Cattle Market Pulse

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

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 1, 2023

1,373 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 steers $205.39/cwt +17.02 vs last sale · ≈ $1,513/hd at 737 lb · 145 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $213.17/cwt -8.78 vs last sale · ≈ $1,343/hd at 630 lb · 81 head
light 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $189.95/cwt +9.95 vs last sale · ≈ $1,727/hd at 909 lb · 68 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,373 2,579 941
Feeder cattle 1,178 2,397 754
Slaughter cattle 168 173 177
Replacement cattle 27 9 10

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers sold 3.00 to 7.00 higher with very good demand for weaned and yearling packages. Feeder heifers sold steady on similar quality weaned packages. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 2.00 lower with good demand. 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
315–338 value added 325 8 225.00–260.00 $244.46 $794 +25.38
360–398 value added 387 10 235.00–253.00 $241.87 $936 -5.34
400–436 value added 415 55 222.00–259.00 $251.24 $1,043 +0.28
435–445 442 3 200.00–214.00 $209.40 $926 +19.40
451–490 value added 468 45 220.00–250.00 $244.46 $1,144 +4.60
505–542 value added 528 35 219.00–248.00 $237.42 $1,254 +3.57
556–570 value added 563 28 221.00–248.00 $235.28 $1,325 -0.01
570 570 1 206.00 $206.00 $1,174 —
601–627 value added 607 9 220.00–236.00 $229.69 $1,394 +7.74
607–641 633 72 211.00–212.00 $211.11 $1,336 —
654–665 value added 657 18 220.00–231.00 $227.71 $1,496 +8.57
667 667 2 209.00 $209.00 $1,394 —
701 fancy 701 5 221.00 $221.00 $1,549 —
700–748 value added 738 138 196.35–213.75 $205.06 $1,513 +16.69
735–740 738 2 185.00–194.00 $189.48 $1,398 —
765–780 value added 775 3 199.00–204.00 $202.35 $1,568 +15.18
770–785 778 3 178.00–189.00 $182.66 $1,421 —
833 fancy 833 9 194.00 $194.00 $1,616 +2.60
850–890 870 2 171.00–175.00 $172.95 $1,505 -12.05
909 fancy 909 68 189.95 $189.95 $1,727 —
950–985 968 2 179.00–184.00 $181.45 $1,756 +9.45
1002 1002 2 157.00 $157.00 $1,573 +28.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 197.50 $197.50 $672 —
415 415 1 182.00 $182.00 $755 +12.00
502 502 4 180.00–183.00 $181.50 $911 —
600–602 601 4 170.00–178.00 $174.01 $1,046 -0.99
665–685 675 2 181.00–183.00 $181.99 $1,228 -7.01
845 845 1 161.00 $161.00 $1,360 —
920 920 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,518 +37.00
998 998 7 167.00 $167.00 $1,667 —
1070 1070 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,498 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 510 2 156.00 $156.00 $796 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840 840 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,512 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–240 220 2 180.00–192.50 $185.68 $408 —
275 fancy 275 1 207.50 $207.50 $571 —
275–295 289 5 180.00–187.50 $184.56 $533 -14.34
320 value added 320 3 201.00 $201.00 $643 -14.43
307–345 322 7 182.50–195.00 $191.01 $615 -3.00
355–390 value added 370 15 197.00–210.00 $201.97 $747 -8.63
360–395 384 8 187.00–192.00 $188.62 $724 +4.14
406–441 value added 427 12 201.00–216.00 $212.16 $906 +9.93
415–445 428 13 180.00–198.00 $188.29 $806 -6.13
455–480 463 4 180.00–189.00 $185.29 $858 -6.12
450–495 value added 472 28 191.00–213.00 $203.66 $961 +0.01
501–545 value added 520 35 191.00–208.00 $200.59 $1,043 -0.72
510–545 522 8 180.00–188.00 $183.30 $957 -4.93
565–595 583 11 180.00–189.00 $184.61 $1,076 -12.68
555–595 value added 588 11 193.00–204.00 $195.72 $1,151 -1.22
600–645 value added 627 17 174.00–187.00 $179.78 $1,127 -0.94
600–647 630 9 161.00–171.00 $167.98 $1,058 -23.59
650–688 value added 672 21 178.00–181.00 $179.96 $1,209 +3.96
655–690 673 2 175.00–178.00 $176.54 $1,188 +9.32
700–725 718 4 151.00–173.00 $164.07 $1,178 -12.41
718–740 value added 725 6 174.00–185.00 $177.74 $1,289 +7.94
750–757 value added 757 59 181.00–192.50 $191.92 $1,453 +30.67
800 800 1 146.00 $146.00 $1,168 —
858 858 8 148.00 $148.00 $1,270 —
920 920 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,196 +4.00
985 985 1 132.00 $132.00 $1,300 +5.55
1005–1030 1020 3 108.00–139.00 $122.87 $1,253 -11.29
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–285 270 6 150.00–175.00 $168.14 $454 +2.01
335–340 337 3 147.50–180.00 $163.33 $550 -1.08
355–390 366 5 160.00–175.00 $164.14 $601 +14.32
400–445 418 11 160.00–188.00 $168.57 $705 +0.75
465–488 478 7 136.00–182.00 $162.40 $776 +9.38
500–545 535 14 144.00–170.00 $154.07 $824 -17.57
555–592 584 10 152.50–175.00 $161.40 $943 +1.89
650 650 1 139.00 $139.00 $904 -4.10
715–725 723 4 120.00 $120.00 $868 -29.62
770–795 783 2 122.00–134.00 $127.90 $1,001 -26.10
840 840 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,008 -4.60
930 930 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,116 +11.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 1 180.00 $180.00 $837 —
540–547 544 4 182.00–188.00 $185.02 $1,007 -2.64
580 580 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,015 -13.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1145 1132 3 131.00–137.00 $132.95 $1,505 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 145.00 $145.00 $319 —
585 585 1 137.50 $137.50 $804 +22.50

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–285 273 6 197.50–240.00 $214.35 $585 —
320–321 321 4 219.00–220.00 $219.25 $704 —
315–345 value added 333 5 231.00–254.00 $242.07 $806 +24.93
360–395 value added 381 15 234.00–250.00 $240.48 $916 +17.72
385–395 390 2 211.00–222.00 $216.57 $845 —
405–449 value added 433 18 221.00–245.00 $238.03 $1,031 +9.83
420–445 435 4 191.00–221.00 $204.04 $888 —
450–495 value added 476 19 221.00–248.00 $233.34 $1,111 +3.02
450–495 480 10 192.00–220.00 $208.17 $999 +12.51
500–530 518 5 180.00–216.00 $201.20 $1,042 +8.20
500–538 value added 524 24 228.00–249.00 $237.37 $1,244 +23.10
550–595 value added 564 21 220.00–245.00 $236.27 $1,333 +17.16
555–595 576 12 181.00–219.00 $196.79 $1,134 —
600–635 value added 616 9 204.00–214.00 $211.17 $1,301 +5.46
615–635 625 2 186.00–199.00 $192.40 $1,202 +21.40
650–670 value added 656 10 205.00–210.00 $208.10 $1,365 +11.30
656–685 667 5 181.00–196.00 $191.15 $1,275 —
718–745 value added 726 5 183.00–191.00 $188.17 $1,366 +0.75
730 730 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,168 -22.00
750–783 value added 766 8 182.00–191.00 $185.12 $1,418 +3.25
780 780 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,268 —
815–825 821 7 141.00–178.00 $172.69 $1,418 -2.31
860–885 870 5 142.50–151.00 $148.27 $1,290 -22.73
1070 1070 1 91.00 $91.00 $974 -19.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 250 1 182.50 $182.50 $456 -13.50
405–445 430 3 160.00–190.00 $170.23 $732 +10.23
560 560 1 161.00 $161.00 $902 —
600 600 1 137.00 $137.00 $822 -24.00
650 650 2 161.00–166.00 $163.50 $1,063 —
725 725 1 147.00 $147.00 $1,066 +25.00
930 930 1 97.00 $97.00 $902 —
970–985 978 2 110.00–115.00 $112.48 $1,100 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 505 1 190.00 $190.00 $960 —
732 732 5 195.00 $195.00 $1,427 —
955 955 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,050 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1155 1155 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1180 1136 80-85% 6 77.00–83.00 $81.15 $922 —
895–1585 1165 80-85% 14 85.00–90.00 $87.47 $1,019 +0.13
1040–1785 1275 80-85% 30 90.50–112.00 $97.56 $1,244 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
750–1020 857 85-90% 9 40.00–65.00 $57.61 $494 —
695–1190 910 85-90% 10 65.00–74.00 $68.67 $625 —
885–1215 992 85-90% 12 76.00–82.00 $79.25 $786 -9.13
840–1255 1027 85-90% 13 83.00–91.00 $86.37 $887 +5.98
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1390 1318 75-80% 4 86.00–89.00 $87.65 $1,155 —
1410–1445 1428 75-80% 2 83.00 $83.00 $1,185 —
1180–1670 1458 75-80% 27 90.50–104.50 $97.06 $1,415 -4.00

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–2060 1411 16 98.00–115.00 $108.95 $1,537 —
1850–2020 1943 3 120.00–136.00 $128.50 $2,497 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
825–1150 988 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 98.00–105.00 $100.92 $997

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1255 1255 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,075.00 $1,075.00
1315 1315 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,060.00 $1,060.00
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
810 810 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 585.00 $585.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
840 840 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
870–1370 1068 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 6 1,025.00–1,250.00 $1,152.53 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
970–1020 995 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,450.00–1,500.00 $1,475.63 —
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
665 665 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 850.00 $850.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
715 715 1 120.00 $120.00 $858 —

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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.