Cattle Market Pulse

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

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 30, 2023

1,141 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $206.00/cwt +2.31 vs last sale · ≈ $1,074/hd at 522 lb · 55 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $260.61/cwt +15.92 vs last sale · ≈ $1,501/hd at 576 lb · 33 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 steers $268.32/cwt +8.99 vs last sale · ≈ $1,280/hd at 477 lb · 32 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,141 1,137 1,217
Feeder cattle 915 869 1,019
Slaughter cattle 194 259 193
Replacement cattle 32 9 5

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers sold 5.00-7.00 higher with very good demand for weaned packages. Feeder heifers sold steady to 5.00 higher with very good demand for weaned 400-500 lb calves. Better quality calves to start this week compared to last week. Yearling steers and heifers limited comparison. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 3.00 lower 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
325–342 value added 333 7 293.00–301.00 $296.39 $987 —
365–395 value added 379 13 275.00–303.00 $296.04 $1,122 —
405–446 value added 420 23 261.00–288.00 $278.80 $1,171 +5.16
450–490 value added 470 22 268.00–283.00 $274.78 $1,291 +8.91
485–494 493 10 250.00–255.00 $254.11 $1,253 +5.68
503 503 7 242.00–243.00 $242.43 $1,219 -1.53
504–545 value added 515 15 253.00–274.00 $265.27 $1,366 +17.80
550–572 562 6 239.00–249.00 $242.95 $1,365 +1.87
550–592 value added 579 27 256.00–273.00 $264.54 $1,532 +17.95
610–617 614 4 232.00–240.00 $237.01 $1,455 +4.33
603–640 value added 615 24 253.00–257.50 $254.56 $1,566 —
636 thin fleshed 636 3 260.00 $260.00 $1,654 —
671 671 4 232.00 $232.00 $1,557 +3.55
671 value added 671 13 242.00–259.00 $255.08 $1,712 —
670–673 thin fleshed 672 13 260.00–263.00 $261.38 $1,756 —
700 value added 700 4 241.00 $241.00 $1,687 -7.00
725–730 728 2 225.00–227.00 $226.00 $1,645 +9.03
750–796 value added 777 21 230.00–234.00 $232.18 $1,804 —
816–825 818 4 200.00–213.00 $209.72 $1,716 -6.28
880 thin fleshed 880 23 229.75 $229.75 $2,022 —
890 890 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,789 -29.00
933–935 933 5 191.00–193.00 $192.60 $1,797 —
935–945 thin fleshed 938 3 219.00–220.00 $219.66 $2,060 —
1055 1055 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,794 —
1145 1145 2 169.00 $169.00 $1,935 —
1355 1355 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,897 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
356–365 359 6 240.00–255.00 $242.54 $871 -8.46
405–435 415 3 220.00–238.00 $226.29 $939 -13.71
450 450 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,035 —
520 520 1 217.00 $217.00 $1,128 —
550–555 552 3 235.00–247.00 $239.02 $1,319 +5.02
601–635 620 15 198.00–226.00 $217.60 $1,349 +0.69
670–695 685 4 194.00–205.00 $200.24 $1,372 -9.62
702–710 705 6 183.00–200.00 $188.85 $1,331 —
755–770 765 3 182.00–207.00 $198.78 $1,521 —
820 820 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,566 +6.37
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
665–691 685 4 226.00–227.00 $226.24 $1,550 —
760 760 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,246 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 1 203.00 $203.00 $1,198 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 2 215.00 $215.00 $494 -12.50
270 value added 270 2 232.50 $232.50 $628 —
275–280 278 2 195.00–205.00 $200.05 $556 -14.95
301 value added 301 3 230.00 $230.00 $692 +3.53
312–347 333 5 190.00–217.50 $203.55 $678 -7.45
370 370 1 192.50 $192.50 $712 -1.78
382–395 value added 387 10 227.00–243.00 $237.12 $918 +10.91
405–440 value added 421 23 216.00–238.00 $228.32 $961 +5.32
425–430 428 2 213.00–214.00 $213.50 $914 +15.01
460–490 value added 482 14 213.00–219.00 $215.83 $1,040 -6.16
460–495 483 6 193.00–200.00 $196.27 $948 -7.58
501–548 value added 519 27 207.00–215.00 $212.08 $1,101 —
500–546 524 28 190.00–205.00 $200.13 $1,049 -3.56
560–587 579 26 190.00–201.00 $194.32 $1,125 -10.28
590 value added 590 1 207.00 $207.00 $1,221 -6.01
600 600 2 207.00 $207.00 $1,242 +11.87
601–643 617 21 186.00–200.00 $195.93 $1,209 +0.80
655 value added 655 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,317 —
652–688 676 6 190.00–198.00 $192.57 $1,302 -2.72
704–735 715 13 164.00–189.00 $181.97 $1,301 -18.03
810 810 2 198.00 $198.00 $1,604 +48.49
837 837 2 158.00 $158.00 $1,322 +8.49
855 855 7 171.00 $171.00 $1,462 +21.00
863 863 4 145.00 $145.00 $1,251 -5.00
972 972 7 135.00 $135.00 $1,312 -13.00
1017–1025 1022 5 140.00–144.00 $141.59 $1,447 —
1085 1085 2 136.00–160.00 $148.00 $1,606 -8.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 180.00 $180.00 $468 +3.82
350–385 369 4 180.00–192.50 $185.62 $685 +3.85
405–445 415 4 175.00–177.00 $175.54 $728 -10.82
470–497 484 9 170.00–190.00 $179.10 $867 -6.96
510–545 528 19 163.00–189.00 $180.01 $950 +3.54
550–580 563 6 161.00–184.00 $177.70 $1,000 +7.70
620–645 631 12 160.00–182.00 $176.62 $1,114 +7.15
670–697 681 10 160.00–180.00 $170.86 $1,164 +21.45
705–740 723 12 143.00–159.00 $150.13 $1,085 +3.06
750–770 758 8 126.00–151.00 $145.58 $1,103 +5.37
833–845 837 6 120.00–135.00 $129.03 $1,080 -15.94
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 127.50 $127.50 $306 —
320 320 2 130.00 $130.00 $416 —
425–430 428 2 125.00–137.50 $131.29 $562 -34.71
460–475 468 2 110.00–117.50 $113.69 $532 —
505–520 513 4 151.00–167.50 $159.13 $816 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
572–580 575 3 181.00–182.00 $181.34 $1,043 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–1145 1123 2 130.00–149.00 $139.31 $1,564 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275–295 285 2 255.00–257.50 $256.21 $730 +31.21
310–320 313 3 240.00 $240.00 $751 +3.75
415–430 423 2 240.00–257.00 $248.65 $1,052 -0.35
422–435 value added 426 3 274.00 $274.00 $1,167 +4.92
437 fancy 437 5 286.00 $286.00 $1,250 —
460 460 1 263.00 $263.00 $1,210 +26.44
493–496 value added 494 12 231.00–242.00 $235.60 $1,164 —
505–532 521 10 221.00–235.00 $227.48 $1,185 +2.32
556–581 566 11 216.00–229.00 $225.23 $1,275 +7.63
600–645 622 27 180.00–217.00 $203.74 $1,267 +16.60
675–685 682 3 185.00–210.00 $193.25 $1,318 -1.02
700–730 709 5 168.00–179.00 $172.17 $1,221 -4.14
760 760 1 178.00 $178.00 $1,353 +9.00
816–830 820 7 144.00–188.00 $164.48 $1,349 —
855–885 878 4 148.00–188.00 $157.74 $1,385 -22.26
1165 1165 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,748 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–320 313 2 222.50–227.50 $225.06 $704 +2.33
385 385 1 233.00 $233.00 $897 +90.50
410–435 423 2 181.00–220.00 $201.08 $851 -16.84
455–485 469 12 181.00–224.00 $202.70 $951 -10.91
501–530 510 7 170.00–204.00 $183.63 $937 +0.57
552–596 572 15 175.00–212.00 $203.42 $1,164 +4.87
600–617 609 5 150.00–160.00 $154.05 $938 -19.68
657–665 660 3 171.00–175.00 $173.66 $1,146 +3.49
700–740 719 4 142.00–156.00 $150.93 $1,085 —
760–767 765 3 134.00–157.00 $149.38 $1,143 -14.61
800–845 828 3 110.00–140.00 $128.25 $1,062 -23.81
960 960 1 100.00 $100.00 $960 -20.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
950 950 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,016 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 197.50 $197.50 $543 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
980–1390 1190 80-85% 19 82.00–90.00 $87.26 $1,038 —
1060–1460 1252 80-85% 22 90.00–97.50 $94.21 $1,180 -1.23
1125–1560 1374 80-85% 16 98.00–114.00 $104.25 $1,432 -1.75
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–1500 1334 75-80% 8 86.00–89.00 $88.30 $1,178 —
1130–1915 1430 75-80% 21 89.00–96.00 $93.72 $1,340 —
1105–1815 1504 75-80% 27 96.00–109.50 $100.14 $1,506 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
760–1215 988 85-90% 2 61.00–77.00 $70.84 $700 +0.42
870–1300 1103 85-90% 6 78.00–82.00 $79.54 $877 -7.65
865–1390 1122 85-90% 23 83.00–92.00 $85.49 $959 -1.70
1040–1235 1166 85-90% 7 92.00–99.00 $94.42 $1,101 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1685 1387 5 66.00–104.00 $89.39 $1,240 —
1390–1740 1504 6 109.00–123.50 $118.16 $1,777 +16.37
1615–1965 1793 4 124.00–137.00 $132.10 $2,369 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
890–1210 1123 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,000.00–1,300.00 $1,187.58

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
785 785 Young (2-4 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
1300–1775 1519 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 1,550.00–1,900.00 $1,723.42 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1455 1455 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,285.00 $1,285.00 —

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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.