Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 3, 2023

1,418 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $172.38/cwt +6.54 vs last sale · ≈ $1,253/hd at 727 lb · 161 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $238.72/cwt -2.99 vs last sale · ≈ $1,253/hd at 525 lb · 114 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 steers $241.69/cwt +1.71 vs last sale · ≈ $1,152/hd at 477 lb · 67 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,418 1,805 1,268
Feeder cattle 1,169 1,575 1,059
Slaughter cattle 212 194 181
Replacement cattle 37 36 28

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers and heifers sold steady to firm with very good demand for weaned thin-fleshed packages suitable for grass. Yearlings sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand. Slaughter cows sold steady and slaughter bulls sold 2.00 lower 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
270 270 1 212.50 $212.50 $574 -17.50
260–285 value added 273 2 243.00–247.50 $245.35 $670 +15.39
357–375 thin fleshed 367 15 254.00–264.00 $258.80 $950 —
360–395 value added 372 9 221.00–252.00 $236.55 $880 +2.46
400–447 value added 421 29 237.50–264.00 $251.31 $1,058 +9.60
410–445 433 6 200.00–212.00 $208.42 $902 -6.52
461 thin fleshed 461 7 250.00 $250.00 $1,152 —
460–465 463 2 200.00–210.00 $205.03 $949 -5.97
450–498 value added 479 58 224.00–259.00 $241.95 $1,159 +1.07
500–547 value added 525 114 222.00–259.00 $238.72 $1,253 -6.95
565–595 value added 573 28 213.00–241.00 $231.86 $1,329 -0.15
577–585 578 7 210.00 $210.00 $1,214 -1.67
603–645 value added 617 43 209.00–240.00 $220.78 $1,362 +0.50
615–645 635 3 190.00–196.00 $191.94 $1,219 —
650–695 value added 665 30 200.00–224.50 $214.15 $1,424 +7.41
702–730 711 3 183.00–188.00 $184.71 $1,313 —
710–740 value added 722 12 191.00–206.50 $200.67 $1,449 +10.98
757–787 value added 765 23 184.00–190.50 $189.53 $1,450 +11.72
818 value added 818 7 188.00 $188.00 $1,538 —
880–890 886 8 176.00–183.00 $181.37 $1,607 +3.07
917 917 2 178.00 $178.00 $1,632 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 value added 330 1 196.00 $196.00 $647 —
765–770 768 2 155.00–168.00 $161.52 $1,240 —
905 905 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,548 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 200.00 $200.00 $680 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
213–245 value added 223 6 200.00–225.00 $215.09 $480 —
250–265 255 5 171.00–190.00 $183.60 $468 -18.90
263–292 value added 273 6 202.00–222.50 $209.32 $571 -17.68
300–342 value added 319 10 196.00–228.00 $214.79 $685 +2.01
310–330 320 4 191.00–196.00 $193.53 $619 -0.95
372–385 376 4 183.00–190.00 $188.21 $708 -5.00
350–398 value added 378 10 199.00–230.00 $216.51 $818 -1.12
403–415 406 11 184.00–191.00 $187.79 $762 +2.98
400–447 value added 419 42 195.00–229.00 $215.21 $902 +7.07
450–497 value added 465 56 192.00–214.00 $201.32 $936 +1.36
450–475 469 4 182.00–185.00 $182.72 $857 -1.28
500–547 value added 519 41 185.00–204.00 $195.53 $1,015 -2.04
515–527 522 8 180.00–183.00 $181.88 $949 -1.37
550–580 573 15 178.00–182.00 $179.46 $1,028 +0.49
552–595 value added 574 33 183.00–200.00 $191.74 $1,101 -1.27
601–640 value added 610 28 179.50–195.00 $184.21 $1,124 +4.48
650–686 value added 678 15 176.00–182.00 $178.13 $1,208 +11.93
700–701 701 5 160.00–161.00 $160.60 $1,126 +13.00
703–749 value added 728 156 171.10–174.25 $172.76 $1,258 +5.46
763–778 value added 773 13 171.00 $171.00 $1,322 -1.27
800 value added 800 1 143.00 $143.00 $1,144 —
845 845 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,141 +5.00
910–925 918 2 126.00–129.00 $127.51 $1,171 +8.81
990 990 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,317 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–240 225 2 160.00–162.50 $161.17 $363 -26.33
260–270 265 2 142.50–160.00 $151.08 $400 -31.42
325–340 333 2 161.00–180.00 $170.71 $568 -9.29
357 357 2 183.00 $183.00 $653 +18.00
400–440 418 4 150.00–160.00 $154.43 $646 +2.14
450 450 2 136.00–162.00 $149.00 $670 -16.11
530 530 1 172.00 $172.00 $912 —
560–590 575 2 165.00–169.00 $166.95 $960 +3.18
615–635 628 4 144.00–151.00 $147.77 $928 +7.12
655–695 682 3 121.00–135.00 $129.50 $883 -10.57
720–745 733 4 115.00–129.00 $121.74 $892 —
760–795 772 3 110.00–130.00 $122.15 $943 +3.22
822 822 2 104.00 $104.00 $855 -14.00
915–925 920 2 103.00–111.00 $106.98 $984 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 200.00 $200.00 $780 —
522 522 4 179.00 $179.00 $934 +1.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 100.00 $100.00 $315 —
510–525 518 2 133.00–134.00 $133.51 $692 —
570 570 1 137.50 $137.50 $784 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230–235 233 2 201.00–217.50 $209.34 $488 +19.34
270 value added 270 1 237.00 $237.00 $640 —
260–285 273 2 200.00–215.00 $207.16 $566 -2.84
300–328 321 4 200.00–220.00 $204.67 $657 -42.83
310–338 value added 325 11 221.00–250.00 $232.66 $756 -0.79
350–390 value added 370 4 230.00–245.00 $239.01 $884 +12.76
362–385 375 7 196.00–230.00 $205.33 $770 -3.88
380 thin fleshed 380 3 260.00 $260.00 $988 —
416 thin fleshed 416 4 265.00 $265.00 $1,102 —
405–437 value added 423 13 231.00–250.00 $241.18 $1,020 +17.67
415–435 425 2 205.00–228.00 $216.77 $921 +26.77
453–485 value added 469 15 212.50–250.00 $234.91 $1,102 +4.41
490–495 493 3 200.00–211.00 $203.64 $1,004 +22.64
502–545 value added 524 13 207.00–241.00 $228.19 $1,196 +1.26
550–590 561 14 180.00–203.00 $193.47 $1,085 +9.47
550–595 value added 573 23 192.00–240.00 $229.59 $1,316 +19.08
600–625 value added 610 3 190.00–209.00 $199.23 $1,215 +7.43
670–690 value added 678 3 170.00–192.00 $180.23 $1,222 -18.77
705 705 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,269 +16.73
725–740 value added 732 3 161.00–173.00 $168.02 $1,230 +6.02
795 795 1 157.00 $157.00 $1,248 +9.72
861 861 3 155.00 $155.00 $1,335 +19.64
1030 1030 1 105.00 $105.00 $1,082 —
1150 1150 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,276 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235–245 238 3 160.00–190.00 $176.43 $420 +3.16
470 470 1 160.00 $160.00 $752 -3.00
600–635 618 2 140.00–160.00 $149.72 $925 —
725 725 1 132.00 $132.00 $957 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 1 193.00 $193.00 $1,013 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 157.50 $157.50 $614 +6.50

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
660–1100 868 85-90% 9 55.00–67.00 $61.00 $529 —
790–1240 973 85-90% 4 70.00–76.00 $73.30 $713 —
680–1220 978 85-90% 25 77.00–85.00 $81.64 $798 —
890–1300 1050 85-90% 26 86.00–104.00 $90.45 $950 +8.01
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035–1325 1162 80-85% 17 83.00–91.00 $87.66 $1,019 —
985–1550 1216 80-85% 42 93.00–106.00 $98.62 $1,199 -1.15
1225–1330 1278 80-85% 2 82.00 $82.00 $1,048 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1140–2010 1414 75-80% 34 92.00–112.00 $99.90 $1,413 —
1400–1455 1422 75-80% 3 88.00–89.00 $88.33 $1,256 —
1460 1460 75-80% 1 82.00 $82.00 $1,197 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–1740 1373 12 99.00–119.00 $108.70 $1,492 -3.66
1685–2040 1801 4 120.00–129.00 $124.91 $2,250 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
860 860 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 89.00 $89.00 $765
880–950 915 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 96.00–117.00 $106.10 $971

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1115–1350 1250 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,010.00–1,385.00 $1,172.55
1165–1490 1350 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,200.00–1,375.00 $1,300.64
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
890 890 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
890 890 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 625.00 $625.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
955 955 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
825 825 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 675.00 $675.00

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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
1255–1390 1302 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 7 1,275.00–1,750.00 $1,656.91 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
760 760 1 123.00 $123.00 $935 —

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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.