Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report, Lexington, KY

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 27, 2023

1,805 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $197.26/cwt -2.97 vs last sale · ≈ $1,008/hd at 511 lb · 184 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $177.68/cwt +0.64 vs last sale · ≈ $1,204/hd at 678 lb · 157 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $186.43/cwt +2.43 vs last sale · ≈ $1,596/hd at 856 lb · 131 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,805 1,125 822
Feeder cattle 1,575 964 639
Slaughter cattle 194 144 169
Replacement cattle 36 17 14

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steer and heifer calves sold mostly steady with very good demand for weaned calf packages suitable for grass; some 600-700 lbs steer and bull calf packages 5.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady; lean cows 3.00 to 5.00 higher with good demand under heavy supply. Slaughter bulls sold steady with good 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
266 266 3 230.00 $230.00 $612 +5.30
280–285 value added 283 2 225.00–235.00 $229.96 $651 -5.29
315–340 value added 331 6 230.00–250.00 $243.72 $807 -5.77
335 335 1 220.00 $220.00 $737 —
355–395 value added 373 8 230.00–240.00 $234.09 $873 -12.54
365–382 376 3 216.00–223.00 $218.26 $821 -16.74
405–415 410 2 210.00–220.00 $214.94 $881 —
400–447 value added 416 50 222.00–256.00 $241.71 $1,006 -2.14
450–498 value added 477 32 224.00–252.00 $240.88 $1,149 +1.52
485 485 1 211.00 $211.00 $1,023 -10.54
520–521 521 7 214.00–215.00 $214.57 $1,118 —
502–548 value added 526 48 220.00–259.00 $245.67 $1,292 +19.08
550–592 value added 581 28 222.00–238.00 $232.01 $1,348 +2.87
580–587 585 3 211.00–212.00 $211.67 $1,238 —
602–646 value added 630 18 215.00–224.00 $220.28 $1,388 +10.65
655–697 value added 676 21 193.00–209.50 $206.74 $1,398 +6.78
655–685 681 37 180.00–189.00 $183.99 $1,253 -2.01
708–709 fancy 709 47 201.00–202.25 $201.93 $1,432 —
715–725 value added 722 3 185.00–192.00 $189.69 $1,370 -7.51
750–780 value added 769 5 176.00–179.00 $177.81 $1,367 -11.58
786 fancy 786 65 198.50 $198.50 $1,560 —
790 790 1 173.00 $173.00 $1,367 -8.00
820–829 826 8 177.00–183.00 $179.23 $1,480 -4.88
855 fancy 855 111 187.90 $187.90 $1,607 —
859–875 862 20 178.00–180.00 $178.30 $1,537 -5.70
955 955 3 175.00 $175.00 $1,671 —
1010 1010 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,727 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 195.00 $195.00 $722 +5.00
450–485 463 3 167.00–189.00 $175.50 $813 -8.91
540 540 1 175.00 $175.00 $945 +5.00
551 551 3 170.00 $170.00 $937 —
600–615 607 3 170.00–171.00 $170.33 $1,034 -2.67
945 945 1 163.00 $163.00 $1,540 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 535 1 172.00 $172.00 $920 +2.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
253–270 257 4 202.50 $202.50 $520 —
280 value added 280 1 227.00 $227.00 $636 +9.08
300–343 value added 322 24 201.00–225.00 $212.78 $685 -7.02
305–345 325 4 189.00–200.00 $194.48 $632 +2.74
355–390 363 8 190.00–200.00 $193.21 $701 -1.50
355–399 value added 378 37 206.00–229.00 $217.63 $823 -5.44
400–447 value added 423 47 190.00–219.00 $208.14 $880 +2.25
400–440 428 19 177.00–189.00 $184.81 $791 -9.49
450–497 value added 481 35 194.00–208.00 $199.96 $962 -4.65
490 490 2 184.00 $184.00 $902 -0.76
500 500 4 183.00–184.00 $183.25 $916 -2.75
500–546 value added 511 180 185.00–200.00 $197.57 $1,010 -2.96
560–585 568 7 173.00–180.00 $178.97 $1,017 -2.03
550–595 value added 578 23 187.00–198.00 $193.01 $1,116 -2.78
611 fancy 611 3 193.00 $193.00 $1,179 —
600–646 value added 614 80 167.00–188.00 $179.73 $1,104 +1.86
607–640 618 3 151.00–160.00 $154.11 $952 —
650–675 value added 656 4 161.00–168.00 $166.20 $1,090 -14.22
672 672 68 172.75 $172.75 $1,161 +22.75
670–685 fancy 683 85 182.10–182.50 $182.16 $1,244 —
700–738 value added 712 25 161.00–178.00 $167.30 $1,191 -9.38
700–740 720 2 144.00–151.00 $147.60 $1,063 —
763–782 771 6 140.00–152.00 $143.69 $1,108 —
780–785 value added 785 67 157.00–172.50 $172.27 $1,352 +21.27
820 820 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,066 -11.24
850–870 860 2 122.00–124.00 $123.01 $1,058 —
864–877 value added 867 8 146.50–159.00 $149.66 $1,298 —
902–921 913 5 106.00–127.00 $118.70 $1,084 -20.35
1045 1045 1 119.00 $119.00 $1,244 —
1105 1105 2 129.00 $129.00 $1,425 —
1157 1157 4 116.00 $116.00 $1,342 —
1160 1160 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,241 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 187.50 $187.50 $450 —
275 275 1 182.50 $182.50 $502 +15.27
320 320 2 180.00 $180.00 $576 +18.23
370 370 2 165.00 $165.00 $610 -7.65
400–448 438 6 140.00–158.00 $152.29 $667 —
460–480 470 3 154.00–171.00 $165.11 $776 +3.11
550–595 561 8 155.00–170.00 $163.77 $919 +3.77
600–605 602 3 134.00–145.00 $140.65 $847 —
680–695 685 6 120.00–150.00 $140.07 $959 +20.07
765–790 783 5 116.00–130.00 $118.93 $931 -16.29
845 845 1 118.00 $118.00 $997 -8.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
342 342 2 200.00 $200.00 $684 —
545 545 1 178.00 $178.00 $970 —
577 577 2 173.00 $173.00 $998 —
645 645 1 150.00 $150.00 $968 —
975 975 1 118.00 $118.00 $1,150 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195 1195 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,589 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 190.00 $190.00 $428 -17.50
275 275 1 210.00 $210.00 $578 —
301–330 value added 308 4 221.00–238.00 $233.45 $719 +12.69
336 336 4 247.50 $247.50 $832 —
352–380 365 4 205.00–212.00 $209.21 $764 +2.50
350–395 value added 383 18 217.00–235.00 $226.25 $867 -3.17
400 400 2 190.00 $190.00 $760 -31.55
402–405 value added 404 4 221.00–230.00 $223.51 $903 -4.27
455–480 value added 465 20 210.00–245.00 $230.50 $1,072 -3.79
490 490 1 181.00 $181.00 $887 -28.36
515–545 value added 524 9 209.00–241.00 $226.93 $1,189 -0.27
530–540 533 3 198.00–200.00 $198.68 $1,059 -1.36
570 570 1 184.00 $184.00 $1,049 —
570–590 value added 576 10 202.00–217.00 $210.51 $1,213 -11.89
610–640 625 2 162.50–171.00 $166.65 $1,042 -28.35
615–640 value added 627 3 180.00–212.00 $191.80 $1,203 -25.87
655 value added 655 1 199.00 $199.00 $1,303 —
702 value added 702 2 162.00 $162.00 $1,137 —
715–728 725 4 158.00–165.00 $163.27 $1,184 +13.27
750–781 768 6 143.00–164.00 $147.28 $1,131 -34.72
820–835 828 2 123.00–134.00 $128.55 $1,064 -9.73
855–872 861 7 124.00–147.00 $135.36 $1,165 -17.64
955 955 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,050 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225–245 239 5 167.50–190.00 $173.27 $414 -1.73
265 265 1 167.50 $167.50 $444 -33.50
395 395 1 177.50 $177.50 $701 -2.50
470 470 1 163.00 $163.00 $766 -12.41
505–535 514 5 155.00–188.00 $174.88 $899 —
575–580 578 2 170.00–177.00 $173.52 $1,003 —
935 935 1 100.00 $100.00 $935 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 140.00 $140.00 $462 —
392 392 2 151.00 $151.00 $592 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
445 445 1 200.00 $200.00 $890 —
790 790 1 136.00 $136.00 $1,074 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
960–1445 1199 80-85% 12 83.00–90.00 $87.15 $1,045 —
970–1515 1227 80-85% 51 91.00–112.00 $99.77 $1,224 -1.01
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1375–1420 1398 75-80% 3 86.00–90.00 $88.34 $1,235 —
1205–1910 1499 75-80% 47 91.00–112.00 $101.32 $1,519 -1.22
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805–870 847 85-90% 3 64.00–69.00 $66.61 $564 —
730–1175 921 85-90% 10 67.00–77.00 $72.97 $672 —
830–1345 1061 85-90% 11 75.00–86.00 $82.44 $875 -7.35
950–1355 1122 85-90% 18 88.00–101.00 $93.27 $1,046 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–1910 1391 10 101.00–120.00 $112.36 $1,563 —
1265–2145 1703 13 122.00–143.00 $132.22 $2,252 -1.50

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
830–895 863 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 84.00–88.00 $86.08 $743

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
980–1155 1073 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 925.00–1,450.00 $1,110.81
1105–1235 1188 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,060.00–1,375.00 $1,182.87
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
870–960 915 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 735.00–800.00 $765.90
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
680 680 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 510.00 $510.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
775 775 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
755 755 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 750.00 $750.00

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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
1265 1265 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
597 597 2 130.00 $130.00 $776 —
600 600 6 137.00 $137.00 $822 —
732 732 4 109.00 $109.00 $798 —
902 902 2 106.00 $106.00 $956 —
1082 1082 2 103.00 $103.00 $1,114 —

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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.