Cattle Market Pulse

Paris Stockyards Market Report

Paris, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, March 21, 2024

2,482 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $257.18/cwt -3.88 vs last sale · ≈ $1,868/hd at 726 lb · 119 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $285.96/cwt -4.94 vs last sale · ≈ $1,801/hd at 630 lb · 115 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $250.20/cwt +0.31 vs last sale · ≈ $1,559/hd at 623 lb · 99 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,482 3,210 1,833
Feeder cattle 2,150 2,876 1,648
Slaughter cattle 271 255 175
Replacement cattle 61 79 10

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Thursday the feeder market was mostly steady, but stronger in a few spots with most of the gains seen in the weaned and value added packages. Good quality 300-450 lbs steers were steady to 3.00 higher, and the 500-650 lbs steers were 3.00 to 8.00 higher with strong demand, while yearling steers were steady to 3.00 higher with a good supply. Feeder heifers were mostly steady to 2.00 higher with a good supply and good demand, however the 550-600 lbs heifers were noted as 3.00 to 5.00 lower. Slaughter cows were 2.00 to 4.00 higher with a good supply and slaughter bulls were 6.00 to 8.00 higher with strong 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
245 245 1 342.50 $342.50 $839 —
280–290 285 2 350.00–355.00 $352.46 $1,005 -5.29
335 fancy 335 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,340 +8.43
300–345 340 15 360.00–380.00 $369.45 $1,256 -7.27
350–355 351 5 365.00–382.50 $377.46 $1,325 +11.79
360–387 fancy 383 12 395.00–400.00 $399.61 $1,531 +10.74
400–430 fancy 419 39 385.00–401.00 $393.06 $1,647 -2.31
426–445 437 8 337.50–352.50 $343.83 $1,503 +5.68
454–480 fancy 464 16 347.50–352.50 $349.44 $1,621 -8.40
450–493 477 37 322.50–337.50 $328.79 $1,568 -6.18
500–540 518 13 307.50–327.50 $320.01 $1,658 +14.00
512–543 value added 529 70 332.00–349.00 $339.06 $1,794 +2.34
555–565 value added 560 12 320.00–327.50 $323.72 $1,813 +14.59
557–582 573 34 292.50–307.50 $298.69 $1,711 +8.70
614–635 value added 619 20 297.00–314.00 $309.53 $1,916 +15.66
605–648 632 95 270.00–286.00 $281.00 $1,776 +11.07
650–678 value added 663 41 277.50–285.00 $281.75 $1,868 +5.51
665–696 690 32 245.00–264.00 $254.64 $1,757 -4.44
706–740 725 31 235.00–246.00 $242.18 $1,756 +0.47
722–730 value added 727 88 252.50–269.00 $262.46 $1,908 -6.03
750–782 772 35 227.50–247.00 $239.48 $1,849 -5.52
805–840 826 78 230.00–244.50 $238.75 $1,972 +6.86
860–895 875 50 220.00–232.00 $229.90 $2,012 +3.78
905–940 value added 938 66 218.00–230.00 $229.35 $2,151 +2.60
970–995 990 5 215.00–220.00 $215.98 $2,138 —
1011–1016 1012 14 199.00–214.00 $203.30 $2,057 +27.29
1058 1058 5 190.00 $190.00 $2,010 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 315.00 $315.00 $677 —
250 250 1 330.00 $330.00 $825 —
317 317 2 327.50 $327.50 $1,038 —
375–390 383 2 325.00–342.50 $333.58 $1,278 -18.92
425–435 430 2 330.00 $330.00 $1,419 +3.00
457–495 481 12 297.50–317.50 $306.68 $1,475 +1.77
501–545 519 20 290.00–306.00 $303.40 $1,575 —
560–595 577 13 270.00–287.50 $283.11 $1,634 —
610–647 637 20 252.50–265.00 $261.17 $1,664 —
650–695 682 5 222.50–240.00 $236.54 $1,613 —
755 755 2 220.00–225.00 $222.50 $1,680 —
845 845 1 221.00 $221.00 $1,867 —
850 850 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,828 —
970 970 2 199.00 $199.00 $1,930 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
537 537 2 272.50 $272.50 $1,463 +3.33
565 565 2 260.00 $260.00 $1,469 -12.50

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
218 fancy 218 3 355.00 $355.00 $774 —
275–295 286 4 315.00–322.50 $319.37 $913 +16.82
307–345 fancy 327 9 325.00–335.00 $332.79 $1,088 +2.79
315–349 337 13 300.00–312.50 $301.08 $1,015 -1.11
350–383 fancy 370 11 322.50–330.00 $328.60 $1,216 -0.56
370–385 379 5 300.00–305.00 $303.01 $1,148 -10.55
405–435 421 11 272.50–292.50 $282.62 $1,190 -3.06
400–439 fancy 430 22 297.50–313.00 $307.47 $1,322 +2.25
450–496 473 24 275.00–290.00 $285.15 $1,349 +2.26
453–499 fancy 480 40 292.50–309.00 $300.91 $1,444 +3.92
510–540 value added 534 71 275.00–290.50 $285.73 $1,526 -1.21
505–547 537 13 252.50–263.00 $258.72 $1,389 -10.08
556–582 567 21 242.50–260.00 $252.61 $1,432 -6.85
557–586 value added 572 68 262.00–277.00 $269.61 $1,542 -3.45
608–645 value added 623 81 242.50–260.00 $253.73 $1,581 +2.75
602–645 624 18 225.00–240.00 $234.29 $1,462 -0.60
655–692 value added 675 35 239.00–255.00 $243.49 $1,644 +7.57
650–687 681 14 216.00–230.00 $224.54 $1,529 +0.07
700–715 value added 703 54 236.00–238.00 $236.45 $1,662 —
710–743 728 10 210.00–223.00 $220.25 $1,603 -0.68
766–791 782 8 210.00–220.00 $213.68 $1,671 -5.51
810–842 823 84 221.00–227.00 $223.94 $1,843 -1.06
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 250.00 $250.00 $600 —
280 280 1 290.00 $290.00 $812 —
347 347 2 282.50 $282.50 $980 —
367–397 383 11 270.00–285.00 $281.46 $1,078 —
405–425 415 9 267.50–277.50 $270.89 $1,124 -3.39
455–465 462 3 247.50–262.50 $255.89 $1,182 —
515–547 536 3 232.50–242.50 $235.70 $1,263 -21.30
558 558 4 245.00 $245.00 $1,367 —
640 640 2 217.50–220.00 $218.75 $1,400 —
703 703 5 222.00 $222.00 $1,561 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 4 245.00 $245.00 $821 -40.72
355 355 1 210.00 $210.00 $746 -81.68
460 460 1 175.00 $175.00 $805 -83.77
560–580 573 3 205.00 $205.00 $1,175 -27.31
715 715 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,341 —
820 820 2 155.00 $155.00 $1,271 -15.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080–1105 1092 3 147.50–166.00 $157.43 $1,719 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 210 1 335.00 $335.00 $704 -25.00
255–285 270 2 300.00 $300.00 $810 -33.63
331–349 fancy 345 12 392.00–400.00 $398.08 $1,373 +13.67
345 345 3 352.50–360.00 $355.00 $1,225 +7.02
359–395 368 10 357.50–370.00 $360.31 $1,326 +4.28
405–428 fancy 423 7 360.00–370.00 $365.36 $1,545 +25.15
445–446 446 11 327.50–342.50 $341.14 $1,521 +22.14
470–480 478 4 317.50–337.50 $323.14 $1,545 +1.11
505 fancy 505 3 307.50–320.00 $311.67 $1,574 +3.54
525–545 537 5 280.00–297.50 $286.84 $1,540 -6.38
555 555 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,665 +4.06
603–625 612 5 240.00–241.00 $240.41 $1,471 -21.11
685 685 3 247.50 $247.50 $1,695 +0.76
700–710 707 3 235.00–240.00 $236.65 $1,673 +6.65
810–845 825 7 220.00–232.00 $225.52 $1,861 +7.58
900–930 910 4 187.50–200.00 $192.57 $1,752 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 315.00 $315.00 $992 -6.50
365 365 1 347.50 $347.50 $1,268 —
405–440 423 3 292.50–312.50 $301.82 $1,277 —
455–460 458 2 300.00–312.50 $306.28 $1,403 —
505–535 520 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,404 +2.50
590 590 3 225.00–230.00 $226.67 $1,337 —
690 690 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,518 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1375 1375 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 2,150.00 $2,150.00 —
1480 1480 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810–1395 1140 80-85% 24 111.00–124.50 $120.28 $1,371 —
925–1430 1219 80-85% 28 125.00–149.00 $132.39 $1,614 +4.07
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725–885 817 85-90% 3 88.00–89.00 $88.66 $724 —
705–1105 901 85-90% 6 90.00–100.00 $93.99 $847 —
680–1325 1031 85-90% 28 102.00–119.50 $112.76 $1,163 +3.10
870–1300 1075 85-90% 12 120.00–135.00 $125.37 $1,348 +1.55
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110–1695 1438 75-80% 14 112.00–124.00 $121.18 $1,743 —
1250–1825 1489 75-80% 24 125.00–137.50 $130.05 $1,936 +10.46

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1350 1190 4 121.00–128.00 $125.75 $1,496 —
1145–2305 1599 8 134.00–149.00 $140.58 $2,248 —
1615–2300 1883 13 150.00–180.00 $162.36 $3,057 +9.73

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
940–1060 1000 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 925.00–975.00 $951.50
1005–1340 1128 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 1,100.00–1,900.00 $1,473.14
915–1390 1129 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 1,025.00–1,650.00 $1,366.13
945–1900 1225 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 1,190.00–2,120.00 $1,634.02
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
815–885 850 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 880.00–990.00 $937.26

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
765–925 868 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,130.00–1,370.00 $1,255.82

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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
785–1010 913 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 1,650.00–2,100.00 $1,805.55 —
1325–1445 1385 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 2,000.00–2,500.00 $2,227.53 —
1605 1605 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,275.00 $2,275.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 1 130.00 $130.00 $474 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
640 640 1 137.50 $137.50 $880 —

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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.