Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, April 1, 2026

357 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $425.49/cwt +3.05 vs last sale · ≈ $2,222/hd at 522 lb · 22 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $415.43/cwt -3.46 vs last sale · ≈ $2,351/hd at 566 lb · 11 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 357 530 640
Feeder cattle 232 439 422
Slaughter cattle 54 47 117
Replacement cattle 71 44 101

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was spotty with an average quality offering. Feeder steers 600 lbs and under were steady to 6.00 lower in spots with a limited supply and good demand for weaned and harder conditioned calves. Feeder heifers 600 lbs and under were steady to 6.00 higher or greater in spots with a moderate supply and good demand. Buyers were active today and willing to pay premiums for specific weights and groups, however the increasing supply of fatter new crop calves are limiting some buyers interest and increasing the price spreads in most weight classes. Slaughter cows were steady to 2.00 higher 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
385 385 1 590.00 $590.00 $2,272 +4.30
400–435 423 3 512.00–540.00 $520.82 $2,203 -3.74
450–497 478 5 485.00–502.50 $490.38 $2,344 -38.23
500–535 518 2 447.50–455.00 $451.12 $2,337 -39.69
527–545 value added 533 3 485.00–495.00 $491.59 $2,620 -13.41
550–565 558 2 460.00–470.00 $465.07 $2,595 +2.07
555–560 value added 558 3 482.50 $482.50 $2,692 -1.20
650 650 1 330.00 $330.00 $2,145 —
663 value added 663 3 415.00 $415.00 $2,751 -18.42
729 729 5 360.00 $360.00 $2,624 —
795 795 1 340.00 $340.00 $2,703 -8.29
810 810 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,511 -37.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420–445 433 2 445.00–450.00 $447.43 $1,937 —
670 670 1 337.50 $337.50 $2,261 —
705 705 1 325.00 $325.00 $2,291 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 1 395.00 $395.00 $1,936 —
570–595 583 2 350.00–377.50 $363.45 $2,119 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 1 447.50 $447.50 $1,141 -34.89
260 fancy 260 1 520.00 $520.00 $1,352 -7.04
320 320 1 440.00 $440.00 $1,408 —
305–340 325 3 475.00–502.50 $487.44 $1,584 —
330–340 fancy 335 2 520.00–525.00 $522.54 $1,751 —
370–375 fancy 372 3 510.00–537.50 $519.25 $1,932 +0.43
360–385 373 2 450.00–485.00 $466.91 $1,742 -20.64
400 fancy 400 8 505.00 $505.00 $2,020 +9.72
425 425 1 427.50 $427.50 $1,817 -35.72
452–457 fancy 455 4 467.50–487.50 $477.44 $2,172 +12.95
475–495 489 4 400.00–425.00 $409.96 $2,005 -20.90
500–530 517 10 400.00–425.00 $415.92 $2,150 +18.86
500–532 value added 526 11 432.00–455.00 $437.87 $2,303 +10.36
535 535 1 385.00 $385.00 $2,060 -12.06
550–572 value added 565 6 425.00–441.00 $435.81 $2,462 +6.88
550–585 567 5 380.00–400.00 $390.97 $2,217 -13.86
645 645 1 367.50 $367.50 $2,370 +13.84
650–670 664 4 365.00–385.00 $376.89 $2,503 —
725–745 738 3 330.00–347.50 $335.73 $2,478 +8.63
750 750 1 340.00 $340.00 $2,550 +2.00
772 772 5 307.50 $307.50 $2,374 -30.50
1107 1107 2 212.00 $212.00 $2,347 +29.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 330.00 $330.00 $858 -107.50
355–390 368 3 360.00–400.00 $386.97 $1,424 -14.25
430–435 433 2 385.00–400.00 $392.46 $1,699 -22.54
485–490 488 2 372.50 $372.50 $1,818 -27.50
515 515 1 382.50 $382.50 $1,970 +24.80
552–570 558 3 355.00–370.00 $364.89 $2,036 +4.89
630 630 1 337.50 $337.50 $2,126 +25.50
685 685 1 327.50 $327.50 $2,243 +12.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 2 357.50 $357.50 $1,573 —
520–541 537 5 325.00–342.50 $328.39 $1,763 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435–440 438 2 325.00–335.00 $330.03 $1,446 —
470–490 480 2 302.00–317.00 $309.66 $1,486 —
635 635 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,460 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450 450 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,395 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
185 185 —— 1 595.00 $595.00 $1,101 —
220 220 —— 1 425.00 $425.00 $935 —
240 fancy 240 —— 1 607.50 $607.50 $1,458 +2.50
265–280 273 —— 2 482.50–515.00 $498.30 $1,360 -46.87
295 fancy 295 —— 1 610.00 $610.00 $1,800 —
345 fancy 345 —— 1 622.50 $622.50 $2,148 +2.23
380 fancy 380 —— 1 585.00 $585.00 $2,223 +16.19
375–392 386 —— 3 500.00–545.00 $514.56 $1,986 -13.32
455 455 —— 1 455.00 $455.00 $2,070 -14.51
455–470 fancy 463 —— 3 490.00–505.00 $498.92 $2,310 -5.57
490–497 495 —— 3 459.00–460.00 $459.67 $2,275 -9.84
503–515 fancy 505 —— 5 470.00–477.50 $471.53 $2,381 -13.68
562–587 575 —— 5 431.00–447.50 $441.13 $2,536 +6.61
610 fancy 610 —— 1 415.00 $415.00 $2,532 +4.34
610 610 —— 1 375.00 $375.00 $2,288 -8.92
620 620 —— 1 302.50 $302.50 $1,876 -81.42
650 fancy 650 —— 1 390.00 $390.00 $2,535 -10.00
730 730 —— 1 322.50 $322.50 $2,354 —
750–767 761 —— 3 325.00 $325.00 $2,473 —
820 820 —— 1 315.00 $315.00 $2,583 —
975 975 —— 1 275.00 $275.00 $2,681 —
1020 1020 —— 2 262.50 $262.50 $2,678 —
1095 1095 —— 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,738 —
2000 2000 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 196.00 $196.00 $3,920 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 457.50 $457.50 $1,235 —
325 325 1 450.00 $450.00 $1,462 —
375–395 385 2 445.00–460.00 $452.69 $1,743 —
405 405 1 477.50 $477.50 $1,934 —
450 450 1 430.00 $430.00 $1,935 +0.81
535 535 1 402.50 $402.50 $2,153 —
580–595 591 4 402.00–405.00 $402.74 $2,380 -7.26
620 620 1 407.00 $407.00 $2,523 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1070–1820 1445 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 3,600.00–3,875.00 $3,773.18 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,470 —
520 520 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,664 -37.50

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
905–1320 1108 80-85% 9 179.00–191.00 $182.04 $2,017 —
990–1360 1192 80-85% 10 163.00–175.00 $169.22 $2,017 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
955 955 85-90% 1 72.50 $72.50 $692 —
855–1250 978 85-90% 8 136.00–150.00 $144.42 $1,412 —
955–1075 1015 85-90% 2 110.00–126.00 $118.47 $1,202 —
935–1240 1062 85-90% 7 157.50–172.00 $165.28 $1,755 +55.28
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1385 1385 75-80% 1 172.00 $172.00 $2,382 —
1130–1660 1407 75-80% 8 176.00–188.00 $180.63 $2,541 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1400 1400 1 180.00 $180.00 $2,520 —
1285–1700 1548 3 194.00–206.00 $200.54 $3,104 —
1590–1635 1613 2 210.00–220.00 $214.93 $3,467 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
765–970 868 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 212.50–225.00 $218.01 $1,892
1065–1175 1120 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 3 165.00–172.50 $169.84 $1,902

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
935–1245 1085 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 3,500.00–3,700.00 $3,633.95
1110–1285 1183 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 3,100.00–3,325.00 $3,256.68
1150–1197 1185 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 3,200.00–3,700.00 $3,376.60
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
970–1025 999 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,225.00–2,725.00 $2,548.69
1550 1550 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
775 775 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,550.00 $2,550.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
650–970 817 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,075.00–3,000.00 $2,724.90
800–865 822 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,800.00–2,950.00 $2,852.64

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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
1097 1097 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 5,175.00 $5,175.00 +1,425.00
1120 1120 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,850.00 $2,850.00 —
1180–1275 1216 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 3,325.00–3,725.00 $3,502.60 —
1240 1240 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,300.00 $3,300.00 —
1190–1415 1281 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 4,025.00–4,350.00 $4,164.17 —
1350–1590 1488 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 3 4,500.00–5,450.00 $4,889.70 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1175 1175 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,800.00 $2,800.00 —

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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.