 fancy 605 2 359.00–382.50 $370.65 $2,242 —
600–637 615 6 335.00–350.00 $338.69 $2,083 +14.37
653–665 656 4 334.00–347.00 $343.71 $2,255 +31.71
700–735 721 5 312.50–318.00 $314.98 $2,271 +5.98
1020–1030 1024 4 190.00–202.50 $193.61 $1,983 —
1060 1060 1 220.00 $220.00 $2,332 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
175 175 1 375.00 $375.00 $656 —
250 250 1 405.00 $405.00 $1,012 —
335 335 1 445.00 $445.00 $1,491 —
365–390 378 4 415.00–435.00 $425.33 $1,608 —
430–440 437 5 410.00–440.00 $420.44 $1,837 —
475–492 488 13 367.50–395.00 $379.54 $1,852 +15.26
525–545 535 2 313.00–330.00 $321.66 $1,721 -8.34
705 705 1 287.00 $287.00 $2,023 +13.20
786 786 3 242.50 $242.50 $1,906 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–335 323 2 350.00–357.50 $353.90 $1,143 —
385 385 1 365.00 $365.00 $1,405 —
400–445 415 3 355.00–377.50 $368.65 $1,530 —
590 590 1 297.50 $297.50 $1,755 -32.50
625 625 2 275.00 $275.00 $1,719 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 200.00 $200.00 $880 —
515 515 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,210 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
880–1000 925 85-90% 5 127.00–135.00 $132.68 $1,227 —
995–1015 1005 85-90% 2 167.00–177.00 $172.05 $1,729 —
990–1370 1092 85-90% 16 139.00–152.00 $146.33 $1,598 —
805–1315 1110 85-90% 6 156.00–166.00 $160.23 $1,779 +15.91
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1340 1258 80-85% 3 147.00–154.00 $150.47 $1,893 -28.80
930–1660 1265 80-85% 15 157.00–169.00 $162.63 $2,057 -16.64
1180–1650 1404 80-85% 7 170.00–176.00 $171.71 $2,411 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1435 1435 75-80% 1 148.00 $148.00 $2,124 —
1335–1690 1513 75-80% 2 171.00–174.00 $172.32 $2,607 —
1440–1830 1589 75-80% 7 157.00–168.00 $163.52 $2,598 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260–1675 1526 7 176.00–186.00 $181.71 $2,773 —
1560–2000 1758 3 190.00–197.00 $192.83 $3,390 —
1745–1945 1835 3 200.00–211.00 $204.74 $3,757 —
YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1535 1535 1 217.00 $217.00 $3,331 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
890 890 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 184.00 $184.00 $1,638

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
915 915 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,900.00 $2,900.00
1015–1120 1076 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,825.00–2,550.00 $2,270.98
920–1285 1086 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 2,350.00–2,950.00 $2,607.96
1125–1160 1143 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,725.00–1,860.00 $1,791.47
1101–1245 1154 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,935.00–2,225.00 $2,006.18
1145–1600 1391 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 2,450.00–2,775.00 $2,585.00
1480 1480 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 2,250.00 $2,250.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1017–1160 1064 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,600.00–2,025.00 $1,885.01
940–1220 1120 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,900.00–2,000.00 $1,935.71
1150–1250 1200 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,035.00–2,175.00 $2,102.08
1205 1205 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,975.00 $1,975.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
955 955 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00
980–1050 1015 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,050.00–2,200.00 $2,122.41
1075 1075 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,750.00 $1,750.00

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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
885–1175 1055 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 3,100.00–3,450.00 $3,260.19 —
1035–1245 1140 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 2,850.00–3,050.00 $2,940.79 —
1162 1162 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,050.00 $3,050.00 —
1095–1275 1185 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 2,650.00–2,800.00 $2,730.70 —
1265–1405 1335 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 3,450.00–3,775.00 $3,621.02 -503.98
1480 1480 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 3,600.00 $3,600.00 —
1390–1560 1503 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 4,025.00–4,150.00 $4,063.53 +163.53
1570 1570 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 4,450.00 $4,450.00 —
1660 1660 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 3,350.00 $3,350.00 —
1685 1685 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 3,975.00 $3,975.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1050 1050 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,950.00 $1,950.00 —
1310 1310 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 2,800.00 $2,800.00 —
1410 1410 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,850.00 $2,850.00 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045 1045 85-90% 1 146.00 $146.00 $1,526 —

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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.