Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, November 5, 2025

699 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $327.96/cwt +0.14 vs last sale · ≈ $1,873/hd at 571 lb · 21 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 steers $414.63/cwt +18.04 vs last sale · ≈ $1,969/hd at 475 lb · 20 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $332.93/cwt -5.76 vs last sale · ≈ $1,749/hd at 525 lb · 19 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 699 688 630
Feeder cattle 522 556 513
Slaughter cattle 82 88 92
Replacement cattle 95 44 25

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was lower with an average quality offering. Feeder steers were unevenly steady ranging from 3.00 higher to 5.00 lower with a good supply, while the feeder heifers were mostly 3.00 to 8.00 lower with moderate demand. The continued decline in the futures market has limited some buyers interest and the premiums they are willing to pay for quality feeder cattle, while drastically increasing the discounts on plainer and off colored cattle severely. Slaughter cows and bulls were 2.00 to 4.00 lower with a good supply and 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
302 fancy 302 2 460.00 $460.00 $1,389 —
330 330 1 425.00 $425.00 $1,402 —
395 395 1 405.00 $405.00 $1,600 -22.07
405–435 417 9 405.00–427.50 $421.59 $1,758 -18.41
455–485 472 6 387.50–405.00 $399.66 $1,886 +3.07
474–485 fancy 476 14 412.50–422.50 $421.04 $2,004 —
504 value added 504 7 411.00 $411.00 $2,071 -5.34
525–548 540 6 370.00–375.00 $373.78 $2,018 +2.15
550–595 573 12 360.00–377.50 $370.46 $2,123 +17.66
576 value added 576 3 387.50 $387.50 $2,232 —
617 value added 617 2 367.50 $367.50 $2,267 -12.50
631–640 632 7 340.00–352.50 $350.69 $2,216 +6.33
662–695 670 10 320.00–345.00 $334.09 $2,238 +19.09
700–730 715 4 312.50–325.00 $319.44 $2,284 +9.44
750–765 757 3 322.50–335.00 $330.79 $2,504 —
840 840 2 324.00 $324.00 $2,722 —
950 950 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,995 —
1035 1035 1 230.00 $230.00 $2,380 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335–340 338 3 350.00–387.50 $369.16 $1,248 +16.66
410–449 443 6 367.50–396.00 $391.60 $1,735 —
465–498 486 6 355.00–375.00 $365.23 $1,775 -12.71
550–590 574 7 317.50–345.00 $328.47 $1,885 -10.96
630–640 638 4 302.00–320.00 $315.55 $2,013 +9.34
655 655 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,965 +15.00
700 700 2 300.00 $300.00 $2,100 +35.00
862 862 2 287.50 $287.50 $2,478 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,470 —
510 510 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,300 -45.00
905 905 1 225.00 $225.00 $2,036 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305 1305 1 210.00 $210.00 $2,740 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 2 415.00 $415.00 $1,162 +20.00
312–335 326 6 397.50–420.00 $410.71 $1,339 +3.36
350–390 378 5 380.00–390.00 $386.64 $1,461 -10.37
405–410 fancy 408 2 382.50–385.00 $383.74 $1,566 —
400–445 437 13 340.00–362.50 $352.35 $1,540 -11.41
470–490 482 10 340.00–355.00 $350.55 $1,690 -10.63
500–528 524 14 325.00–345.00 $337.90 $1,771 -0.79
526 526 3 295.00 $295.00 $1,552 -43.69
535 535 2 355.00 $355.00 $1,899 +16.31
550–577 569 7 350.00–352.00 $351.45 $2,000 +23.63
555–595 572 14 305.00–325.00 $316.22 $1,809 -11.60
600 600 2 285.00 $285.00 $1,710 -23.76
625 625 2 307.00 $307.00 $1,919 -1.76
655 655 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,932 +11.91
665 665 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,330 -83.09
715 715 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,930 —
815 815 1 271.00 $271.00 $2,209 +1.00
915 915 2 245.00 $245.00 $2,242 —
950–975 963 2 210.00–220.00 $215.06 $2,071 —
1155 1155 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,964 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,156 —
385–395 392 3 375.00–377.50 $375.82 $1,473 +23.94
415–449 440 11 325.00–330.00 $326.60 $1,437 -10.71
451–465 458 17 305.00–335.00 $317.03 $1,452 -17.42
500–545 527 16 297.50–312.50 $304.27 $1,604 -15.73
550–570 559 4 290.00–300.00 $297.54 $1,663 -10.99
675–685 682 3 270.00 $270.00 $1,841 +5.00
860 860 1 235.00 $235.00 $2,021 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,365 -2.50
547 547 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,641 —
585–587 586 3 285.00 $285.00 $1,670 -17.50
615 615 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,784 +7.52
675 675 1 247.50 $247.50 $1,671 -25.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,166 +25.74
440 440 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,320 —
465 465 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,372 +20.07
615 615 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,476 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 fancy 270 1 470.00 $470.00 $1,269 —
300–315 308 2 430.00–450.00 $439.76 $1,354 —
310 fancy 310 2 465.00 $465.00 $1,442 —
382–395 386 3 415.00–422.00 $417.39 $1,611 +4.89
410–445 425 6 400.00–420.00 $410.09 $1,743 -4.91
455–477 466 7 380.00–402.50 $392.84 $1,831 +3.85
515–545 534 6 332.50–350.00 $342.08 $1,827 -10.67
550–595 561 9 325.00–352.00 $338.53 $1,899 -8.12
615 fancy 615 1 352.50 $352.50 $2,168 —
605–640 619 9 330.00–340.00 $336.68 $2,084 +5.16
655–695 681 10 322.50–340.00 $329.04 $2,241 +63.23
700–738 729 6 309.00–320.00 $311.43 $2,270 —
1015 1015 1 235.00 $235.00 $2,385 +28.00
1055 1055 1 201.00 $201.00 $2,121 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307–325 313 3 400.00–405.00 $401.73 $1,257 +27.32
405–430 418 2 385.00–392.50 $388.86 $1,625 +5.20
460–493 479 11 360.00–375.00 $370.12 $1,773 +11.42
540 540 2 317.50 $317.50 $1,714 -17.27
555–563 562 6 316.00–320.00 $316.66 $1,780 -0.16
620–640 627 3 280.00–305.00 $295.05 $1,850 +27.55
662–675 668 5 292.50–310.00 $306.51 $2,047 —
705–740 720 4 250.00–285.00 $265.64 $1,913 —
770–772 771 4 262.50 $262.50 $2,024 —
801 801 3 227.50 $227.50 $1,822 —
860–885 873 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,746 +30.00
920 920 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,840 +20.00
1090 1090 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,744 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,275 —
440–445 441 5 285.00–320.00 $309.48 $1,365 —
495 495 1 297.50 $297.50 $1,473 -12.12
540 540 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,512 +16.78
740 740 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,110 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
580 580 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,827 —
605 605 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,543 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 200.00 $200.00 $880 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1415 1415 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 2,575.00 $2,575.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
880 880 85-90% 1 75.00 $75.00 $660 —
715–1215 995 85-90% 14 101.00–122.00 $113.21 $1,126 —
885–1380 1125 85-90% 14 125.00–140.00 $131.17 $1,476 +7.93
1225 1225 85-90% 1 147.00 $147.00 $1,801 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1060–1425 1182 80-85% 3 160.00–163.00 $161.21 $1,906 +23.77
1070–1360 1194 80-85% 14 140.00–158.00 $146.61 $1,751 +9.17
1125–1300 1213 80-85% 2 137.00–138.00 $137.54 $1,668 -12.84
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1395 1395 75-80% 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,869 —
1220–1520 1411 75-80% 15 149.00–158.00 $153.62 $2,168 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–1820 1534 6 156.00–175.00 $168.81 $2,590 —
1525–1910 1708 5 180.50–189.00 $184.63 $3,153 —
1965 1965 1 194.00 $194.00 $3,812 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
865–960 902 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 160.00–190.00 $174.92 $1,578

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
937–975 950 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,500.00–2,650.00 $2,598.67
950–1060 987 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,975.00–2,000.00 $1,983.95
1135–1350 1207 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,825.00–2,000.00 $1,934.74
927–1428 1261 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 1,525.00–1,800.00 $1,732.61
1330 1330 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00
1165–1570 1345 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 2,300.00–3,000.00 $2,778.39
1490 fancy 1490 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 3,575.00 $3,575.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
870–1440 1069 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 15 1,775.00–2,400.00 $2,010.68
1000–1190 1085 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,525.00–1,875.00 $1,722.50
1205 1205 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,150.00 $2,150.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
760–830 795 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,550.00–1,800.00 $1,669.50
842 842 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,350.00 $2,350.00
960 960 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,975.00 $1,975.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
860 860 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00 —
925 925 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,175.00 $2,175.00 —
930 930 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,150.00 $2,150.00 —
1105 1105 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00 —
1200 1200 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,375.00 $2,375.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1420 1420 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,950.00 $2,950.00 -590.39
1500 1500 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 3,700.00 $3,700.00 —
1590–1710 1650 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 3,275.00–3,450.00 $3,365.68 —

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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.