Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 8, 2024

1,871 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $215.25/cwt +24.62 vs last sale · ≈ $1,870/hd at 869 lb · 325 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $209.96/cwt +23.92 vs last sale · ≈ $1,396/hd at 665 lb · 160 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $202.33/cwt ≈ $1,955/hd at 966 lb · 140 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,871 973 1,211
Feeder cattle 1,656 763 1,034
Slaughter cattle 198 205 170
Replacement cattle 17 5 7

Market comments — USDA reporter

No comparison with last Monday due to Holiday; however market active with good buyer participation for all classes. Very good demand for 400-500 lb weaned steer packages.

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
230–235 233 2 265.00–277.00 $271.06 $632 —
290 fancy 290 1 280.00 $280.00 $812 —
305 305 3 260.00 $260.00 $793 —
310 fancy 310 1 320.00 $320.00 $992 —
355–392 value added 379 5 282.50–306.00 $294.60 $1,117 -5.71
415–430 value added 422 8 255.00–285.00 $269.99 $1,139 -8.70
410–447 fancy 426 8 283.00–300.00 $292.46 $1,246 —
440 440 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,100 —
460–473 468 6 246.00–262.00 $251.97 $1,179 +2.97
480–482 value added 481 8 262.00–265.00 $262.88 $1,264 -13.45
500–544 value added 530 17 249.00–274.00 $259.81 $1,377 -1.07
525–542 538 6 249.00–259.00 $255.37 $1,374 +10.90
555–581 value added 572 34 257.00–266.00 $263.26 $1,506 —
570–597 586 18 242.00–249.00 $244.43 $1,432 -0.93
602–630 value added 617 29 243.00–251.00 $247.89 $1,529 +21.00
600–647 628 12 230.00–240.00 $233.96 $1,469 +20.38
662 value added 662 5 243.00 $243.00 $1,609 +12.86
650–698 692 23 229.00–231.00 $229.95 $1,591 +19.37
710–741 730 18 191.00–210.00 $203.09 $1,483 +13.09
711–747 value added 730 21 214.00–229.50 $220.60 $1,610 +17.57
755–792 775 5 190.00–203.00 $196.87 $1,526 -0.63
805–840 833 5 201.00–211.00 $209.07 $1,742 +18.07
854–871 fancy 860 153 214.60–218.10 $216.76 $1,864 —
870–892 877 172 212.75–214.50 $213.90 $1,876 +20.46
955–975 fancy 965 107 202.00–207.00 $204.59 $1,974 —
970 970 33 195.00 $195.00 $1,892 —
1135 1135 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,861 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275–295 282 3 192.50–197.50 $195.75 $552 —
360 360 1 253.00 $253.00 $911 +23.00
445 445 1 237.00 $237.00 $1,055 —
541 541 3 241.00 $241.00 $1,304 —
570–575 573 3 235.00 $235.00 $1,347 —
620–637 628 7 201.00–228.00 $214.36 $1,346 —
656–690 663 9 197.00–224.00 $207.83 $1,378 +15.53
700 700 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,330 —
750 750 4 189.00–190.00 $189.50 $1,421 +10.50
860 860 1 192.00 $192.00 $1,651 +19.00
945 945 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,701 +9.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 1 243.00 $243.00 $1,179 —
530 530 1 239.00 $239.00 $1,267 —
645 645 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,413 —
690 690 2 203.00 $203.00 $1,401 —
817–825 820 3 191.00 $191.00 $1,566 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
508 508 3 223.00 $223.00 $1,133 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1285 1285 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,953 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 200.00 $200.00 $530 —
315–318 value added 317 8 200.00–205.00 $202.49 $642 -27.51
310–345 333 3 199.00–215.00 $209.35 $697 +1.85
352–385 value added 369 10 214.00–225.00 $222.03 $819 -2.11
380–390 385 5 195.00–212.50 $204.94 $789 -1.30
420 420 1 200.00 $200.00 $840 -6.27
400–449 value added 429 20 219.00–236.00 $224.33 $962 +7.03
455–495 value added 468 31 215.00–228.00 $219.96 $1,029 +2.54
461–490 480 11 199.00–212.00 $206.18 $990 +4.42
500–540 517 23 190.00–211.00 $203.24 $1,051 +7.44
500–548 value added 534 18 214.00–219.00 $217.00 $1,159 +6.56
560–562 value added 561 19 214.00–223.00 $216.84 $1,216 +13.69
560–595 575 26 190.00–210.00 $199.50 $1,147 +5.02
600–637 620 24 182.00–197.00 $191.46 $1,187 +14.16
604–641 value added 620 9 201.00–207.00 $204.24 $1,266 +3.91
651 value added 651 81 215.50 $215.50 $1,403 +16.50
679 679 67 207.50 $207.50 $1,409 +31.17
662–695 680 12 179.00–193.00 $186.32 $1,267 +9.99
700–740 722 8 160.00–180.00 $171.40 $1,238 +11.54
707–745 730 85 183.00–201.75 $200.76 $1,466 +40.90
785–793 791 130 190.00–203.00 $197.55 $1,563 +31.09
794 794 5 179.00 $179.00 $1,421 +12.54
840 840 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,386 -2.90
860–865 865 66 184.00–189.00 $188.85 $1,634 —
948 948 3 163.00 $163.00 $1,545 —
960 960 2 159.00 $159.00 $1,526 +31.98
1031 1031 3 159.00 $159.00 $1,639 +60.00
1080–1097 1086 6 140.00–144.00 $142.65 $1,549 —
1165 1165 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,526 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
237 237 2 170.00 $170.00 $403 +17.52
270–292 281 5 161.00–191.00 $183.57 $516 +11.07
312–317 315 4 180.00–181.00 $180.50 $569 +9.76
350 350 1 195.00 $195.00 $682 +23.12
400 400 1 188.00 $188.00 $752 +19.73
490–492 491 5 195.00–198.00 $196.80 $966 +23.59
530 530 1 185.00 $185.00 $980 +18.86
557–595 573 5 170.00–186.00 $178.32 $1,022 +10.68
600–615 608 2 170.00–175.00 $172.47 $1,049 +27.96
755 755 1 149.00 $149.00 $1,125 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455–490 473 2 190.00–195.00 $192.59 $911 —
550–596 588 7 190.00–200.00 $192.64 $1,133 +14.14
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110–1520 1291 4 131.00–143.00 $136.42 $1,761 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285–290 288 2 270.00 $270.00 $778 +24.96
365 fancy 365 1 303.00 $303.00 $1,106 —
350–395 373 2 255.00–260.00 $257.35 $960 —
415–445 430 2 242.00–255.00 $248.73 $1,070 -0.27
430 fancy 430 1 276.00 $276.00 $1,187 —
465 value added 465 3 279.00 $279.00 $1,297 +14.07
490–495 492 3 248.00–251.00 $249.34 $1,227 +11.18
510 fancy 510 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,300 —
505–545 527 19 235.00–246.00 $240.85 $1,269 +8.97
528 value added 528 4 254.00 $254.00 $1,341 +13.00
552–585 564 12 231.00–241.00 $234.41 $1,322 +7.38
610–635 value added 626 14 213.00–237.00 $229.19 $1,435 +21.03
620–635 627 3 198.00–219.00 $210.26 $1,318 +18.21
685 685 2 188.00 $188.00 $1,288 -9.88
700–740 716 5 160.00–202.00 $181.01 $1,296 +7.39
800 800 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,312 —
880–895 888 2 160.00 $160.00 $1,421 -17.37
965 965 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,428 -7.40
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415–445 435 3 223.00–232.50 $226.02 $983 +34.12
450–490 461 9 210.00–235.00 $226.44 $1,044 +19.57
545 545 1 229.00 $229.00 $1,248 +21.10
590 590 1 228.00 $228.00 $1,345 +23.55
650 650 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,040 -12.00
835 835 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,236 —
921 921 3 130.00 $130.00 $1,197 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 1 217.50 $217.50 $555 +57.50
310 310 2 202.50 $202.50 $628 +57.50
350 350 1 192.50 $192.50 $674 —
557 557 2 181.00 $181.00 $1,008 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
630 630 1 178.00 $178.00 $1,121 —
675 675 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,222 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110–1480 1260 80-85% 13 85.00–91.00 $88.37 $1,113 -11.77
1010–1585 1287 80-85% 19 93.00–98.00 $95.51 $1,229 -4.63
1000–1655 1290 80-85% 38 99.00–106.00 $103.01 $1,329 +2.87
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1510 1318 75-80% 9 85.00–92.00 $87.83 $1,158 +3.99
1110–1730 1402 75-80% 25 94.00–98.00 $96.08 $1,347 +3.98
1250–1825 1527 75-80% 22 99.00–107.00 $101.61 $1,552 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860–1280 984 85-90% 15 76.00–83.00 $78.92 $777 —
830–1255 1025 85-90% 11 83.00–90.00 $86.97 $891 +14.43
740–1225 1032 85-90% 3 69.00–74.00 $71.38 $737 -1.16
850–1230 1113 85-90% 8 93.00–102.00 $97.38 $1,084 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–2030 1625 13 104.00–123.00 $116.54 $1,894 —
1580–2155 1842 6 124.00–134.00 $127.60 $2,350 -1.64

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1115–1465 1306 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,150.00–1,385.00 $1,247.35
1145–1485 1334 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,225.00–1,550.00 $1,444.89

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
935 935 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,075.00 $1,075.00

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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
1120 1120 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —

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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.