Sale reports / Kentucky / Russell Springs Livestock Auction / 2026-05-20

Russell Springs Livestock Auction

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Russell Springs, Kentucky · Wed, May 20
● Final118 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2208
Feeder Cattle receipts
655 head
108 vs last sale 547 143 vs year ago 512 · +27.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
63 head
27 vs last sale 36 43 vs year ago 20 · +215.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
49 head
94 vs last sale 143 38 vs year ago 11 · +345.5%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

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.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $406.86/cwt on 61 head, down $16.18 from the prior sale. That ranks 12 of 31 comparable sales and sits 8.47 against this barn's trailing median of $415.33.
Average price
$406.86
16.18 vs prior sale
61 head · 556 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,261
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$467
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1-2
$84.86/cwt at this weight
vs the market
3.82
vs KY average
11.40 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2550414.862,28249
Medium and Large 2598382.002,2848thin
Medium and Large 2-3537368.051,9753thin
Large 1-2550330.001,8151thin
One grade step is worth $84.86/cwt here — about $467 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 200–300 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

31 sales
484431379327median 415.3312/1703/0404/2906/2408/19
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $469.65, low $340.68, median $415.33 across 31 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale61 hd
406.86
KY average29 barns · 1,678 hd
410.68
−3.82
National average175 barns · 12,602 hd
418.26
−11.40
This barn, trailing median31 sales
415.33
−8.47
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
BullsHigh1,604217.153,4834thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,347179.882,42432
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,214171.252,07910
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,008154.211,55411

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age
Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,440$3,6001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,000$3,3001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,180$3,3001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,263$2,9536
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,268$2,9452thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,335$2,8501thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)993$2,5683thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)970$1,9001thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,008$3,0002thin
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,008$2,9677
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)1,065$2,8501thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,340$4,2001thin
Heifer PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,283$5,1002thin
Stock CowsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)910$2,4937
Stock CowsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,171$2,3184thin

Every lot, as filed

118 lots · USDA AMS · Russell Co. Stockyard - Russell Springs, KY
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
BullsMedium 1-2600–650645365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,3541
SteersMedium and Large 2-3350–400368529.89/cwt525.00–540.001,9503
SteersMedium 1-2600–650615305.00/cwt305.00–305.001,8761
SteersMedium 1-2400–450415469.17/cwt450.00–487.001,9472
SteersMedium 1-2700–750737393.00/cwt393.00–393.002,8962
SteersMedium and Large 2-3400–450435504.89/cwt465.00–517.502,1969
SteersMedium and Large 2-3650–700683369.00/cwt369.00–369.002,5204
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3700–750725317.00/cwt317.00–317.002,2981
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500473564.69/cwt557.50–566.002,67118
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy600–650602475.50/cwt475.50–475.502,8632
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400377602.07/cwt600.00–605.002,2705
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450422608.00/cwt608.00–608.002,5666
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350329692.34/cwt685.00–695.002,2787
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3350–400377457.99/cwt450.00–465.001,7278
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3250–300260535.00/cwt535.00–535.001,3911
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3450–500478415.18/cwt402.50–422.001,9856
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added700–750747359.00/cwt359.00–359.002,68272
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added650–700662383.60/cwt383.60–383.602,53971
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600558420.00/cwt420.00–420.002,3443
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650–700652367.62/cwt365.00–368.002,3978
HeifersMedium and Large 2550–600598382.00/cwt382.00–382.002,2848
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3300–350320494.16/cwt485.00–502.501,5812
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3200–250243583.22/cwt575.00–600.001,4173
HeifersMedium and Large 2600–650610362.50/cwt362.50–362.502,2111
HeifersMedium and Large 2400–450433450.65/cwt450.00–452.001,9513
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600575390.00/cwt388.00–410.002,24321
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2200–250230690.00/cwt690.00–690.001,5871
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2150–200165860.00/cwt860.00–860.001,4192
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650625380.59/cwt376.00–390.002,3793
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2700–750718347.00/cwt347.00–347.002,4913
SteersMedium and Large 1-2300–350305669.84/cwt660.00–675.002,0433
SteersMedium and Large 1-2350–400368577.48/cwt575.00–580.002,1252
SteersMedium and Large 1-2500–550533499.37/cwt495.00–507.002,6626
SteersMedium and Large 1-2650–700666441.80/cwt440.00–445.002,94211
SteersMedium and Large 1-2450–500472548.48/cwt547.00–550.002,5896
SteersMedium and Large 1-2200–250212740.00/cwt740.00–740.001,5692
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600–650600465.00/cwt465.00–465.002,7901
SteersMedium and Large 1-2250–300290700.00/cwt700.00–700.002,0301
SteersMedium and Large 1-2150–200180840.00/cwt840.00–840.001,5121
SteersMedium and Large 1-2400–450420582.50/cwt580.00–590.002,4474
SteersMedium and Large 1-2700–750722389.00/cwt389.00–389.002,8094
SteersMedium and Large 2600–650622445.00/cwt445.00–445.002,7682
SteersMedium and Large 2550–600596465.40/cwt465.00–467.002,7745
SteersMedium and Large 1-2550–600595475.00/cwt475.00–475.002,8261
SteersMedium and Large 1-2750–800755370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,7941
SteersMedium and Large 2650–700666415.00/cwt415.00–415.002,7648
SteersMedium and Large 2-3300–350315626.14/cwt610.00–640.001,9723
SteersMedium and Large 2700–750730370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,7011
SteersMedium and Large 2-3450–500490432.41/cwt417.00–447.502,1192
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added700–750702414.00/cwt414.00–414.002,9065
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600570495.58/cwt492.00–500.002,82544
SteersMedium and Large 2-3550–600591431.00/cwt431.00–431.002,5477
SteersMedium and Large 2-3500–550522450.81/cwt420.00–455.002,3538
SteersMedium and Large 2-3150–200184731.88/cwt700.00–760.001,3474
BullsMedium and Large 2-3900–950905285.00/cwt285.00–285.002,5791
BullsMedium and Large 2-3500–550540340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,8361
BullsMedium and Large 2-3400–450420443.87/cwt430.00–477.501,8644
BullsMedium and Large 2-3450–500475456.09/cwt452.50–460.002,1662
BullsMedium and Large 2-3200–250235610.00/cwt610.00–610.001,4341
BullsMedium and Large 2-3550–600575375.00/cwt375.00–375.002,1561
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,345190.88/cwt187.00–200.002,5678
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,348177.06/cwt171.00–185.002,38722
CowsLean 85-90%1,023135.53/cwt130.00–140.001,3862
CowsLean 85-90%993153.08/cwt145.00–158.001,5205
CowsLean 85-90%1,018164.96/cwt163.00–168.001,6794
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,350166.97/cwt166.00–168.002,2542
CowsBoner 80-85%1,216164.67/cwt159.00–169.002,0024
CowsBoner 80-85%1,213175.63/cwt172.00–180.002,1306
Bulls1,745224.00/cwt224.00–224.003,9091
Bulls1,557214.86/cwt214.00–216.003,3453
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1-21,0253,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0001
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1-21,0393,014.00/head2,925.00–3,200.003,0145
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 1-21,3905,800.00/head5,800.00–5,800.005,8001
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,3404,200.00/head4,200.00–4,200.004,2001
Bred CowsMedium 1-21,0003,300.00/head3,300.00–3,300.003,3001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2993,023.17/head2,700.00–3,600.003,0235
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2802,390.89/head2,200.00–2,500.002,3913
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,0602,690.00/head2,690.00–2,690.002,6901
Bred CowsMedium 1-29932,568.20/head2,550.00–2,600.002,5683
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1803,300.00/head3,300.00–3,300.003,3001
Stock CowsSmall and Medium 1-28252,350.00/head2,350.00–2,350.002,3501
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1-21,0652,850.00/head2,850.00–2,850.002,8501
Bred HeifersMedium 1-29322,850.00/head2,850.00–2,850.002,8502
Bred HeifersMedium 1-29903,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0001
Stock CowsSmall and Medium 1-28452,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1001
Stock CowsMedium 1-28972,482.45/head2,450.00–2,600.002,4825
Bred CowsMedium 1-29701,900.00/head1,900.00–1,900.001,9001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3352,850.00/head2,850.00–2,850.002,8501
Bred CowsMedium 1-21,0852,600.00/head2,600.00–2,600.002,6001
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2350–400372513.05/cwt510.00–515.001,9095
HeifersLarge 1-2550–600550330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,8151
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2500–550528435.13/cwt430.00–436.002,29725
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2450–500482442.30/cwt435.00–454.002,13231
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2800–850825335.00/cwt335.00–335.002,7641
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2300–350319533.81/cwt532.50–535.001,7034
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2400–450432475.57/cwt457.00–482.502,05414
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450417500.00/cwt500.00–500.002,0855
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350320555.00/cwt555.00–555.001,7761
BullsMedium and Large 2550–600560420.00/cwt420.00–420.002,3521
BullsMedium and Large 1-2250–300295630.00/cwt630.00–630.001,8591
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400386550.00/cwt550.00–550.002,1233
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3550–600570350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,9951
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3650–700665295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,9621
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3500–550520377.07/cwt355.00–400.001,9612
BullsLarge 1-2450–500475400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,9001
BullsMedium and Large 1-2400–450435515.00/cwt515.00–515.002,2406
BullsMedium and Large 1-2550–600569442.64/cwt430.00–450.002,5194
BullsMedium and Large 1-2300–350337590.00/cwt590.00–590.001,9883
BullsMedium and Large 1-2500–550525462.24/cwt447.50–490.002,4274
BullsMedium and Large 1-2600–650626393.78/cwt385.00–400.002,4654
BullsMedium and Large 1-2650–700672376.75/cwt360.00–385.002,5323
BullsMedium and Large 1-2450–500468481.04/cwt480.00–482.002,2514
BullsMedium and Large 1-2150–200192730.00/cwt730.00–730.001,4022
BullsMedium and Large 2-3300–350345542.50/cwt540.00–545.001,8722
BullsMedium and Large 2-3350–400373501.06/cwt500.00–502.001,8692
Heifer PairsMedium 1-21,1754,400.00/head4,400.00–4,400.004,4001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2682,945.17/head2,900.00–3,000.002,9452
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,4403,600.00/head3,600.00–3,600.003,6001

How this sale compares

Kentucky weighted averages
One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every Kentucky auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.