Cattle Market Pulse

Paris Stockyards Market Report

Paris, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 14, 2023

1,775 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Paris Stockyards report →

heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $191.60/cwt +0.34 vs last sale · ≈ $1,312/hd at 685 lb · 107 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $262.23/cwt +33.82 vs last sale · ≈ $1,557/hd at 594 lb · 78 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $256.59/cwt +20.85 vs last sale · ≈ $1,320/hd at 514 lb · 56 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,775 2,830 1,981
Feeder cattle 1,296 2,518 1,731
Slaughter cattle 233 269 148
Replacement cattle 246 43 102

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Thursday the feeder market was stronger with a good quality offering. Feeder steers weighing 500-700 lbs were 3.00 to 6.00 higher with a good supply, while the 300-500 lbs younger brothers were sharply higher with strong demand. Good quality feeder heifers weighing 200-700 lbs were 3.00 to 8.00 higher across the weight classes and showed a few groups gaining over 10.00 with strong demand. However heifers over 700 lbs were down sharply even with a good supply. The feeder market today showed a much stronger undertone, however discounts were seen for lighter muscled, smaller framed or off colored calves. Both slaughter cows and bulls were mostly steady to 2.00 higher with a good supply and 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
285 285 1 240.00 $240.00 $684 -7.84
310–335 fancy 322 3 260.00–275.00 $265.21 $854 —
358–362 fancy 360 5 285.00–292.00 $287.82 $1,036 +28.92
350–395 373 2 254.00–260.00 $256.82 $958 —
400–415 fancy 405 6 280.00–299.50 $290.91 $1,178 +33.65
400–448 423 21 250.00–275.00 $267.26 $1,131 +31.78
455–470 fancy 464 7 260.00–275.00 $270.07 $1,253 +17.19
450–492 475 10 242.50–255.00 $248.97 $1,183 +18.56
500–535 value added 506 43 251.00–266.00 $262.05 $1,326 +11.82
530–548 542 13 227.50–243.00 $238.52 $1,293 +5.49
555–576 567 13 230.00–245.00 $233.36 $1,323 +4.95
599 value added 599 65 268.00 $268.00 $1,605 —
605–642 622 23 207.50–225.00 $216.80 $1,348 -2.91
618–628 value added 626 13 234.00–238.00 $237.09 $1,484 +7.69
655–695 682 29 207.00–223.50 $216.10 $1,474 +2.37
711 value added 711 20 230.50 $230.50 $1,639 —
700–745 729 6 197.50–212.00 $205.63 $1,499 +0.14
758–760 758 29 213.00–222.00 $219.41 $1,663 +19.91
805–844 838 18 184.00–200.00 $194.28 $1,628 -4.42
855–885 875 4 170.00–181.00 $175.47 $1,535 -15.22
905 905 1 176.00 $176.00 $1,593 —
978 978 4 175.00 $175.00 $1,712 +2.50
1010 1010 2 145.00 $145.00 $1,464 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 215.00 $215.00 $570 —
500–540 523 5 180.00–203.00 $190.01 $994 -7.49
555–597 580 8 200.00–214.00 $204.62 $1,187 +24.68
605–645 623 7 195.00–205.00 $199.30 $1,242 +25.98
662–697 680 4 190.00–196.00 $193.08 $1,313 +1.70
710–730 717 5 180.00–190.00 $186.77 $1,339 +0.12
760–790 772 6 175.00–196.00 $186.99 $1,444 +3.06
813–847 823 13 171.00–175.00 $172.27 $1,418 —
955 955 3 157.50 $157.50 $1,504 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 237.50 $237.50 $879 —
426 426 4 239.00 $239.00 $1,018 —
490–495 493 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,085 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1140–1315 1206 4 130.00–150.00 $140.21 $1,691 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 170.00 $170.00 $612 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
287 287 2 217.50 $217.50 $624 +12.52
325–330 328 2 227.00–227.50 $227.25 $745 +2.87
355–398 371 28 223.00–235.00 $231.49 $859 +24.82
410–447 428 17 208.00–224.00 $218.63 $936 +7.40
457–495 476 22 210.00–216.00 $212.97 $1,014 +1.66
481 value added 481 21 229.00 $229.00 $1,101 —
510–549 536 28 203.00–218.00 $209.11 $1,121 -4.52
530–538 value added 536 11 229.00–231.00 $229.54 $1,230 —
558–595 570 17 201.00–219.00 $208.22 $1,187 +0.38
606–648 617 22 184.00–204.00 $199.04 $1,228 +2.37
667–681 value added 677 32 196.00–208.00 $199.18 $1,348 —
650–694 688 75 173.00–192.00 $188.36 $1,296 -2.90
705–718 715 5 170.00–180.00 $178.03 $1,273 -11.23
750–795 781 22 175.00–176.00 $175.46 $1,370 -10.38
850 850 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,488 +15.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320–330 327 3 182.50–192.00 $185.60 $607 -9.57
380–385 383 2 170.00–190.00 $180.07 $690 +1.24
400–442 421 13 184.00–200.00 $191.75 $807 +8.15
450–495 483 19 170.00–195.00 $185.14 $894 -0.56
510–545 532 12 170.00–190.00 $184.36 $981 -0.73
550–595 577 14 182.50–190.00 $187.34 $1,081 +3.81
605–640 620 9 169.00–187.50 $176.08 $1,092 -3.10
655–675 664 10 160.00–170.00 $167.01 $1,109 -3.43
707–720 714 4 150.00–160.00 $154.01 $1,100 -5.94
750–767 759 4 149.00–154.00 $151.53 $1,150 +15.99
800 800 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,040 -9.50
880 880 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,056 -18.66
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 383 4 215.00 $215.00 $823 —
470–496 478 18 199.00–208.00 $203.12 $971 —
505–541 533 8 197.00–200.00 $199.40 $1,063 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–310 308 2 140.00–142.50 $141.24 $435 —
350–370 360 2 130.00–157.50 $144.13 $519 -5.87
515–527 523 3 145.00–160.00 $155.08 $811 —
635 635 1 142.50 $142.50 $905 +42.50
725 725 3 138.00 $138.00 $1,000 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1025–1290 1143 5 117.00–127.00 $122.09 $1,395 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 267.00 $267.00 $841 +42.18
320–330 fancy 323 4 290.00–295.00 $292.52 $945 +35.02
370–385 fancy 381 8 272.50–282.50 $281.10 $1,071 +23.54
385 385 2 257.50–265.00 $261.25 $1,006 +39.30
400–431 fancy 425 5 262.50–280.00 $276.70 $1,176 +26.00
422–431 427 5 239.00–242.50 $240.38 $1,026 +6.50
450–495 fancy 465 11 242.50–262.50 $254.81 $1,185 +10.81
465–490 480 12 222.50–235.00 $229.78 $1,103 +14.47
500–540 514 19 220.00–240.00 $232.43 $1,195 +9.74
565–575 568 5 210.00–222.00 $214.18 $1,217 +15.11
605–645 622 14 200.00–214.00 $208.78 $1,299 +24.23
655–670 662 9 175.00–197.00 $186.61 $1,235 +10.84
739 739 6 170.00 $170.00 $1,256 -4.22
767 767 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,304 +2.23
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 1 205.00 $205.00 $523 —
355 355 1 217.50 $217.50 $772 —
413–440 421 5 190.00–207.50 $199.55 $840 +2.45
475 475 1 180.00 $180.00 $855 +5.70
535 535 2 185.00–203.00 $194.00 $1,038 +6.33
572–580 575 6 172.50–180.00 $174.18 $1,002 -9.53
672–687 680 7 162.50–178.00 $169.33 $1,151 +5.71
710–740 722 3 140.00–161.00 $153.74 $1,110 -5.77
770 770 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,170 —
815 815 1 127.50 $127.50 $1,039 —
958–980 962 6 118.00–119.00 $118.83 $1,143 —
1075 1075 1 98.00 $98.00 $1,054 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–277 265 4 140.00–155.00 $147.54 $391 —
480 480 2 122.50 $122.50 $588 —
515 515 1 112.50 $112.50 $579 +2.50
630 630 1 130.00 $130.00 $819 —
692 692 2 145.00 $145.00 $1,003 —
745 745 1 121.00 $121.00 $901 —
880 880 1 100.00 $100.00 $880 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–335 315 3 220.00–242.50 $230.81 $727 —
500–520 510 2 212.50–217.50 $215.05 $1,097 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1315 1315 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
610–985 798 85-90% 2 30.00–49.00 $37.27 $297 —
765–1315 1018 85-90% 11 90.00–100.00 $93.36 $950 +22.00
715–1315 1056 85-90% 31 60.00–80.00 $71.30 $753 —
880–1275 1081 85-90% 23 80.00–88.50 $83.33 $901 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1405 1181 80-85% 14 95.00–107.00 $98.51 $1,163 -0.68
1020–1435 1206 80-85% 39 84.00–94.50 $91.31 $1,101 —
1065–1420 1216 80-85% 8 76.00–84.00 $80.59 $980 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1395–1510 1442 75-80% 3 80.00–87.00 $84.23 $1,215 —
1375–1560 1481 75-80% 5 97.00–101.50 $98.82 $1,464 +14.49
1305–2035 1523 75-80% 36 88.00–96.50 $92.48 $1,408 +0.14

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145–1865 1591 9 115.00–125.00 $119.83 $1,906 —
1130–2305 1686 16 90.00–114.50 $106.49 $1,795 +2.04
1780 1780 1 130.00 $130.00 $2,314 —

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1075 1075 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 860.00 $860.00
1075 1075 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00
1115–1135 1128 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,100.00–1,125.00 $1,108.23
942–1268 1132 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 920.00–1,700.00 $1,340.28
945–1315 1163 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 1,175.00–1,900.00 $1,669.14
1110–1270 1213 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 900.00–1,120.00 $1,015.14
960–1437 1272 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 27 890.00–1,300.00 $1,141.63
1050–1391 1283 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 16 900.00–1,250.00 $1,133.94
1065–1710 1383 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 12 1,310.00–1,625.00 $1,421.84
Medium 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
730 730 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 825.00 $825.00
840 840 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 530.00 $530.00
760–885 843 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 400.00–940.00 $777.79
730–1120 950 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 325.00–830.00 $701.38
965 965 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 690.00 $690.00
1020 1020 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 880.00 $880.00

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
715–785 750 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 750.00–950.00 $854.67
740–955 831 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 800.00–1,275.00 $999.58
1025–1180 1103 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,750.00–1,800.00 $1,776.76

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1142 1142 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,800.00 $1,800.00 +150.00
1120–1406 1266 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 1,675.00–2,300.00 $2,012.64 —
1180–1405 1330 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,700.00–2,150.00 $1,833.08 +393.08
1330–1507 1455 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 1,300.00–1,525.00 $1,382.17 —
1380–1670 1489 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 7 1,450.00–1,950.00 $1,714.70 —
1400–1820 1610 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 1,800.00–2,050.00 $1,957.18 —
Medium 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1097 1097 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 830.00 $830.00 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 1 95.00 $95.00 $304 —

↑ 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.