Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 11, 2023

1,859 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $250.43/cwt +5.17 vs last sale · ≈ $1,542/hd at 616 lb · 172 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $245.67/cwt +30.67 vs last sale · ≈ $2,183/hd at 888 lb · 171 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $250.81/cwt +9.40 vs last sale · ≈ $1,674/hd at 667 lb · 111 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,859 955 1,254
Feeder cattle 1,677 785 1,042
Slaughter cattle 177 151 196
Replacement cattle 5 19 16

Market comments — USDA reporter

No comparison with last week due to Holiday; however market was active for weaned calf packages and yearlings. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold with very 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
305–330 318 2 249.00–260.00 $254.72 $810 —
326–345 value added 333 5 275.00–280.00 $277.94 $926 —
355 355 1 267.50 $267.50 $950 -15.50
401–432 413 8 256.00–268.00 $263.39 $1,088 +2.39
415–440 value added 430 23 268.00–280.00 $275.94 $1,187 +6.27
450–485 value added 475 15 266.00–277.00 $271.69 $1,291 —
451–492 477 10 257.00–265.00 $261.47 $1,247 —
521 value added 521 4 269.00 $269.00 $1,401 -1.46
505–547 524 9 249.00–253.00 $250.80 $1,314 -0.22
558–592 571 20 249.00–254.00 $251.20 $1,434 -2.72
562–589 value added 585 19 261.00–270.00 $262.45 $1,535 -7.73
600–638 value added 617 34 240.00–267.00 $254.47 $1,570 -3.05
647 647 2 239.00 $239.00 $1,546 +2.57
650–697 value added 667 104 240.00–262.50 $252.00 $1,681 +10.59
655–690 674 7 230.00–239.00 $233.12 $1,571 —
700–735 719 5 233.00–235.00 $233.82 $1,681 -0.18
725 value added 725 4 255.00 $255.00 $1,849 —
751–798 784 12 233.50–239.00 $235.27 $1,845 +24.27
770–796 value added 786 27 248.00–250.00 $249.85 $1,964 —
818–825 820 4 211.00–240.00 $232.70 $1,908 +32.70
860 860 1 217.00 $217.00 $1,866 +2.00
850–889 value added 888 57 243.50–245.00 $243.53 $2,163 —
889 fancy 889 113 247.00 $247.00 $2,196 —
915–945 930 3 219.00–230.00 $224.39 $2,087 +31.19
922–937 fancy 930 93 242.00–242.10 $242.05 $2,251 —
950–995 965 3 207.00–219.00 $211.12 $2,037 +31.69
1035 1035 1 196.00 $196.00 $2,029 +12.12
1115 1115 1 190.00 $190.00 $2,118 +21.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 257.50 $257.50 $631 —
300–345 325 3 230.00–248.00 $238.91 $776 -8.59
430 430 1 230.00 $230.00 $989 -8.84
470–495 479 5 225.00–249.00 $240.81 $1,153 +7.17
510–522 519 6 235.00–248.00 $245.70 $1,275 +5.97
550–570 567 6 226.00–245.00 $239.91 $1,360 -0.08
615–625 620 2 224.00–228.00 $225.98 $1,401 —
680 680 1 229.00 $229.00 $1,557 +24.66
725–735 728 3 228.00 $228.00 $1,660 —
790 790 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,659 —
885 885 1 207.00 $207.00 $1,832 +30.00
995 995 1 179.00 $179.00 $1,781 —
1066 1066 3 166.00 $166.00 $1,770 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
620–625 623 2 206.00–220.00 $212.97 $1,327 —
665–690 678 2 228.00–230.00 $229.02 $1,553 —
745 745 2 234.00 $234.00 $1,743 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–240 230 4 200.00–209.00 $207.04 $476 —
295 295 1 207.50 $207.50 $612 -10.43
305–333 value added 322 6 230.00 $230.00 $741 -7.55
310–335 326 4 205.00–211.00 $209.07 $682 -10.93
350–385 369 7 210.00–218.00 $212.35 $784 -3.74
366–398 value added 386 17 225.00–248.00 $235.55 $909 -4.84
400–436 value added 427 25 235.00–244.00 $237.89 $1,016 -4.00
400–447 429 17 225.00–235.00 $229.82 $986 +2.61
460–495 value added 469 23 232.00–243.00 $235.78 $1,106 -5.16
455–495 480 25 220.00–227.00 $224.16 $1,076 -3.79
500–545 522 17 217.00–229.00 $226.02 $1,180 -1.20
501–541 value added 528 53 229.00–251.00 $239.63 $1,265 -12.58
555–595 577 20 219.00–228.00 $222.47 $1,284 -2.01
550–597 value added 579 33 229.00–246.00 $233.86 $1,354 -4.03
605–635 615 11 198.00–226.00 $214.24 $1,318 +1.55
602–639 value added 616 161 227.00–258.75 $252.90 $1,558 -0.82
650–660 value added 660 39 223.00–248.00 $235.96 $1,557 —
660–692 680 9 205.00–216.00 $212.15 $1,443 +6.00
702–710 706 9 182.00–191.00 $187.54 $1,324 +2.07
705–727 value added 726 61 228.50–236.25 $235.88 $1,712 —
735 735 7 210.00 $210.00 $1,544 +24.53
772 772 4 210.00 $210.00 $1,621 +19.09
793 value added 793 7 224.00 $224.00 $1,776 —
800 800 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,480 -13.00
820 fancy 820 43 225.00 $225.00 $1,845 —
845 845 1 173.00 $173.00 $1,462 -25.00
885 885 1 187.00 $187.00 $1,655 -13.00
931 931 3 150.00 $150.00 $1,396 -20.00
1040 1040 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,310 -8.36
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285–295 290 3 180.00–195.00 $184.91 $536 -5.09
305–335 321 7 150.00–185.00 $176.27 $566 -18.73
355–395 374 6 140.00–188.00 $175.25 $655 -21.75
401 value added 401 3 218.00 $218.00 $874 —
402–445 424 17 180.00–220.00 $202.91 $860 -6.70
450–495 475 14 200.00–220.00 $212.29 $1,008 —
525–545 532 10 178.00–220.00 $202.34 $1,076 -12.66
550–595 569 12 188.00–219.00 $206.51 $1,175 -0.66
605–645 628 5 170.00–211.00 $187.38 $1,177 +6.57
650–665 661 4 181.00–186.00 $182.23 $1,205 +1.23
712–745 723 3 179.00–180.00 $179.34 $1,297 +19.98
755 755 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,397 +9.35
815 815 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,324 —
945 945 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,370 +13.52
960 960 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,210 ±0.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
367 367 2 190.00 $190.00 $697 —
465 465 6 192.00 $192.00 $893 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515 515 1 165.00 $165.00 $850 —
615 615 1 150.00 $150.00 $922 —
680 680 1 140.00 $140.00 $952 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305 1305 1 128.00 $128.00 $1,670 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 227.50 $227.50 $512 -19.50
260–290 278 3 232.00–252.50 $239.43 $666 —
310–340 324 4 247.50–265.00 $257.41 $834 -8.27
350–395 371 14 253.00–268.00 $260.93 $968 +8.94
405–438 value added 421 12 254.00–263.00 $261.62 $1,101 -1.38
400–447 426 9 240.00–251.00 $244.91 $1,043 -9.10
450–492 466 8 240.00–254.00 $249.84 $1,164 +4.62
500–535 value added 515 14 246.00–253.00 $249.21 $1,283 —
508–545 527 27 230.00–245.00 $236.52 $1,246 -9.72
557–561 560 7 231.00–240.00 $234.42 $1,313 -14.58
590 value added 590 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,475 —
605–640 619 16 206.00–225.00 $216.77 $1,342 +0.11
653–695 669 8 213.00–228.00 $218.03 $1,459 +9.28
700–725 713 2 200.00–211.00 $205.60 $1,466 +5.77
750 750 2 202.00–214.00 $208.00 $1,560 +15.44
800–845 817 9 184.00–209.00 $200.87 $1,641 —
880 880 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,716 +19.00
900–940 928 4 180.00–191.00 $186.54 $1,731 +27.82
950 950 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,140 —
1027 1027 2 120.00 $120.00 $1,232 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 226.00 $226.00 $712 -2.85
350–395 374 4 210.00–245.00 $226.29 $846 -2.21
400–447 426 13 200.00–235.00 $224.57 $957 +32.57
495 495 2 231.00 $231.00 $1,143 +21.63
511–540 524 15 215.00–240.00 $222.79 $1,167 +8.13
550–590 563 20 200.00–228.00 $220.96 $1,244 +19.02
600–615 608 3 190.00–198.00 $193.35 $1,176 +19.03
655 655 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,317 +9.77
905 905 1 177.00 $177.00 $1,602 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,121 -31.55
610–643 635 4 200.00–207.00 $205.32 $1,304 —
665–685 675 2 190.00–200.00 $194.93 $1,316 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
248 248 3 182.50 $182.50 $453 —
467 467 2 170.00 $170.00 $794 —
555 555 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,215 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
710–985 879 85-90% 5 69.00–81.00 $72.51 $637 —
670–1095 880 85-90% 12 83.00–92.00 $87.34 $769 —
800–1205 1002 85-90% 20 94.00–106.00 $97.63 $978 —
925–1345 1066 85-90% 16 107.50–123.00 $111.75 $1,191 +3.91
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010–1550 1228 80-85% 15 105.00–113.00 $109.59 $1,346 +0.42
1005–1410 1254 80-85% 33 114.00–134.00 $120.74 $1,514 —
1285–1360 1332 80-85% 3 90.00–100.00 $94.69 $1,261 -24.12
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1440 1239 75-80% 8 105.00–113.00 $110.61 $1,370 —
1085–1555 1401 75-80% 14 114.00–124.00 $118.09 $1,654 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170–1910 1397 11 118.00–129.50 $125.15 $1,748 —
1295–1940 1629 15 131.00–150.00 $137.15 $2,234 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
880–895 888 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 120.00–128.00 $123.97 $1,101

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
830 830 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 750.00 $750.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900 900 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
790 790 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00

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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
890 890 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
650 650 1 131.00 $131.00 $852 —
780 780 8 175.00 $175.00 $1,365 —

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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.