Cattle Market Pulse

Lake Cumberland Livestock Market Report

Somerset, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Saturday, March 16, 2024

1,288 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $301.50/cwt -29.15 vs last sale · ≈ $1,577/hd at 523 lb · 73 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $253.07/cwt +6.78 vs last sale · ≈ $1,451/hd at 573 lb · 66 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $282.38/cwt -8.39 vs last sale · ≈ $1,346/hd at 477 lb · 43 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,288 1,135 604
Feeder cattle 1,025 903 474
Slaughter cattle 136 133 88
Replacement cattle 127 99 42

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Saturday the feeder market was stronger with a good quality offering. Feeder steers 500-650 lbs were mostly steady, while the 350-500 lbs steers were 3.00 to 8.00 higher with good demand. The 650-750 lbs steers were 6.00 to 10.00 higher with sharp demand, however steers 750 lbs and over were 2.00 to 3.00 lower. Feeder heifers 250-450 were 3.00 to 8.00 higher with good demand, while the 500-700 lbs heifers were mostly steady with a good supply. Buyers were active and willing to pay premiums for quality feeders, however discounts were were noted for smaller framed, heavy conditioned, and off colored calves. Slaughter cows were 1.00 to 3.00 higher with a good supply and slaughter bulls were 3.00 to 6.00 higher 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
315–345 328 4 310.00–342.00 $323.89 $1,062 —
360–385 fancy 377 3 350.00–364.00 $358.18 $1,350 +15.38
350–397 385 11 320.00–342.50 $328.66 $1,265 +5.73
405–445 421 11 330.00–340.00 $335.94 $1,414 +22.13
400–445 fancy 422 7 342.50–360.00 $349.25 $1,474 +11.08
450–490 fancy 470 11 325.00–345.00 $334.64 $1,573 +1.79
455–492 478 23 300.00–318.00 $310.23 $1,483 +8.88
501 fancy 501 6 340.00 $340.00 $1,703 —
506–535 value added 519 23 309.00–326.00 $316.30 $1,642 -22.01
500–545 528 44 287.50–300.00 $288.51 $1,523 -15.33
553–596 value added 584 26 297.50–311.00 $306.52 $1,790 -0.06
555–591 584 10 275.00–292.00 $288.77 $1,686 +6.97
600–640 value added 618 17 285.00–299.00 $295.69 $1,827 +4.62
605–635 620 16 265.00–280.00 $276.04 $1,711 -4.24
650–655 value added 652 3 278.00–290.00 $282.02 $1,839 +14.86
655 655 3 260.00–269.00 $264.00 $1,729 +20.36
700–745 value added 716 28 263.00–274.00 $269.31 $1,928 —
710–744 731 10 238.00–250.00 $241.32 $1,764 +11.32
755–771 768 7 230.00–240.00 $234.84 $1,804 -7.16
810–845 817 11 220.00–232.00 $228.88 $1,870 +20.05
895 895 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,857 —
947 947 2 217.50 $217.50 $2,060 —
995 995 1 197.50 $197.50 $1,965 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 2 270.00–290.00 $280.00 $1,162 -22.50
457–497 476 7 290.00–297.50 $293.98 $1,399 —
525 525 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,470 +10.00
530 530 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,246 -35.00
555–595 577 5 240.00–252.50 $247.52 $1,428 +2.47
600–625 608 3 247.50–252.50 $250.79 $1,525 -6.71
660–690 675 2 233.00–240.00 $236.42 $1,596 +25.16
715 715 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,573 —
790 790 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,718 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 170.00 $170.00 $612 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205–235 fancy 220 2 310.00–320.00 $314.66 $692 —
240 240 1 270.00 $270.00 $648 -16.69
250–265 258 2 307.50–308.00 $307.76 $794 +9.01
270–295 fancy 280 3 325.00–330.00 $328.39 $919 +15.24
302–340 fancy 325 13 304.00–318.00 $314.32 $1,022 —
300–345 334 8 300.00 $300.00 $1,002 +8.01
355–395 370 9 282.50–300.00 $294.69 $1,090 +2.09
350–395 fancy 371 21 305.00–320.00 $312.28 $1,159 +5.28
400–430 fancy 409 5 295.00–310.00 $303.52 $1,241 +2.89
405–440 420 12 278.00–290.00 $287.07 $1,206 +7.47
455–495 fancy 472 26 280.00–297.50 $290.47 $1,371 -8.47
465–495 484 17 268.00–278.00 $270.00 $1,307 -7.69
505–547 522 16 253.00–272.50 $265.36 $1,385 +7.23
510–536 value added 526 20 275.00–285.00 $278.10 $1,463 -7.91
555–595 564 19 235.00–248.00 $244.45 $1,379 +10.21
550–599 value added 577 46 250.00–265.00 $255.78 $1,476 -8.60
585 fancy 585 1 292.50 $292.50 $1,711 —
605–628 value added 621 19 240.00–250.00 $243.40 $1,512 -1.02
620–639 634 8 218.00–232.50 $222.74 $1,412 +5.22
650–690 679 8 220.00–240.00 $230.01 $1,562 -2.16
705–748 719 23 210.00–225.00 $220.70 $1,587 —
750 750 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,500 -6.62
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–285 271 6 250.00–265.00 $256.53 $695 +2.91
310–345 335 4 240.00–250.00 $247.68 $830 -8.14
350–385 365 9 250.00–280.00 $268.43 $980 +15.93
420–445 432 10 250.00–275.00 $262.86 $1,136 +17.77
450–495 474 11 230.00–255.00 $241.32 $1,144 -16.27
480 480 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,056 -37.59
510–540 526 8 230.00–252.50 $242.26 $1,274 +7.87
607 607 2 209.00 $209.00 $1,269 +3.08
655–691 677 6 210.00–230.00 $217.38 $1,472 +7.38
715 715 1 182.50 $182.50 $1,305 -10.87
765–775 770 2 180.00–190.00 $185.03 $1,425 —
810–840 825 2 180.00–190.00 $184.91 $1,526 —
940 940 1 125.50 $125.50 $1,180 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 215.00 $215.00 $516 —
280–285 283 2 215.00–235.00 $225.09 $637 —
440 440 2 203.00 $203.00 $893 +0.49
525–548 544 7 150.00–180.00 $155.91 $848 —
620 620 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,054 —
675–680 678 2 192.50–200.00 $196.24 $1,331 +66.24
722 722 2 145.00 $145.00 $1,047 -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
205 205 1 360.00 $360.00 $738 —
255–290 269 6 345.00–360.00 $352.11 $947 -10.39
300–345 fancy 316 8 330.00–350.00 $344.42 $1,088 +10.32
305–340 321 5 310.00–327.00 $316.87 $1,017 +21.77
355–387 375 10 295.00–307.50 $300.22 $1,126 -0.19
350–395 fancy 379 6 325.00–345.00 $336.57 $1,276 +4.58
400–440 fancy 408 6 322.50–342.50 $325.85 $1,329 +5.56
400–428 412 12 305.00–320.00 $317.05 $1,306 +22.10
453–473 fancy 466 14 317.00–345.00 $326.72 $1,523 +16.87
460–495 475 10 302.50–315.00 $310.62 $1,475 +10.88
500–547 517 8 287.50–305.00 $299.14 $1,547 +5.52
555–590 567 5 285.00–302.50 $292.78 $1,660 +26.80
602–625 fancy 606 11 273.00–282.00 $278.98 $1,691 —
600–635 622 3 242.50–262.50 $251.67 $1,565 -9.69
680–697 691 3 235.00–255.00 $241.56 $1,669 -9.06
710–740 725 2 212.50–232.50 $222.29 $1,612 -10.21
765–790 773 3 219.00–227.00 $224.28 $1,734 —
845 845 2 190.00–202.50 $196.25 $1,658 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205–220 213 2 265.00–285.00 $274.65 $585 —
295 295 1 330.00 $330.00 $974 +15.00
350 350 1 285.00 $285.00 $998 -50.00
420 420 2 290.00 $290.00 $1,218 +22.50
455–480 468 5 265.00–290.00 $283.85 $1,328 +33.85
505–545 530 3 255.00–270.00 $263.52 $1,397 -16.48
580–588 586 5 240.00–250.00 $248.02 $1,453 +22.94
640–645 643 2 200.00–215.00 $207.53 $1,334 —
680–685 683 2 205.00–210.00 $207.51 $1,417 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1255–1550 1403 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 1,925.00–2,285.00 $2,123.93 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 175.00 $175.00 $595 —
380 380 1 190.00 $190.00 $722 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840–1780 1231 80-85% 42 104.00–120.00 $113.34 $1,395 +0.93
985–1445 1246 80-85% 16 123.00–145.00 $131.63 $1,640 +19.22
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1435–1465 1450 75-80% 2 115.00–118.00 $116.48 $1,689 —
1220–1780 1454 75-80% 26 120.00–141.00 $127.07 $1,848 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765–1015 889 85-90% 7 70.00–85.00 $80.36 $714 —
780–1360 1000 85-90% 14 89.00–100.00 $94.74 $947 —
1020–1170 1070 85-90% 5 105.00–117.00 $109.63 $1,173 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110–1425 1310 4 117.00–124.00 $121.83 $1,596 —
1010–2155 1463 9 125.00–140.00 $132.16 $1,934 —
1610–2225 1847 15 142.00–163.00 $147.97 $2,733 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
745–750 745 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 12 1,075.00–1,100.00 $1,077.10
735–1185 881 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 16 1,325.00–1,700.00 $1,518.45
935 935 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00
965–1005 985 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,200.00–1,300.00 $1,248.98
1010–1410 1231 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12 1,000.00–1,700.00 $1,490.96
1217–1385 1284 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 1,350.00–1,750.00 $1,532.16
1305 1305 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
745 745 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
720 720 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00
815 815 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00

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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
805–1115 944 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 1,400.00–2,550.00 $1,885.41 —
995 995 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 1,725.00 $1,725.00 —
1045 1045 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,150.00 $2,150.00 —
1125–1325 1192 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,600.00–1,650.00 $1,618.53 -306.47
1050–1630 1377 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 13 1,600.00–2,485.00 $2,232.04 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
950 950 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 875.00 $875.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 1 160.00 $160.00 $584 —
455 455 1 170.00 $170.00 $774 —
625 625 1 161.00 $161.00 $1,006 —

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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.