Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report, Lexington, KY

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 9, 2023

1,461 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $242.40/cwt +36.40 vs last sale · ≈ $1,196/hd at 493 lb · 116 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $273.55/cwt +22.10 vs last sale · ≈ $1,517/hd at 555 lb · 114 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $236.40/cwt +32.33 vs last sale · ≈ $1,433/hd at 606 lb · 99 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,461 1,008 1,107
Feeder cattle 1,216 766 924
Slaughter cattle 214 221 177
Replacement cattle 31 21 6

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers under 500 lbs sold sharply higher; middleweights 5.00 to 7.00 higher with good demand for weaned packages. Yearling steers sold steady with good demand. Feeder heifers sold steady with light to moderate demand. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 higher with moderate demand. 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
260–290 278 4 275.00–287.50 $281.89 $784 —
290 fancy 290 3 293.00–294.00 $293.33 $851 —
306 306 5 290.00 $290.00 $887 +22.50
315–330 fancy 319 4 295.00–310.00 $304.51 $971 —
350 350 5 287.00 $287.00 $1,004 +18.23
350–397 fancy 368 29 297.00–306.00 $300.73 $1,107 —
400–435 421 10 260.00–282.00 $275.76 $1,161 +20.07
422–447 fancy 433 29 283.00–290.00 $288.75 $1,250 —
450–495 462 11 251.00–261.00 $257.44 $1,189 +6.86
458–490 value added 487 62 264.00–280.00 $278.78 $1,358 +7.09
500–513 value added 509 20 260.00–271.00 $266.63 $1,357 —
536 536 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,313 +0.95
551–563 553 21 250.00–255.00 $251.16 $1,389 +4.26
555 value added 555 93 278.60 $278.60 $1,546 —
600–602 value added 601 14 250.00–254.50 $252.25 $1,516 +10.98
666 value added 666 72 264.25 $264.25 $1,760 +26.25
700–735 718 2 222.00–235.00 $228.66 $1,642 —
760 760 5 222.00–225.00 $224.40 $1,705 +1.40
805 805 1 214.00 $214.00 $1,723 -12.32
851–890 856 65 216.00–240.00 $236.97 $2,028 —
1000 1000 1 206.00 $206.00 $2,060 —
1125 1125 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,935 -14.00
1410 1410 1 173.00 $173.00 $2,439 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 257.00 $257.00 $694 —
310 310 1 241.00 $241.00 $747 —
352 352 2 254.00 $254.00 $894 +24.19
415 415 6 251.00 $251.00 $1,042 +20.95
590 590 1 228.00 $228.00 $1,345 —
671–680 673 4 191.00–230.00 $220.15 $1,482 +7.45
700–705 703 2 193.00–217.00 $204.96 $1,441 -3.17
830 830 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,577 -20.00
880 880 1 188.00 $188.00 $1,654 +21.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
605 605 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,222 -20.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205 205 1 200.00 $200.00 $410 —
310–325 312 9 197.00–202.50 $200.39 $625 -7.03
360–397 377 34 190.00–216.00 $207.67 $783 -3.33
407–447 422 17 200.00–206.00 $203.74 $860 -17.26
465–485 469 12 205.00–225.00 $219.90 $1,031 +13.90
496 value added 496 104 245.00 $245.00 $1,215 —
509–532 518 14 206.00–219.00 $215.31 $1,115 +2.75
509–538 value added 527 31 220.50–223.00 $221.52 $1,167 —
595 595 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,220 -12.91
605 value added 605 87 240.50 $240.50 $1,455 —
602–620 613 12 194.00–214.00 $206.68 $1,267 +2.61
661 661 3 211.00 $211.00 $1,395 +10.35
702–730 717 6 182.00–191.00 $185.43 $1,330 -13.14
754–785 760 11 161.00–180.00 $176.43 $1,341 -31.57
830 830 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,328 —
1070–1078 1076 4 128.00–151.00 $145.28 $1,563 +31.28
1150–1180 1165 2 102.00–120.00 $110.88 $1,292 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215–230 223 2 180.00–187.50 $183.88 $410 -1.12
290 290 1 135.00 $135.00 $392 -42.93
300–335 321 8 170.00–190.00 $176.25 $566 +9.24
370–395 383 2 181.00–191.00 $185.84 $712 +5.30
415–443 436 8 180.00–195.00 $191.05 $833 +5.01
450–480 464 4 183.00–200.00 $189.74 $880 -4.09
500–540 509 10 180.00–206.00 $186.10 $947 -0.17
562–590 578 7 161.00–188.00 $181.38 $1,048 -8.62
615–640 626 8 162.00–180.00 $168.47 $1,055 -12.70
650–670 660 2 160.00–175.00 $167.61 $1,106 -0.93
705–747 741 7 160.00–165.00 $164.32 $1,218 +4.32
800–844 834 8 140.00–146.00 $143.76 $1,199 -7.46
890 890 1 136.00 $136.00 $1,210 —
917–935 924 8 132.00–139.00 $137.37 $1,269 +6.54
972 972 4 131.00 $131.00 $1,273 +8.53
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275–292 287 4 145.00–162.50 $150.45 $432 +16.62
365 365 2 140.00–165.00 $152.50 $557 -14.92
480–490 483 5 124.00–150.00 $137.33 $663 -29.28
520–540 527 5 130.00–162.00 $147.14 $775 -23.86
570 570 1 159.00 $159.00 $906 -8.18
615 615 1 153.00 $153.00 $941 -10.00
660–665 663 2 143.00–145.00 $144.00 $955 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
471 471 3 170.00 $170.00 $801 -31.00
540 540 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,080 —
605 605 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,095 -22.59
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1480 1480 1 116.00 $116.00 $1,717 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325–345 336 4 250.00–286.00 $274.73 $923 +17.61
340–345 fancy 344 4 293.00–304.00 $299.75 $1,031 —
355–380 fancy 365 5 295.00–299.00 $297.00 $1,084 —
375–377 376 4 280.00–290.00 $285.76 $1,074 +20.15
400–417 411 4 240.00 $240.00 $986 +3.83
450–476 value added 470 4 265.00–266.00 $265.76 $1,249 —
460–496 487 14 229.00–250.00 $234.97 $1,144 -8.31
500–547 532 6 233.00–246.00 $237.45 $1,263 +3.41
530–545 value added 540 3 240.00–247.00 $242.29 $1,308 —
552–590 571 4 214.00–235.00 $224.33 $1,281 -12.38
625–640 633 7 198.00–211.00 $201.87 $1,278 -3.85
652 thin fleshed 652 2 208.00 $208.00 $1,356 —
652–696 672 17 192.00–214.00 $204.27 $1,373 +15.57
700–745 720 12 191.00–210.00 $202.04 $1,455 —
755 755 2 186.00–203.00 $194.50 $1,468 -11.50
807–825 816 5 194.00–198.00 $196.02 $1,600 —
811–826 thin fleshed 819 6 198.00–209.00 $203.55 $1,667 —
953 953 3 173.00 $173.00 $1,649 —
1083 1083 3 138.00 $138.00 $1,495 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
247 247 2 200.00 $200.00 $494 —
375–395 385 2 190.00–210.00 $200.26 $771 -10.56
440 440 3 212.00–220.00 $214.67 $945 +4.37
450–475 457 4 190.00–220.00 $207.27 $947 +4.87
500–540 525 16 170.00–224.00 $201.59 $1,058 -8.86
550–596 579 15 180.00–222.00 $204.48 $1,184 +15.13
620–630 625 2 179.00–182.00 $180.49 $1,128 -3.26
655–685 670 2 170.00–181.00 $175.38 $1,175 -4.85
715 715 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,108 -17.00
905 905 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,367 —
965–995 982 3 149.00–154.00 $150.97 $1,483 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325–335 330 2 132.50–160.00 $146.46 $483 —
355 355 1 150.00 $150.00 $532 —
400–435 424 4 150.00–172.50 $163.65 $694 -23.85
480 480 2 175.00 $175.00 $840 -5.04
510–545 529 4 140.00–170.00 $157.35 $832 -23.65
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
427 427 2 220.00 $220.00 $939 —
568–590 574 4 191.00–196.00 $194.71 $1,118 -36.24
605–610 608 3 186.00–188.00 $186.66 $1,135 -4.34
750 750 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,350 -4.00

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
800–1100 973 85-90% 11 65.00–77.00 $71.42 $695 -25.56
870–1425 1042 85-90% 9 77.00–84.00 $82.12 $856 +0.61
820–1340 1112 85-90% 29 84.00–95.00 $87.67 $975 —
1070–1205 1117 85-90% 3 98.00–103.00 $100.32 $1,121 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1505 1292 80-85% 28 93.00–100.00 $96.85 $1,251 —
1095–1500 1301 80-85% 7 85.00–92.00 $89.39 $1,163 —
1150–1510 1339 80-85% 14 101.00–111.00 $104.17 $1,395 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–1590 1383 75-80% 7 79.00–92.00 $87.10 $1,205 -4.28
1245–1600 1410 75-80% 28 94.00–101.00 $97.04 $1,368 —
1375–1745 1555 75-80% 14 101.00–110.00 $104.56 $1,626 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1425–1465 1445 2 104.00–106.00 $105.01 $1,517 —
1220–2055 1583 15 112.00–128.00 $119.95 $1,899 -3.37
1585–1835 1744 5 129.00–138.00 $133.24 $2,324 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
935–1015 985 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 91.00–95.00 $93.39 $920
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
980 980 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 95.00 $95.00 $931

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
940–1135 1063 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,075.00–1,250.00 $1,149.65
1055–1440 1243 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,050.00–1,375.00 $1,210.81
1315 1315 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
880–970 928 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 800.00–1,025.00 $928.73
830–1155 1011 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 850.00–925.00 $889.32
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900 900 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 600.00 $600.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
840 840 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00
965 965 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,185.00 $1,185.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
985 985 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 850.00 $850.00

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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
1060–1215 1138 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,200.00–1,300.00 $1,253.41 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045 1045 1 92.50 $92.50 $967 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 167.00 $167.00 $618 +18.00
495 495 1 149.00 $149.00 $738 —
556 556 5 165.00 $165.00 $917 —

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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.