Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 8, 2023

824 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $196.53/cwt +4.02 vs last sale · ≈ $1,562/hd at 795 lb · 73 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $192.70/cwt -4.67 vs last sale · ≈ $1,014/hd at 526 lb · 49 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $210.41/cwt +5.02 vs last sale · ≈ $1,491/hd at 709 lb · 48 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 824 1,373 603
Feeder cattle 668 1,178 483
Slaughter cattle 145 168 94
Replacement cattle 11 27 26

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers and heifers sold steady on similar quality with good demand for weaned calf packages. 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
285 value added 285 1 222.50 $222.50 $634 —
317 317 2 212.00 $212.00 $672 —
390 value added 390 1 233.00 $233.00 $909 -8.87
430 430 1 198.00 $198.00 $851 -11.40
407–447 value added 434 21 220.00–259.00 $246.22 $1,069 -5.02
455–486 value added 466 10 230.00–253.00 $248.02 $1,156 +3.56
485 485 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,018 —
525 525 2 196.00–200.00 $198.00 $1,040 —
500–545 value added 527 27 210.00–236.00 $229.57 $1,210 -7.85
552–592 value added 561 37 224.00–240.00 $237.36 $1,332 +2.08
575–590 584 5 195.00–209.00 $204.04 $1,192 -1.96
605–635 620 2 196.00–201.00 $198.56 $1,231 -12.55
600–646 value added 621 24 220.00–231.00 $226.79 $1,408 -2.90
650–670 value added 657 8 205.00–216.00 $210.74 $1,385 -16.97
670 670 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,273 -19.00
700–730 value added 708 4 198.00–200.00 $199.48 $1,412 -5.58
708 thin fleshed 708 43 212.25 $212.25 $1,503 —
735 735 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,286 -14.48
760–767 765 3 174.00–181.00 $178.68 $1,367 -3.98
782–798 value added 796 70 197.00–200.00 $197.29 $1,570 -5.06
805–840 823 2 188.00–194.00 $190.94 $1,571 —
970 970 1 176.00 $176.00 $1,707 -5.45
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 2 171.00 $171.00 $812 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 1 197.50 $197.50 $612 ±0.00
775 775 1 152.50 $152.50 $1,182 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 180.00 $180.00 $486 -4.56
335 335 1 191.00 $191.00 $640 -0.01
355–397 value added 378 14 199.00–220.00 $204.99 $775 +3.02
385–395 392 5 187.00–199.00 $192.37 $754 +3.75
405–440 422 9 181.00–191.00 $185.77 $784 -2.52
427 fancy 427 2 222.00 $222.00 $948 —
420–448 value added 440 13 198.00–216.00 $204.69 $901 -7.47
465–495 value added 479 8 198.00–210.00 $207.11 $992 +3.45
467–495 485 8 178.00–194.00 $186.02 $902 +0.73
500–543 value added 525 37 185.00–204.00 $198.01 $1,040 -2.58
517–532 529 12 171.00–183.00 $176.33 $933 -6.97
561–567 563 5 182.00–185.00 $183.21 $1,031 -1.40
550–585 value added 564 20 188.00–211.00 $200.95 $1,133 +5.23
602–640 value added 617 12 181.00–192.00 $188.40 $1,162 +8.62
620 620 1 166.00 $166.00 $1,029 -1.98
650–674 value added 667 14 178.00–188.50 $186.98 $1,247 +7.02
700–749 value added 732 11 165.00–172.00 $170.78 $1,250 -6.96
745 745 1 159.00 $159.00 $1,185 -5.07
750 value added 750 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,312 -16.92
792 792 2 156.00 $156.00 $1,236 —
810–835 818 3 135.00–150.00 $140.10 $1,146 -5.90
851 851 4 161.00 $161.00 $1,370 +13.00
941 value added 941 5 146.00 $146.00 $1,374 —
990 990 1 127.00 $127.00 $1,257 -5.00
1020–1031 1028 4 113.00–123.00 $120.52 $1,239 -2.35
1215–1231 1229 9 112.00 $112.00 $1,376 —
1275 1275 1 113.00 $113.00 $1,441 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 210 1 150.00 $150.00 $315 —
355–395 374 6 147.00–174.00 $163.46 $611 -0.68
405–442 424 4 168.00–170.00 $169.04 $717 +0.47
450–490 480 4 151.00–169.00 $162.23 $779 -0.17
520–540 528 7 150.00–165.00 $154.30 $815 +0.23
550–587 575 4 165.00–168.00 $165.99 $954 +4.59
635 635 1 150.00 $150.00 $952 —
750 750 1 132.00 $132.00 $990 +4.10
815 815 1 127.00 $127.00 $1,035 +7.00
955 955 3 91.00 $91.00 $869 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 165.00 $165.00 $478 —
390 390 1 170.00 $170.00 $663 —
415 415 1 188.00 $188.00 $780 —
465 465 1 177.00 $177.00 $823 -3.00
516 516 3 178.00 $178.00 $918 -7.02
680–685 683 2 157.00–181.00 $169.04 $1,155 —
720 720 1 163.00 $163.00 $1,174 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 1 120.00 $120.00 $372 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 1 220.00 $220.00 $616 +5.65
330–335 value added 333 2 222.50–235.00 $228.70 $762 -13.37
360–395 373 4 200.00–210.00 $207.48 $774 -9.09
390 value added 390 1 233.00 $233.00 $909 -7.48
405–445 value added 422 7 220.00–244.00 $234.69 $990 -3.34
430 430 1 184.00 $184.00 $791 -20.04
455–470 value added 467 5 221.00–228.00 $223.37 $1,043 -9.97
455–495 476 4 186.00–214.00 $195.55 $931 -12.62
500–530 value added 511 12 220.00–241.00 $232.87 $1,190 -4.50
517–542 532 7 180.00–212.00 $200.16 $1,065 -1.04
555–580 value added 563 7 211.00–223.00 $218.11 $1,228 -18.16
555–595 578 4 194.00–204.00 $198.42 $1,147 +1.63
620–645 value added 626 14 194.00–219.00 $213.93 $1,339 +2.76
620–645 635 4 180.00–188.00 $183.99 $1,168 -8.41
650–690 672 7 179.00–191.00 $185.70 $1,248 -5.45
673 value added 673 3 193.00 $193.00 $1,299 -15.10
745–746 746 4 177.00–178.00 $177.75 $1,326 +17.75
755–775 762 3 177.00–182.00 $178.70 $1,362 +16.20
825 825 2 144.00–153.00 $148.50 $1,225 -24.19
855–880 868 2 125.00–154.00 $139.29 $1,209 -8.98
930 930 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,023 —
950 950 1 127.00 $127.00 $1,206 —
1030–1035 1033 2 90.00–106.00 $97.98 $1,012 —
1050 1050 1 113.00 $113.00 $1,186 +22.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530 530 1 147.00 $147.00 $779 —
575 575 1 183.00 $183.00 $1,052 +22.00
645 645 1 153.00 $153.00 $987 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965–1245 1140 80-85% 4 84.00–90.00 $87.88 $1,002 +6.73
1060–1515 1261 80-85% 38 94.00–115.00 $104.33 $1,316 +6.77
1475–1480 1478 80-85% 2 74.00–75.00 $74.50 $1,101 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1095–1475 1320 75-80% 4 86.00–94.00 $90.15 $1,190 +2.50
1150–1890 1473 75-80% 38 95.00–118.00 $104.63 $1,541 +7.57
1550 1550 75-80% 1 76.00 $76.00 $1,178 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870–1305 993 85-90% 13 80.00–89.00 $85.09 $845 +5.84
790–1240 1023 85-90% 3 75.00–79.00 $77.16 $789 -9.21
870–1230 1042 85-90% 13 89.00–103.00 $96.84 $1,009 +10.47
1140 1140 85-90% 1 66.00 $66.00 $752 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1280–1650 1499 6 109.00–120.00 $115.24 $1,727 —
1550–2110 1751 4 123.00–130.00 $127.03 $2,224 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
955 955 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 90.00 $90.00 $860

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
860 860 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 725.00 $725.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
865–1185 1072 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,125.00–1,150.00 $1,140.94 -11.59
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
940–1665 1303 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,300.00–1,700.00 $1,555.66 —

↑ Back to top

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.