Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 6, 2024

1,174 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 $251.13/cwt +4.76 vs last sale · ≈ $1,692/hd at 674 lb · 182 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $247.76/cwt -12.93 vs last sale · ≈ $1,568/hd at 633 lb · 113 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $245.65/cwt +23.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,767/hd at 719 lb · 85 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,174 1,005 824
Feeder cattle 1,054 796 668
Slaughter cattle 81 189 145
Replacement cattle 39 20 11

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers and heifers sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher; some attractive 300-500 lbs weaned packages sharply higher with very good demand. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold steady with good demand in a lite test.

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
205–245 value added 225 2 330.00–355.00 $341.39 $768 —
255 value added 255 1 360.00 $360.00 $918 +30.62
290 fancy 290 3 397.50 $397.50 $1,153 —
305–347 value added 323 15 330.00–400.00 $381.91 $1,234 +70.91
355 355 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,118 —
355–365 value added 360 4 335.00–392.00 $364.77 $1,313 +27.31
407–445 value added 423 29 313.00–389.00 $357.07 $1,510 +29.40
475–476 value added 476 4 305.00–327.00 $321.51 $1,530 -0.20
495 495 1 294.00 $294.00 $1,455 —
500–543 value added 514 15 300.00–311.00 $303.67 $1,561 -6.95
515–520 517 4 289.00–292.00 $290.75 $1,503 +0.04
558–580 value added 570 10 292.00–315.00 $304.07 $1,733 -1.26
550–591 581 4 281.00–287.00 $285.58 $1,659 +0.56
600–645 value added 617 16 268.00–286.00 $276.24 $1,704 -15.01
612–637 620 14 253.00–264.00 $258.96 $1,606 -13.75
650–682 value added 678 64 264.00–274.50 $273.04 $1,851 -16.65
685 685 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,644 -20.00
700–740 value added 717 50 250.00–274.50 $270.65 $1,941 +6.09
705–746 742 24 248.75–250.00 $248.90 $1,847 +7.69
780–785 783 2 243.00–247.00 $245.01 $1,918 +2.53
800 800 3 227.00 $227.00 $1,816 +6.16
880 880 1 223.00 $223.00 $1,962 +3.00
911–928 927 59 214.00–230.00 $229.20 $2,125 +34.20
988 988 5 191.00 $191.00 $1,887 —
1070–1090 1076 7 191.00–203.00 $199.53 $2,147 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,012 +12.50
525 525 1 247.00 $247.00 $1,297 —
580 580 1 274.00 $274.00 $1,589 —
600–630 618 3 231.00–247.50 $241.31 $1,491 —
700 700 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,575 —
885 885 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,637 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
640 640 1 259.00 $259.00 $1,658 —
825 825 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,576 —
870 870 1 212.00 $212.00 $1,844 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,254 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215–240 value added 220 6 312.50–330.00 $318.60 $701 —
255 255 2 307.50 $307.50 $784 +25.53
270–285 value added 278 2 312.50–322.50 $317.36 $882 —
295 fancy 295 1 290.00 $290.00 $856 —
300–340 value added 318 7 305.00–323.00 $313.61 $997 +7.71
325–335 330 2 280.00 $280.00 $924 —
375–385 value added 379 5 310.00–319.00 $312.22 $1,183 +0.07
387–390 388 3 287.00–300.00 $291.36 $1,130 +11.00
400 fancy 400 23 323.00 $323.00 $1,292 —
400–405 403 2 272.50–273.00 $272.75 $1,099 +1.52
401–440 value added 417 20 277.50–314.00 $294.97 $1,230 -6.71
450–452 451 3 262.00–273.00 $265.66 $1,198 +8.78
450–495 value added 476 33 277.00–305.00 $288.20 $1,372 +4.50
500–530 516 8 250.00–265.00 $260.03 $1,342 +5.25
500–548 value added 521 40 265.00–296.00 $284.93 $1,484 +0.41
550–566 value added 560 5 284.00–285.00 $284.39 $1,593 +7.97
550–585 567 5 252.00–259.00 $256.18 $1,453 +2.60
610–645 629 8 235.00–245.00 $242.32 $1,524 +15.86
600–640 value added 633 105 246.00–262.00 $248.17 $1,571 -13.70
650–682 value added 660 103 250.00–270.00 $263.45 $1,739 +17.08
660–692 692 79 235.00–240.00 $235.06 $1,627 —
703–733 714 8 220.00–221.00 $220.62 $1,575 —
720 value added 720 77 248.25 $248.25 $1,787 +25.73
755 755 2 232.00 $232.00 $1,752 +18.00
800 800 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,680 +41.00
855 855 1 193.00 $193.00 $1,650 +8.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 1 247.50 $247.50 $903 +8.76
430–442 436 4 231.00–265.00 $246.78 $1,076 —
475–490 483 2 230.00–270.00 $249.69 $1,206 +11.04
525–535 532 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,277 -0.64
550–590 575 6 233.00–250.00 $239.40 $1,377 +11.43
610 610 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,342 +37.00
705 705 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,269 -24.24
845 845 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,479 +26.00
875 875 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,312 —
940 940 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,692 —
985 985 1 169.00 $169.00 $1,665 +29.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,475 —

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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 1 350.00 $350.00 $945 +37.50
325–340 335 3 270.00–353.00 $308.68 $1,034 +8.68
385 385 2 336.00 $336.00 $1,294 —
415–430 value added 420 4 295.00–347.00 $330.69 $1,389 -6.81
453–490 value added 474 12 286.00–352.00 $319.27 $1,513 +18.16
485 485 1 297.50 $297.50 $1,443 +14.48
507 fancy 507 2 295.00 $295.00 $1,496 —
510–540 525 2 280.00–281.00 $280.49 $1,473 —
535–540 value added 537 7 278.00–294.00 $287.11 $1,542 -1.29
560–582 value added 570 9 273.00–292.00 $283.21 $1,614 -2.01
550–597 576 5 270.00–272.00 $271.00 $1,561 +1.36
625 625 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,562 -2.70
610–645 value added 627 14 265.00–270.00 $267.14 $1,675 -5.07
711–730 value added 716 4 235.00–238.00 $235.76 $1,688 -0.90
725–730 728 2 223.00–229.00 $225.99 $1,645 -3.01
792 792 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,742 -6.00
855 855 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,719 -4.96
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470–475 473 2 251.00–260.00 $255.52 $1,209 +1.19
550–570 560 2 239.00–241.00 $239.98 $1,344 +10.46
615 615 1 241.00 $241.00 $1,482 +14.50
655 655 2 247.00 $247.00 $1,618 —
705–745 725 3 209.00–226.00 $219.84 $1,594 —
785 785 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,688 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450 450 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,080 —
735 735 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,654 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1545 1366 75-80% 7 116.00–122.00 $119.61 $1,634 —
1415 1415 75-80% 1 100.00 $100.00 $1,415 —
1230–1720 1450 75-80% 15 124.00–136.00 $128.79 $1,867 -0.36
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1215 1133 80-85% 6 112.00–120.00 $114.24 $1,294 —
1080–1790 1279 80-85% 15 123.00–143.00 $131.04 $1,676 -0.12
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
885–1120 1003 85-90% 2 101.00–108.00 $104.09 $1,044 —
825–1220 1004 85-90% 11 113.00–136.00 $118.42 $1,189 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–2145 1533 13 132.00–151.00 $144.89 $2,221 —
1455–2240 1745 9 151.00–159.00 $154.26 $2,692 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1075–1320 1161 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,425.00–1,925.00 $1,639.61
935–1480 1172 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,425.00–2,050.00 $1,751.85
1190 1190 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
995–1020 1008 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,025.00 $1,025.00
1045 1045 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00
965–1130 1058 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,175.00–1,350.00 $1,270.12
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
665 665 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 810.00 $810.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
860 860 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00
905 905 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00
970 970 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00
985 985 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00

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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
1080–1485 1350 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 2,200.00–2,600.00 $2,493.33 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1360 1360 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,875.00 $1,875.00 —

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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.