Cattle Market Pulse

Lake Cumberland Livestock Market Report

Somerset, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Saturday, March 2, 2024

726 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 $281.29/cwt +9.18 vs last sale · ≈ $1,308/hd at 465 lb · 93 head
light 8-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $201.42/cwt ≈ $1,619/hd at 804 lb · 34 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $241.09/cwt +3.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,485/hd at 616 lb · 33 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 726 1,718 740
Feeder cattle 605 1,463 609
Slaughter cattle 93 158 97
Replacement cattle 28 97 34

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Saturday the feeder market was STRONGER with a good supply of high quality cattle. Feeder steers 400-500 lbs were 2.00 to 4.00 higher, while lighter weight steers under 400 lbs and the 500-700 lbs steers were 8.00 to 10.00 higher or more with strong demand. Yearling steers were steady to 3.00 higher but with a limited supply. Feeder heifers were at least steady to 3.00 higher across the weight breaks, with some groups gaining well over 10.00. Buyers were extremely active and willing to pay premiums for good quality feeder cattle today, while discounting smaller framed and lighter muscled calves. Slaughter cows were 1.00 to 3.00 higher with good demand and slaughter bulls were steady 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
280 fancy 280 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,120 +50.00
290–297 295 3 325.00–355.00 $334.84 $988 +28.29
305–325 310 4 295.00–315.00 $300.24 $931 -7.26
317–335 fancy 323 3 330.00 $330.00 $1,066 +5.00
355–385 368 6 327.50–342.50 $335.33 $1,234 +30.33
370 fancy 370 1 365.00 $365.00 $1,350 +11.27
410–430 fancy 420 2 327.50–347.50 $337.26 $1,416 +0.68
436–441 439 15 285.00–307.50 $297.06 $1,304 +4.86
463–475 fancy 467 10 310.00–320.00 $315.58 $1,474 -8.69
450–490 471 4 290.00–307.50 $299.80 $1,412 +2.57
510 value added 510 1 332.50 $332.50 $1,696 +7.52
525 525 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,522 -1.18
555–580 565 8 265.00–285.00 $276.58 $1,563 +10.29
550–582 value added 569 12 297.50–317.50 $306.88 $1,746 +8.28
607–645 value added 628 10 287.50–297.50 $294.75 $1,851 +24.29
605–636 631 16 267.50–273.00 $272.19 $1,718 +12.49
650–689 value added 679 9 277.50 $277.50 $1,884 +12.28
680 680 1 262.50 $262.50 $1,785 +12.81
735 735 2 232.50–250.00 $241.25 $1,773 +5.20
750–760 755 2 230.00–235.00 $232.48 $1,755 +1.16
820 820 1 227.50 $227.50 $1,866 +7.09
905 905 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,991 +15.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 280.00 $280.00 $812 —
355–373 364 8 290.00–317.50 $303.02 $1,103 +18.02
425–445 435 2 247.50–270.00 $258.49 $1,124 —
530 530 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,458 -0.97
565–570 568 2 250.00–262.50 $256.28 $1,456 +14.83
645 645 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,612 +20.00
910 910 4 170.00 $170.00 $1,547 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 235.00 $235.00 $705 +20.00
385 385 1 200.00 $200.00 $770 —
410 410 2 225.00 $225.00 $922 +25.00
537 537 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,208 —
655 655 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,310 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155 1155 1 182.50 $182.50 $2,108 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
217 fancy 217 2 320.00 $320.00 $694 —
300–330 308 10 270.00–292.50 $288.38 $888 +10.84
365–395 378 3 270.00–282.50 $275.87 $1,043 -13.04
380–386 fancy 383 9 305.00–312.50 $308.91 $1,183 -1.02
400 400 1 277.50 $277.50 $1,110 —
400–435 fancy 410 8 292.50–307.50 $303.22 $1,243 +6.73
450–490 461 51 270.00–280.00 $274.00 $1,263 +14.81
450–489 fancy 470 42 285.00–293.00 $290.15 $1,364 +15.02
500–547 value added 522 10 280.00–292.50 $285.08 $1,488 +23.61
510–537 524 14 255.00–272.50 $266.75 $1,398 +16.56
550–585 value added 572 9 253.00–267.50 $257.41 $1,472 —
550–590 576 19 229.00–245.00 $236.54 $1,362 -2.56
600–630 value added 607 11 240.00–247.50 $242.28 $1,471 -0.22
617 617 11 262.50 $262.50 $1,620 +38.02
610–647 624 11 210.00–228.00 $218.49 $1,363 -5.99
650–674 672 15 215.00–227.50 $226.36 $1,521 +4.73
700 700 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,540 +6.52
750–797 780 6 190.00–205.00 $198.29 $1,547 —
803–830 804 34 183.00–202.00 $201.42 $1,619 —
945 945 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,559 —
1005 1005 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,357 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 200.00 $200.00 $440 -32.58
265 265 2 220.00 $220.00 $583 -7.50
300–325 313 2 250.00–265.00 $257.20 $805 +19.13
373–375 373 11 255.00–257.50 $255.23 $952 -10.72
430 430 3 210.00–230.00 $223.33 $960 -25.95
470–480 475 2 220.00–230.00 $225.05 $1,069 -10.39
505–535 525 6 230.00–245.00 $242.45 $1,273 +13.69
625 625 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,297 +8.47
660–665 663 2 180.00–200.00 $189.96 $1,259 +0.04
815–820 818 2 170.00–177.50 $173.74 $1,421 +6.24
855–885 870 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,479 ±0.00
995 995 1 100.00 $100.00 $995 -31.25
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 170.00 $170.00 $561 —
440 440 2 145.00 $145.00 $638 —
475 475 1 132.50 $132.50 $629 -84.50
610 610 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,037 —
700 700 1 130.00 $130.00 $910 +2.50
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035 1035 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,708 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
278 278 3 315.00 $315.00 $876 +14.69
350–390 fancy 363 5 335.00–345.00 $339.42 $1,232 +0.72
360–392 380 4 317.50–325.00 $321.96 $1,223 +19.50
400–435 fancy 413 3 330.00–345.00 $336.51 $1,390 +13.15
440 440 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,408 +17.84
460–497 481 23 275.00–287.50 $279.34 $1,344 +16.12
450–497 fancy 485 9 299.00–307.50 $302.57 $1,467 +16.81
507–515 510 10 272.50–292.50 $281.88 $1,438 +21.76
550–592 579 7 255.00–267.50 $265.10 $1,535 +6.53
610 610 1 247.50 $247.50 $1,510 +3.13
695 695 2 204.00–211.00 $207.50 $1,442 -18.88
715–725 720 2 215.00–222.50 $218.72 $1,575 -0.98
760–765 762 3 204.00–210.00 $206.01 $1,570 -5.10
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 280.00 $280.00 $756 +35.00
300–335 318 2 270.00–277.50 $273.96 $871 —
435–446 444 5 270.00–280.00 $271.96 $1,208 +16.96
465 465 1 267.50 $267.50 $1,244 +27.66
510–535 523 4 265.00–267.50 $265.64 $1,389 +24.47
555–585 570 6 227.50–245.00 $235.38 $1,342 +12.13
630–645 638 2 202.50–215.00 $208.68 $1,331 -8.03
735 735 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,323 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 245.00 $245.00 $649 —
480 480 1 237.50 $237.50 $1,140 —
515–535 525 2 217.50–220.00 $218.73 $1,148 +8.73
830 830 1 100.00 $100.00 $830 —
905 905 1 90.00 $90.00 $814 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1205 1205 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00 -147.05

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1370 1178 80-85% 12 103.00–113.00 $107.64 $1,268 +13.71
1025–1385 1225 80-85% 17 93.00–102.00 $98.89 $1,211 —
1180–1340 1274 80-85% 4 117.00–128.00 $122.01 $1,554 +4.53
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835–1100 968 85-90% 2 55.00–60.00 $57.84 $560 -47.32
895–1175 1036 85-90% 6 80.00–90.00 $85.95 $890 —
940–1360 1071 85-90% 10 94.00–98.00 $95.06 $1,018 +1.83
985–1325 1130 85-90% 8 100.00–114.00 $105.52 $1,192 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1840 1444 75-80% 12 108.00–118.00 $112.20 $1,620 —
1405–1820 1592 75-80% 9 121.00–137.50 $125.45 $1,997 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1255–2115 1677 9 120.00–129.00 $123.15 $2,065 —
1670–1750 1710 2 134.00–137.00 $135.54 $2,318 —
2035 2035 1 110.00 $110.00 $2,238 —

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
970 970 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00
1055 1055 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
875–1290 1081 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,100.00–1,425.00 $1,255.23
1105 1105 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00
1090–1235 1168 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,275.00–1,600.00 $1,422.02
980–1365 1228 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,400.00–1,725.00 $1,638.57
Medium 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
735 735 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 650.00 $650.00

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
755–955 878 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 900.00–1,625.00 $1,322.69

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
995 995 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 470 1 150.00 $150.00 $705 —
555 555 1 150.00 $150.00 $832 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1790 1790 1 147.50 $147.50 $2,640 —

↑ 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.