Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 26, 2021

1,019 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) report →

light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $150.82/cwt +6.16 vs last sale · ≈ $641/hd at 425 lb · 72 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $144.03/cwt +1.70 vs last sale · ≈ $692/hd at 480 lb · 51 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $140.98/cwt -5.29 vs last sale · ≈ $885/hd at 628 lb · 43 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,019 1,373 578
Feeder cattle 822 1,136 488
Slaughter cattle 126 217 85
Replacement cattle 71 20 5

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers sold mostly 2.00 to 5.00 lower with most decline on calves over 600 lbs. Feeder heifers sold 1.00 to 3.00 lower with moderate demand. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold 1.00 to 3.00 lower with moderate 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
200–230 220 3 160.00–164.00 $162.79 $358 —
280 280 1 161.00 $161.00 $451 -14.00
309 value added 309 6 179.00 $179.00 $553 +3.71
310–335 325 4 161.00–166.00 $164.25 $534 —
365–395 380 6 153.00–166.00 $160.89 $611 -4.72
395 value added 395 3 168.00 $168.00 $664 -2.76
400–435 value added 402 29 160.00–172.00 $170.95 $687 -2.99
430–445 436 5 151.00–155.00 $154.18 $672 -1.49
450–495 462 6 152.00–153.00 $152.67 $705 -1.55
460–480 value added 478 18 154.00–163.00 $162.51 $777 -9.81
508–530 514 4 145.00–146.00 $145.26 $747 -6.76
518–548 value added 524 35 154.00–165.75 $164.20 $860 -1.03
555–585 value added 566 16 152.00–160.00 $157.47 $891 -4.46
570–575 572 5 146.00–150.00 $149.20 $853 +3.20
610–625 617 7 125.00–135.00 $132.16 $815 -5.52
600–649 value added 630 36 135.00–153.00 $142.70 $899 -4.05
671 value added 671 7 139.50 $139.50 $936 -9.69
665–685 675 2 130.00–131.00 $130.51 $881 -5.71
710 710 1 124.00 $124.00 $880 -2.67
700–746 value added 728 33 129.00–136.00 $130.53 $950 -3.83
754–755 value added 755 11 129.00–133.00 $131.18 $990 -2.16
790 790 1 126.00 $126.00 $995 —
800–843 830 20 124.00–128.00 $126.00 $1,046 —
880–886 885 5 120.00–123.00 $122.40 $1,083 -3.31
926–940 930 11 110.00–118.25 $115.25 $1,072 -3.75
1015 1015 1 101.00 $101.00 $1,025 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 1 130.00 $130.00 $526 —
467–480 471 3 137.00–147.00 $140.39 $661 —
515–535 525 5 126.00–141.00 $135.27 $710 -9.19
600–640 625 3 120.00–126.00 $123.27 $770 —
661 661 3 129.00 $129.00 $853 -1.00
700 700 1 120.00 $120.00 $840 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530 530 1 146.00 $146.00 $774 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 value added 220 2 150.00 $150.00 $330 —
300–335 value added 305 7 149.00–157.00 $155.74 $475 +1.40
315 315 1 140.00 $140.00 $441 -1.94
353–380 value added 357 13 146.00–154.00 $152.03 $543 +2.42
360–385 373 2 143.00–145.00 $144.03 $537 -1.88
400–445 413 10 134.00–142.00 $137.57 $568 +0.26
405–449 value added 427 62 142.00–155.50 $152.96 $653 +6.03
455–490 473 5 134.00–139.00 $136.01 $643 +2.95
456–498 value added 481 46 139.00–151.00 $144.90 $697 -1.95
500–537 value added 522 22 133.00–143.00 $137.37 $717 -1.76
535–543 539 6 124.00–132.00 $126.81 $684 -5.72
555–585 value added 572 20 128.00–140.00 $135.98 $778 -3.93
590–595 591 4 120.00–130.00 $125.00 $739 -6.98
600–640 value added 622 12 127.00–130.00 $128.00 $796 -0.94
615–635 632 8 117.00–122.00 $120.24 $760 -0.19
620–645 633 2 112.00 $112.00 $709 -8.43
665 665 2 112.00 $112.00 $745 -6.95
665 665 1 120.00 $120.00 $798 +1.05
720–725 721 4 103.00–105.00 $103.50 $746 -1.96
700–730 724 24 107.00–117.50 $115.15 $834 +9.69
752–791 766 13 105.50–114.00 $110.28 $845 +4.09
780 780 1 90.00 $90.00 $702 -16.19
800–815 807 3 90.00–95.00 $91.99 $742 -21.01
825 825 2 97.00–104.00 $100.50 $829 -12.50
850–867 860 4 92.00–106.00 $96.96 $834 -16.04
915 915 1 100.00 $100.00 $915 —
1050 1050 3 90.00 $90.00 $945 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 1 116.00 $116.00 $325 —
310 310 1 132.00 $132.00 $409 -3.00
350–390 373 3 121.00–132.00 $127.96 $477 -4.39
400–430 415 2 117.00–128.00 $122.70 $509 —
461–493 478 10 122.00–131.00 $124.27 $594 -0.36
500–535 518 8 118.00–129.00 $122.59 $635 -3.41
565–576 574 6 120.00–128.00 $125.68 $721 +5.40
630–645 637 3 92.00–109.00 $101.93 $649 -10.84
660–690 676 5 100.00–107.00 $104.80 $708 -4.05
700–740 721 4 95.00–101.00 $97.52 $703 +4.52
910 910 1 86.00 $86.00 $783 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 fancy 210 2 173.00 $173.00 $363 —
250–255 253 2 160.00–161.00 $160.50 $406 —
305–330 313 3 151.00–159.00 $154.89 $485 -1.33
365–390 383 8 153.00–167.00 $162.08 $621 -2.99
402–420 value added 408 3 152.00–161.00 $157.91 $644 -15.10
410–440 433 11 145.00–155.00 $151.06 $654 +2.77
450–485 471 15 145.00–152.00 $148.97 $702 +1.47
505–538 value added 525 10 152.00–158.00 $155.35 $816 -2.65
510–547 532 8 140.00–152.00 $144.06 $766 +0.12
555–595 580 20 136.00–149.00 $142.96 $829 +2.50
600–610 605 2 126.00–130.00 $127.98 $774 -1.09
602–641 value added 619 9 130.00–136.00 $134.36 $832 —
660–680 672 7 120.00–129.00 $123.66 $831 -3.56
705–740 717 3 117.00–126.00 $122.90 $881 +3.90
783 783 3 111.00 $111.00 $869 -4.17
835 835 2 100.00–112.00 $106.00 $885 +4.83
1120 1120 1 86.00 $86.00 $963 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 130.00 $130.00 $488 -26.00
425–445 435 3 135.00–137.00 $136.32 $593 —
460 460 1 129.00 $129.00 $593 -6.93
505–520 513 4 127.00–135.00 $131.51 $675 -2.49
655–675 668 3 110.00 $110.00 $735 —
700–740 713 3 105.00–110.00 $108.27 $772 —
775–780 778 2 106.00–107.00 $106.50 $829 —
935 935 1 79.00 $79.00 $739 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 1 130.00 $130.00 $682 —
575–595 588 3 136.00–139.00 $136.98 $805 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 1 110.00 $110.00 $600 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045–1390 1223 80-85% 11 59.00–65.00 $62.74 $767 -1.53
990–1635 1309 80-85% 18 65.00–74.00 $68.97 $903 —
1190–1420 1342 80-85% 5 54.00–58.00 $57.02 $765 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965–1115 1023 85-90% 4 50.00–53.50 $51.94 $531 -10.38
930–1275 1085 85-90% 15 54.00–61.00 $58.70 $637 —
915–1275 1087 85-90% 9 62.00–66.50 $65.07 $707 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145–1650 1458 75-80% 6 61.00–64.50 $63.24 $922 -1.63
1485 1485 75-80% 1 55.00 $55.00 $817 -9.87
1185–1875 1533 75-80% 19 65.00–71.00 $67.09 $1,028 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985–1340 1145 6 67.00–80.00 $73.29 $839 —
1015–1765 1344 8 80.00–88.00 $84.95 $1,142 +10.14
1490–1995 1768 6 92.00–103.00 $97.84 $1,730 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
820–910 880 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 76.00–82.00 $79.31 $698
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
995–1150 1060 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 65.00–68.00 $66.41 $704

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1085–1210 1147 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 875.00–1,100.00 $982.58
1245 1245 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
850–1645 1356 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 785.00–1,150.00 $969.69
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
895–930 913 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 625.00–650.00 $637.74
815–1280 1102 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 625.00–725.00 $683.66

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1067 1067 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1115 1115 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
870 870 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 775.00 $775.00

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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
1190–1250 1220 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,100.00–1,185.00 $1,143.55 —
1125–1785 1450 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 11 1,085.00–1,375.00 $1,189.35 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
912–1260 1028 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 975.00–1,025.00 $1,004.57 —
1170–1385 1295 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 900.00–1,025.00 $974.69 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725 725 1 96.00 $96.00 $696 —

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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.