Cattle Market Pulse

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

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 4, 2024

1,344 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 heifers $228.99/cwt +1.46 vs last sale · ≈ $1,641/hd at 717 lb · 95 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $269.31/cwt -0.79 vs last sale · ≈ $1,285/hd at 477 lb · 72 head
light 8-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $213.50/cwt +10.90 vs last sale · ≈ $1,806/hd at 846 lb · 67 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,344 1,678 842
Feeder cattle 1,185 1,542 718
Slaughter cattle 149 122 105
Replacement cattle 10 14 19

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers and heifers sold steady to 4.00 higher; except featherweights under 400 lbs traded 4.00 lower with some plainer offerings and off color calves on hand. Active market for good quality weaned packages with good buyer/farmer participation today. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold steady 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
250 value added 250 1 315.00 $315.00 $788 —
305–330 value added 322 6 337.00–350.00 $342.21 $1,102 -7.14
355–387 value added 371 9 325.00–371.00 $332.06 $1,232 -10.45
375–385 380 2 310.00–317.00 $313.45 $1,191 -4.05
403–442 value added 415 18 290.00–378.00 $323.02 $1,341 -2.94
433–445 436 6 282.00–289.00 $286.80 $1,250 —
450–490 value added 468 31 291.00–329.00 $314.48 $1,472 +0.76
452–477 470 11 282.50–290.00 $286.30 $1,346 -8.11
502–535 518 5 258.00–275.00 $264.98 $1,373 +4.23
500–547 value added 521 35 275.00–314.00 $300.63 $1,566 +10.68
550–595 value added 574 11 279.00–299.00 $286.39 $1,644 +5.72
600–649 value added 623 51 258.00–298.00 $275.75 $1,718 +3.15
650–663 value added 659 7 259.00–271.00 $267.62 $1,764 -1.14
690 690 2 249.00 $249.00 $1,718 +7.98
702–730 value added 719 5 241.00–247.00 $243.34 $1,750 -4.61
700–732 721 3 238.00–239.00 $238.68 $1,721 +0.68
810–845 823 3 210.00–215.00 $213.03 $1,753 -14.23
1035 1035 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,966 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 230.00 $230.00 $494 —
330–347 339 4 290.00–305.00 $295.48 $1,002 —
425 425 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,190 -10.00
460–475 468 2 242.00–261.00 $251.35 $1,176 —
520 520 1 244.00 $244.00 $1,269 —
725 725 1 204.00 $204.00 $1,479 -11.61
830 830 1 193.00 $193.00 $1,602 +3.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,218 —
505 505 1 244.00 $244.00 $1,232 —
665 665 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,696 +3.13
735 735 1 194.00 $194.00 $1,426 —
760 760 1 199.00 $199.00 $1,512 -24.00
815 815 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,630 -9.31
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 242.50 $242.50 $691 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 200.00 $200.00 $400 —
231 value added 231 3 315.00 $315.00 $728 -20.00
265–295 288 4 275.00–300.00 $291.16 $839 —
295 value added 295 1 312.50 $312.50 $922 -27.50
303–320 value added 310 9 318.00–325.00 $320.43 $993 -12.18
305–345 325 10 292.50–312.50 $303.28 $986 +17.62
351–397 value added 374 23 317.50–342.50 $333.40 $1,247 +5.00
378 378 3 297.00 $297.00 $1,123 -2.46
400–440 value added 415 46 267.50–316.00 $291.85 $1,211 -6.94
400–434 423 11 253.00–265.00 $262.19 $1,109 +11.81
450–494 value added 475 51 260.00–293.00 $275.80 $1,310 +1.62
452–497 482 21 242.50–260.00 $253.56 $1,222 +7.95
500–532 517 25 237.00–254.00 $247.73 $1,281 +3.19
500–546 value added 528 41 255.00–277.00 $266.73 $1,408 -5.12
550–597 value added 568 35 244.00–273.00 $259.09 $1,472 +3.95
550–597 575 9 234.00–247.50 $241.58 $1,389 +0.23
600–647 value added 617 18 224.00–240.00 $231.68 $1,429 -11.75
600–645 619 12 193.00–216.00 $203.98 $1,263 -18.20
665 value added 665 4 241.00 $241.00 $1,603 +2.22
655–692 675 11 199.00–222.00 $208.35 $1,406 -3.70
700–722 value added 716 85 210.00–235.10 $233.14 $1,669 +1.95
707–745 720 3 170.00–206.00 $193.58 $1,394 +17.62
700–738 724 7 181.00–211.00 $193.75 $1,403 +17.79
782 782 2 199.00 $199.00 $1,556 +37.76
795 795 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,352 -21.00
846 value added 846 67 213.50 $213.50 $1,806 -6.50
860 860 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,548 ±0.00
896 896 4 160.00 $160.00 $1,434 -29.67
1073 1073 3 158.00 $158.00 $1,695 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230–245 236 4 210.00–255.00 $234.49 $553 -25.94
265–285 272 3 200.00–235.00 $212.24 $577 -60.76
300–347 330 21 241.00–288.50 $278.49 $919 +5.63
350–395 377 18 222.50–290.00 $266.76 $1,006 +30.22
385 value added 385 3 285.00–300.00 $295.00 $1,136 —
410–445 427 3 219.00–244.00 $234.74 $1,002 —
460–492 480 6 221.00–240.00 $234.12 $1,124 +11.62
515–540 528 2 221.00–233.00 $226.86 $1,198 +6.86
550–585 571 7 200.00–228.00 $220.91 $1,261 +7.51
605–640 618 3 134.00–169.00 $148.44 $917 -45.10
650–690 668 3 150.00–190.00 $167.11 $1,116 -4.96
705–735 720 2 160.00–163.00 $161.47 $1,163 -1.64
772 772 2 138.00 $138.00 $1,065 -14.00
800–835 811 4 139.00–160.00 $145.01 $1,176 +5.01
940 940 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,222 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 290.00 $290.00 $972 +37.50
420–440 425 4 261.00–270.00 $263.33 $1,119 +0.33
485 485 1 231.00 $231.00 $1,120 —
550–595 573 2 221.00–226.00 $223.40 $1,280 -1.80
615–625 620 2 181.00–210.00 $195.38 $1,211 +37.38
705 705 2 164.00 $164.00 $1,156 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 240.00 $240.00 $660 —
310–335 323 2 190.00–200.00 $195.19 $630 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270–290 value added 280 3 321.00–337.50 $329.36 $922 —
315–327 value added 323 3 320.00–347.50 $338.56 $1,094 +13.47
315–330 323 3 300.00–337.50 $314.19 $1,015 +14.19
350–392 375 16 275.00–317.50 $304.67 $1,143 -25.33
355–398 value added 381 14 312.50–335.00 $329.80 $1,257 -12.64
405–432 value added 412 8 290.00–325.00 $309.44 $1,275 -13.19
400–445 423 16 277.50–302.00 $293.28 $1,241 +13.28
450–492 value added 460 14 271.00–322.50 $293.28 $1,349 -3.35
456–495 474 18 271.00–300.00 $285.80 $1,355 +12.27
501–542 value added 512 8 274.00–299.00 $288.50 $1,477 -0.79
505–545 520 13 251.00–294.00 $268.70 $1,397 -0.21
555–595 566 13 257.50–299.00 $283.87 $1,607 +18.97
550–590 value added 575 19 263.00–296.00 $275.45 $1,584 -7.28
606 thin fleshed 606 4 275.00 $275.00 $1,666 —
600–630 value added 617 9 240.00–275.00 $260.93 $1,610 +7.21
647 647 2 223.00 $223.00 $1,443 -3.00
655–695 value added 670 19 230.00–272.00 $240.46 $1,611 —
680–685 683 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,503 +0.53
702–722 value added 711 5 230.00–235.00 $232.83 $1,655 +4.90
705–745 716 11 202.00–225.00 $213.30 $1,527 -1.39
765 765 1 211.00 $211.00 $1,614 +5.93
762–785 value added 776 5 219.00 $219.00 $1,699 +2.97
810–830 818 3 186.00–198.00 $191.30 $1,565 +10.30
880 880 4 180.00 $180.00 $1,584 -17.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 1 270.00 $270.00 $688 —
330–340 335 2 280.00–281.00 $280.49 $940 —
350–390 376 5 287.50–295.00 $292.44 $1,100 +0.03
405–445 421 4 241.00–270.00 $255.24 $1,075 —
475–480 476 4 230.00–253.00 $242.98 $1,157 +2.98
545 545 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,199 —
590 590 2 221.00 $221.00 $1,304 —
620–635 625 3 213.00–220.00 $215.37 $1,346 —
670–680 675 2 200.00–205.00 $202.52 $1,367 +15.52
775 775 2 190.00–199.00 $194.50 $1,507 +8.50
840 840 1 168.00 $168.00 $1,411 —
905 905 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,448 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–295 264 4 175.00–230.00 $197.64 $522 —
365 365 1 261.00 $261.00 $953 +30.26
440 440 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,012 +20.00
455–470 463 2 225.00–240.00 $232.62 $1,077 +10.12
520 520 1 227.50 $227.50 $1,183 +11.50
565 565 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,243 -7.77
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 310.00 $310.00 $930 +20.00
470 470 1 252.00 $252.00 $1,184 —
735 735 1 212.00 $212.00 $1,558 —
780 780 1 204.00 $204.00 $1,591 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920–1095 1008 80-85% 2 96.00–99.00 $97.63 $984 —
940–1235 1110 80-85% 4 105.00–112.00 $109.25 $1,213 -1.02
1120–1510 1244 80-85% 31 115.00–128.00 $121.88 $1,516 -0.20
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
670–850 750 85-90% 3 62.00–81.00 $73.32 $550 —
610–1240 832 85-90% 7 81.00–90.00 $86.46 $719 —
785–1105 918 85-90% 13 90.00–100.00 $95.53 $877 —
880–1160 1014 85-90% 7 105.00–113.00 $108.40 $1,099 +27.13
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1335 1335 75-80% 1 102.00 $102.00 $1,362 —
1090–1680 1406 75-80% 21 114.00–135.00 $121.02 $1,702 —
1160–1800 1463 75-80% 8 109.00–113.00 $111.58 $1,632 -6.04

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
980–1875 1354 8 117.00–128.00 $122.93 $1,664 -2.63
1260–2340 1837 15 131.00–147.00 $139.21 $2,557 +0.69

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1010 1010 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,625.00 $1,625.00
1335 1335 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00

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Beef Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 2 228.00 $228.00 $1,106 —

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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
1455–1605 1552 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,725.00–1,950.00 $1,879.67 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 229.00 $229.00 $561 —
312 value added 312 4 241.00 $241.00 $752 —
388 value added 388 15 248.50 $248.50 $964 —
435 435 1 185.00 $185.00 $805 —
477 value added 477 4 238.00 $238.00 $1,135 —
483 483 4 227.00 $227.00 $1,096 —
770 770 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,232 —

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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.