Cattle Market Pulse

Lake Cumberland Livestock Market Report

Somerset, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Saturday, May 16, 2026

1,188 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $376.70/cwt ≈ $2,560/hd at 679 lb · 161 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $315.41/cwt ≈ $2,750/hd at 872 lb · 122 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $468.74/cwt +25.05 vs last sale · ≈ $2,927/hd at 624 lb · 78 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,188 973 802
Feeder cattle 992 870 666
Slaughter cattle 70 62 76
Replacement cattle 126 41 60

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Saturday the feeder market was uneven and cheaper in spots with an average quality offering. Feeder steers 300-500 lbs were 5.00 to 8.00 higher, while the 500-700 lbs steers were steady to 5.00 lower with a good supply and good demand for weaned packages and groups. Yearling steers and heifers appeared firm with a good supply, but limited head to head comparisons. Feeder heifers 600 lbs and under were 2.00 to 6.00 lower with a good supply and spotty demand. Slaughter cows were 1.00 to 3.00 higher with a good supply and slaughter bulls were steady 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
390 390 2 590.00 $590.00 $2,301 +50.00
425–435 429 4 540.00–565.00 $549.99 $2,359 +23.64
415–447 fancy 436 6 587.50–600.00 $591.46 $2,579 +11.46
472 fancy 472 2 550.00 $550.00 $2,596 —
476–490 486 18 500.00–525.00 $521.94 $2,537 +7.72
540 540 3 485.00 $485.00 $2,619 ±0.00
500–544 value added 542 19 510.00 $510.00 $2,764 —
555–560 558 5 425.00–445.00 $430.01 $2,399 -24.23
552–597 value added 572 26 465.00–477.50 $472.49 $2,703 -15.51
610 610 1 415.00 $415.00 $2,532 -15.90
600–617 614 9 425.00–450.00 $441.70 $2,712 +10.80
615–626 value added 626 68 460.00–473.50 $473.11 $2,962 —
669–680 674 20 400.00–415.00 $414.25 $2,792 —
707 707 2 350.00 $350.00 $2,474 -21.00
725–749 value added 738 19 385.00–403.00 $393.38 $2,903 -8.12
760–788 780 9 352.50–375.00 $359.62 $2,805 +12.12
892 value added 892 59 342.50 $342.50 $3,055 —
912 value added 912 58 334.00 $334.00 $3,046 -8.25
932 932 2 320.00 $320.00 $2,982 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
487 487 2 490.00 $490.00 $2,386 ±0.00
525–537 531 4 435.00–450.00 $442.58 $2,350 -22.42
660 660 1 342.50 $342.50 $2,260 -57.50
1160 1160 1 200.00 $200.00 $2,320 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1450 1450 1 225.00 $225.00 $3,262 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–230 fancy 215 2 600.00–630.00 $613.95 $1,320 —
225 225 1 560.00 $560.00 $1,260 -1.76
250 fancy 250 1 615.00 $615.00 $1,538 —
290 290 1 530.00 $530.00 $1,537 -20.00
305–330 fancy 320 4 520.00–550.00 $534.53 $1,710 —
330–340 333 9 470.00–500.00 $475.01 $1,582 -62.87
350–395 371 8 470.00–490.00 $480.57 $1,783 -17.99
388 fancy 388 3 520.00 $520.00 $2,018 -10.00
400–420 413 3 445.00–470.00 $459.84 $1,899 -16.25
411–445 fancy 431 16 475.00–500.00 $486.31 $2,096 -12.39
450–465 fancy 462 18 460.00–475.00 $469.45 $2,169 -15.55
455–490 466 12 420.00–440.00 $432.14 $2,014 -30.98
500–540 value added 530 24 430.00–440.00 $430.79 $2,283 —
510–545 532 20 400.00–420.00 $414.80 $2,207 +7.95
550–598 578 11 370.00–390.00 $384.00 $2,220 -12.67
581 value added 581 10 404.50 $404.50 $2,350 —
600–630 623 4 355.00–377.50 $360.42 $2,245 -20.58
632 632 2 347.50 $347.50 $2,196 -33.50
655–680 668 7 340.00–365.00 $354.91 $2,371 —
679–680 value added 680 154 373.50–382.00 $377.69 $2,568 —
700–715 703 10 350.00–355.00 $353.98 $2,488 —
785 785 1 330.00 $330.00 $2,590 —
855–884 value added 872 122 300.00–316.50 $315.41 $2,750 —
995 995 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,488 —
1250 1250 1 213.00 $213.00 $2,662 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
283 283 3 460.00 $460.00 $1,302 —
330 330 1 450.00 $450.00 $1,485 —
390 390 1 425.00 $425.00 $1,658 —
445 445 3 405.00–435.00 $420.00 $1,869 -30.00
495 495 4 387.50 $387.50 $1,918 -49.49
500 500 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,750 -37.47
560–590 578 6 330.00–355.00 $345.78 $1,999 -19.22
640 640 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,048 —
690–692 691 3 322.00–330.00 $327.34 $2,262 -22.66
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1318 1318 10 225.00 $225.00 $2,966 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,100 -57.97
335 335 1 355.00 $355.00 $1,189 -141.86
430 430 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,656 -25.00
495 495 1 375.00 $375.00 $1,856 -35.23

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
180 180 1 659.00 $659.00 $1,186 -61.00
190 fancy 190 1 710.00 $710.00 $1,349 —
220 fancy 220 1 705.00 $705.00 $1,551 -0.06
255 fancy 255 2 720.00 $720.00 $1,836 +30.00
260–285 276 4 620.00–650.00 $637.78 $1,760 -32.22
315 fancy 315 1 610.00 $610.00 $1,922 -40.00
325–345 332 6 560.00–590.00 $581.43 $1,930 -18.57
370–395 386 4 510.00–545.00 $527.85 $2,038 -11.78
375–395 fancy 390 10 565.00–580.00 $572.16 $2,231 —
400–437 fancy 419 4 545.00–550.00 $548.81 $2,300 -26.19
420–447 433 7 500.00–517.50 $505.87 $2,190 -33.24
450–452 fancy 451 3 515.00–525.00 $521.68 $2,353 —
470–495 483 7 460.00–495.00 $477.10 $2,304 +8.18
500–530 513 15 445.00–460.00 $450.98 $2,314 -8.59
550–575 567 8 415.00–445.00 $434.12 $2,461 -8.53
610–620 615 2 405.00–410.00 $407.52 $2,506 -9.12
660 fancy 660 1 412.50 $412.50 $2,722 —
662–690 670 4 370.00–382.50 $373.22 $2,501 -6.70
700–715 705 3 345.00–372.50 $363.20 $2,561 +2.49
755–795 771 4 325.00–340.00 $333.69 $2,573 —
880 880 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,596 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
170 170 1 550.00 $550.00 $935 —
345 345 2 520.00 $520.00 $1,794 —
355–380 369 7 500.00–505.00 $502.06 $1,853 —
405–425 415 2 450.00–480.00 $465.36 $1,931 -33.09
460–488 477 7 415.00–420.00 $419.30 $2,000 -29.03
530–545 537 3 420.00–425.00 $421.66 $2,264 -3.42
575–595 587 3 385.00–400.00 $394.97 $2,318 -15.03
665 665 1 355.00 $355.00 $2,361 —
745 745 2 315.00–325.00 $320.00 $2,384 —
925 925 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,942 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 450.00 $450.00 $1,778 -41.16
445 445 1 420.00 $420.00 $1,869 -44.02
450 450 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,575 -74.75
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1110 1110 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 2,700.00 $2,700.00 —
1315 1315 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 3,550.00 $3,550.00 -150.00

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–990 878 85-90% 5 118.00–132.50 $126.61 $1,112 —
845–1330 1034 85-90% 8 139.00–154.00 $149.31 $1,544 +20.77
995–1190 1115 85-90% 7 160.00–178.00 $165.93 $1,850 -12.07
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
955 955 80-85% 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,528 —
1010–1375 1201 80-85% 13 164.00–176.00 $169.15 $2,031 —
1235–1250 1243 80-85% 2 188.00–197.00 $192.47 $2,392 +5.33
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1345–1650 1445 75-80% 8 167.00–184.00 $175.81 $2,540 —
1515–1540 1528 75-80% 2 188.00–194.00 $190.98 $2,918 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320–1980 1606 7 195.00–215.00 $205.05 $3,293 —
1840 1840 1 231.00 $231.00 $4,250 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
825–1115 1018 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 225.00–252.50 $235.71 $2,400
1015–1330 1221 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 170.00–192.00 $181.10 $2,211

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
995–1500 1221 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,850.00–3,200.00 $2,992.30
1075–1295 1240 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 2,000.00–2,200.00 $2,156.65
1055–1530 1247 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 13 2,100.00–2,600.00 $2,356.02
1247–1570 1355 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,400.00–3,400.00 $2,786.32
1360–1422 1393 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 3,000.00–3,300.00 $3,177.48
1515 1515 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
695 695 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00
770–925 872 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 2,200.00–3,000.00 $2,591.51
890–955 915 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,750.00–3,000.00 $2,884.15

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1170 1170 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 3,100.00 $3,100.00 —
1330 fancy 1330 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 5,400.00 $5,400.00 —
1295–1368 1350 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 4,000.00–4,500.00 $4,380.07 +480.07
1641 1641 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 4,200.00 $4,200.00 —
1560–1800 1675 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 6 4,000.00–4,300.00 $4,053.73 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
655 655 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —
1125 1125 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00 —
935–1420 1236 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 8 3,300.00–3,800.00 $3,404.41 —
1450 1450 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,300.00 $3,300.00 —
1505 1505 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 3,950.00 $3,950.00 —

↑ 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.