Cattle Market Pulse

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

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 17, 2023

1,370 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 $210.56/cwt -2.04 vs last sale · ≈ $890/hd at 423 lb · 89 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $234.20/cwt -2.01 vs last sale · ≈ $1,349/hd at 576 lb · 81 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $206.76/cwt +11.55 vs last sale · ≈ $1,085/hd at 525 lb · 71 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,370 763 970
Feeder cattle 1,114 655 826
Slaughter cattle 240 103 114
Replacement cattle 16 5 30

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers sold mostly steady except 600-800 lbs 3.00 to 7.00 higher in a light test. Feeder heifers sold steady except 500-700 lbs sold 3.00 to 7.00 higher with good demand for weaned thin-fleshed packages. Very good buyer participation on an active market for all classes. Slaughter cows sold steady with good demand on a heavy supply. 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
255–270 value added 263 2 235.00–247.50 $241.07 $634 —
305–345 value added 324 24 220.00–283.00 $247.99 $803 +18.72
350–385 value added 370 22 210.00–258.00 $239.84 $887 -22.24
405 405 3 217.50 $217.50 $881 -2.50
402–445 value added 419 43 227.00–266.00 $248.94 $1,043 -3.93
455–498 value added 475 47 234.00–267.00 $250.79 $1,191 -2.20
465–495 475 4 203.00–213.00 $208.08 $988 -11.92
500–545 value added 511 31 213.00–265.00 $247.65 $1,265 -2.39
530 530 1 206.00 $206.00 $1,092 —
550–599 value added 576 81 212.00–244.00 $234.20 $1,349 -2.01
620–645 value added 626 19 212.00–241.00 $232.01 $1,452 +7.97
600–645 630 3 192.00–195.00 $192.95 $1,216 +2.95
658 658 3 190.00 $190.00 $1,250 +6.07
650–695 value added 678 31 198.00–228.00 $215.68 $1,462 +10.68
710–721 value added 717 9 193.00–219.00 $213.10 $1,528 —
755–790 value added 771 10 186.00–218.50 $212.06 $1,635 +20.85
770–795 783 2 177.00–179.00 $177.98 $1,394 +3.32
810 value added 810 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,531 —
815–845 835 3 173.00 $173.00 $1,445 -11.00
855–881 value added 876 5 180.00–185.00 $184.02 $1,612 —
925–945 935 2 171.00–180.00 $175.55 $1,641 —
955–985 value added 970 2 188.00–190.00 $188.98 $1,833 —
995 995 1 179.00 $179.00 $1,781 —
1020 1020 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,530 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 1 200.00 $200.00 $610 —
405 405 1 200.00 $200.00 $810 —
455 455 1 200.00 $200.00 $910 —
515 515 1 182.50 $182.50 $940 —
665–685 672 3 177.00–188.00 $180.74 $1,215 +14.48
820 820 2 150.00 $150.00 $1,230 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
487 value added 487 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,096 —
535 535 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,016 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
217 217 2 192.50 $192.50 $418 —
227 value added 227 2 215.00 $215.00 $488 —
250–285 268 2 190.00–198.00 $193.74 $519 +2.12
250–295 value added 274 8 205.00–223.00 $213.75 $586 —
305–348 value added 327 11 210.00–220.00 $215.15 $704 -1.32
305–347 332 11 187.50–207.00 $201.06 $668 +2.06
350–395 value added 377 24 208.00–228.00 $216.11 $815 -7.97
365–395 380 6 195.00–206.00 $200.59 $762 +11.09
400–445 value added 422 78 200.00–222.00 $213.02 $899 -1.83
410–444 429 11 185.00–196.00 $193.10 $828 +3.00
450–498 value added 480 61 196.00–217.00 $207.00 $994 +5.11
491 491 3 188.00 $188.00 $923 —
500–547 value added 525 71 198.00–217.50 $206.76 $1,085 +11.55
550–595 value added 563 25 191.00–210.00 $202.26 $1,139 +14.73
550–595 578 12 180.00–190.00 $185.21 $1,071 +12.10
600–642 value added 616 49 180.00–200.00 $194.02 $1,195 +10.06
615–645 622 10 169.00–176.00 $171.03 $1,064 +1.03
650–697 value added 680 16 180.00–192.00 $183.35 $1,247 +3.53
700 700 2 161.00 $161.00 $1,127 +11.00
727–734 value added 732 7 160.00–173.00 $163.69 $1,198 —
785–793 791 4 143.00–154.00 $151.27 $1,197 -4.73
815–845 837 6 127.00–156.00 $138.69 $1,161 —
860–880 873 3 123.00–130.00 $127.70 $1,115 -30.30
915 915 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,372 —
1040 1040 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,394 —
1370 1370 1 129.00 $129.00 $1,767 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 182.50 $182.50 $402 —
255–277 266 7 160.00–183.00 $172.71 $459 +6.46
300 300 1 161.00 $161.00 $483 -14.00
350 350 2 155.00 $155.00 $542 —
420 420 2 174.00–177.50 $175.75 $738 +9.52
450 450 1 140.00 $140.00 $630 —
605–610 608 2 140.00–159.00 $149.46 $909 —
700 700 1 139.00 $139.00 $973 +14.32
770–790 777 3 120.00–136.00 $129.25 $1,004 —
800–817 813 5 93.00–126.00 $107.12 $871 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
447 447 2 187.00 $187.00 $836 —
495 495 1 190.00 $190.00 $940 —
545 545 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,101 —
546 value added 546 4 191.00 $191.00 $1,043 —
560 560 1 182.00 $182.00 $1,019 —
615 615 1 167.00 $167.00 $1,027 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 2 150.00 $150.00 $300 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 value added 245 1 275.00 $275.00 $674 —
247 247 2 257.00 $257.00 $635 —
271–295 value added 279 5 222.50–270.00 $243.36 $679 —
280 280 1 235.00 $235.00 $658 +28.80
321 thin fleshed 321 3 253.00 $253.00 $812 —
315–347 value added 336 11 217.50–271.00 $243.74 $819 +6.32
350–362 thin fleshed 358 3 264.00–268.00 $265.30 $950 —
351–395 value added 382 17 223.00–254.00 $240.45 $919 -9.39
422 thin fleshed 422 4 265.00 $265.00 $1,118 —
407–437 value added 423 17 220.00–249.00 $236.26 $999 +2.86
460–490 value added 475 10 218.00–255.00 $237.12 $1,126 -8.89
472–485 476 3 200.00–219.00 $212.55 $1,012 +7.16
505–535 value added 515 22 207.00–249.00 $228.79 $1,178 -21.32
530 530 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,060 —
535 thin fleshed 535 10 250.00 $250.00 $1,338 —
567 thin fleshed 567 2 226.00 $226.00 $1,281 -9.00
573–590 value added 582 8 203.00–221.00 $213.34 $1,242 +1.50
585 585 1 198.00 $198.00 $1,158 +4.00
605–647 value added 614 11 174.00–214.00 $205.15 $1,260 +8.52
630–648 641 5 170.00–195.00 $178.65 $1,145 -0.35
650–692 value added 676 7 182.00–212.00 $199.45 $1,348 +6.94
667–696 688 9 171.00–187.00 $180.18 $1,240 +2.70
737 737 2 171.00 $171.00 $1,260 -7.84
770 770 2 162.00 $162.00 $1,247 -1.64
805–810 808 2 146.00–175.00 $160.46 $1,297 +2.46
825 thin fleshed 825 3 164.00 $164.00 $1,353 —
890–895 892 3 140.00–150.00 $143.35 $1,279 +4.35
1005 1005 1 119.00 $119.00 $1,196 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 187.50 $187.50 $431 —
290 290 2 160.00–161.00 $160.50 $465 —
360–370 365 2 177.50–190.00 $183.66 $670 -6.34
420–435 428 2 170.00–172.50 $171.23 $733 —
505–535 514 5 162.50–183.00 $168.24 $865 -1.76
595 595 1 160.00 $160.00 $952 —
952–985 963 3 117.00–132.00 $126.89 $1,222 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 250 1 200.00 $200.00 $500 —
475 475 1 210.00 $210.00 $998 —
590 590 1 208.00 $208.00 $1,227 —
795 795 1 153.00 $153.00 $1,216 —
820 820 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,394 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380–390 383 3 112.50–140.00 $124.07 $475 +21.57

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045–1175 1111 80-85% 4 78.00–82.00 $80.33 $892 —
895–1485 1171 80-85% 26 84.00–90.00 $87.38 $1,023 —
1015–1660 1269 80-85% 45 90.00–114.00 $100.21 $1,272 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260–1750 1422 75-80% 7 86.00–91.00 $88.73 $1,262 +6.73
1230–1810 1458 75-80% 51 92.00–112.00 $100.90 $1,471 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725–780 750 85-90% 3 53.00–65.00 $59.52 $446 —
815–1035 899 85-90% 10 67.00–74.00 $71.38 $642 —
710–1275 988 85-90% 19 74.00–85.00 $79.11 $782 —
845–1215 1049 85-90% 23 85.00–99.00 $91.17 $956 +2.11

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–2015 1565 14 101.00–117.00 $109.27 $1,710 —
1585–2030 1812 11 120.00–130.00 $124.88 $2,263 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1025–1360 1246 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,125.00–1,200.00 $1,184.58
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1010 1010 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 725.00 $725.00
970–1060 1015 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 760.00–825.00 $791.06

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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
1020–1217 1151 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,275.00–1,550.00 $1,468.79 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1090 1090 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 625.00 $625.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 1 83.00 $83.00 $357 -77.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
416 value added 416 4 155.00 $155.00 $645 —
509 value added 509 6 157.00 $157.00 $799 —
575 575 1 154.00 $154.00 $886 —
630 630 1 143.00 $143.00 $901 —

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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.