Cattle Market Pulse

Lake Cumberland Livestock Market Report

Somerset, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Sunday, December 17, 2023

1,396 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $223.99/cwt +7.75 vs last sale · ≈ $1,492/hd at 666 lb · 113 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $218.93/cwt +3.15 vs last sale · ≈ $1,622/hd at 741 lb · 78 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $220.16/cwt +10.11 vs last sale · ≈ $1,012/hd at 460 lb · 75 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,396 912 800
Feeder cattle 1,224 764 720
Slaughter cattle 113 102 65
Replacement cattle 59 46 15

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: feeder steers under 500lbs sold sharply higher, over 500lbs sold steady to 4.00 higher. Yearling steers sold sharply higher. Heifers sold 4.00 to 6.00 lower, yearling heifers sold sharply higher. Strong demand for feeder classes. Slaughter cows sold steady. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower.

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
235 fancy 235 1 305.00 $305.00 $717 —
240 240 1 275.00 $275.00 $660 —
275–290 283 2 264.00–272.50 $268.36 $759 +3.36
265–297 fancy 284 5 302.00–308.00 $305.18 $867 +15.18
310–320 fancy 312 5 305.00–318.00 $307.67 $960 —
345 345 1 285.00 $285.00 $983 +27.39
355–395 370 4 260.00–275.00 $267.96 $991 +5.34
375–398 fancy 387 2 287.00–304.00 $295.25 $1,143 +5.46
415–440 fancy 423 8 275.00–310.00 $289.29 $1,224 +18.66
440–447 447 28 250.00–262.50 $250.80 $1,121 +20.88
458–471 fancy 465 8 266.00–283.00 $270.37 $1,257 +18.37
475–485 478 4 243.00–250.00 $248.22 $1,186 +19.77
500–515 value added 504 7 243.00–250.00 $245.04 $1,235 -7.24
507–545 520 8 217.50–235.00 $224.62 $1,168 -4.65
560–595 value added 577 4 241.00–252.00 $247.92 $1,430 +9.93
550–597 581 5 210.00–222.50 $214.74 $1,248 -3.53
600–645 value added 613 5 230.00–244.00 $237.27 $1,454 +5.06
602–635 621 5 207.00–227.00 $220.23 $1,368 +7.21
662 value added 662 87 227.00 $227.00 $1,503 —
650–697 680 26 200.00–219.50 $213.93 $1,455 -2.31
710–745 721 5 200.00–212.00 $202.36 $1,459 -13.42
719–744 value added 742 73 220.00–221.00 $220.07 $1,633 —
766 value added 766 49 212.50 $212.50 $1,628 —
758–785 772 24 187.50–208.00 $203.62 $1,572 +13.62
814–831 819 10 202.00–202.50 $202.35 $1,657 +27.24
850 850 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,658 +15.00
902 902 9 190.00 $190.00 $1,714 —
921 value added 921 60 199.25 $199.25 $1,835 +13.25
965 965 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,640 —
987 value added 987 56 191.50 $191.50 $1,890 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370–395 382 3 245.00–254.00 $250.40 $957 +11.45
480–495 488 2 226.00–235.00 $230.57 $1,125 —
510 510 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,071 —
600 600 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,200 —
747 747 2 187.50 $187.50 $1,401 —
793 793 3 181.00 $181.00 $1,435 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1140 1140 5 135.00 $135.00 $1,539 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 235.00 $235.00 $693 +15.00
315 315 1 220.00 $220.00 $693 +7.68
375 375 2 230.00 $230.00 $862 +28.32
495 495 1 200.00 $200.00 $990 -8.75

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 215.00 $215.00 $559 ±0.00
265 fancy 265 2 240.00 $240.00 $636 —
310–345 323 9 217.50–232.50 $222.94 $720 +1.36
358–392 fancy 369 12 231.00–235.00 $232.42 $858 —
355–390 375 11 210.00–225.00 $221.34 $830 +7.65
401 fancy 401 6 230.00 $230.00 $922 —
402–442 425 26 204.00–226.00 $214.97 $914 +0.30
456–480 fancy 457 42 224.50–235.00 $225.03 $1,028 —
450–490 463 33 200.00–220.00 $213.96 $991 +3.91
510 value added 510 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,122 —
500–545 520 39 190.00–212.00 $204.25 $1,062 +5.80
568 value added 568 3 210.00 $210.00 $1,193 —
550–598 576 22 184.00–206.00 $195.01 $1,123 +6.40
600–628 623 15 180.00–200.00 $192.54 $1,200 +0.94
656–685 665 21 174.00–197.50 $186.94 $1,243 -1.46
716–723 value added 720 14 193.00 $193.00 $1,390 —
700–735 730 14 185.00–186.00 $185.07 $1,351 -7.93
795 795 7 181.00 $181.00 $1,439 +23.95
870 870 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,566 —
917 917 2 155.00 $155.00 $1,421 +15.00
955–982 973 3 140.00–152.50 $144.09 $1,402 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325–345 335 2 190.00–200.00 $194.85 $653 —
370–395 383 3 200.00–205.00 $202.55 $776 —
415–435 425 2 190.00–192.50 $191.28 $813 —
450–495 473 2 195.00 $195.00 $922 —
560–597 579 7 175.00–182.50 $179.16 $1,037 —
645 645 2 175.00 $175.00 $1,129 —
670–675 673 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,144 —
725–740 735 3 150.00–160.00 $153.36 $1,127 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485–490 488 2 152.50–180.00 $166.32 $812 -22.29
550–590 570 2 169.00–170.00 $169.48 $966 -8.01
740 740 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,073 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500 500 3 188.00 $188.00 $940 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 1 192.00 $192.00 $922 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 255.00 $255.00 $574 -4.37
298 fancy 298 3 282.50 $282.50 $842 +24.80
318–345 325 4 255.00–265.00 $257.66 $837 +17.66
355 fancy 355 1 275.00 $275.00 $976 +8.24
360 360 1 260.00 $260.00 $936 +33.25
435–442 440 3 220.00–227.50 $225.03 $990 -2.69
447 fancy 447 7 256.00 $256.00 $1,144 -4.50
460 fancy 460 1 248.00 $248.00 $1,141 —
475–495 488 6 222.00–240.00 $230.95 $1,127 +11.62
500–531 fancy 514 39 232.50–245.00 $240.35 $1,235 —
500–548 529 18 205.00–225.00 $217.54 $1,151 +11.19
550–580 566 17 210.00–222.00 $216.41 $1,225 +2.72
605–635 fancy 625 10 215.00–220.00 $217.38 $1,359 —
600–645 628 14 190.00–213.00 $197.87 $1,243 -7.34
660–692 670 9 180.00–192.50 $184.15 $1,234 -8.93
700–735 718 6 180.00–192.00 $184.72 $1,326 -1.93
775 775 1 156.00 $156.00 $1,209 -4.00
830 830 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,162 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 380 1 220.00 $220.00 $836 +35.00
480 480 2 193.00–197.50 $195.25 $937 +0.21
525–540 535 3 165.00–177.50 $169.09 $905 -25.86
570–575 573 2 175.00–180.00 $177.49 $1,017 -1.27
605–625 618 3 145.00–159.00 $154.43 $954 -33.57
650 650 2 156.00 $156.00 $1,014 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
445 445 1 210.00 $210.00 $934 —
495 495 1 200.00 $200.00 $990 —
500 500 1 190.00 $190.00 $950 —
555–590 573 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,089 —
620–637 632 4 180.00–187.50 $184.36 $1,165 —
680 680 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,170 —
720–740 730 2 167.50 $167.50 $1,223 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1030–1480 1255 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 1,225.00–1,825.00 $1,578.78 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
710 710 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,154 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1400 1204 80-85% 25 80.00–89.50 $84.12 $1,013 -2.47
1115–1320 1213 80-85% 4 65.00–79.00 $73.56 $892 -13.03
995–1415 1232 80-85% 18 90.00–107.00 $94.73 $1,167 +8.14
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
640–890 756 85-90% 5 50.00–54.00 $50.94 $385 —
715–995 859 85-90% 7 80.00–85.00 $81.14 $697 +33.75
735–1040 882 85-90% 13 70.00–78.00 $73.22 $646 +25.83
705–1110 892 85-90% 8 60.00–68.00 $62.77 $560 +15.38
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1515–1680 1582 75-80% 6 80.00–88.00 $85.29 $1,349 -0.81
1485–1800 1597 75-80% 5 90.00–100.00 $94.80 $1,514 +8.70

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110–1700 1347 8 86.00–102.00 $95.29 $1,284 —
1110–2195 1586 8 105.00–120.00 $110.02 $1,745 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
910 910 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00
835–1047 934 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 1,025.00–1,375.00 $1,167.76
830–1146 1003 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,050.00–1,500.00 $1,304.31
1055 1055 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00
1025–1305 1160 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,110.00–1,350.00 $1,248.30
1200 1200 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00
990–1315 1261 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,175.00–1,725.00 $1,561.10

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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
1215 1215 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,025.00 $2,025.00 —
1200–1275 1238 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,725.00–1,925.00 $1,828.03 —
1161–1382 1249 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 1,475.00–2,025.00 $1,718.35 —
1275 1275 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00 —
1275 1275 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,025.00 $2,025.00 —
1405 1405 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00 —

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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.