Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 22, 2024

1,039 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 $235.42/cwt +26.14 vs last sale · ≈ $1,234/hd at 524 lb · 108 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $248.35/cwt +16.07 vs last sale · ≈ $1,645/hd at 662 lb · 68 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $217.48/cwt +10.65 vs last sale · ≈ $1,251/hd at 575 lb · 67 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,039 1,871 706
Feeder cattle 870 1,656 620
Slaughter cattle 133 198 85
Replacement cattle 36 17 1

Market comments — USDA reporter

No market trend with last Monday due to inclement weather. Very good demand for weaned light to middleweight calf packages and very good demand for slaughter cows noted.

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
335–340 fancy 338 2 310.00–311.00 $310.50 $1,049 -9.50
360–385 372 3 282.50–288.00 $284.50 $1,058 —
410–422 value added 420 5 281.00–284.00 $283.41 $1,190 +13.42
435 435 2 253.00 $253.00 $1,101 +3.00
465–480 473 2 250.00–265.00 $257.62 $1,219 +5.65
480–492 value added 488 3 274.00–275.00 $274.33 $1,339 +11.45
500–525 515 3 251.00–255.00 $253.71 $1,307 -1.66
502–542 value added 523 26 269.50–279.00 $275.26 $1,440 +15.45
551–580 value added 567 18 258.00–278.00 $266.64 $1,512 +3.38
555–596 591 9 249.00–255.00 $249.63 $1,475 +5.20
615 615 1 236.00 $236.00 $1,451 +2.04
600–637 value added 635 64 245.00–256.00 $255.24 $1,621 +7.35
656 value added 656 47 254.50 $254.50 $1,670 +11.50
658–687 676 21 232.00–237.00 $234.60 $1,586 +4.65
707–747 value added 739 19 223.00–226.00 $223.49 $1,652 +2.89
750–791 776 8 199.00–209.50 $205.69 $1,596 +8.82
763–798 value added 779 29 219.00–220.00 $219.54 $1,710 —
800–840 822 3 186.00–195.00 $190.63 $1,567 -18.44
917 917 4 200.00 $200.00 $1,834 —
1062 1062 5 197.00 $197.00 $2,092 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 215.00 $215.00 $559 +19.25
475 475 1 244.00 $244.00 $1,159 —
510–520 517 3 243.00–250.00 $247.70 $1,281 +6.70
570–585 578 2 247.00–249.00 $247.99 $1,433 +12.99
645 645 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,419 +5.64
653–695 664 4 200.00–201.00 $200.74 $1,333 -7.09
745 745 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,453 —
760 760 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,376 -8.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
683 683 3 222.00 $222.00 $1,516 +19.00
710–725 718 2 196.00–209.00 $202.57 $1,454 —
810–830 823 3 181.00–185.00 $182.31 $1,500 -8.69
1010 1010 2 155.00 $155.00 $1,566 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–290 273 3 197.00–212.50 $203.45 $555 +3.45
285 value added 285 1 220.00 $220.00 $627 —
315–340 328 3 191.00–217.00 $200.45 $657 -8.90
355 355 1 202.00 $202.00 $717 -2.94
401–438 value added 420 23 219.00–233.00 $226.21 $950 +1.88
460–490 value added 481 17 220.00–224.00 $221.13 $1,064 +1.17
465–496 486 11 207.00–215.00 $210.83 $1,025 +4.65
500–545 value added 523 90 215.00–243.50 $240.42 $1,257 +23.42
507–545 531 18 196.00–213.00 $210.41 $1,117 +7.17
552–593 value added 571 43 215.00–231.00 $221.24 $1,263 +4.40
554–592 583 24 205.00–212.00 $210.73 $1,229 +11.23
600–640 621 16 194.00–208.00 $200.36 $1,244 +8.90
628–643 value added 638 20 218.00–227.00 $222.54 $1,420 +18.30
668–695 value added 674 17 209.00–211.00 $210.76 $1,421 -4.74
657–697 687 13 183.00–205.00 $190.66 $1,310 +4.34
711 value added 711 5 210.00 $210.00 $1,493 —
710–713 713 7 179.00–185.00 $184.15 $1,313 +12.75
760–780 value added 777 12 193.00–196.00 $193.49 $1,503 —
786–790 787 5 180.00–184.00 $183.20 $1,442 -14.35
820–821 821 6 155.00–157.00 $156.00 $1,281 -9.00
870–880 875 2 164.00–174.00 $169.03 $1,479 -19.82
915 915 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,464 -3.00
938 938 3 171.00 $171.00 $1,604 +8.00
977 977 4 152.00 $152.00 $1,485 -7.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
847 847 2 179.00 $179.00 $1,516 —
965 965 10 144.00 $144.00 $1,390 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 175.00 $175.00 $472 -8.57
360 360 1 191.00 $191.00 $688 -4.00
420 420 1 192.00 $192.00 $806 +4.00
590 590 1 184.00 $184.00 $1,086 +5.68
610–645 622 3 163.00–185.00 $170.61 $1,061 -1.86
880 880 1 147.00 $147.00 $1,294 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1330 1203 3 136.00–142.00 $138.40 $1,665 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 277.50 $277.50 $735 +7.50
321–340 fancy 325 5 305.00–307.00 $306.58 $996 —
375 fancy 375 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,125 -3.00
377 377 2 288.00 $288.00 $1,086 +30.65
405–406 406 4 235.00–240.00 $238.75 $969 -9.98
473–496 486 7 264.00–270.00 $266.50 $1,295 +17.16
510–543 530 8 233.00–260.00 $246.28 $1,305 +5.43
551–590 582 14 240.00–246.00 $241.36 $1,405 +6.95
600–645 623 8 191.00–225.00 $204.47 $1,274 -5.79
667–695 678 8 188.00–210.00 $199.15 $1,350 +11.15
705–734 731 10 181.00–195.00 $193.65 $1,416 +12.64
750–791 778 7 174.00–200.00 $192.70 $1,499 —
860 860 2 160.00 $160.00 $1,376 ±0.00
953–960 955 4 178.00–185.00 $179.76 $1,717 +31.76
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 231.00 $231.00 $520 —
253–280 267 6 210.00 $210.00 $561 —
325 325 1 251.00 $251.00 $816 —
400 400 1 200.00 $200.00 $800 -26.02
480 480 1 190.00 $190.00 $912 -36.44
580 580 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,102 -38.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 2 182.50 $182.50 $520 -35.00
380 380 1 207.50 $207.50 $788 +15.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555 555 1 244.00 $244.00 $1,354 —
870 870 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,305 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1090–1745 1413 75-80% 23 98.00–111.00 $108.03 $1,526 +11.95
1220–1920 1551 75-80% 31 112.00–124.00 $116.07 $1,800 —
1595 1595 75-80% 1 97.00 $97.00 $1,547 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1330 1214 80-85% 4 88.00–97.00 $92.59 $1,124 —
1105–1565 1259 80-85% 17 99.00–112.00 $106.57 $1,342 +18.20
1045–1575 1307 80-85% 18 113.00–127.00 $117.84 $1,540 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
770–1050 872 85-90% 3 75.00–85.00 $80.05 $698 —
870–1225 1026 85-90% 15 90.00–103.00 $96.88 $994 +9.91
830–1215 1038 85-90% 3 87.00–89.00 $87.88 $912 +16.50
1105 1105 85-90% 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,171 +8.62

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1345 1345 1 101.00 $101.00 $1,358 —
1085–2005 1538 6 111.00–123.00 $118.18 $1,818 —
1200–1940 1565 6 124.00–133.00 $129.22 $2,022 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
925–1145 1032 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 1,100.00–1,425.00 $1,235.37
900–1240 1065 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,050.00–1,450.00 $1,217.32
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
865 865 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 825.00 $825.00
765–1055 881 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 850.00–1,050.00 $966.35

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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)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00

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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
1355 1355 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —
1515 1515 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,775.00 $1,775.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
575 575 1 155.00 $155.00 $891 —

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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.