Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 25, 2023

1,442 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $242.50/cwt +2.67 vs last sale · ≈ $1,986/hd at 819 lb · 109 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $235.20/cwt +4.25 vs last sale · ≈ $1,665/hd at 708 lb · 65 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $229.88/cwt +3.63 vs last sale · ≈ $1,199/hd at 521 lb · 49 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,442 1,329 1,446
Feeder cattle 1,142 1,103 1,246
Slaughter cattle 281 217 181
Replacement cattle 19 9 19

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers sold steady to 3.00 higher on weaned packages; steady to 3.00 lower on fleshy new crop bawling calves. Feeder heifers sold steady to 3.00 lower on new crop bawling calves. Yearling steers limited comparison with last Monday; however softer undertone noted. Yearling heifers sold steady with good demand. Dry conditions are pushing calves and cows to town this week. Heavy supply of slaughter cows and new crop calves today. Slaughter cows sold 7.00 to 10.00 lower with light demand under heavy supply. 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
265–285 275 2 271.00–275.00 $272.93 $751 —
291 value added 291 3 285.00 $285.00 $829 —
325–345 331 4 267.50–283.00 $271.54 $899 +8.74
365 365 1 262.00 $262.00 $956 -0.62
418–435 425 7 246.00–253.00 $248.75 $1,057 -2.55
400–440 value added 429 20 256.00–270.00 $264.90 $1,136 -1.65
455–481 469 9 247.00–256.00 $251.40 $1,179 +1.59
462–495 value added 474 16 258.00–262.50 $259.50 $1,230 -0.99
508–517 value added 513 7 260.00–265.00 $261.44 $1,341 +4.31
500–547 529 17 240.00–254.00 $251.33 $1,330 +6.77
558–595 572 20 243.00–255.00 $249.81 $1,429 +1.49
555–595 value added 584 17 255.00–266.00 $260.83 $1,523 +7.11
600–636 value added 611 32 244.00–258.00 $251.74 $1,538 -4.43
610–635 614 6 230.00–238.00 $236.62 $1,453 -1.88
652–658 value added 656 15 250.00–250.50 $250.33 $1,642 -12.97
655–692 679 13 230.00–237.00 $234.54 $1,593 +0.44
700–715 706 5 220.00–224.00 $221.60 $1,564 -16.84
720–747 value added 735 8 233.00–240.00 $237.78 $1,748 -13.78
760–790 value added 777 5 232.00–240.00 $238.01 $1,849 -10.44
760–795 782 4 224.00–230.00 $226.74 $1,773 -6.91
819 819 109 242.50 $242.50 $1,986 +2.67
870 870 1 237.00 $237.00 $2,062 —
1040 fancy 1040 1 208.00 $208.00 $2,163 —
1050 1050 2 178.00 $178.00 $1,869 -12.00
1185 1185 1 147.00 $147.00 $1,742 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 1 245.00 $245.00 $796 —
355–366 363 4 242.00–242.50 $242.12 $879 —
535–545 540 2 210.00–235.00 $222.62 $1,202 -12.44
555–592 578 9 221.00–235.00 $229.17 $1,325 -11.49
605–645 626 5 187.00–229.00 $213.87 $1,339 —
660–665 663 2 221.00–228.00 $224.51 $1,489 +26.66
705 705 2 213.00 $213.00 $1,502 -7.00
750 750 1 207.00 $207.00 $1,552 —
815–820 818 2 209.00–214.00 $211.51 $1,730 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
675 675 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,620 —
725 725 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,378 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,080 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
273 273 8 227.50 $227.50 $621 -2.15
326–327 327 9 211.00–220.00 $213.99 $700 -4.84
331–340 value added 333 4 231.00–239.00 $236.96 $789 +3.43
350–385 value added 365 7 232.00–245.00 $237.13 $866 -6.57
356–386 369 10 209.00–229.00 $215.83 $796 -2.53
412–428 value added 424 9 233.00–240.00 $234.51 $994 -10.56
405–445 425 19 220.00–230.00 $223.79 $951 -3.13
450–490 475 17 220.00–229.00 $224.34 $1,066 +1.15
471–487 value added 481 13 229.00–231.00 $230.08 $1,107 -1.45
500–547 value added 518 35 226.00–240.00 $233.93 $1,212 +2.91
505–545 530 14 210.00–225.00 $219.76 $1,165 +1.22
553–588 value added 570 16 226.00–238.00 $230.28 $1,313 +2.38
553–593 575 29 210.00–225.00 $217.11 $1,248 +4.26
600–642 614 22 195.00–220.00 $213.33 $1,310 -6.29
625–638 value added 634 10 226.00–238.00 $230.59 $1,462 +0.06
655 value added 655 3 231.00 $231.00 $1,513 +2.73
651–685 663 14 199.00–218.00 $208.20 $1,380 -0.38
706 value added 706 58 238.75 $238.75 $1,686 +6.99
700–730 722 7 189.00–214.00 $205.77 $1,486 -0.40
781 781 3 195.00 $195.00 $1,523 -19.00
805–820 813 2 189.00–206.00 $197.42 $1,605 -17.58
809–821 value added 813 24 216.00–217.00 $216.71 $1,762 —
896 value added 896 20 202.00 $202.00 $1,810 +4.00
907 value added 907 2 201.00 $201.00 $1,823 -3.50
1010–1045 1028 2 133.00–150.00 $141.36 $1,453 -1.64
1410 1410 1 143.00 $143.00 $2,016 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275–290 285 3 181.00–206.00 $194.23 $554 -5.77
310–340 325 2 180.00–185.00 $182.62 $594 -15.11
355–385 370 8 185.00–200.00 $192.99 $714 —
405–445 427 12 175.00–215.00 $199.63 $852 +0.76
460–470 464 5 180.00–210.00 $203.92 $946 -10.50
502–535 521 6 187.00–210.00 $197.49 $1,029 -8.35
555–590 570 12 180.00–205.00 $191.38 $1,091 -9.53
601–645 618 6 183.00–193.00 $188.37 $1,164 +2.87
650–690 662 8 181.00–191.00 $187.36 $1,240 +6.36
700–735 719 4 164.00–179.00 $174.19 $1,252 +14.19
752–780 766 5 154.00–184.00 $168.20 $1,288 -1.80
825–830 828 2 149.00–150.00 $149.50 $1,238 -6.47
850–895 875 5 147.50–164.00 $156.59 $1,370 +3.59
905–925 914 4 133.00–175.00 $147.69 $1,350 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530 530 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,012 —
855–895 865 4 148.00–157.00 $154.67 $1,338 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 150.00 $150.00 $322 —
360 360 1 165.00 $165.00 $594 —
505 505 1 151.00 $151.00 $763 —
590 590 1 160.00 $160.00 $944 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 247.00 $247.00 $593 —
280 280 1 242.50 $242.50 $679 —
300–347 334 4 252.00–272.50 $262.66 $877 +2.90
360–395 367 5 240.00–247.50 $245.40 $901 -9.52
400–415 value added 410 3 260.00–263.00 $262.02 $1,074 +6.75
400–437 421 10 230.00–240.00 $235.02 $989 -6.99
455–457 value added 456 3 246.00–248.00 $247.34 $1,128 -2.05
456–475 461 4 234.00–238.00 $235.03 $1,083 +0.84
500–520 value added 506 4 243.00–244.00 $243.26 $1,231 +0.44
500–540 520 19 230.00–241.00 $236.93 $1,232 +2.51
550–574 565 14 222.00–237.00 $227.85 $1,287 -2.58
600–640 614 17 189.00–217.50 $204.46 $1,255 -2.84
650–680 666 17 186.00–205.00 $195.19 $1,300 -5.65
700–715 704 4 191.00–192.00 $191.75 $1,350 +4.13
755–795 769 5 182.00–193.00 $187.70 $1,443 -8.08
805–835 821 6 177.00–199.00 $188.16 $1,545 +6.16
865 865 1 192.00 $192.00 $1,661 +12.00
905 905 1 184.00 $184.00 $1,665 -9.00
985 985 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,684 —
1070–1090 1078 3 141.00–146.00 $143.66 $1,549 -6.34
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 217.50 $217.50 $435 —
320 320 1 239.00 $239.00 $765 -0.22
370–395 385 9 180.00–239.00 $220.33 $848 +10.33
450–495 480 11 200.00–227.00 $217.29 $1,043 -3.56
500–545 522 20 190.00–228.00 $211.46 $1,104 -3.04
550–595 575 15 194.00–229.00 $211.87 $1,218 +1.49
620–645 631 5 161.00–190.00 $177.61 $1,121 -6.39
660–695 669 9 166.00–186.00 $179.39 $1,200 -2.14
705–740 735 9 160.00–174.00 $163.71 $1,203 -8.85
762–790 771 3 170.00–182.00 $177.90 $1,372 -8.10
805 805 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,288 —
870 870 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,488 —
915 915 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,565 —
950 950 2 160.00 $160.00 $1,520 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
422–440 430 4 182.50–187.50 $185.59 $798 —
465–490 478 2 170.00–183.00 $176.33 $843 —
555 555 1 180.00 $180.00 $999 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
605–610 608 2 190.00–193.00 $191.51 $1,164 —
665 665 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,130 —
812 812 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,380 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1360 1360 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–1690 1390 75-80% 12 83.00–92.00 $88.73 $1,233 —
1120–1865 1421 75-80% 40 93.00–100.00 $96.85 $1,376 -3.31
1265–1940 1489 75-80% 28 100.00–110.00 $103.64 $1,543 —
2125 2125 75-80% 1 71.00 $71.00 $1,509 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1490 1240 80-85% 17 82.00–91.00 $88.33 $1,095 —
1070–1475 1279 80-85% 22 94.00–100.00 $97.27 $1,244 -2.61
1010–1690 1342 80-85% 27 101.00–112.00 $104.39 $1,401 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
750–1165 921 85-90% 5 67.00–74.00 $70.81 $652 —
855–1375 1055 85-90% 27 87.00–95.00 $90.82 $958 -6.71
895–1295 1067 85-90% 22 75.00–86.00 $81.53 $870 -16.00
845–1235 1121 85-90% 7 95.00–100.00 $97.53 $1,093 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1530 1240 7 84.00–113.00 $98.06 $1,216 —
1135–2070 1665 15 117.00–129.00 $124.17 $2,067 —
1455–2110 1859 11 130.00–144.00 $134.94 $2,509 +9.65

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
925–1285 1105 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 111.00–118.00 $115.07 $1,272

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1050–1290 1161 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,325.00–1,825.00 $1,589.97
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1120–1135 1128 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,025.00–1,050.00 $1,037.58
1000–1230 1130 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,000.00–1,200.00 $1,099.28

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1265–1625 1415 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 1,525.00–2,200.00 $2,042.71 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810 810 2 93.00 $93.00 $753 —

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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.