Cattle Market Pulse

Russell Co. Stockyard Market Report

Russell Springs, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, May 20, 2026

767 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $381.98/cwt +16.98 vs last sale · ≈ $2,525/hd at 661 lb · 79 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $358.52/cwt ≈ $2,674/hd at 746 lb · 75 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $495.12/cwt +7.61 vs last sale · ≈ $2,825/hd at 571 lb · 45 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 767 726 543
Feeder cattle 655 547 512
Slaughter cattle 63 36 20
Replacement cattle 49 143 11

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday: Feeder steers sold 10.00-12.00 higher. Feeder heifers traded 6.00-8.00 higher. Continued strong demand for feeder cattle. There were several high quality weaned packages in today's offering. Slaughter cows sold 4.00-6.00 lower and slaughter bulls traded steady.

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
180 180 1 840.00 $840.00 $1,512 —
212 212 2 740.00 $740.00 $1,569 —
290 290 1 700.00 $700.00 $2,030 —
300–315 305 3 660.00–675.00 $669.84 $2,043 +29.84
307–338 fancy 329 7 685.00–695.00 $692.34 $2,278 —
365–370 368 2 575.00–580.00 $577.48 $2,125 +42.55
365–390 fancy 377 5 600.00–605.00 $602.07 $2,270 +2.07
420 420 4 580.00–590.00 $582.50 $2,446 +55.85
422 fancy 422 6 608.00 $608.00 $2,566 +45.43
462–480 472 6 547.00–550.00 $548.48 $2,589 +35.93
463–483 fancy 473 18 557.50–566.00 $564.69 $2,671 +8.50
505–548 533 6 495.00–507.00 $499.37 $2,662 -3.08
556–590 value added 570 44 492.00–500.00 $495.58 $2,825 —
595 595 1 475.00 $475.00 $2,826 -12.51
600 600 1 465.00 $465.00 $2,790 +12.78
602 fancy 602 2 475.50 $475.50 $2,863 -10.50
660–675 666 11 440.00–445.00 $441.80 $2,942 +30.35
702 value added 702 5 414.00 $414.00 $2,906 +3.37
722 722 4 389.00 $389.00 $2,809 +2.50
755 755 1 370.00 $370.00 $2,794 ±0.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
172–195 184 4 700.00–760.00 $731.88 $1,347 —
305–335 315 3 610.00–640.00 $626.14 $1,972 —
360–372 368 3 525.00–540.00 $529.89 $1,950 —
405–447 435 9 465.00–517.50 $504.89 $2,196 +5.83
485–495 490 2 417.00–447.50 $432.41 $2,119 -51.34
500–525 522 8 420.00–455.00 $450.81 $2,353 -33.08
591 591 7 431.00 $431.00 $2,547 —
683 683 4 369.00 $369.00 $2,520 -15.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590–597 596 5 465.00–467.00 $465.40 $2,774 —
622 622 2 445.00 $445.00 $2,768 —
666 666 8 415.00 $415.00 $2,764 —
730 730 1 370.00 $370.00 $2,701 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–430 415 2 450.00–487.00 $469.17 $1,947 —
615 615 1 305.00 $305.00 $1,876 —
737 737 2 393.00 $393.00 $2,896 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
165 165 2 860.00 $860.00 $1,419 —
230 230 1 690.00 $690.00 $1,587 +180.00
302–335 319 4 532.50–535.00 $533.81 $1,703 +28.81
320 fancy 320 1 555.00 $555.00 $1,776 —
362–378 372 5 510.00–515.00 $513.05 $1,909 +50.58
386 fancy 386 3 550.00 $550.00 $2,123 -5.00
401–442 fancy 417 5 500.00 $500.00 $2,085 -5.00
400–440 432 14 457.00–482.50 $475.57 $2,054 +20.29
463–495 482 31 435.00–454.00 $442.30 $2,132 -3.19
510–540 528 25 430.00–436.00 $435.13 $2,297 +10.00
558 value added 558 3 420.00 $420.00 $2,344 +0.84
550–578 575 21 388.00–410.00 $390.00 $2,242 -1.97
615–630 625 3 376.00–390.00 $380.59 $2,379 -0.19
650–665 652 8 365.00–368.00 $367.62 $2,397 +2.62
662 value added 662 71 383.60 $383.60 $2,539 —
718 718 3 347.00 $347.00 $2,491 —
747 value added 747 72 359.00 $359.00 $2,682 —
825 825 1 335.00 $335.00 $2,764 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240–245 243 3 575.00–600.00 $583.22 $1,417 —
260 260 1 535.00 $535.00 $1,391 +40.00
305–335 320 2 485.00–502.50 $494.16 $1,581 +44.16
355–390 377 8 450.00–465.00 $457.99 $1,727 +16.91
455–485 478 6 402.50–422.00 $415.18 $1,985 -9.82
510–530 520 2 355.00–400.00 $377.07 $1,961 -27.93
570 570 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,995 —
665 665 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,962 -45.00
725 725 1 317.00 $317.00 $2,298 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425–437 433 3 450.00–452.00 $450.65 $1,951 —
598 598 8 382.00 $382.00 $2,284 —
610 610 1 362.50 $362.50 $2,211 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
550 550 1 330.00 $330.00 $1,815 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
192 192 2 730.00 $730.00 $1,402 —
295 295 1 630.00 $630.00 $1,858 +115.00
335–340 337 3 590.00 $590.00 $1,988 +20.00
435 435 6 515.00 $515.00 $2,240 +17.08
450–485 468 4 480.00–482.00 $481.04 $2,251 -11.26
505–545 525 4 447.50–490.00 $462.24 $2,427 +17.22
550–575 569 4 430.00–450.00 $442.64 $2,519 -6.16
605–635 626 4 385.00–400.00 $393.78 $2,465 +15.21
665–675 672 3 360.00–385.00 $376.75 $2,532 -8.25
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 610.00 $610.00 $1,434 —
345 345 2 540.00–545.00 $542.50 $1,872 +7.50
350–395 373 2 500.00–502.00 $501.06 $1,869 +26.06
402–445 420 4 430.00–477.50 $443.87 $1,864 -40.48
455–495 475 2 452.50–460.00 $456.09 $2,166 -3.91
540 540 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,836 -35.00
575 575 1 375.00 $375.00 $2,156 -31.95
905 905 1 285.00 $285.00 $2,579 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,900 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645 645 1 365.00 $365.00 $2,354 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
560 560 1 420.00 $420.00 $2,352 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165–1485 1345 75-80% 8 187.00–200.00 $190.88 $2,567 —
1120–1740 1348 75-80% 22 171.00–185.00 $177.06 $2,387 —
1315–1385 1350 75-80% 2 166.00–168.00 $166.97 $2,254 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
905–1095 993 85-90% 5 145.00–158.00 $153.08 $1,520 —
875–1150 1018 85-90% 4 163.00–168.00 $164.96 $1,679 —
915–1130 1023 85-90% 2 130.00–140.00 $135.53 $1,386 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145–1275 1213 80-85% 6 172.00–180.00 $175.63 $2,130 +2.27
1170–1305 1216 80-85% 4 159.00–169.00 $164.67 $2,002 -8.69

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260–2005 1557 3 214.00–216.00 $214.86 $3,345 —
1745 1745 1 224.00 $224.00 $3,909 —

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Stock Cows

Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
857–970 897 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 2,450.00–2,600.00 $2,482.45
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1060 1060 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,690.00 $2,690.00
1170–1360 1280 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 2,200.00–2,500.00 $2,390.89
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
825 825 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,350.00 $2,350.00
845 845 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1180 1180 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 3,300.00 $3,300.00
1145–1390 1268 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,900.00–3,000.00 $2,945.17
1165–1500 1299 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,700.00–3,600.00 $3,023.17
1335 1335 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,850.00 $2,850.00
1440 1440 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,600.00 $3,600.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
970 970 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00
845–1085 993 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 2,550.00–2,600.00 $2,568.20
1000 1000 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 3,300.00 $3,300.00
1085 1085 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1025 1025 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00
1002–1115 1039 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,925.00–3,200.00 $3,014.00
1065 1065 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,850.00 $2,850.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
932 932 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,850.00 $2,850.00
990 990 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00

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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
1340 1340 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 4,200.00 $4,200.00 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1175 1175 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 4,400.00 $4,400.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1390 1390 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 5,800.00 $5,800.00 —

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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.