Cattle Market Pulse

Lake Cumberland Livestock Market Report

Somerset, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Saturday, December 9, 2023

912 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Lake Cumberland Livestock report →

heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $210.05/cwt +3.57 vs last sale · ≈ $987/hd at 470 lb · 38 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $198.45/cwt -4.74 vs last sale · ≈ $1,030/hd at 519 lb · 31 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 steers $244.93/cwt +1.71 vs last sale · ≈ $1,172/hd at 478 lb · 30 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 912 1,119 795
Feeder cattle 764 952 681
Slaughter cattle 102 130 85
Replacement cattle 46 37 29

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Saturday the feeder market was mostly stronger with a good quality offering. Good quality light weight steers 200-400 lbs were sharply higher with strong demand and steers weighing 600-750 lbs were steady to 5.00 higher. However yearling steers 800 lbs and up were sharply lower due primarily to the negative movement in the futures market earlier in the week. Feeder heifers weighing 200- 400 lbs were sharply higher with strong demand, while heifers weighing 400- 500 lbs were 4.00 to 6.00 higher with a good supply. However 500-700 lbs heifers were 5.00 to 6.00 lower with moderate demand. Slaughter cows were 3.00 to 6.00 lower with moderate demand and slaughter bulls were steady to 2.00 higher with a good supply.

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
265 265 1 265.00 $265.00 $702 —
280 fancy 280 2 290.00 $290.00 $812 —
310–325 319 5 254.00–260.00 $257.61 $822 +11.40
355–370 fancy 363 2 280.00–300.00 $289.79 $1,052 +31.52
355–385 368 8 245.00–269.50 $262.62 $966 +16.59
402–430 fancy 420 7 259.00–282.00 $270.63 $1,137 +9.94
405–440 426 5 225.00–245.00 $229.92 $979 +3.45
458–494 fancy 478 21 245.00–265.00 $252.00 $1,205 -2.65
450–495 479 9 219.00–240.00 $228.45 $1,094 -7.50
500–526 513 12 215.00–235.00 $229.27 $1,176 -5.46
507–541 value added 526 12 240.00–258.50 $252.28 $1,327 -2.72
568–588 value added 584 15 237.50–240.00 $237.99 $1,390 -9.86
580–595 586 5 213.00–226.00 $218.27 $1,279 -6.97
603–610 value added 604 5 231.50–235.00 $232.21 $1,403 +5.44
605–615 611 9 206.00–227.50 $213.02 $1,302 +0.12
655–685 672 3 210.00–223.00 $216.24 $1,453 +10.72
710–722 721 10 200.00–217.50 $215.78 $1,556 +2.60
750 750 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,425 -14.39
800–835 818 2 170.00–180.00 $175.11 $1,432 -14.89
855 855 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,539 -15.07
933 value added 933 20 186.00 $186.00 $1,735 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 220.00 $220.00 $627 +30.62
300–315 308 2 205.00–220.00 $212.32 $654 +12.32
350–360 357 3 200.00–205.00 $201.68 $720 -19.32
440 440 1 207.50 $207.50 $913 +1.63
470 470 2 205.00–212.50 $208.75 $981 +1.41
505–547 516 15 200.00–210.00 $205.20 $1,059 -12.92
560–585 571 4 175.00–197.50 $185.23 $1,058 -19.77
610–625 618 2 187.50–197.50 $192.56 $1,190 +0.06
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460–490 473 3 140.00–184.00 $165.47 $783 —
500–535 518 3 152.50–160.00 $156.62 $811 —
555–595 575 2 150.00–165.00 $157.24 $904 —
710 710 1 140.00 $140.00 $994 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 1 230.00 $230.00 $736 —
355–395 375 2 235.00–242.50 $238.95 $896 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 210 1 240.00 $240.00 $504 +37.30
292 292 2 215.00 $215.00 $628 +14.22
310–345 333 12 215.00–226.00 $221.58 $738 +21.58
350–395 368 20 203.00–225.00 $213.69 $786 +9.53
402–448 425 25 207.50–222.50 $214.67 $912 +6.42
455–490 470 38 200.00–220.00 $210.05 $987 +3.57
500–547 519 31 190.00–210.00 $198.45 $1,030 -4.74
550–585 569 15 180.00–200.00 $188.61 $1,073 -13.53
604–646 614 29 180.00–200.00 $191.60 $1,176 -5.82
651–692 662 16 173.00–192.00 $188.40 $1,247 -5.03
709 709 17 193.00 $193.00 $1,368 +10.88
765–790 778 2 154.00–160.00 $157.05 $1,222 -23.43
905 905 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,267 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205–237 227 6 180.00–210.00 $191.29 $434 +21.29
280–295 288 2 197.50–200.00 $198.72 $572 +3.72
305–340 326 10 180.00–207.50 $198.10 $646 +15.84
355–395 384 11 190.00–200.00 $196.01 $753 +9.40
400–445 425 27 174.00–200.00 $190.56 $810 +3.50
450–495 470 14 180.00–197.50 $188.61 $886 -0.03
500–535 520 27 171.00–193.00 $184.54 $960 -2.76
552–595 571 9 163.00–185.00 $177.49 $1,013 -2.26
605–640 627 9 166.00–178.00 $170.72 $1,070 +0.93
665–695 681 6 155.00–170.00 $166.12 $1,131 +5.58
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465–485 471 4 137.50–160.00 $144.52 $681 —
505–535 525 3 140.00–160.00 $148.11 $778 —
725 725 1 100.00 $100.00 $725 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1185 1185 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,304 -15.00

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225–231 fancy 230 4 270.00–280.00 $277.55 $638 —
231–235 232 4 257.50–260.00 $259.37 $602 +4.37
270–280 275 2 230.00–245.00 $237.64 $654 -14.86
270–285 fancy 278 2 250.00–265.00 $257.70 $716 —
310–330 320 3 235.00–250.00 $240.00 $768 -0.24
330 fancy 330 1 275.00 $275.00 $908 —
365–390 fancy 376 7 260.00–270.00 $266.76 $1,003 +12.55
370–390 379 10 220.00–237.50 $226.75 $859 +4.30
400–428 fancy 414 8 252.50–270.00 $260.50 $1,078 +10.99
405–440 417 10 220.00–243.00 $227.72 $950 +1.84
465–495 478 11 215.00–235.00 $219.33 $1,048 -8.92
527 value added 527 5 234.50 $234.50 $1,236 —
510–545 537 11 195.00–220.00 $206.35 $1,108 -16.34
550 value added 550 2 234.00 $234.00 $1,287 +2.00
555–586 572 12 200.00–225.00 $213.69 $1,222 +6.12
610–640 622 5 198.00–210.00 $205.21 $1,276 -0.09
650–665 660 5 180.00–202.50 $193.08 $1,274 +15.68
702–705 703 6 170.00–190.00 $186.65 $1,312 —
775 775 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,240 —
850 850 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,318 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 1 200.00 $200.00 $560 -10.00
325 325 2 180.00–200.00 $190.00 $618 -22.00
375 375 1 185.00 $185.00 $694 —
415–445 431 4 200.00–215.00 $207.00 $892 +22.52
450–497 479 12 180.00–210.00 $195.04 $934 +4.97
525–535 530 2 190.00–200.00 $194.95 $1,033 +20.91
550–570 560 4 172.50–186.00 $178.76 $1,001 -3.59
625 625 1 188.00 $188.00 $1,175 +9.09
695 695 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,182 -3.56
855–895 875 2 120.00–130.00 $124.89 $1,093 —
925 925 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,110 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 1 130.00 $130.00 $598 —
585 585 1 157.50 $157.50 $921 —
700 700 1 100.00 $100.00 $700 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
620–1155 878 85-90% 3 42.00–50.00 $47.39 $416 +3.02
795–1370 1063 85-90% 25 58.00–72.00 $67.31 $716 —
785–1350 1071 85-90% 16 73.00–82.50 $76.52 $820 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1395 1185 80-85% 14 75.00–82.00 $78.43 $929 —
995–1380 1193 80-85% 8 93.00–103.00 $97.17 $1,159 —
1065–1390 1227 80-85% 13 84.00–90.00 $86.59 $1,062 -6.54
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1372–1935 1565 75-80% 17 83.00–92.00 $86.10 $1,347 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–2225 1614 10 85.00–108.00 $100.62 $1,624 —
1120–2090 1688 7 110.00–123.00 $114.35 $1,930 —
2255 2255 1 130.00 $130.00 $2,932 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
700–850 775 (<2 yrs)Open 2 110.00–126.00 $117.23 $909

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
825–840 833 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 850.00 $850.00
760–1030 901 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 925.00–1,275.00 $1,052.62
930 930 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 700.00 $700.00
1070 1070 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 775.00 $775.00
1215–1310 1263 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 925.00–1,075.00 $997.18
1115–1400 1270 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,025.00–1,435.00 $1,299.98
1330 1330 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
1185–1735 1390 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 950.00–1,350.00 $1,131.41

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
980 980 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00 —
1490 1490 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,650.00 $1,650.00 +275.00

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 122.50 $122.50 $416 —

↑ 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.