Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, August 21, 2023

700 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $230.77/cwt -17.85 vs last sale · ≈ $1,214/hd at 526 lb · 42 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $202.15/cwt -9.31 vs last sale · ≈ $1,263/hd at 625 lb · 26 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $232.29/cwt -14.76 vs last sale · ≈ $1,086/hd at 468 lb · 25 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 700 1,437 598
Feeder cattle 541 1,259 454
Slaughter cattle 143 176 123
Replacement cattle 16 2 21

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday market noticeably lower on middleweight steers and heifers due to weather. Very hot humid conditions has reduced local demand for stocker calves this week. Yearlings lightly tested. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 2.00 lower 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
317–337 value added 327 4 255.00–260.00 $257.42 $842 —
410–425 value added 413 9 246.00–250.50 $248.21 $1,025 -26.56
450 value added 450 2 242.00 $242.00 $1,089 -34.42
525 525 1 239.00 $239.00 $1,255 -8.00
526–540 value added 527 11 244.00 $244.00 $1,286 -26.70
560–567 565 3 238.00–239.00 $238.67 $1,348 -14.97
600–630 value added 606 13 233.00–241.00 $238.76 $1,447 -12.71
615–645 630 2 225.00–232.00 $228.42 $1,439 -5.32
665 665 1 228.00 $228.00 $1,516 -2.09
655–695 value added 666 13 233.00–248.00 $241.33 $1,607 -13.61
710 value added 710 11 227.00–227.50 $227.41 $1,615 -25.04
804 804 6 225.00 $225.00 $1,809 -0.81
858 858 3 211.00 $211.00 $1,810 ±0.00
918 918 3 181.00 $181.00 $1,662 -22.13
980 980 1 192.00 $192.00 $1,882 -43.00
1025–1035 1028 4 173.00–186.00 $182.73 $1,878 —
1080 1080 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,836 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 244.00 $244.00 $720 —
307 307 2 233.00 $233.00 $715 —
390 390 1 232.00 $232.00 $905 —
445 445 1 229.00 $229.00 $1,019 —
481 481 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,101 -15.51
537 537 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,267 +6.27
600 600 4 190.00 $190.00 $1,140 -30.00
705 705 1 207.00 $207.00 $1,459 -1.00
775 775 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,472 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 220.00 $220.00 $968 —
558 558 3 235.00 $235.00 $1,311 —
675 675 1 221.00 $221.00 $1,492 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 232.00 $232.00 $534 -24.05
245 value added 245 3 280.00 $280.00 $686 -8.07
250–297 value added 281 3 237.50–243.00 $239.13 $672 -27.45
287–295 290 6 214.00–231.00 $221.83 $643 -21.25
315–335 319 5 203.00–227.00 $221.96 $708 -4.67
300–340 value added 322 5 230.00–247.50 $233.70 $753 -22.77
353–380 365 8 214.00–229.00 $220.66 $805 -1.83
370–395 value added 387 13 231.00–238.00 $235.33 $911 -13.06
410–445 426 7 222.00–227.00 $224.49 $956 +1.18
415–445 value added 432 17 231.00–240.00 $236.19 $1,020 -31.99
452–490 value added 464 18 231.00–244.00 $235.80 $1,094 -11.78
450–491 477 7 220.00–228.00 $223.27 $1,065 +5.15
500–545 517 10 219.00–225.00 $221.25 $1,144 -1.44
500–548 value added 529 32 230.00–239.00 $233.75 $1,237 -16.69
555 555 1 224.00 $224.00 $1,243 +2.97
552–586 value added 564 11 226.00–233.00 $230.36 $1,299 -14.41
600–611 value added 605 7 208.00–224.00 $217.07 $1,313 -12.28
600–645 632 19 192.00–205.00 $196.65 $1,243 -3.18
680 680 2 194.00 $194.00 $1,319 +1.06
710–740 729 4 181.00–191.00 $184.70 $1,346 +1.53
780–785 783 2 171.00–193.00 $181.96 $1,425 -16.36
845 845 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,445 —
895 895 7 190.00 $190.00 $1,700 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320–340 330 2 181.00–200.00 $190.21 $628 -10.43
350–390 368 4 190.00–202.50 $194.49 $716 —
445 445 1 190.00 $190.00 $846 +15.96
470 470 1 210.00 $210.00 $987 —
515–540 525 3 182.00–216.00 $204.20 $1,072 +27.04
562–590 576 11 199.00–216.00 $210.30 $1,211 +13.25
610–647 634 5 180.00–191.00 $186.05 $1,180 +20.08
672 672 2 181.00 $181.00 $1,216 +8.49
765–785 775 2 141.00–160.00 $150.62 $1,167 +7.96
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
610 610 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,049 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290 1290 1 124.00 $124.00 $1,600 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 2 267.50 $267.50 $535 +17.50
270 270 1 252.50 $252.50 $682 -22.14
305 value added 305 1 262.50 $262.50 $801 -16.21
300–340 315 9 237.00–260.00 $250.97 $791 -14.03
355–370 364 4 228.00–231.00 $229.77 $836 -24.98
415–447 435 6 226.00–231.00 $229.20 $997 -10.30
450–480 466 4 231.00–240.00 $235.28 $1,096 +10.59
500–540 521 12 219.00–241.00 $231.25 $1,205 -6.44
563–591 572 12 226.00–236.00 $229.64 $1,314 -7.47
600–645 value added 611 4 225.00–228.00 $225.79 $1,380 -9.44
608–635 615 12 193.00–217.00 $204.86 $1,260 -13.48
650–695 675 9 194.00–210.00 $201.98 $1,363 -11.04
711–730 718 7 180.00–200.00 $190.35 $1,367 -0.40
747 value added 747 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,681 —
750 750 2 195.00 $195.00 $1,462 +11.63
800–825 814 5 160.00–171.00 $166.16 $1,353 -28.84
910 910 1 167.00 $167.00 $1,520 —
1017 1017 2 114.00 $114.00 $1,159 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 2 210.00–235.00 $222.50 $578 +35.00
310 310 1 212.50 $212.50 $659 +10.00
355–390 370 5 205.00–237.00 $221.68 $820 +14.00
410–442 427 5 185.00–220.00 $200.67 $857 -5.65
465–485 476 5 180.00–220.00 $210.08 $1,000 +3.70
510–545 526 16 190.00–227.00 $211.44 $1,112 -5.48
560–572 566 4 200.00–227.00 $219.33 $1,241 -3.50
610–620 616 5 169.00–185.00 $176.56 $1,088 -17.44
655–675 663 3 180.00–190.00 $186.71 $1,238 +13.14
712–730 718 3 170.00 $170.00 $1,221 —
815 815 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,141 -35.00
920 920 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,362 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,188 —
760–780 773 3 170.00–171.00 $170.67 $1,319 —
800 800 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,312 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 1 189.00 $189.00 $860 —
540 540 2 160.00 $160.00 $864 —
580 580 1 161.00 $161.00 $934 -20.00
700 700 1 140.00 $140.00 $980 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1275–1425 1350 75-80% 2 94.00–96.00 $94.94 $1,282 —
1165–1695 1381 75-80% 16 97.00–110.00 $105.91 $1,463 —
1220–1770 1482 75-80% 24 110.00–125.00 $115.87 $1,717 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1465 1231 80-85% 17 99.00–109.00 $104.85 $1,291 —
1055–1530 1237 80-85% 22 110.00–120.00 $114.97 $1,422 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
740–795 772 85-90% 3 84.00–89.00 $86.73 $670 —
805–1175 996 85-90% 21 90.00–103.00 $97.63 $972 —
925–1330 1089 85-90% 7 104.00–113.00 $108.93 $1,186 +9.98

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195–2315 1573 10 113.00–125.00 $121.53 $1,912 —
1615–2140 1803 11 128.00–139.00 $133.89 $2,414 —

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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/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 129.00 $129.00 $1,109

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1125–1235 1180 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,325.00–1,500.00 $1,408.42
1100–1590 1256 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,125.00–1,800.00 $1,433.23

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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
1305–1340 1323 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,575.00–1,600.00 $1,587.33 —
1405 1405 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1055 1055 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 975.00 $975.00 —

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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.