Cattle Market Pulse

Russell Co. Stockyard Market Report

Russell Springs, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, March 20, 2024

1,056 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Russell Co. Stockyard report →

heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $253.83/cwt -13.60 vs last sale · ≈ $1,674/hd at 660 lb · 79 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $299.76/cwt +3.39 vs last sale · ≈ $1,877/hd at 626 lb · 63 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $282.19/cwt +2.61 vs last sale · ≈ $1,473/hd at 522 lb · 57 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,056 876 1,028
Feeder cattle 916 731 959
Slaughter cattle 96 90 49
Replacement cattle 44 55 20

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday: Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady. A good quality offering today that contained several weaned, pre-conditioned calves. The buyers are still preferring the calves in "green" condition over the fleshier calves. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 higher and slaughter bulls were 5.00-7.00 higher.

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
210 210 1 400.00 $400.00 $840 —
275–290 283 2 400.00–401.00 $400.49 $1,133 +30.49
320–345 335 3 342.00–370.00 $353.36 $1,184 —
355–361 360 4 347.00–350.00 $347.74 $1,252 -16.45
401 fancy 401 3 380.00 $380.00 $1,524 -7.50
407–425 413 9 352.50–365.00 $361.63 $1,494 +7.26
455–480 fancy 473 6 337.00–343.00 $341.54 $1,615 -8.46
450–495 476 12 305.00–330.00 $317.99 $1,514 -14.50
513–525 value added 517 15 321.00–325.00 $324.21 $1,676 —
500–548 521 28 285.00–313.00 $303.75 $1,583 -1.62
567–572 value added 568 20 317.00–320.00 $319.70 $1,816 —
550–597 572 23 287.50–311.00 $302.02 $1,728 +5.33
611 value added 611 17 310.00 $310.00 $1,894 +8.00
602–645 632 46 284.00–300.00 $295.97 $1,871 +16.49
651–675 659 73 248.00–263.00 $251.11 $1,655 -13.77
653–683 value added 668 6 283.00–291.00 $286.91 $1,917 +9.91
700 value added 700 4 271.00 $271.00 $1,897 —
710–743 741 36 235.00–261.00 $257.18 $1,906 +1.21
751 value added 751 25 248.75 $248.75 $1,868 —
755–795 775 15 223.00–240.00 $235.64 $1,826 -9.44
825 value added 825 24 231.25 $231.25 $1,908 —
843 843 3 225.50 $225.50 $1,901 +3.00
855 855 1 218.00 $218.00 $1,864 +1.00
886 value added 886 56 238.25 $238.25 $2,111 —
918 value added 918 7 224.00 $224.00 $2,056 —
952 952 2 219.00 $219.00 $2,085 —
1017 1017 4 209.00 $209.00 $2,126 —
1050 1050 1 191.00 $191.00 $2,006 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270–275 273 2 320.00–360.00 $339.82 $928 +37.35
335 335 1 305.00 $305.00 $1,022 -25.83
355–395 373 5 290.00–327.50 $316.66 $1,181 -5.84
430–440 438 5 285.00–320.00 $306.25 $1,341 -0.64
457–480 465 3 275.00–296.00 $282.23 $1,312 -19.78
505–537 521 6 260.00–275.00 $271.26 $1,413 +7.38
597 597 2 267.50 $267.50 $1,597 +3.16
615–632 622 6 240.00–257.00 $247.82 $1,541 -16.18
660–680 671 4 235.00–245.00 $238.70 $1,602 +38.70
737 737 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,585 -5.50
785 785 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,648 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 1 250.00 $250.00 $888 -5.00
425–435 430 2 257.50–262.50 $259.97 $1,118 —
490 490 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,176 —
515 515 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,120 -17.50

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–260 258 2 307.50–310.00 $308.74 $797 -0.57
312–340 322 6 295.00–307.00 $301.90 $972 -11.11
352–367 fancy 359 5 320.00–326.00 $321.58 $1,154 -7.42
351–387 367 10 295.00–314.00 $306.05 $1,123 +0.68
410–428 fancy 423 11 324.00–327.00 $324.79 $1,374 +0.53
425–445 434 16 282.50–311.00 $298.36 $1,295 -2.76
467–490 476 8 280.00–302.00 $292.89 $1,394 +2.08
467–487 fancy 477 8 306.00–310.00 $308.51 $1,472 +7.23
505–523 value added 519 17 298.00–304.00 $300.23 $1,558 +3.98
500–541 523 40 260.00–285.00 $274.53 $1,436 -2.56
551–579 563 28 250.00–268.00 $258.24 $1,454 +4.18
600–640 613 18 225.00–247.00 $238.50 $1,462 +0.19
652–690 672 15 216.00–230.50 $223.88 $1,504 +5.43
700–745 714 11 212.50–227.50 $221.99 $1,585 -0.03
760 760 2 173.00 $173.00 $1,315 -40.34
756–785 769 15 206.00–219.00 $216.80 $1,667 +3.46
808 value added 808 35 221.50 $221.50 $1,790 —
837 837 12 214.00 $214.00 $1,791 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 280.00 $280.00 $966 -2.50
360–390 377 7 250.00–282.50 $261.21 $985 -8.62
410–445 432 8 241.00–277.50 $258.41 $1,116 +1.98
472–485 477 7 235.00–272.50 $262.51 $1,252 +7.72
515–545 531 5 240.00–255.00 $244.97 $1,301 -3.43
560–598 589 6 229.00–243.00 $239.43 $1,410 +16.80
615–635 625 2 210.00–215.00 $212.46 $1,328 +4.32
715–720 718 2 190.00–191.00 $190.50 $1,368 —
825 825 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,485 —
980 980 1 174.00 $174.00 $1,705 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 1 265.00 $265.00 $848 —
450–495 473 2 207.50–222.50 $215.36 $1,019 +55.36
535 535 2 216.00 $216.00 $1,156 +28.50
705 705 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,022 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 360.00 $360.00 $864 ±0.00
250 250 1 355.00 $355.00 $888 —
325–342 336 3 335.00–345.00 $341.78 $1,148 -0.72
390–393 392 4 302.50–310.00 $308.14 $1,208 -20.35
400–430 415 5 290.00–316.00 $302.06 $1,254 -8.94
437 fancy 437 2 336.00 $336.00 $1,468 -3.00
455–475 469 13 288.00–307.00 $301.80 $1,415 +4.08
475 fancy 475 2 319.00 $319.00 $1,515 +3.38
500–540 519 5 275.00–295.00 $282.75 $1,467 +1.23
525 fancy 525 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,628 —
577 fancy 577 5 290.00 $290.00 $1,673 -2.25
572–595 582 9 267.50–282.00 $273.99 $1,595 -6.91
610–647 628 5 254.00–267.00 $261.53 $1,642 +16.08
655–695 676 6 240.00–260.00 $249.07 $1,684 -2.43
747 747 2 218.00 $218.00 $1,628 -25.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,155 +10.00
460–475 470 3 265.00–275.00 $269.95 $1,269 -5.05
508–540 515 7 270.00 $270.00 $1,390 —
575 575 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,438 —
615 615 1 232.50 $232.50 $1,430 —
670–695 683 2 225.00–228.00 $226.53 $1,547 +6.53
900 900 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,530 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850–900 870 85-90% 3 85.00–92.00 $87.94 $765 —
810–970 898 85-90% 3 79.50–81.00 $80.19 $720 —
830–1020 956 85-90% 13 95.00–108.00 $103.33 $988 -3.79
825–1225 1001 85-90% 24 110.00–123.00 $115.88 $1,160 -2.11
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1275–1415 1316 75-80% 4 129.50–140.00 $134.36 $1,768 +6.26
1105–1545 1348 75-80% 11 110.00–125.00 $121.70 $1,641 -6.40
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985–1285 1144 80-85% 11 120.00–125.00 $122.26 $1,399 —
1130–1190 1160 80-85% 2 109.00–113.00 $111.05 $1,288 —
1275 1275 80-85% 1 100.00 $100.00 $1,275 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350–1540 1446 4 135.00–140.00 $137.77 $1,992 —
1480–1845 1644 7 142.00–158.00 $147.85 $2,431 +4.39

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1040 thin fleshed 1040 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,475.00 $1,475.00
1095 1095 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1040–1170 1123 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,275.00–1,600.00 $1,482.34
1095–1285 1154 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,500.00–1,925.00 $1,755.13
1110–1270 1190 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,425.00–1,625.00 $1,531.72
1535 1535 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,850.00 $1,850.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
875–885 880 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,175.00–1,300.00 $1,237.86
885–1070 991 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,300.00–1,650.00 $1,478.34
1035 1035 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,325.00 $1,325.00
1040 1040 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00
1050 1050 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
780 780 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00
880 880 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 950.00 $950.00

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
820 820 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,475.00 $1,475.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1175–1335 1255 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,825.00–1,925.00 $1,871.81 —
1250–1415 1320 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 1,575.00–1,975.00 $1,768.34 -344.26
1340 1340 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,075.00 $2,075.00 -37.60
1260–1515 1355 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,800.00–2,000.00 $1,899.26 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
920 thin fleshed 920 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00 —

↑ 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.