Cattle Market Pulse

Kentucky Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 20, 2021

3,065 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Kentucky Weekly Livestock Auction Summary report →

heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $156.53/cwt +1.67 vs last sale · ≈ $1,235/hd at 789 lb · 199 head
light 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $155.71/cwt +4.02 vs last sale · ≈ $1,295/hd at 832 lb · 199 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $143.02/cwt +6.57 vs last sale · ≈ $747/hd at 523 lb · 131 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,065 20,845 0
Feeder cattle 2,562 18,079 0
Slaughter cattle 405 2,120 0
Replacement cattle 98 646 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

In a holiday shortened week with limited receipts, feeder cattle sold unevenly steady when compared to last week. Slaughter cattle were steady to 2.00 higher. Demand was moderate to good.

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
250–280 265 4 151.00–173.00 $160.00 $424 -2.81
305–330 323 15 160.00–184.00 $174.84 $565 +1.62
315–345 fancy 330 2 221.00–222.50 $221.78 $732 +20.42
350–390 371 13 160.00–200.00 $185.29 $687 +9.00
365–385 fancy 378 3 199.00–220.00 $205.75 $778 +15.13
405–423 value added 419 4 165.00–175.00 $172.58 $723 -14.98
400–445 422 22 159.00–200.00 $180.23 $761 +6.36
426–440 fancy 429 5 186.00–188.00 $186.41 $800 -6.55
465 value added 465 2 180.00 $180.00 $837 -2.07
450–497 474 27 150.00–186.00 $168.98 $801 +2.04
500–540 value added 519 9 158.00–173.00 $162.22 $842 -9.72
505–540 519 21 155.00–176.00 $164.12 $852 +1.57
510–535 fancy 519 9 169.00–181.00 $179.35 $931 -2.08
570 fancy 570 2 160.00 $160.00 $912 —
555–595 573 25 145.00–161.00 $152.30 $873 -5.70
551–598 value added 574 21 160.00–173.00 $167.95 $964 +5.06
602–640 value added 621 25 144.00–166.00 $157.16 $976 +4.51
600–648 625 47 135.00–159.00 $147.78 $924 -2.35
650–687 658 23 130.00–155.50 $146.41 $963 -0.87
655–686 value added 675 11 140.00–149.00 $142.95 $965 -15.79
703 value added 703 9 144.00 $144.00 $1,012 -7.74
700–745 731 31 121.00–149.00 $138.70 $1,014 +1.27
767–775 770 3 120.00–137.00 $125.71 $968 -15.19
755–797 value added 789 196 153.00–159.00 $157.00 $1,239 -1.11
805–836 825 12 125.00–144.50 $137.34 $1,133 -1.60
827 fancy 827 64 156.50 $156.50 $1,294 +4.00
834–835 value added 835 123 155.50–158.60 $157.09 $1,312 +2.51
861–875 865 9 125.00–143.00 $136.76 $1,183 +0.19
900–935 918 2 110.00–125.00 $117.64 $1,080 -6.88
960 960 1 121.00 $121.00 $1,162 -12.53
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235–245 240 2 125.00–139.00 $132.15 $317 —
255–285 275 3 132.50–142.50 $138.18 $380 -14.13
325 325 1 154.00 $154.00 $500 +3.96
350–370 360 2 116.00–159.00 $138.10 $497 -7.68
400–445 419 6 120.00–151.00 $142.99 $599 +0.73
457–495 473 7 112.50–161.00 $142.32 $673 -3.39
500–545 516 8 120.00–149.00 $134.54 $694 -8.15
555–584 580 7 136.00–137.00 $136.14 $790 -3.19
620–640 624 5 128.00–133.50 $131.68 $822 -0.11
700–720 708 5 111.00–127.00 $119.56 $846 -3.44
795 795 2 125.00 $125.00 $994 -9.81
800–801 801 4 91.00–108.00 $95.25 $763 -28.77
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
352–360 355 3 137.50–157.50 $150.73 $535 +11.73
410 410 1 144.00 $144.00 $590 +9.76
490 490 1 141.00 $141.00 $691 +4.65
525 525 2 140.00 $140.00 $735 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175–1355 1238 3 80.00–115.00 $102.89 $1,274 -9.43
1690 1690 1 90.00 $90.00 $1,521 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 1 122.50 $122.50 $490 +10.50
460–475 468 2 119.00–130.00 $124.41 $582 +17.41
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
710 710 1 131.00 $131.00 $930 +8.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215–235 222 3 120.00–155.00 $135.60 $301 -8.72
250–296 279 12 140.00–161.00 $153.62 $429 +7.04
302–340 322 24 122.00–155.00 $140.90 $454 -1.80
352 value added 352 2 141.00 $141.00 $496 -9.01
350–390 374 56 125.00–152.00 $138.85 $519 -3.63
400–420 fancy 407 9 146.00–151.00 $149.28 $608 +1.01
403–445 423 44 124.00–150.00 $137.06 $580 -2.82
435–438 value added 437 6 139.00–145.00 $141.99 $620 -4.65
450–498 473 54 123.00–150.00 $135.71 $642 -2.48
458–481 value added 474 34 136.00–152.00 $147.36 $698 -2.65
466–488 fancy 475 7 146.00–148.00 $146.88 $698 -6.12
505–525 fancy 511 16 136.00–150.00 $145.46 $743 —
500–545 518 71 121.00–158.00 $141.83 $735 +7.36
502–547 value added 534 44 137.00–148.00 $144.05 $769 +2.19
563 fancy 563 3 150.00 $150.00 $844 —
562–572 value added 567 11 130.00–139.00 $136.27 $773 -7.33
550–595 573 40 120.00–158.00 $138.94 $796 +4.56
600–637 value added 611 18 131.00–139.00 $134.68 $823 -5.38
600–647 629 52 115.00–138.00 $128.07 $806 -0.47
650–697 674 28 116.00–136.00 $127.51 $859 -1.19
700–725 711 6 105.00–123.00 $114.44 $814 -5.29
765–780 773 2 116.00–117.00 $116.50 $901 -2.65
815 815 2 121.00 $121.00 $986 +15.16
810–826 value added 818 122 140.80–146.00 $143.33 $1,172 +2.52
925 925 1 92.00 $92.00 $851 -16.16
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215–240 233 6 114.00–122.50 $116.27 $271 -13.73
260–295 277 3 105.00–129.00 $117.49 $325 -10.09
315–330 324 4 111.00–120.00 $116.56 $378 -14.19
350–395 381 6 110.00–129.00 $119.74 $456 -6.35
400–445 422 9 110.00–129.00 $118.68 $501 -9.74
457–490 470 11 120.00–129.00 $122.09 $574 +6.51
500–545 524 7 101.00–120.00 $114.27 $599 -3.14
550–595 585 13 93.00–120.00 $114.80 $672 -1.00
605–635 620 7 100.00–115.00 $108.49 $673 -1.00
662–695 678 12 96.00–116.50 $107.07 $726 -3.88
715–740 729 8 79.00–108.00 $93.51 $682 -7.75
750–785 763 6 70.00–116.00 $97.59 $745 -5.18
815–830 822 3 74.00–108.00 $91.89 $755 +0.77
865 865 1 101.00 $101.00 $874 -2.63
915–932 927 5 76.00–80.00 $78.41 $727 -12.43
985–990 988 2 74.00 $74.00 $731 -14.51
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 1 130.00 $130.00 $403 +7.50
372 372 5 130.00 $130.00 $484 —
425–440 435 3 120.00–124.00 $121.30 $528 -5.70
535–540 538 2 110.00–119.00 $114.52 $616 -0.41
610 610 1 100.00 $100.00 $610 -12.66
690 690 1 101.00 $101.00 $697 -7.59
830–845 838 2 91.00 $91.00 $763 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 100.00 $100.00 $300 ±0.00
470 470 1 91.00 $91.00 $428 -13.29
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
640 640 1 120.00 $120.00 $768 +15.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
170 170 1 201.00 $201.00 $342 —
235–240 238 2 145.00–158.00 $151.57 $361 -2.86
255–275 265 2 160.00–188.00 $173.47 $460 -5.52
300–348 332 8 144.00–180.00 $164.33 $546 -5.55
335 fancy 335 1 217.00 $217.00 $727 +24.00
370 fancy 370 1 205.00 $205.00 $758 +13.54
350–395 379 11 146.00–181.00 $161.81 $613 -10.29
405–445 429 21 140.00–198.00 $162.75 $698 +1.55
425–449 fancy 444 5 177.00–201.00 $181.59 $806 -12.18
450–496 478 23 140.00–188.00 $160.15 $766 +0.61
500–527 fancy 513 21 155.00–175.00 $161.84 $830 -3.29
500–545 519 50 122.50–165.00 $139.88 $726 -7.35
525 value added 525 2 163.00 $163.00 $856 -0.21
555–596 576 27 121.00–160.00 $139.41 $803 -1.31
600–645 622 22 116.00–148.00 $129.54 $806 -4.52
634 value added 634 21 151.00 $151.00 $957 +16.21
652–695 671 20 117.00–134.00 $126.55 $849 -2.83
700–740 727 8 105.00–124.00 $118.88 $864 -2.91
765–797 779 6 109.00–135.00 $120.53 $939 +0.31
810–840 833 7 98.00–127.00 $105.14 $876 -8.85
855–865 860 2 99.00–106.00 $102.48 $881 -12.73
950–970 964 4 90.00–106.00 $94.01 $906 -10.55
1000 1000 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,060 +6.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 140.00 $140.00 $308 —
285–290 288 2 134.00–150.00 $142.07 $409 +0.33
300–345 317 6 125.00–170.00 $153.64 $487 +4.08
355–390 372 9 127.00–171.00 $148.21 $551 +1.58
400–440 419 9 122.50–155.00 $137.33 $575 -1.05
455–495 477 7 108.00–146.00 $128.16 $611 -12.31
505–545 525 6 107.00–145.00 $121.19 $636 -8.19
550–580 567 12 110.00–147.00 $128.79 $730 +3.07
600–645 634 6 108.00–117.00 $110.18 $699 -4.44
655–695 671 6 107.00–120.00 $113.76 $763 +0.63
705–722 711 6 104.00–114.00 $109.67 $780 +3.08
785 785 1 80.00 $80.00 $628 -21.95
808 808 3 92.50 $92.50 $747 -6.35
865 865 1 93.00 $93.00 $804 -1.30
920 920 1 96.00 $96.00 $883 —
970 970 3 80.00 $80.00 $776 ±0.00
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 152.50 $152.50 $343 -0.80
330–335 333 2 125.00–132.50 $128.78 $429 -13.72
365–395 382 3 142.50–150.00 $145.93 $557 +1.40
405–435 411 6 141.00–142.50 $141.60 $582 -1.40
470 470 1 131.00 $131.00 $616 -0.26
610 610 1 110.00 $110.00 $671 -1.33
790 790 1 103.00 $103.00 $814 -0.49
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
237 237 2 170.00 $170.00 $403 —
375 375 1 169.00 $169.00 $634 +8.72
485 485 1 148.00 $148.00 $718 +6.60
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 1 147.00 $147.00 $706 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1050 1050 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 1,325.00 $1,325.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 210 1 113.00 $113.00 $237 -9.00

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010–1480 1206 80-85% 24 40.50–53.00 $48.44 $584 +2.41
800–1610 1262 80-85% 81 47.00–63.00 $54.70 $690 —
900–1490 1290 80-85% 38 56.50–69.50 $61.59 $795 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520–1555 1279 75-80% 4 48.00–53.00 $50.20 $642 —
1090–2185 1531 75-80% 35 50.00–64.00 $57.18 $875 +1.14
977–2100 1547 75-80% 42 57.00–75.00 $64.51 $998 +8.47
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795–1220 997 85-90% 26 25.00–49.00 $42.86 $427 -14.42
705–1215 1062 85-90% 12 47.00–67.00 $57.75 $613 +7.20
890–1305 1072 85-90% 23 45.00–55.50 $50.85 $545 +0.30

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–1980 1478 16 68.00–85.00 $78.47 $1,160 +3.39
1229–2090 1646 26 53.00–94.50 $87.38 $1,438 —
1255–2225 1717 22 90.00–113.00 $100.93 $1,733 +12.74

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
805–960 895 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 70.00–74.00 $71.20 $637
810–1210 1075 (<2 yrs)Open 3 60.00–99.00 $79.14 $851
935–1360 1198 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 72.00–88.00 $79.30 $950

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
800–1130 965 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 540.00–610.00 $580.98
920–1100 1010 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 690.00–860.00 $782.57
875–1385 1017 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 540.00–1,025.00 $796.07
810–1210 1019 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 575.00–1,000.00 $818.39
925–1095 1024 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 490.00–825.00 $653.15
850–1210 1040 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 510.00–875.00 $701.04
1030–1190 1106 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 550.00–635.00 $586.38
1050–1190 1120 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 695.00–720.00 $708.28
940–1450 1190 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 700.00–1,025.00 $852.42
1600 1600 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 825.00 $825.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
985 985 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 810.00 $810.00
1080–1195 1138 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 775.00–800.00 $786.87
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
835–1050 943 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 600.00–610.00 $605.57

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
790–850 810 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 600.00–720.00 $641.98
990 990 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 885.00 $885.00

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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
1090 1090 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 825.00 $825.00 ±0.00
1225–1250 1238 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 900.00–1,100.00 $998.99 +82.32
1265 1265 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00 -77.06
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1045 1045 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 950.00 $950.00 —
1060 1060 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 750.00 $750.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1480 1480 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382 382 2 85.00 $85.00 $325 -12.69
427 427 2 105.00 $105.00 $448 +21.97
457–470 465 5 77.00–110.00 $89.98 $418 +4.75
545 545 3 75.00 $75.00 $409 -19.22
590 590 1 64.00 $64.00 $378 —
620 620 1 62.00 $62.00 $384 -21.86
710 value added 710 68 116.25 $116.25 $825 —
712 712 2 105.00 $105.00 $748 +14.67
755–766 764 7 56.00–105.00 $98.09 $749 —

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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.