Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 2, 2023

1,008 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 $243.28/cwt +10.28 vs last sale · ≈ $1,889/hd at 776 lb · 54 head
light 4-weight M&L 2-3 heifers $186.04/cwt -13.59 vs last sale · ≈ $800/hd at 430 lb · 29 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 steers $257.62/cwt +1.03 vs last sale · ≈ $1,208/hd at 469 lb · 27 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,008 1,442 1,715
Feeder cattle 766 1,142 1,476
Slaughter cattle 221 281 143
Replacement cattle 21 19 96

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday steer calves uneven with 400-500 lbs steady to 3.00 higher and 500-600 lbs steady to 3.00 lower. Heifer calves sold steady to 3.00 lower. More fleshy bawling calves coming to town this week combined with more off-color and plain quality offerings put some downward pressure on the calf market today. Buyers showing good demand for weaned, vaccinated calves in short supply. Off-color, plain quality and bawling calves facing deep discounts. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 2.00 lower with moderate demand. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00 lower 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
325 325 2 267.50 $267.50 $869 -4.04
365 value added 365 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,022 —
350–396 381 9 255.00–275.00 $268.77 $1,024 +6.77
401–449 value added 423 17 265.00–281.00 $273.34 $1,156 +8.44
435–440 438 3 249.00–259.00 $255.69 $1,120 +6.94
457–495 465 18 240.00–255.00 $250.58 $1,165 -0.82
468–481 value added 477 9 269.00–273.00 $271.69 $1,296 +12.19
500–545 535 16 240.00–249.00 $244.05 $1,306 -7.28
550–590 571 15 241.00–251.00 $246.90 $1,410 -2.91
591 value added 591 11 250.00–260.50 $257.64 $1,523 -3.19
601–637 value added 613 20 237.00–250.00 $241.27 $1,479 -10.47
611–645 619 7 221.00–235.00 $232.21 $1,437 -4.41
655–688 671 8 220.00–229.00 $223.79 $1,502 -10.75
689 value added 689 8 238.00 $238.00 $1,640 -12.33
776 thin fleshed 776 49 245.35 $245.35 $1,904 —
781 781 5 223.00 $223.00 $1,742 -3.74
810–840 827 12 221.00–229.00 $226.32 $1,872 -16.18
914–915 914 13 216.00–222.00 $220.61 $2,016 —
1130 1130 1 186.00 $186.00 $2,102 —
1275 1275 1 160.00 $160.00 $2,040 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365–378 375 5 200.00–237.00 $229.81 $862 -12.31
400–435 417 5 221.00–236.00 $230.05 $959 —
450–485 461 4 200.00–225.00 $216.95 $1,000 —
502–520 510 5 194.00–239.00 $218.70 $1,115 -3.92
604–608 605 12 208.00–225.00 $212.27 $1,284 -1.60
655–675 663 3 209.00–217.00 $212.70 $1,410 -11.81
700–740 713 3 202.00–215.00 $208.13 $1,484 -4.87
840 840 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,764 -1.51
885 885 2 167.00 $167.00 $1,478 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
605 605 2 222.00 $222.00 $1,343 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 185.00 $185.00 $453 —
257–290 268 3 172.50–181.00 $177.93 $477 -16.30
300–342 328 3 160.00–183.00 $167.01 $548 -15.61
352–390 371 17 161.00–190.00 $180.54 $670 -12.45
400–445 430 29 180.00–201.00 $186.04 $800 -13.59
461–495 477 13 180.00–202.00 $193.83 $925 -10.09
505–545 517 13 173.00–195.00 $186.27 $963 -11.22
585–590 588 2 189.00–191.00 $190.00 $1,117 -1.38
600–635 614 8 171.00–192.00 $181.17 $1,112 -7.20
660–696 680 9 160.00–179.00 $168.54 $1,146 -18.82
715 715 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,144 -14.19
750–785 767 6 162.00–175.00 $165.36 $1,268 -2.84
800–805 803 2 142.50–160.00 $151.22 $1,214 +1.72
850 850 2 130.00 $130.00 $1,105 -26.59
910–945 930 4 121.00–135.00 $130.83 $1,217 -16.86
960–970 965 2 117.00–128.00 $122.47 $1,182 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–330 322 3 201.00–221.00 $207.42 $668 -6.57
350 350 1 211.00 $211.00 $738 -4.83
407–410 408 3 221.00 $221.00 $902 -2.79
475–485 479 8 202.00–220.00 $206.00 $987 -18.34
522–540 532 13 209.00–215.00 $212.56 $1,131 -7.20
558–590 569 11 201.00–223.00 $217.91 $1,240 +0.80
600–647 623 10 193.00–220.00 $204.07 $1,271 -9.26
652–690 676 14 190.00–212.00 $200.65 $1,356 -7.55
703–710 705 7 187.00–209.00 $198.57 $1,400 -7.20
788 788 6 208.00 $208.00 $1,639 +13.00
855 855 6 189.00 $189.00 $1,616 —
1010 1010 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,353 -7.36
1085 1085 1 114.00 $114.00 $1,237 —
1105–1145 1125 2 140.00–148.00 $143.93 $1,619 —
1435 1435 1 116.00 $116.00 $1,665 -27.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–260 258 2 125.00–142.50 $133.83 $345 —
307 307 2 147.50 $147.50 $453 —
365–390 378 2 165.00–170.00 $167.42 $633 +2.42
400–446 425 12 140.00–176.00 $161.38 $686 —
450–465 457 3 160.00–170.00 $166.61 $761 —
545 545 1 171.00 $171.00 $932 —
550–581 573 7 163.00–168.00 $167.18 $958 +7.18
647 647 2 163.00 $163.00 $1,055 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 180.00 $180.00 $702 —
465 465 1 201.00 $201.00 $935 —
580 580 1 176.00 $176.00 $1,021 —
610–623 620 4 187.00–209.00 $203.59 $1,262 —
905 905 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,538 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1125 1125 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,744 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–320 318 4 257.00–257.50 $257.12 $818 -5.54
350–390 380 8 259.00–272.50 $265.61 $1,009 +20.21
402–435 414 4 231.00–240.00 $236.17 $978 +1.15
467 fancy 467 4 254.50 $254.50 $1,189 —
475–492 486 5 234.00–250.00 $243.28 $1,182 +8.25
510–533 524 10 226.00–239.00 $234.04 $1,226 -2.89
550–596 579 5 230.00–239.00 $236.71 $1,371 +8.86
600–645 622 15 195.00–217.00 $205.72 $1,280 +1.26
655–682 673 3 186.00–190.00 $188.70 $1,270 -6.49
775 775 1 206.00 $206.00 $1,596 +18.30
875–895 885 2 191.00–200.00 $195.45 $1,730 +3.45
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–292 277 6 190.00–240.00 $218.99 $607 —
342–348 344 8 220.00–234.00 $228.69 $787 -10.31
355–370 363 6 170.00–247.50 $210.82 $765 -9.51
405–440 425 3 205.00–213.00 $210.30 $894 —
450–495 476 4 197.50–210.00 $202.40 $963 -14.89
500–537 519 13 185.00–221.00 $210.45 $1,092 -1.01
550–580 560 3 185.00–193.00 $189.35 $1,060 -22.52
620–640 629 4 180.00–187.00 $183.75 $1,156 +6.14
660–695 671 8 179.00–181.00 $180.23 $1,209 +0.84
700 700 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,204 +8.29
800–825 808 3 150.00–158.00 $155.03 $1,253 -4.97
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 535 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,075 —
557–575 560 11 222.00–233.00 $230.95 $1,293 —
605 605 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,156 -0.51
730 730 1 182.00 $182.00 $1,329 —
785 785 1 184.00 $184.00 $1,444 —
975 975 1 157.00 $157.00 $1,531 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 1 187.50 $187.50 $778 +1.91
450–485 468 2 165.00–194.00 $180.04 $843 +3.71
545 545 1 181.00 $181.00 $986 —
565–580 573 2 176.00–189.00 $182.41 $1,045 +2.41

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1060–1505 1310 75-80% 20 93.00–97.00 $95.32 $1,249 —
1175–1660 1384 75-80% 8 90.00–93.00 $91.38 $1,265 +2.65
1240–1685 1479 75-80% 28 98.00–112.00 $102.91 $1,522 -0.73
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
785–1020 888 85-90% 4 69.00–74.00 $71.04 $631 —
760–1385 993 85-90% 8 94.00–106.00 $96.98 $963 —
925–1255 1046 85-90% 10 79.00–84.00 $81.51 $853 —
820–1315 1079 85-90% 28 84.00–94.00 $87.82 $948 +6.29
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050–1225 1163 80-85% 8 88.00–91.00 $89.89 $1,045 —
955–1415 1219 80-85% 23 91.00–97.00 $95.21 $1,161 +6.88
1015–1510 1248 80-85% 19 97.00–105.00 $100.69 $1,257 +12.36

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1365 1365 1 112.00 $112.00 $1,529 —
1240–1900 1581 8 114.00–127.00 $123.32 $1,950 —
1735–2205 2004 6 128.00–136.00 $131.80 $2,641 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
980–1025 1002 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 111.00–116.00 $113.36 $1,136

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1090–1445 1268 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,200.00–1,450.00 $1,307.50
1145–1385 1299 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,250.00–1,450.00 $1,315.19
1145–1480 1305 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,175.00–1,675.00 $1,357.85
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1070–1185 1140 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 850.00–1,175.00 $1,030.74
1140 1140 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00

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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
1270 1270 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1440 1440 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
396 396 3 149.00 $149.00 $590 —

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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.