Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 24, 2023

2,579 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $197.21/cwt +0.48 vs last sale · ≈ $1,145/hd at 581 lb · 712 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $190.40/cwt -16.36 vs last sale · ≈ $985/hd at 517 lb · 332 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $190.64/cwt +0.52 vs last sale · ≈ $1,206/hd at 632 lb · 245 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,579 1,370 1,578
Feeder cattle 2,397 1,114 1,304
Slaughter cattle 173 240 242
Replacement cattle 9 16 32

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers and heifers sold steady on similar quality with good demand. However market showing a softer undertone for plain, off-colored and fleshy bawling calves. Very good demand for thin-fleshed weaned packages suitable for grass. Slaughter cows and 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
227 value added 227 2 237.50 $237.50 $539 —
300–315 value added 306 5 190.00–243.00 $219.08 $670 -28.91
355–395 value added 372 27 225.00–252.50 $247.21 $920 +7.37
390 390 1 211.00 $211.00 $823 —
420 420 1 190.00 $190.00 $798 -27.50
400–448 value added 421 36 216.00–269.00 $250.96 $1,057 +2.02
450–497 value added 487 19 221.00–256.00 $239.86 $1,168 -10.93
520–545 value added 528 17 208.00–250.00 $233.85 $1,235 -13.80
550–590 value added 578 5 225.00–240.00 $235.29 $1,360 +1.09
605–635 value added 628 6 209.00–226.00 $221.95 $1,394 -10.06
655–685 value added 666 6 212.00–224.00 $219.14 $1,459 +3.46
710–737 value added 728 3 185.00–190.00 $188.37 $1,371 -24.73
750–751 value added 751 6 180.00–191.00 $187.17 $1,406 -24.89
805–825 fancy 816 7 188.00–198.00 $191.40 $1,562 —
845 845 1 178.00 $178.00 $1,504 +5.00
853–880 fancy 854 64 194.00–198.10 $197.90 $1,690 —
865 865 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,600 —
927 927 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,669 +4.45
975 975 2 172.00 $172.00 $1,677 -7.00
1035 1035 1 129.00 $129.00 $1,335 -21.00
1050–1056 1055 4 132.00–175.00 $164.30 $1,733 —
1130 1130 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,718 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 160.00 $160.00 $632 —
445 445 1 170.00 $170.00 $756 —
585 585 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,106 —
600 600 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,050 —
690 690 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,304 +8.26
940 940 1 128.00 $128.00 $1,203 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110–1680 1436 6 136.00–175.00 $165.41 $2,375 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
650 650 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,138 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
276–290 value added 282 6 202.00–213.00 $210.12 $593 -3.63
285–295 290 2 193.00–205.00 $198.90 $577 +5.16
303–347 value added 326 13 210.00–235.00 $215.43 $702 +0.28
340–345 343 3 192.00–195.00 $194.01 $665 -7.05
361–395 value added 379 30 190.00–225.00 $210.60 $798 -5.51
355–396 387 12 180.00–198.00 $184.48 $714 -16.11
403–430 409 145 152.50–201.00 $194.42 $795 +1.32
400–448 value added 420 79 187.00–219.00 $202.23 $849 -10.79
450–492 value added 472 33 188.00–216.00 $203.65 $961 -3.35
455–490 480 138 174.00–195.00 $191.41 $919 +3.41
510–545 516 277 176.50–202.50 $188.23 $971 —
500–549 value added 524 55 190.00–212.00 $201.31 $1,055 -5.45
550–591 579 542 153.00–204.00 $197.29 $1,142 +12.08
550–595 value added 586 170 184.00–203.00 $196.94 $1,154 -5.32
600 600 3 181.00 $181.00 $1,086 +9.97
605–630 value added 619 18 145.00–197.00 $180.72 $1,119 -13.30
600–636 634 224 150.00–193.00 $191.57 $1,215 +20.54
678 value added 678 3 176.00 $176.00 $1,193 -7.35
650–697 693 13 167.00–170.00 $167.22 $1,159 —
705–706 value added 706 5 169.00–170.00 $169.80 $1,199 +6.11
712–729 729 110 155.00–177.00 $176.48 $1,287 +15.48
764–775 value added 767 7 152.00–165.00 $161.25 $1,237 —
780 780 7 142.00–146.00 $144.29 $1,125 -6.98
930 930 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,172 -24.00
950–995 977 5 106.00–135.00 $126.45 $1,235 —
1012–1030 1014 8 94.00–140.00 $134.16 $1,360 +0.16
1127 1127 7 136.00 $136.00 $1,533 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 177.50 $177.50 $426 -5.00
280–295 288 6 150.00–185.00 $166.13 $478 -6.58
312–340 321 5 140.00–181.00 $164.41 $528 +3.41
355–365 362 3 135.00–170.00 $149.82 $542 -5.18
400–445 424 6 129.00–189.00 $167.82 $712 -7.93
450–492 472 35 133.00–185.00 $153.02 $722 +13.02
500–535 514 20 141.00–182.00 $171.64 $882 —
550–595 572 18 131.00–177.00 $159.51 $912 —
655–695 675 2 130.00–157.00 $143.10 $966 —
710–727 725 7 135.00–152.00 $149.62 $1,085 +10.62
780 780 1 154.00 $154.00 $1,201 +24.75
805–845 820 3 112.00–132.50 $124.60 $1,022 +17.48
895 895 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,119 —
945 945 1 109.00 $109.00 $1,030 —
965 965 1 119.00 $119.00 $1,148 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1690 1198 9 141.00–174.00 $160.20 $1,919 —
1107–1455 1238 8 161.00–174.00 $168.93 $2,091 —
1276 1276 5 136.50 $136.50 $1,742 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540–545 541 6 181.00–189.00 $187.66 $1,015 -14.34
570 570 1 188.00 $188.00 $1,072 +6.00
757 757 2 154.00 $154.00 $1,166 —
845 845 1 141.00 $141.00 $1,191 —
950 950 1 114.00 $114.00 $1,083 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 140.00 $140.00 $441 —
435 435 1 130.00 $130.00 $566 —
465 465 1 140.00 $140.00 $651 —
520–545 533 2 121.00–132.50 $126.88 $676 —
565 565 1 115.00 $115.00 $650 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–260 value added 258 2 230.00–231.00 $230.50 $595 -12.86
305–345 value added 330 12 170.00–239.00 $217.14 $717 -26.60
352–395 value added 369 10 190.00–244.00 $222.76 $822 -17.69
400–446 value added 426 15 200.00–245.00 $228.20 $972 -8.06
450–480 468 6 192.00–205.00 $195.66 $916 -16.89
450–492 value added 469 31 211.00–242.00 $230.32 $1,080 -6.80
520 520 1 193.00 $193.00 $1,004 -7.00
500–547 value added 522 23 192.00–234.00 $214.27 $1,118 -14.52
565 fancy 565 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,243 —
550–597 value added 584 18 201.00–230.00 $219.11 $1,280 +5.77
610 610 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,043 -7.65
610–645 value added 627 9 191.00–214.00 $205.71 $1,290 +0.56
650 fancy 650 1 196.00 $196.00 $1,274 —
650–688 value added 672 6 193.00–203.00 $196.80 $1,322 -2.65
725 725 1 182.00 $182.00 $1,320 +11.00
730–745 value added 738 2 180.00–195.00 $187.42 $1,383 —
740 thin fleshed 740 1 176.00 $176.00 $1,302 —
758 thin fleshed 758 3 179.00 $179.00 $1,357 —
757–795 value added 770 3 174.00–186.00 $181.87 $1,400 —
840 840 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,470 +14.54
865 865 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,479 +27.65
910 910 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,010 —
1035 1035 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,097 -13.00
1085 1085 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,194 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 196.00 $196.00 $529 +35.50
305–335 320 2 141.00–162.50 $152.25 $487 —
350–395 379 4 170.00–190.00 $178.32 $676 -5.34
410 410 1 160.00 $160.00 $656 -11.23
480–490 487 3 165.00–181.00 $170.26 $829 —
510–545 523 9 153.00–181.00 $171.18 $895 +2.94
630 630 1 161.00 $161.00 $1,014 —
715 715 1 122.00 $122.00 $872 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 127.50 $127.50 $421 —
385 385 1 140.00 $140.00 $539 +15.93
420 420 1 147.50 $147.50 $620 —
475 475 1 127.50 $127.50 $606 —
570 570 1 150.00 $150.00 $855 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1605 1605 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1025–1285 1169 80-85% 17 83.00–91.00 $87.34 $1,021 -0.04
1085–1275 1176 80-85% 5 79.00–82.00 $80.79 $950 -6.59
985–1515 1190 80-85% 36 93.00–115.00 $101.53 $1,208 +14.15
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1285 1285 75-80% 1 88.00 $88.00 $1,131 —
1300–2005 1467 75-80% 27 90.00–115.00 $101.06 $1,483 +0.16
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
735–890 793 85-90% 4 68.00–71.00 $68.76 $545 —
825–1115 988 85-90% 7 84.00–92.00 $88.38 $873 +9.27
900–1165 1013 85-90% 13 73.00–87.00 $80.39 $814 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–1615 1370 13 106.00–116.00 $111.43 $1,527 —
1115–1895 1659 8 117.00–135.00 $125.36 $2,080 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1060–1065 1063 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 92.00–93.00 $92.50 $983
1075 1075 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 92.00 $92.00 $989
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
955–1030 993 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 103.00–113.00 $107.81

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1110–1165 1133 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 950.00–1,150.00 $1,056.99

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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.