Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 29, 2024

1,005 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $260.69/cwt +7.11 vs last sale · ≈ $1,623/hd at 623 lb · 60 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $274.31/cwt +7.02 vs last sale · ≈ $1,566/hd at 571 lb · 54 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $307.99/cwt +2.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,620/hd at 526 lb · 53 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,005 1,191 1,373
Feeder cattle 796 997 1,178
Slaughter cattle 189 179 168
Replacement cattle 20 15 27

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers sold steady to firm with good demand. Feeder heifers sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with most advance on 400-500 lb weaned packages with very good demand. Yearlings lightly tested. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold steady to 1.00 lower 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
277–280 value added 278 5 320.00–336.00 $329.38 $916 —
295 295 1 303.00 $303.00 $894 —
336 value added 336 4 311.00 $311.00 $1,045 —
357–392 value added 378 14 322.50–367.00 $337.46 $1,276 -12.54
400–442 value added 420 33 302.50–340.00 $327.67 $1,376 -3.57
455–460 459 4 277.00–295.00 $283.97 $1,303 -15.07
450–490 value added 472 31 296.00–337.50 $321.71 $1,518 +0.79
500–535 514 7 289.00–293.00 $290.71 $1,494 +8.40
505–545 value added 528 46 299.00–321.00 $310.62 $1,640 -0.57
550–570 557 3 284.00–287.00 $285.02 $1,588 -2.78
553–595 value added 572 8 302.00–309.00 $305.33 $1,746 -1.53
607–630 thin fleshed 616 7 299.00–304.00 $300.70 $1,852 —
600–640 620 3 269.00–276.00 $272.71 $1,691 +5.60
600–646 value added 632 31 276.00–298.00 $291.25 $1,841 -10.09
670 670 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,742 +1.00
660–695 value added 683 10 281.00–295.00 $289.69 $1,979 +5.52
700–712 value added 708 8 257.00–284.00 $264.56 $1,873 -9.02
710–725 717 5 240.00–243.00 $241.21 $1,729 +0.44
755–780 761 4 240.00–245.00 $242.48 $1,845 +6.48
805–835 820 2 212.00–230.00 $220.84 $1,811 —
865 865 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,903 —
906 906 3 195.00 $195.00 $1,767 -28.00
1030 1030 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,802 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 282.50 $282.50 $749 -17.50
310 310 1 291.00 $291.00 $902 —
355 355 1 257.50 $257.50 $914 —
400–425 413 2 251.00–262.50 $256.58 $1,060 +36.58
940 940 1 182.00 $182.00 $1,711 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1357 1357 2 183.00 $183.00 $2,483 —

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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 1 270.00 $270.00 $540 —
255–295 284 5 271.00–285.00 $281.97 $801 +9.97
302–340 value added 319 4 300.00–315.00 $305.90 $976 +2.12
357–395 value added 375 8 305.00–322.50 $312.15 $1,171 +1.96
370–390 380 2 275.00–286.00 $280.36 $1,065 -8.60
400–435 418 2 265.00–278.00 $271.23 $1,134 +18.73
400–445 value added 419 27 283.00–315.00 $301.68 $1,264 +16.79
450–490 470 4 251.00–261.00 $256.88 $1,207 -0.08
452–495 value added 475 30 270.00–301.00 $283.70 $1,348 +4.41
502–547 value added 516 33 263.00–298.00 $284.52 $1,468 +15.12
502–532 518 8 249.00–260.00 $254.78 $1,320 +3.61
550–598 value added 570 49 264.00–284.00 $276.42 $1,576 +8.70
555–595 578 5 249.00–257.50 $253.58 $1,466 +4.08
605–620 613 2 223.00–230.00 $226.46 $1,388 -10.11
600–645 value added 623 58 247.00–271.00 $261.87 $1,631 +5.79
655–687 value added 676 13 240.00–261.00 $246.37 $1,665 -12.82
700–720 value added 710 2 221.00–224.00 $222.52 $1,580 -4.86
772 772 4 214.00 $214.00 $1,652 —
825 825 1 169.00 $169.00 $1,394 -8.46
885 885 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,637 +28.01
975–990 983 2 157.00–159.00 $158.01 $1,553 -41.99
1037 1037 2 154.00 $154.00 $1,597 -9.86
1050–1055 1053 3 120.00–141.00 $126.98 $1,337 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 295.00 $295.00 $811 +60.00
375–391 388 10 231.00–271.00 $238.74 $926 -15.34
452–490 460 10 232.50–250.00 $238.65 $1,098 —
507–537 524 5 239.00–243.00 $240.64 $1,261 +0.71
555–585 568 7 203.00–233.00 $227.97 $1,295 +17.97
610 610 1 183.00 $183.00 $1,116 -38.00
665 665 1 173.00 $173.00 $1,150 -39.10
705–728 722 4 204.00–205.00 $204.24 $1,475 —
750–792 776 8 170.00–201.00 $192.04 $1,490 —
835 835 1 149.00 $149.00 $1,244 —
900 900 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,440 +8.00
977 977 2 140.00 $140.00 $1,368 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
466 466 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,118 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 300.00 $300.00 $645 —
200–235 value added 218 2 315.00–325.00 $319.60 $697 —
255 255 1 312.50 $312.50 $797 +7.86
280–285 value added 282 3 307.00–315.00 $309.70 $873 —
310 value added 310 1 310.00 $310.00 $961 —
310–332 325 3 300.00 $300.00 $975 -9.10
385 value added 385 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,251 +0.39
428 value added 428 3 337.50 $337.50 $1,444 +17.45
440–445 443 2 293.00–294.00 $293.50 $1,300 -2.23
480–486 485 4 277.00–285.00 $283.02 $1,373 -16.98
480–496 value added 493 16 285.50–303.00 $301.11 $1,484 -2.34
500–540 value added 522 11 281.00–303.00 $288.40 $1,505 +0.60
565–595 572 8 266.00–273.00 $269.64 $1,542 -3.68
550–598 value added 576 13 280.00–298.00 $285.22 $1,643 +4.34
601–643 value added 622 17 258.00–283.00 $272.21 $1,693 +9.58
635–645 640 5 250.00–257.50 $252.70 $1,617 +9.10
655–670 value added 665 11 256.00–287.00 $276.07 $1,836 —
650–695 682 9 235.00–255.00 $247.36 $1,687 +13.36
720–730 value added 723 3 235.00–239.00 $236.66 $1,711 —
735 735 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,683 +0.50
752–795 value added 768 5 231.00–240.00 $235.61 $1,809 —
787 787 4 226.00 $226.00 $1,779 -10.91
800–840 808 5 201.00–222.00 $217.44 $1,757 +10.85
885–895 890 2 198.00–214.00 $205.96 $1,833 +14.41
925–930 928 2 160.00–188.00 $174.04 $1,615 -46.96
1095 1095 1 156.00 $156.00 $1,708 +11.67
1160–1165 1163 2 140.00–153.00 $146.49 $1,704 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 280.00 $280.00 $686 ±0.00
373 373 3 245.00 $245.00 $914 -52.50
415 415 1 247.50 $247.50 $1,027 -35.50
455–472 464 4 245.00–264.00 $254.33 $1,180 —
512–516 514 7 244.00–257.00 $249.60 $1,283 +8.63
560–595 577 5 216.00–235.00 $229.52 $1,324 -20.48
640 640 2 220.00–233.00 $226.50 $1,450 +6.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500 500 6 261.00 $261.00 $1,305 —
770 770 1 222.00 $222.00 $1,709 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1205 1160 75-80% 2 105.00–111.00 $107.88 $1,251 —
1150–1570 1340 75-80% 12 112.00–120.00 $116.85 $1,566 —
1110–1855 1466 75-80% 43 121.00–141.00 $129.15 $1,893 -1.28
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080 1080 80-85% 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,156 —
1010–1420 1229 80-85% 8 110.00–120.00 $116.63 $1,433 —
1030–1610 1275 80-85% 37 120.00–144.00 $131.16 $1,672 +10.41
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805–985 895 85-90% 2 67.50–82.00 $75.48 $676 —
705–1245 970 85-90% 19 100.00–113.00 $109.41 $1,061 —
850–1180 1045 85-90% 3 91.00–100.00 $94.93 $992 -14.45
855–1290 1069 85-90% 21 114.00–129.00 $120.79 $1,291 -3.86

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110–2625 1487 15 136.00–152.00 $146.56 $2,179 —
1325–2050 1655 12 154.00–159.00 $156.24 $2,586 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
790 790 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 785.00 $785.00
915 915 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 885.00 $885.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1155 1155 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00

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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
910–1275 1095 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 1,300.00–1,600.00 $1,494.06 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1250–1305 1278 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,850.00–1,900.00 $1,874.46 —
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
805 805 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 505 1 181.00 $181.00 $914 —

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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.