Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 26, 2024

1,678 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $237.28/cwt +33.59 vs last sale · ≈ $1,612/hd at 679 lb · 268 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $228.29/cwt +19.77 vs last sale · ≈ $1,747/hd at 765 lb · 142 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $268.00/cwt +2.48 vs last sale · ≈ $1,389/hd at 518 lb · 78 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,678 1,326 885
Feeder cattle 1,542 1,128 755
Slaughter cattle 122 159 119
Replacement cattle 14 39 11

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand for weaned packages. Weaned heifer packages under 500 lbs traded sharply higher; over 500 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand for weaned packages. Slaughter cows sold steady with very good demand. Slaughter bulls sold 4.00 higher with very 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
295 295 1 305.00 $305.00 $900 +5.00
342–346 value added 345 9 330.00–361.00 $349.35 $1,205 +19.31
360–390 value added 371 13 320.00–348.00 $342.51 $1,271 +10.69
380 380 1 317.50 $317.50 $1,206 +25.00
400–447 value added 431 44 310.00–350.00 $325.96 $1,405 +0.55
450–480 value added 466 24 297.50–324.00 $313.72 $1,462 +5.34
455–495 475 8 285.00–300.00 $294.41 $1,398 +5.41
500 500 4 258.00–265.00 $260.75 $1,304 +4.88
500–547 value added 520 41 275.00–308.00 $289.95 $1,508 -0.27
553 553 12 259.00 $259.00 $1,432 +0.49
550–590 value added 570 21 267.00–289.00 $280.67 $1,600 +7.36
605–615 610 2 241.00–251.00 $246.04 $1,501 +1.78
600–645 value added 626 30 257.00–280.00 $272.60 $1,706 +21.82
657–687 value added 659 26 266.00–269.00 $268.76 $1,771 —
650–695 662 9 239.00–248.00 $241.02 $1,596 +2.53
715–737 value added 730 17 240.00–251.00 $247.95 $1,810 +11.83
735 735 1 238.00 $238.00 $1,749 —
783 783 6 231.00–235.50 $233.25 $1,826 +12.25
805–810 809 4 219.00–230.00 $227.26 $1,839 +7.26
839 fancy 839 12 234.00 $234.00 $1,963 —
855–888 880 4 216.00–217.00 $216.24 $1,903 -2.76
926 926 3 214.00 $214.00 $1,982 +7.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 470 1 289.00 $289.00 $1,358 —
565 565 1 282.00 $282.00 $1,593 —
685–688 687 7 239.00–257.00 $251.87 $1,730 +31.87
755 755 1 223.00 $223.00 $1,684 -5.93
805–845 830 5 200.00–215.00 $209.31 $1,737 +6.31
925 925 2 223.00 $223.00 $2,063 +17.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385–390 388 2 290.00–300.00 $295.03 $1,145 +39.46
430 430 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,247 —
582 582 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,339 —
615–635 625 2 229.00–232.00 $230.52 $1,441 +5.52
680 680 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,496 -1.52
700–745 728 5 199.00–224.00 $215.61 $1,570 —
835 835 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,586 —
915 915 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,464 —
995 995 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,592 —
1010 1010 2 165.00 $165.00 $1,666 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1177–1295 1216 3 161.00–165.00 $163.58 $1,989 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
650 650 1 213.00 $213.00 $1,384 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 value added 245 1 335.00 $335.00 $821 +51.00
285 value added 285 1 340.00 $340.00 $969 —
310–322 319 6 277.50–305.00 $285.66 $911 +48.36
315–340 value added 330 22 317.00–337.00 $332.61 $1,098 +49.31
355–380 value added 374 7 315.00–337.00 $328.40 $1,228 +50.15
355–390 376 7 290.00–309.00 $299.46 $1,126 +54.46
400–448 value added 429 46 262.50–330.00 $298.79 $1,282 +14.42
425–440 432 5 249.00–252.00 $250.38 $1,082 -0.85
450–495 466 9 237.00–255.00 $245.61 $1,145 +5.61
450–497 value added 478 54 258.00–289.00 $274.18 $1,311 -1.85
500–545 value added 515 67 249.00–290.00 $271.85 $1,400 +5.25
525–545 537 11 227.00–249.00 $244.54 $1,313 +6.04
555–591 570 13 239.00–245.00 $241.35 $1,376 +13.87
556–595 value added 579 34 248.00–262.00 $255.14 $1,477 +7.10
600–645 value added 613 32 231.00–255.00 $243.43 $1,492 +9.64
615–645 630 11 220.00–224.00 $222.18 $1,400 +18.83
650–698 value added 679 253 229.00–241.00 $238.78 $1,621 —
670–686 684 15 210.00–221.00 $212.05 $1,450 +8.36
700–713 712 10 193.00–220.00 $216.94 $1,545 +26.41
705–720 713 2 172.00–180.00 $175.96 $1,255 -14.57
700–738 value added 728 57 225.00–240.50 $231.19 $1,683 —
764–767 value added 765 139 224.75–234.25 $229.52 $1,756 +15.60
775–790 783 2 160.00–162.50 $161.24 $1,263 -33.76
785 785 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,499 -4.00
800 800 2 166.00 $166.00 $1,328 -22.00
819 value added 819 10 220.00 $220.00 $1,802 —
846 846 3 169.00 $169.00 $1,430 +8.66
850 850 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,530 -11.00
860–872 870 6 188.00–190.00 $189.67 $1,650 -1.33
950–960 955 2 155.00–163.00 $158.98 $1,518 —
1030 1030 2 133.00–160.00 $146.50 $1,509 —
1115 1115 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,695 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205–230 218 2 252.50–267.50 $260.43 $568 —
250 250 1 273.00 $273.00 $682 —
300–345 325 8 260.00–280.00 $272.86 $887 —
370–375 373 2 192.50–280.00 $236.54 $882 —
450–470 460 2 222.50 $222.50 $1,024 -4.76
505 505 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,111 —
562–580 568 3 210.00–220.00 $213.40 $1,212 -3.22
625–630 628 2 184.00–203.00 $193.54 $1,215 +17.18
655–695 675 4 152.00–200.00 $172.07 $1,161 +3.41
700–720 707 5 159.00–170.00 $163.11 $1,153 -0.30
770 770 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,170 -25.06
840 840 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,176 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 252.50 $252.50 $833 —
375 375 2 309.00 $309.00 $1,159 —
400 400 2 263.00 $263.00 $1,052 —
575–595 590 4 218.00–231.00 $225.20 $1,329 —
615 615 1 158.00 $158.00 $972 —
660–690 675 2 184.00–206.00 $194.76 $1,315 +17.26
745 745 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,155 —
985 985 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,527 —
1080 1080 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,782 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 250.00 $250.00 $538 —
395 395 1 215.00 $215.00 $849 —
410 410 1 202.50 $202.50 $830 —
480 480 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,008 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1255–1295 1275 2 141.00–159.00 $150.14 $1,914 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 307.50 $307.50 $830 -20.00
300–335 value added 318 4 317.00–335.00 $325.09 $1,034 —
345 345 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,035 —
360–365 363 3 330.00 $330.00 $1,198 +40.89
380–390 value added 385 2 337.50–347.50 $342.44 $1,318 —
401–436 value added 420 13 300.00–342.50 $322.63 $1,355 +5.74
427 427 2 280.00 $280.00 $1,196 -3.23
465 fancy 465 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,465 —
455–497 value added 478 19 288.00–313.00 $296.63 $1,418 -14.20
460–495 483 12 260.00–282.50 $273.53 $1,321 -3.33
505–542 fancy 520 7 294.00–299.00 $295.53 $1,537 —
505–535 520 17 256.00–281.00 $268.91 $1,398 +12.15
514–547 value added 531 28 273.00–306.00 $289.29 $1,536 +24.39
551–555 value added 553 7 279.00–285.50 $282.73 $1,563 +19.16
555–595 575 8 242.50–271.00 $264.90 $1,523 —
605–625 615 2 226.00 $226.00 $1,390 +15.00
602–645 value added 620 33 234.00–267.00 $253.72 $1,573 +22.18
636 fancy 636 3 244.00 $244.00 $1,552 —
665–690 674 4 214.00–224.00 $219.47 $1,479 —
702–745 716 4 204.00–230.00 $214.69 $1,537 +17.99
725–745 value added 732 3 220.00–234.00 $227.93 $1,668 +13.43
750–795 value added 767 10 210.00–222.00 $216.03 $1,657 —
752–795 771 12 190.00–210.00 $205.07 $1,581 +4.30
805 805 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,457 -19.76
855 855 1 197.00 $197.00 $1,684 +25.00
905 905 1 206.00 $206.00 $1,864 +36.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 260.00 $260.00 $559 —
355–387 375 7 285.00–303.00 $292.41 $1,097 +41.33
480 480 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,152 -8.00
655 655 1 187.00 $187.00 $1,225 -8.00
705 705 1 167.00 $167.00 $1,177 —
755 755 1 186.00 $186.00 $1,404 —
890 890 1 158.00 $158.00 $1,406 —
970–980 975 2 140.00–167.00 $153.57 $1,497 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 290.00 $290.00 $914 —
395 395 1 302.50 $302.50 $1,195 —
515 515 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,339 +16.00
560 560 2 253.00 $253.00 $1,417 —
675–685 680 2 210.00–215.00 $212.48 $1,445 -2.52
950 950 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,615 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360–380 370 2 212.50–250.00 $230.74 $854 —
410 410 1 210.00 $210.00 $861 -17.50
465 465 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,035 +20.00
505 505 1 216.00 $216.00 $1,091 —
555–575 565 2 215.00–241.00 $227.77 $1,287 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1370 1135 80-85% 8 106.00–114.00 $110.27 $1,252 —
995–1815 1241 80-85% 32 115.00–136.00 $122.08 $1,515 +23.81
1280 1280 80-85% 1 104.00 $104.00 $1,331 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1380 1273 75-80% 3 95.00–103.00 $98.97 $1,260 —
1170–1945 1385 75-80% 11 108.00–114.00 $111.74 $1,548 +0.29
1120–1805 1481 75-80% 26 114.00–128.00 $117.62 $1,742 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870–1095 983 85-90% 2 85.00–88.00 $86.33 $849 —
935–1125 1030 85-90% 2 79.00–84.00 $81.27 $837 -18.68
890–1225 1073 85-90% 11 102.00–117.00 $108.91 $1,169 +17.10
940–1290 1073 85-90% 6 94.00–99.00 $95.95 $1,030 +4.14

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
940–1245 1093 2 109.00–114.00 $111.85 $1,223 —
1015–1725 1371 4 120.00–128.00 $125.56 $1,721 —
1335–2105 1827 8 132.00–150.00 $138.52 $2,531 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
990–1200 1079 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,400.00–1,725.00 $1,614.72
1115–1465 1258 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,600.00–1,975.00 $1,841.52

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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.