Cattle Market Pulse

Paris Stockyards Market Report

Paris, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, May 21, 2026

2,391 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $409.84/cwt +51.96 vs last sale · ≈ $2,727/hd at 665 lb · 334 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $427.80/cwt -3.49 vs last sale · ≈ $2,683/hd at 627 lb · 161 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $358.09/cwt +3.96 vs last sale · ≈ $3,138/hd at 876 lb · 134 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,391 1,949 1,674
Feeder cattle 2,165 1,660 1,335
Slaughter cattle 114 114 243
Replacement cattle 112 175 96

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
220–245 233 2 620.00–710.00 $662.58 $1,544 —
280–295 288 2 680.00–690.00 $684.87 $1,972 +55.63
320 320 1 610.00 $610.00 $1,952 -10.71
363 fancy 363 6 645.00 $645.00 $2,341 +40.93
360–395 374 12 600.00–630.00 $615.81 $2,303 +45.62
413 fancy 413 9 577.50 $577.50 $2,385 -22.50
415–445 426 10 517.00–560.00 $530.28 $2,259 -41.45
450–486 466 29 510.00–555.00 $542.60 $2,529 +25.09
512–533 value added 518 14 500.00–518.00 $512.71 $2,656 +6.25
510–543 533 9 472.50–480.00 $474.91 $2,531 -17.06
565–596 589 39 452.50–491.00 $465.21 $2,740 -15.74
550–593 value added 592 85 500.00–512.00 $500.13 $2,961 -14.50
625–627 value added 626 8 480.00–500.00 $492.51 $3,083 +24.24
605–643 634 47 430.00–471.00 $455.46 $2,888 +24.28
662 value added 662 2 487.00 $487.00 $3,224 +28.72
656–673 671 32 429.00–445.00 $430.47 $2,888 -11.31
705–740 733 8 370.00–385.00 $374.83 $2,748 -29.90
737 value added 737 9 392.00 $392.00 $2,889 -32.51
765 765 5 382.00 $382.00 $2,922 +24.00
768–773 value added 770 119 388.25–401.00 $394.66 $3,039 +2.27
826 value added 826 62 370.00 $370.00 $3,056 —
851 851 3 345.00 $345.00 $2,936 +15.00
865–892 value added 877 131 356.25–360.25 $358.39 $3,143 +3.48
910 value added 910 1 330.00 $330.00 $3,003 -7.00
988 value added 988 103 329.00 $329.00 $3,251 -4.50
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365–386 381 4 580.00–590.00 $587.60 $2,239 +172.60
457–490 472 5 495.00–500.00 $496.94 $2,346 -8.06
515 515 14 493.00 $493.00 $2,539 +28.84
578 578 4 432.50 $432.50 $2,500 -18.86
655–693 684 19 372.50–422.00 $407.74 $2,789 +5.74
820 820 1 330.00 $330.00 $2,706 +20.00
930–940 935 2 250.00–285.00 $267.41 $2,500 —
995 995 1 265.00 $265.00 $2,637 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1510 1190 5 222.00–287.50 $260.79 $3,103 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,728 -150.32
725 725 1 330.00 $330.00 $2,392 -43.40
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 450.00 $450.00 $1,665 —
425 425 1 430.00 $430.00 $1,828 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,452 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 570.00 $570.00 $1,539 +32.43
320 320 1 580.00 $580.00 $1,856 +27.51
345 fancy 345 1 640.00 $640.00 $2,208 —
350 350 2 510.00 $510.00 $1,785 +21.15
416–431 fancy 421 11 502.50–517.50 $511.92 $2,155 -0.58
401–445 429 28 450.00–492.00 $470.38 $2,018 +7.80
458–495 478 20 450.00–472.50 $464.98 $2,223 +15.15
480–490 fancy 483 4 505.00–515.00 $512.46 $2,475 +35.08
500–545 fancy 515 18 450.00–455.00 $451.01 $2,323 —
503–537 522 34 422.50–447.00 $439.74 $2,295 +16.56
550–555 fancy 550 26 450.00–460.00 $450.39 $2,477 —
551–584 569 46 417.50–445.00 $430.45 $2,449 +37.46
620–636 value added 627 151 424.00–437.75 $431.56 $2,706 +28.72
625–635 628 10 370.00–375.00 $371.01 $2,330 +0.18
652–671 657 27 370.00–388.00 $384.27 $2,525 +40.32
657–670 value added 659 250 420.00–422.50 $421.11 $2,775 +47.32
697 697 57 372.50 $372.50 $2,596 +28.55
716–725 720 33 340.00–360.00 $356.37 $2,566 +18.88
733 fancy 733 19 362.00 $362.00 $2,653 —
753–780 755 17 340.00–354.00 $353.15 $2,666 +12.05
828–845 835 5 331.00–335.00 $333.38 $2,784 +6.64
940 940 11 326.00 $326.00 $3,064 +11.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 380 1 485.00 $485.00 $1,843 +35.00
430–435 433 3 430.00–445.00 $439.98 $1,905 -7.02
455–495 481 8 415.00–442.50 $428.89 $2,063 +2.46
535–542 540 3 415.00–437.00 $429.73 $2,321 +21.14
565–597 576 21 385.00–412.00 $402.68 $2,319 -6.70
645 645 1 350.00 $350.00 $2,258 -40.00
690–695 693 2 310.00–350.00 $330.07 $2,287 +7.52
760–780 767 3 302.50–315.00 $306.74 $2,353 -6.82
815–817 816 3 287.00–305.00 $292.99 $2,391 -5.99
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 470.00 $470.00 $1,480 -49.97
385 385 1 475.00 $475.00 $1,829 +10.07
412–440 421 3 415.00–425.00 $421.52 $1,775 -20.57
450–480 465 2 415.00–425.00 $420.16 $1,954 -18.12
500–505 503 2 370.00–400.00 $385.07 $1,937 -15.58
575 575 1 370.00 $370.00 $2,128 —
680 680 2 390.00 $390.00 $2,652 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 1 445.00 $445.00 $2,069 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 630.00 $630.00 $1,480 +40.00
330 330 1 570.00 $570.00 $1,881 +1.74
355–375 365 2 550.00–600.00 $575.68 $2,101 +35.68
355–375 fancy 365 2 640.00–670.00 $655.41 $2,392 —
415 415 3 480.00–490.00 $486.67 $2,020 -48.33
463 fancy 463 6 517.00 $517.00 $2,394 -24.33
453–497 467 8 482.50–490.00 $485.66 $2,268 -30.71
500–532 523 11 440.00–447.50 $445.55 $2,330 -8.72
565–577 571 9 432.50–455.00 $442.83 $2,529 -12.97
649 649 8 400.00 $400.00 $2,596 +6.56
725–740 737 6 352.50–360.00 $355.41 $2,619 +21.03
750 fancy 750 2 485.00 $485.00 $3,638 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 500.00 $500.00 $1,500 —
390 390 1 515.00 $515.00 $2,008 —
405–425 415 2 442.00–450.00 $445.90 $1,850 -34.10
467–490 475 3 445.00–457.00 $452.87 $2,151 -37.13
535 535 1 445.00 $445.00 $2,381 +5.00
675 675 1 340.00 $340.00 $2,295 -25.00
757–780 765 3 290.00–347.00 $327.62 $2,506 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1230–1305 1268 (<2 yrs)N/A 2 3,150.00–3,450.00 $3,304.44 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 520 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,742 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035–1675 1337 80-85% 44 172.00–188.00 $180.08 $2,408 —
1135–1600 1350 80-85% 7 159.00–170.00 $164.37 $2,219 —
1240–1565 1366 80-85% 5 191.00–205.50 $194.84 $2,662 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870–1145 1025 85-90% 18 170.00–183.00 $177.09 $1,815 —
1055–1300 1130 85-90% 6 164.00–169.00 $167.06 $1,888 —
1115–1205 1160 85-90% 2 186.00–195.00 $190.33 $2,208 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1520–1800 1660 75-80% 2 169.00–171.00 $169.92 $2,821 —
1705–1775 1740 75-80% 2 183.00–184.00 $183.51 $3,193 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1025–1910 1508 11 219.00–242.50 $230.25 $3,472 —
1030–2445 1589 8 199.00–217.00 $207.84 $3,303 —
1825 1825 2 250.00–256.00 $253.00 $4,617 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
850–1200 1010 (<2 yrs)Open 11 191.00–300.00 $233.83

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1081–1160 1116 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,500.00–2,750.00 $2,442.05
960–1195 1119 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,225.00–2,900.00 $2,737.27
1045–1427 1184 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 2,250.00–3,225.00 $2,845.66
1265 1265 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,875.00 $2,875.00
1315 1315 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,825.00 $3,825.00
1198–1431 1330 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 23 2,600.00–3,600.00 $3,060.60
1370 1370 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,575.00 $2,575.00

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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
950–1335 1143 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 3,750.00–4,300.00 $4,071.33 —
1365–1420 1393 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 4,000.00–4,600.00 $4,294.08 —
1450 1450 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 4,000.00 $4,000.00 —
1540 1540 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 4,475.00 $4,475.00 —
1625 1625 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 4,600.00 $4,600.00 —
1650 1650 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 5,425.00 $5,425.00 —

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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.