Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, October 15, 2025

586 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 bulls $368.69/cwt +1.55 vs last sale · ≈ $2,127/hd at 577 lb · 33 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 bulls $400.43/cwt +17.10 vs last sale · ≈ $1,862/hd at 465 lb · 29 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $390.47/cwt +19.97 vs last sale · ≈ $1,893/hd at 485 lb · 29 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 586 266 567
Feeder cattle 489 234 430
Slaughter cattle 60 24 120
Replacement cattle 37 8 17

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was stronger with an average quality offering. Feeder steers were 6.00 to 8.00 higher or greater in spots with a good supply and good demand. Feeder heifers 450 lbs and under were sharply higher with a good supply, while the 500-700 lbs heifers were 3.00 to 5.00 higher with good demand. Buyers were active today and willing to pay premiums for quality cattle, while discounting plainer, off colored calves severely. Slaughter cows and bulls were 2.00 to 4.00 higher with a good supply and 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
280 280 3 410.00 $410.00 $1,148 —
322 322 2 430.00 $430.00 $1,385 —
360–382 375 3 417.00–430.00 $421.16 $1,579 +16.16
427–430 429 5 420.00–425.00 $423.01 $1,815 —
460–478 472 6 394.00–420.00 $410.58 $1,938 +8.89
500–545 522 6 372.00–390.00 $380.43 $1,986 -5.49
536 value added 536 4 415.00 $415.00 $2,224 +6.49
566 value added 566 4 431.00 $431.00 $2,439 +22.85
565–580 574 10 380.00–397.00 $389.72 $2,237 +10.66
600–625 613 2 370.00–393.00 $381.73 $2,340 —
655–680 668 2 371.00–378.00 $374.43 $2,501 +34.43
674 value added 674 7 391.00 $391.00 $2,635 —
700–720 710 2 337.50–355.00 $346.13 $2,458 +11.25
715 value added 715 2 369.00 $369.00 $2,638 —
840–843 841 11 314.00–336.00 $327.98 $2,758 —
940 940 1 302.00 $302.00 $2,839 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360–365 362 3 385.00–392.50 $387.52 $1,403 +14.76
445 445 1 390.00 $390.00 $1,736 +40.00
495 495 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,906 +15.00
585 585 1 360.00 $360.00 $2,106 —
615 615 1 342.50 $342.50 $2,106 —
660 660 1 340.00 $340.00 $2,244 +40.00
715 715 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,216 —
750 750 1 300.00 $300.00 $2,250 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 337.50 $337.50 $1,012 —
441 441 3 338.00 $338.00 $1,491 +38.00
585 585 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,316 —
675 675 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,637 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 355.00 $355.00 $1,917 —
580 580 1 347.50 $347.50 $2,016 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 1 250.00 $250.00 $888 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–340 fancy 320 2 417.50–440.00 $429.45 $1,374 —
325–348 340 6 405.00–415.00 $410.68 $1,396 —
370 370 1 415.00 $415.00 $1,536 +36.93
368–385 fancy 375 7 422.00–442.50 $432.92 $1,623 +32.92
400–440 407 9 367.50–385.00 $377.69 $1,537 +8.12
400–437 fancy 423 19 395.00–408.00 $404.43 $1,711 +11.93
470 470 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,457 -48.61
475–492 fancy 478 11 408.00–416.00 $414.50 $1,981 +34.92
465–498 490 17 370.00–390.00 $379.65 $1,860 +21.04
500–535 value added 522 9 380.00–394.00 $388.04 $2,026 —
540 540 2 350.00–361.00 $355.50 $1,920 -1.61
555 value added 555 1 382.00 $382.00 $2,120 —
550–593 573 16 350.00–375.00 $359.52 $2,060 +4.92
600–641 623 10 325.00–346.00 $332.16 $2,069 -10.05
670–690 682 5 317.00–322.50 $319.08 $2,176 +4.08
685 685 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,952 -30.00
710–748 734 11 307.00–320.00 $310.28 $2,277 +7.76
822 822 2 260.00 $260.00 $2,137 —
885 885 1 231.00 $231.00 $2,044 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
277–280 278 3 360.00–382.50 $367.55 $1,022 +10.05
385 385 1 382.50 $382.50 $1,473 +52.50
400–430 413 3 335.00–360.00 $345.87 $1,428 +11.57
450–490 460 4 340.00–365.00 $352.11 $1,620 +32.11
510 510 2 325.00–337.50 $331.25 $1,689 +18.96
558–585 569 8 321.00–341.00 $334.37 $1,903 +17.73
730–735 731 4 275.00–290.00 $282.49 $2,065 —
775 775 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,860 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–405 402 3 327.50–330.00 $329.16 $1,323 —
467 467 2 315.00 $315.00 $1,471 —
575 575 1 247.50 $247.50 $1,423 -15.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 342.50 $342.50 $1,130 —
370 370 1 307.50 $307.50 $1,138 —
578 578 3 325.00 $325.00 $1,878 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 415.00 $415.00 $913 —
325–342 340 8 400.00–415.00 $413.21 $1,405 —
360–372 369 4 400.00–415.00 $404.29 $1,492 —
385 fancy 385 1 432.50 $432.50 $1,665 —
407 fancy 407 2 415.00 $415.00 $1,689 —
420–445 433 2 385.00–395.00 $390.14 $1,689 -24.86
453–486 465 29 385.00–408.00 $400.43 $1,862 +17.10
530–545 535 14 350.00–372.00 $365.31 $1,954 -2.19
554–597 577 33 357.50–380.00 $368.69 $2,127 +28.69
615–647 633 7 350.00–362.50 $358.69 $2,271 -1.26
672–690 678 3 345.00–355.00 $351.61 $2,384 —
705 705 1 311.00 $311.00 $2,193 -19.00
760–790 771 7 300.00–318.00 $314.42 $2,424 +21.92
810–828 824 5 295.00–307.00 $302.23 $2,490 —
920 920 1 267.50 $267.50 $2,461 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 375.00 $375.00 $1,275 —
363 363 3 380.00 $380.00 $1,379 —
425–430 428 2 352.50–355.00 $353.74 $1,514 +3.74
450–495 469 8 350.00–377.50 $366.28 $1,718 +26.28
517–520 518 3 330.00–332.50 $331.66 $1,718 -0.29
587–595 590 3 321.00–340.00 $327.39 $1,932 —
615–645 628 5 324.00–335.00 $332.54 $2,088 —
670–690 683 3 292.50–302.50 $295.77 $2,020 -4.23
820 820 1 265.00 $265.00 $2,173 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 335.00 $335.00 $955 —
330 330 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,072 —
385 385 3 312.50 $312.50 $1,203 —
535 535 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,364 -45.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
367 367 2 375.00 $375.00 $1,376 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 305.00 $305.00 $1,205 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1380 1380 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 3,225.00 $3,225.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815 815 85-90% 1 182.50 $182.50 $1,487 —
865–900 883 85-90% 2 90.00–104.00 $96.86 $855 -74.35
920 920 85-90% 1 129.00 $129.00 $1,187 —
800–1370 1073 85-90% 5 153.00–161.00 $158.01 $1,695 —
875–1395 1117 85-90% 14 133.00–144.00 $136.73 $1,527 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1400–1695 1514 75-80% 7 171.00–186.00 $177.46 $2,687 —
1450–1795 1571 75-80% 9 154.50–169.00 $163.18 $2,564 +6.64
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1225 1225 80-85% 1 181.50 $181.50 $2,223 —
900–1590 1240 80-85% 7 150.50–166.00 $158.63 $1,967 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–2160 1496 4 161.00–179.00 $172.64 $2,583 —
1530–1855 1685 3 193.50–204.50 $197.56 $3,329 —
1395–1945 1725 7 181.50–192.50 $188.27 $3,248 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
895 895 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 227.00 $227.00 $2,032

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
920 920 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,325.00 $2,325.00
1225 1225 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,625.00 $3,625.00
1015–1430 1241 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 2,400.00–3,100.00 $2,723.90
1250 1250 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 3,375.00 $3,375.00
1070–1505 1288 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,600.00–2,925.00 $2,789.95
1290 1290 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,575.00 $2,575.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
935–1120 1028 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,950.00–2,200.00 $2,063.75
1035 1035 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,225.00 $2,225.00
995–1330 1130 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,600.00–2,200.00 $1,854.57
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
780–850 815 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,110.00–1,425.00 $1,260.74

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
995 995 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,475.00 $2,475.00

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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
1350–1740 1545 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 3,200.00–3,550.00 $3,397.09 —

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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.