Cattle Market Pulse

Lake Cumberland Livestock Market Report

Somerset, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Saturday, March 23, 2024

909 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 $282.13/cwt -0.25 vs last sale · ≈ $1,338/hd at 474 lb · 42 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 bulls $313.33/cwt -6.68 vs last sale · ≈ $1,496/hd at 478 lb · 31 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $266.20/cwt -6.23 vs last sale · ≈ $1,383/hd at 520 lb · 26 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 909 1,288 1,122
Feeder cattle 715 1,025 931
Slaughter cattle 131 136 134
Replacement cattle 63 127 57

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Saturday the feeder market was mostly steady on an average quality offering. Today the average feeder cattle prices ranged from 4.00 higher to 4.00 lower as calf quality and dollars per head squeezed the price premiums buyers were willing to pay today. There was a good supply of new crop calves and buyers were active and premiums were seen in spots. Slaughter cows were steady to 2.00 higher with a good supply and slaughter bulls were 4.00 to 5.00 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
240 240 1 335.00 $335.00 $804 —
285 285 1 337.50 $337.50 $962 —
315–320 318 3 350.00–367.50 $357.51 $1,137 +33.62
355 355 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,189 +6.34
407–445 423 5 320.00–340.00 $332.75 $1,408 -3.19
455–485 fancy 475 8 340.00–360.00 $348.20 $1,654 +13.56
452–498 485 12 320.00–338.00 $334.59 $1,623 +24.36
515–525 520 3 302.50–310.00 $305.84 $1,590 +17.33
500–549 value added 533 15 315.00–326.00 $316.67 $1,688 +0.37
550–586 577 8 285.00–300.00 $296.96 $1,713 +8.19
600–642 value added 620 15 290.00–301.00 $293.57 $1,820 -2.12
620–640 630 3 270.00–282.50 $277.51 $1,748 +1.47
650–672 value added 665 9 275.00–280.00 $277.23 $1,844 -4.79
667–688 681 6 267.50 $267.50 $1,822 +3.50
715–735 725 6 242.00–254.00 $247.12 $1,792 +5.80
725 value added 725 10 262.50 $262.50 $1,903 -6.81
750–775 763 2 235.00–247.50 $241.15 $1,840 +6.31
833 833 3 227.50 $227.50 $1,895 -1.38
855–890 870 3 210.00–220.00 $214.95 $1,870 +7.45
900–935 923 3 204.00–210.00 $208.05 $1,920 -9.45
964 964 6 198.50 $198.50 $1,914 +1.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,156 —
390 390 2 310.00 $310.00 $1,209 —
415–443 432 10 305.00–317.50 $312.52 $1,350 +32.52
455–495 475 2 287.50–290.00 $288.70 $1,371 -5.28
500 500 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,350 -10.00
505–549 542 6 277.50–297.50 $294.39 $1,596 +59.39
550 550 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,512 +27.48
625–645 635 2 252.50–255.00 $253.73 $1,611 +2.94
680 680 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,666 +8.58
990 990 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,881 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1038–1145 1074 6 177.00–190.50 $185.70 $1,994 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–212 211 3 300.00 $300.00 $633 +30.00
245 fancy 245 1 314.00 $314.00 $769 -0.66
255–265 fancy 260 2 315.00–317.00 $315.98 $822 -12.41
310–315 313 4 295.00–300.00 $298.74 $935 -1.26
305–345 fancy 316 14 317.50–330.00 $326.68 $1,032 +12.36
350–395 fancy 370 21 310.00–325.00 $317.44 $1,175 +5.16
375–395 385 3 280.00–290.00 $286.75 $1,104 -7.94
415–420 fancy 418 2 294.00–297.50 $295.74 $1,236 -7.78
405–437 428 12 275.00–290.00 $286.59 $1,227 -0.48
450–492 474 27 262.50–280.00 $275.92 $1,308 +5.92
450–494 fancy 475 15 282.50–296.00 $293.30 $1,393 +2.83
510–520 value added 519 11 272.00–278.00 $277.46 $1,440 -0.64
500–541 520 15 250.00–268.00 $257.95 $1,341 -7.41
550–592 587 24 237.50–257.50 $248.34 $1,458 +3.89
600–635 617 8 220.00–235.00 $230.66 $1,423 +7.92
600–627 value added 619 7 240.00–245.00 $241.38 $1,494 -2.02
670 670 4 237.50 $237.50 $1,591 +7.49
745 745 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,639 -0.70
767–775 770 3 210.00–215.00 $213.32 $1,643 +13.32
910–920 915 2 167.50–177.50 $172.47 $1,578 —
970 970 1 149.00 $149.00 $1,445 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240–245 243 2 285.00–297.50 $291.19 $708 —
265–285 278 3 250.00–270.00 $263.17 $732 +6.64
350–355 352 3 280.00–295.00 $289.95 $1,021 +21.52
415–447 432 7 250.00–272.50 $266.24 $1,150 +3.38
475–495 482 8 250.00–260.00 $256.51 $1,236 +36.51
515–540 530 3 220.00–240.00 $229.87 $1,218 -12.39
550–590 566 12 220.00–235.00 $230.18 $1,303 —
590 590 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,121 —
625–640 636 5 195.00–215.00 $209.46 $1,332 +0.46
670 670 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,340 -17.38
710 710 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,225 -10.00
790 790 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,343 -15.03
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 250.00 $250.00 $988 —
402 402 2 230.00 $230.00 $925 —
462–480 470 4 200.00–230.00 $217.50 $1,022 —
525 525 1 175.00 $175.00 $919 +19.09
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035–1130 1079 4 155.00–165.00 $160.60 $1,733 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 370.00 $370.00 $796 +10.00
271 271 3 362.50 $362.50 $982 +10.39
303–330 fancy 308 5 350.00–370.00 $354.28 $1,091 +9.86
300–335 322 8 330.00–347.50 $341.23 $1,099 +24.36
360–380 fancy 370 2 330.00–342.50 $336.08 $1,243 -0.49
375–385 379 5 300.00–320.00 $312.98 $1,186 +12.76
412–415 fancy 413 6 334.00–348.00 $336.35 $1,389 +10.50
410–440 426 19 316.00–328.00 $324.72 $1,383 +7.67
450–495 475 21 295.00–315.00 $308.44 $1,465 -2.18
450–495 fancy 483 10 320.00–325.00 $323.59 $1,563 -3.13
502–505 fancy 503 3 315.00–320.00 $316.67 $1,593 —
500–537 519 11 285.00–305.00 $294.65 $1,529 -4.49
555–595 577 6 270.00–290.00 $276.76 $1,597 -16.02
625–630 628 9 262.50–280.00 $274.39 $1,723 +22.72
655–686 674 5 253.00–265.00 $257.67 $1,737 +16.11
720–730 724 4 222.50–236.00 $231.10 $1,673 +8.81
775–785 780 2 210.00–213.00 $211.51 $1,650 -12.77
850 850 1 192.50 $192.50 $1,636 —
1048 1048 3 168.00 $168.00 $1,761 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–230 220 2 295.00–305.00 $300.23 $661 +25.58
292 292 2 332.50 $332.50 $971 +2.50
330–340 337 5 285.00–305.00 $295.45 $996 —
350–390 370 3 275.00–292.50 $282.73 $1,046 -2.27
410–420 415 2 280.00–306.00 $293.16 $1,217 +3.16
465–496 489 7 275.00–290.00 $279.21 $1,365 -4.64
540–545 543 2 250.00–267.50 $258.71 $1,405 -4.81
555–580 570 4 240.00–262.50 $249.93 $1,425 +1.91
615 615 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,445 +27.47
670–675 673 3 227.50–230.00 $229.17 $1,542 +21.66
870 870 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,479 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
945–1490 1178 (<2 yrs)N/A 6 1,350.00–2,225.00 $1,749.68 —
1400 1400 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 2,050.00 $2,050.00 -73.93
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 280.00 $280.00 $728 —
585 585 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,346 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
922–1525 1171 80-85% 39 105.00–120.00 $114.91 $1,346 —
995–1360 1220 80-85% 17 122.00–140.00 $127.82 $1,559 +14.48
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–1115 908 85-90% 6 70.00–85.00 $75.39 $685 —
845–1210 1031 85-90% 13 102.00–118.00 $107.05 $1,104 +12.31
860–1320 1060 85-90% 13 90.00–100.00 $96.32 $1,021 -13.31
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1140–1580 1364 75-80% 5 112.00–118.00 $115.91 $1,581 —
1395–1775 1585 75-80% 12 120.00–143.00 $126.03 $1,998 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1285–2120 1681 15 130.00–144.00 $137.25 $2,307 —
1165–2245 1798 11 145.00–160.00 $152.88 $2,749 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
835–1005 920 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,100.00–1,150.00 $1,122.69
1115 1115 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,335.00 $1,335.00
1112–1230 1151 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,650.00 $1,650.00
1005–1445 1199 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 15 1,225.00–1,800.00 $1,477.03
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
685 685 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 875.00 $875.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
770–810 795 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,150.00–1,425.00 $1,275.68
860–1020 920 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,175.00–1,625.00 $1,465.73
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
670 670 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 850.00 $850.00
720 720 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00

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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
1080 1080 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,975.00 $1,975.00 —
1290–1455 1373 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,675.00–2,150.00 $1,926.78 -305.26

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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.