Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, October 1, 2025

743 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $372.56/cwt +13.68 vs last sale · ≈ $1,977/hd at 531 lb · 67 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $418.01/cwt +44.58 vs last sale · ≈ $2,206/hd at 528 lb · 28 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 steers $410.58/cwt +22.22 vs last sale · ≈ $1,950/hd at 475 lb · 25 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 743 685 512
Feeder cattle 488 574 419
Slaughter cattle 84 70 75
Replacement cattle 171 41 18

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was stronger with a good quality offering. Feeder steers were 4.00 to 6.00 higher or greater in spots with a good supply and good demand for weaned and pre-conditioned calves. Feeder heifers 400-600 lbs were steady to 4.00 higher with a good supply, while heifers 600 lbs and over were 3.00 to 6.00 higher with strong demand. Buyers were active today and willing to pay premiums for long weaned calves and quality feeder cattle. Slaughter cows were 1.00 to 3.00 higher with a good supply and slaughter bulls were 2.00 to 3.00 lower with moderate 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
320 320 1 435.00 $435.00 $1,392 +18.00
360 fancy 360 1 467.50 $467.50 $1,683 —
422–440 fancy 429 6 422.50–432.50 $427.02 $1,832 —
450–493 fancy 473 19 410.00–422.50 $415.35 $1,965 —
465–492 481 6 385.00–400.00 $395.46 $1,902 +7.10
520–532 526 4 390.00–400.00 $395.00 $2,078 +21.57
510–545 value added 528 24 410.00–427.50 $421.84 $2,227 —
562–595 value added 572 12 394.00–411.00 $400.96 $2,293 —
601–610 value added 603 9 380.00–398.00 $390.18 $2,353 —
620–625 622 3 345.00–370.00 $354.38 $2,204 +9.54
675 675 1 350.00 $350.00 $2,362 +10.00
715–745 738 4 320.00–337.00 $332.88 $2,457 -2.53
755 755 1 335.00 $335.00 $2,529 —
810 810 1 355.00 $355.00 $2,876 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 357.50 $357.50 $1,287 -38.56
410 410 1 355.00 $355.00 $1,456 -14.07
490 490 1 355.00 $355.00 $1,740 -16.22
510 510 1 339.00 $339.00 $1,729 -11.00
690 690 1 300.00 $300.00 $2,070 +14.16
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 535 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,739 -14.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,511 -6.80

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–365 360 2 372.50–380.00 $376.30 $1,355 -7.11
405–445 431 24 350.00–376.00 $362.36 $1,562 -0.55
450–497 474 15 350.00–370.00 $357.13 $1,693 -4.38
500–545 524 22 351.00–368.00 $364.00 $1,907 +5.12
500–547 value added 534 45 371.00–386.00 $376.75 $2,012 —
550 value added 550 4 375.00–380.00 $376.25 $2,069 —
555–596 584 18 340.00–360.00 $354.07 $2,068 +0.12
620 value added 620 6 370.50 $370.50 $2,297 —
617–647 628 6 315.00–320.00 $318.35 $1,999 -3.52
650–662 658 3 310.00–317.00 $312.30 $2,055 +12.30
680–687 686 5 335.00–340.00 $335.99 $2,305 +35.99
703–740 714 6 295.00–310.00 $303.91 $2,170 +2.91
760 760 2 320.00 $320.00 $2,432 +27.22
850 850 1 272.50 $272.50 $2,316 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 370.00 $370.00 $888 +11.15
282 282 2 352.50 $352.50 $994 -14.93
315–340 330 4 365.00–372.50 $370.57 $1,223 +20.53
370–390 381 6 350.00–362.50 $355.01 $1,353 -8.20
430–440 434 4 335.00–347.50 $340.67 $1,479 -2.59
455–496 484 7 339.00–340.00 $339.56 $1,643 +7.88
510–540 525 2 320.00–340.00 $329.71 $1,731 +9.90
550–590 570 2 307.00–330.00 $318.10 $1,813 +14.25
630 630 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,890 +15.00
655 655 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,965 +27.50
702–717 709 5 267.50–280.00 $276.50 $1,960 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 300.00 $300.00 $705 —
340–345 343 2 300.00–325.00 $312.59 $1,072 —
390 390 1 332.50 $332.50 $1,297 —
400–440 420 3 265.00–290.00 $274.13 $1,151 —
660–695 678 2 275.00–280.00 $277.44 $1,881 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 3 285.00 $285.00 $1,325 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,116 —
500 500 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,400 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–345 322 3 427.50–445.00 $437.90 $1,410 —
370–385 fancy 378 2 450.00–462.50 $456.37 $1,725 —
355–392 380 3 420.00–435.00 $424.68 $1,614 +13.77
400–420 409 7 385.00–400.00 $390.05 $1,595 +4.99
410 fancy 410 1 420.00 $420.00 $1,722 —
450 450 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,800 +21.87
505–545 522 13 356.00–370.00 $360.54 $1,882 +5.36
550 550 1 305.00 $305.00 $1,678 -43.37
565–580 574 4 329.00–340.00 $335.12 $1,924 -13.25
610–620 fancy 616 5 344.00–359.00 $350.88 $2,161 +8.88
650–675 fancy 663 2 343.00–360.00 $351.34 $2,329 —
700–730 715 2 280.00–300.00 $289.79 $2,072 -0.21
805–820 813 2 240.00–250.00 $245.05 $1,992 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 210 1 405.00 $405.00 $850 —
260 260 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,040 +50.00
315–337 329 5 370.00–400.00 $380.58 $1,252 +10.81
355–385 370 2 385.00–387.50 $386.20 $1,429 +9.05
405–445 432 3 350.00–370.00 $363.75 $1,571 —
465–497 482 6 342.50–362.50 $350.71 $1,690 +9.47
505–547 528 6 320.00–335.00 $329.57 $1,740 —
585 585 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,755 -35.00
605–607 606 4 285.00–292.50 $290.00 $1,757 —
740 740 1 262.50 $262.50 $1,942 +22.50
785 785 1 258.00 $258.00 $2,025 +23.00
820 820 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,845 -17.50
880 880 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,848 —
965 965 4 204.00 $204.00 $1,969 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 315.00 $315.00 $850 +15.00
340 340 3 302.50–305.00 $304.17 $1,034 -30.83
365 365 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,241 +5.00
462 462 2 330.00 $330.00 $1,525 +100.00
545 545 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,553 +17.50
600 600 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,500 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1025–1065 1042 (<2 yrs)N/A 4 3,300.00–3,700.00 $3,425.22 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530 530 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,458 —
585 585 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,872 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,237 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 280.00 $280.00 $728 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1095 1075 80-85% 2 146.00–150.00 $147.96 $1,591 —
1095–1435 1231 80-85% 4 166.00–169.00 $167.50 $2,062 +26.28
1025–1570 1240 80-85% 23 152.00–165.00 $158.49 $1,965 +17.27
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865–1015 944 85-90% 4 167.00–180.00 $172.90 $1,632 +97.90
815–1100 958 85-90% 2 98.00–103.00 $100.87 $966 —
895–1220 1056 85-90% 5 151.50–161.00 $155.88 $1,646 —
915–1355 1069 85-90% 7 116.00–130.00 $123.15 $1,316 —
930–1390 1153 85-90% 10 135.00–149.00 $143.70 $1,657 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1370–1470 1415 75-80% 4 156.50–164.00 $160.46 $2,271 —
1315–1755 1479 75-80% 6 166.00–172.50 $168.69 $2,495 +1.68
1620 1620 75-80% 1 148.50 $148.50 $2,406 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1125–1580 1303 4 150.00–167.00 $160.14 $2,087 —
1495–2200 1742 13 173.50–188.50 $180.78 $3,149 -2.24

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1215 1215 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 194.00 $194.00 $2,357

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
955 955 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,900.00–2,125.00 $2,012.50
895–1030 982 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,400.00–2,875.00 $2,696.01
1011–1155 fancy 1059 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 3,175.00–3,400.00 $3,256.80
1075 fancy 1075 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,125.00 $3,125.00
992–1370 1127 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 15 2,350.00–2,900.00 $2,475.01
1035–1206 1141 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,925.00–2,375.00 $2,038.89
1085–1380 fancy 1159 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 3,075.00–3,200.00 $3,162.78
1240–1485 1366 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 2,875.00–3,175.00 $3,011.70
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
905–945 935 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,375.00–2,550.00 $2,485.90
980–1105 1043 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,500.00–1,725.00 $1,605.76
1060 1060 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1010–1390 1230 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,775.00–2,225.00 $2,097.80
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1122–1470 1238 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,075.00–2,100.00 $2,084.89

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1130–1455 1282 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 2,900.00–3,200.00 $3,039.57 —
1260–1330 fancy 1295 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 3,600.00–3,800.00 $3,702.70 —
1285–1370 1328 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 3,825.00–3,850.00 $3,837.10 —
1293–1522 1385 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 4,000.00 $4,000.00 +1,425.00
1395–1410 1403 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 3,700.00–4,050.00 $3,875.94 —
1338–1637 1457 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 9 3,525.00–3,700.00 $3,648.62 —
1545 1545 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 4,275.00 $4,275.00 —
1335–1735 1609 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 7 3,275.00–3,525.00 $3,397.50 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1130 1130 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,450.00 $2,450.00 —
1225 1225 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00 —
1235–1245 1240 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 2,750.00–3,000.00 $2,875.50 —
1120–1395 1260 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 3 2,575.00–3,050.00 $2,825.60 —
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
850–965 908 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,000.00–2,375.00 $2,175.62 —

↑ Back to top

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.