Cattle Market Pulse

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

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 23, 2023

1,137 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $247.52/cwt +14.52 vs last sale · ≈ $1,814/hd at 733 lb · 130 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $209.51/cwt -5.23 vs last sale · ≈ $1,206/hd at 576 lb · 48 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $203.69/cwt -4.43 vs last sale · ≈ $1,065/hd at 523 lb · 40 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,137 1,770 1,712
Feeder cattle 869 1,466 1,518
Slaughter cattle 259 293 192
Replacement cattle 9 11 2

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers and heifers sold 3.00 to 6.00 lower with moderate demand. More plain quality calves on the market early, combined with falling CME cattle futures put downward pressure on the market by late-morning. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold 1.00 to 3.00 lower with moderate 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
267–275 fancy 270 3 290.00–307.50 $295.95 $799 —
315–345 fancy 329 8 292.50–307.50 $301.53 $992 —
365–390 fancy 378 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,134 —
370–391 382 8 256.00–283.00 $268.88 $1,027 —
400–442 value added 419 25 259.00–285.00 $273.64 $1,147 -12.84
442–445 443 3 250.00–253.00 $251.00 $1,112 -3.39
450–480 value added 472 15 258.00–269.00 $265.87 $1,255 -5.78
460–495 478 9 244.00–254.00 $248.43 $1,187 -3.04
500–521 511 18 240.00–250.00 $243.96 $1,247 -3.26
510–530 value added 520 2 246.00–249.00 $247.47 $1,287 -15.48
550–586 value added 568 21 244.00–250.00 $246.59 $1,401 -7.41
565–590 585 11 240.00–244.00 $241.08 $1,410 -5.14
600–645 630 12 225.00–239.00 $232.68 $1,466 -1.32
656–682 673 12 219.00–233.00 $228.45 $1,537 -4.55
715–740 728 2 215.00–219.00 $216.97 $1,580 -11.53
733 value added 733 128 248.00 $248.00 $1,818 +9.00
765–775 772 3 210.00–220.00 $216.70 $1,673 -17.08
835 835 1 216.00 $216.00 $1,804 -18.50
860 860 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,978 +1.01
1020 1020 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,938 —
1167–1185 1176 4 170.00–180.00 $174.96 $2,058 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
357 357 2 251.00 $251.00 $896 —
445 445 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,068 +9.05
553 553 4 234.00 $234.00 $1,294 +0.38
600–638 629 4 215.00–223.00 $216.91 $1,364 —
655–680 659 7 200.00–215.00 $209.86 $1,383 -14.16
745 745 1 209.00 $209.00 $1,557 +9.00
800–840 820 2 170.00–200.00 $184.63 $1,514 -5.37
1075 1075 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,935 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
523 523 3 211.00 $211.00 $1,104 —
710 710 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,420 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725 725 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,370 -24.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
140 140 1 235.00 $235.00 $329 —
175 175 1 200.00 $200.00 $350 —
215 215 1 227.50 $227.50 $489 +37.50
285 285 1 215.00 $215.00 $613 —
300 300 1 211.00 $211.00 $633 —
310–335 value added 327 3 221.00–229.00 $226.47 $741 —
356–397 value added 373 6 222.00–230.00 $226.21 $844 -4.22
362–395 376 5 190.00–201.00 $194.28 $730 -10.15
417–420 value added 417 7 219.00–226.00 $223.00 $930 -3.95
400–441 419 18 190.00–206.00 $198.49 $832 -22.32
462–486 value added 467 14 208.00–226.00 $221.99 $1,037 -1.66
460–495 483 24 198.00–206.00 $203.85 $985 -11.34
500–547 523 40 190.00–210.00 $203.69 $1,065 -3.05
550–595 568 20 196.00–210.00 $204.60 $1,162 -2.50
557–592 value added 581 28 210.00–215.00 $213.01 $1,238 -16.99
600–646 618 16 183.00–213.00 $195.13 $1,206 -4.05
650–690 666 14 180.00–210.00 $195.29 $1,301 -23.46
727 727 4 200.00 $200.00 $1,454 —
735 735 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,286 —
810–845 828 2 149.00–150.00 $149.51 $1,238 -73.74
862 862 4 150.00 $150.00 $1,293 —
972 972 2 148.00 $148.00 $1,439 —
1057 1057 2 156.00 $156.00 $1,649 —
1140 1140 1 138.00 $138.00 $1,573 —
1325 1325 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,776 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 185.00 $185.00 $398 -0.68
270–280 275 2 172.50–180.00 $176.18 $484 -12.15
315–345 330 2 180.00–185.00 $182.39 $602 -6.18
355–395 382 8 172.50–188.00 $181.77 $694 +0.31
415–445 432 6 181.00–190.00 $186.36 $805 -5.33
450–485 472 6 170.00–197.50 $186.06 $878 -7.92
515–525 520 2 173.00–180.00 $176.47 $918 -11.25
585 585 1 170.00 $170.00 $994 -17.80
600–635 624 9 160.00–180.00 $169.47 $1,057 -6.80
655–685 672 15 140.00–177.00 $149.41 $1,004 -25.29
720–735 728 5 130.00–160.00 $147.07 $1,071 -14.25
755–780 768 2 123.00–158.00 $140.21 $1,077 -4.79
800–837 825 3 144.00–147.00 $144.97 $1,196 -12.72
853–892 879 9 130.00–138.00 $132.59 $1,165 -7.41
900 900 1 141.00 $141.00 $1,269 —
975 975 3 130.00 $130.00 $1,268 -4.99
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
446 446 6 166.00 $166.00 $740 —
750 750 1 120.00 $120.00 $900 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
630 630 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,140 +0.49
717 717 2 153.00 $153.00 $1,097 —
830 830 1 143.00 $143.00 $1,187 —
915 915 1 132.00 $132.00 $1,208 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
185 185 1 222.50 $222.50 $412 —
245 245 1 249.00 $249.00 $610 —
275 275 1 225.00 $225.00 $619 -29.00
305 305 2 230.00–242.50 $236.25 $721 -8.82
355 355 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,012 +29.92
410 410 1 249.00 $249.00 $1,021 +9.95
415–445 value added 437 8 265.00–275.00 $269.08 $1,176 +3.74
450–465 value added 458 2 251.00–260.00 $255.43 $1,170 -20.35
457–495 479 12 233.00–245.00 $236.56 $1,133 -8.03
500–545 522 28 205.00–237.00 $225.16 $1,175 -8.07
518–530 value added 526 8 246.00–250.00 $247.48 $1,302 —
550–581 568 10 210.00–230.00 $217.60 $1,236 -14.71
605–625 612 13 179.50–210.00 $187.14 $1,145 -16.14
605–635 value added 626 14 212.00–216.00 $213.72 $1,338 -10.59
650–652 value added 651 8 211.00–219.00 $213.00 $1,387 -17.59
660–687 674 8 180.00–210.00 $194.27 $1,309 -7.94
700–732 711 6 175.00–180.00 $176.31 $1,254 -22.78
787 787 2 169.00 $169.00 $1,330 -29.50
890 890 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,602 —
945 945 1 188.00 $188.00 $1,777 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 205.00 $205.00 $441 +5.00
315–345 328 3 200.00–237.50 $222.73 $731 —
350 350 1 142.50 $142.50 $499 —
410–435 423 4 180.00–240.00 $217.92 $922 +11.66
450–487 473 10 180.00–229.00 $213.61 $1,010 +16.55
505–532 522 9 174.00–193.00 $183.06 $956 -20.25
550–575 563 5 191.00–206.00 $198.55 $1,118 -10.75
625–632 629 4 170.00–179.00 $173.73 $1,093 -12.30
660–690 675 3 154.00–179.00 $170.17 $1,149 -11.46
775–780 778 2 160.00–168.00 $163.99 $1,276 -16.01
825–840 833 2 145.00–159.00 $152.06 $1,267 —
870–885 878 2 120.00–130.00 $124.96 $1,097 —
915–920 918 3 140.00–153.00 $144.32 $1,325 —
965 965 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,158 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 2 155.00 $155.00 $612 —
500 500 2 152.50 $152.50 $762 -17.00
570 570 1 170.00 $170.00 $969 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
655–665 660 2 179.00–182.00 $180.51 $1,191 -7.49
760 760 1 166.00 $166.00 $1,262 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045–1480 1263 80-85% 24 93.00–100.00 $95.44 $1,205 —
1045–1695 1270 80-85% 22 86.00–92.00 $89.36 $1,135 —
1275–1495 1369 80-85% 11 102.00–115.00 $106.00 $1,451 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035–1430 1267 75-80% 8 85.00–92.50 $89.53 $1,134 —
145–1680 1389 75-80% 29 93.00–101.00 $98.16 $1,363 +4.64
1360–2100 1646 75-80% 19 101.00–108.00 $104.08 $1,713 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810–1300 961 85-90% 7 67.00–74.00 $70.42 $677 —
730–1205 1018 85-90% 11 74.00–81.00 $77.46 $789 -5.53
850–1330 1101 85-90% 28 83.00–93.50 $87.19 $960 —
1075–1340 1213 85-90% 6 95.00–100.00 $97.02 $1,177 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1390–1625 1514 4 91.00–113.00 $101.79 $1,541 —
1200–2015 1609 13 113.00–124.00 $119.54 $1,923 —
1480–2140 1889 10 124.00–134.00 $128.45 $2,426 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1370 1370 1 95.00 $95.00 $1,302 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
975–1340 1158 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,100.00–1,250.00 $1,186.83
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1065 1065 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 875.00 $875.00
1165 1165 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 925.00 $925.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
847 847 2 133.00 $133.00 $1,127 —
990 990 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,247 —

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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.