Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 16, 2024

1,481 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 $237.61/cwt +1.59 vs last sale · ≈ $1,607/hd at 676 lb · 215 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $243.20/cwt +1.19 vs last sale · ≈ $1,501/hd at 617 lb · 89 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $228.73/cwt +7.33 vs last sale · ≈ $1,738/hd at 760 lb · 65 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,481 2,109 1,329
Feeder cattle 1,302 1,880 1,103
Slaughter cattle 153 213 217
Replacement cattle 26 16 9

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers under 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher with good demand for weaned packages few featherweights sharply higher. Yearlings unevenly steady in a limited comparison. Feeder heifers under 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher with good demand for weaned packages; over 550 lbs sold steady to 3.00 lower in a limited comparison. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 5.00 lower with light to moderate demand. Slaughter bulls sold steady with moderate to 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
255 value added 255 1 337.50 $337.50 $861 +25.00
265–275 270 3 270.00–305.00 $289.24 $781 —
330 330 1 317.00 $317.00 $1,046 +50.23
320–345 value added 333 3 320.00–327.50 $324.08 $1,079 +38.60
370–395 385 4 276.00–302.50 $284.38 $1,095 —
416–427 value added 419 9 274.00–297.50 $279.46 $1,171 —
445 445 2 267.00 $267.00 $1,188 +17.00
455–486 473 9 257.50–265.00 $261.08 $1,235 +11.08
455–495 value added 482 8 268.00–273.00 $270.93 $1,306 -2.35
510–541 value added 517 22 267.50–285.00 $275.71 $1,425 +8.12
505–540 526 22 259.00–267.50 $262.88 $1,383 +14.74
553–592 value added 575 17 260.00–270.00 $263.58 $1,516 -5.07
570–580 576 6 255.00–260.00 $257.51 $1,483 +4.13
600–615 606 8 230.00–239.00 $234.49 $1,421 -1.95
629 value added 629 8 250.00 $250.00 $1,572 +7.47
660 660 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,551 ±0.00
700–710 704 5 220.00–221.00 $220.40 $1,552 -8.60
770–790 780 2 220.00–225.00 $222.47 $1,735 -4.53
784 value added 784 54 241.75 $241.75 $1,895 —
843 843 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,930 +0.44
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 245.00 $245.00 $698 —
330–335 333 2 232.50–252.50 $242.42 $807 —
410–435 418 3 220.00–232.00 $224.16 $937 +1.44
520–535 528 2 227.50–240.00 $233.84 $1,235 +8.06
580 580 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,334 -6.64
630–645 637 3 210.00–228.00 $219.93 $1,401 -2.07
670 670 3 227.00 $227.00 $1,521 +0.33
715 715 2 214.00 $214.00 $1,530 -4.99
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545–546 546 5 249.00–250.00 $249.20 $1,361 —
630 630 3 225.00 $225.00 $1,418 —
923 923 8 204.50 $204.50 $1,888 -3.50
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440 1440 1 153.00 $153.00 $2,203 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 1 216.00 $216.00 $551 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 247.50 $247.50 $705 —
305–345 334 7 240.00–247.50 $243.35 $813 +13.35
356–387 value added 366 6 250.00–255.00 $251.76 $921 -3.24
355–382 375 10 230.00–240.00 $237.51 $891 +4.19
400–440 419 7 234.00–247.00 $237.19 $994 +9.31
420–438 value added 434 4 250.00–255.00 $251.21 $1,090 +3.77
465–479 value added 474 11 257.00–260.00 $257.98 $1,223 +8.26
450–498 482 31 233.00–247.50 $242.59 $1,169 +10.33
508–530 value added 520 12 246.00–255.00 $252.29 $1,312 —
500–545 522 18 235.00–240.00 $236.40 $1,234 +1.42
555–585 value added 571 13 240.00–251.00 $244.44 $1,396 -10.81
555–591 584 9 230.00–237.50 $230.79 $1,348 +1.19
600–620 606 5 200.00–209.00 $204.57 $1,240 -9.32
618 value added 618 84 245.50 $245.50 $1,517 -6.89
652–671 661 10 207.00–224.00 $215.54 $1,425 +4.08
650–681 value added 677 205 230.00–240.00 $238.69 $1,616 -0.53
722 722 2 214.00 $214.00 $1,545 +4.80
725 value added 725 7 218.50 $218.50 $1,584 —
752 value added 752 54 232.75 $232.75 $1,750 +9.00
799 799 11 209.00 $209.00 $1,670 +18.63
800 800 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,512 -20.24
908 fancy 908 59 213.00 $213.00 $1,934 —
1095 1095 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,533 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 257.50 $257.50 $734 +37.46
340–345 342 3 220.00–227.50 $222.52 $761 +5.02
365–385 374 8 220.00–230.00 $225.92 $845 +9.50
400–440 413 3 204.00–210.00 $206.13 $851 -13.54
477–478 478 5 215.00–220.00 $218.00 $1,042 +0.96
500–535 523 3 210.00–216.00 $214.09 $1,120 -1.89
560–595 577 6 190.00–219.00 $202.76 $1,170 -1.52
610–645 628 2 182.00–193.00 $187.35 $1,177 +2.55
650–690 666 8 184.00–197.50 $193.38 $1,288 +8.21
720 720 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,296 +9.07
758–780 765 6 166.00–188.00 $182.90 $1,399 +12.93
940 940 1 153.00 $153.00 $1,438 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465–467 466 3 233.00–239.00 $237.01 $1,104 —
627 627 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,160 -5.98
825 825 1 179.00 $179.00 $1,477 —
910–920 916 5 169.00–177.00 $173.82 $1,592 +27.88
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370–380 375 2 200.00–220.00 $210.13 $788 —
482 482 2 187.50 $187.50 $904 —
505 505 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,010 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
272–286 280 5 295.00–297.00 $295.78 $828 +22.90
300–345 331 8 252.50–300.00 $284.22 $941 +20.71
360–370 366 4 280.00–300.00 $290.73 $1,064 +26.34
351–395 value added 375 7 305.00–306.00 $305.40 $1,145 —
407–440 420 8 250.00–280.00 $265.94 $1,117 +30.13
420 value added 420 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,113 —
468 value added 468 4 274.00 $274.00 $1,282 —
450–488 470 14 240.00–275.00 $254.78 $1,197 +8.78
505–547 526 33 235.00–252.50 $240.73 $1,266 +7.76
550–585 567 9 230.00–252.50 $236.14 $1,339 +13.34
600–640 615 18 205.00–226.00 $217.36 $1,337 +10.69
662–690 676 10 200.00–225.00 $217.88 $1,473 +25.59
700–720 710 4 210.00 $210.00 $1,491 +31.45
1005 1005 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,608 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
242 242 2 247.50 $247.50 $599 —
310–322 318 3 242.50–245.00 $243.31 $774 +5.73
360–387 375 6 242.50–253.00 $248.46 $932 +38.46
430 430 2 238.00 $238.00 $1,023 +9.29
500–538 520 14 220.00–235.00 $227.07 $1,181 +14.50
570–590 575 8 220.00–231.00 $224.53 $1,291 +4.96
700–740 720 2 175.00–186.00 $180.65 $1,301 —
755–780 772 3 176.00–185.00 $180.28 $1,392 —
915 915 2 140.00 $140.00 $1,281 -2.01
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625–635 630 2 208.00–211.00 $209.49 $1,320 —
670 670 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,424 +22.50
725 725 2 196.00 $196.00 $1,421 —
750 750 1 188.00 $188.00 $1,410 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 1 202.50 $202.50 $719 +17.50
405–415 410 2 215.00–225.00 $220.06 $902 +24.55
495 495 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,015 —
535 535 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,097 -3.00

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
775–1160 924 85-90% 7 95.00–104.00 $101.50 $938 +0.75
835–1210 1022 85-90% 19 114.00–127.00 $119.46 $1,221 —
850–1340 1035 85-90% 16 105.00–114.00 $110.14 $1,140 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
955–1320 1145 80-85% 8 108.00–120.00 $116.48 $1,334 —
1020–1615 1255 80-85% 13 120.00–127.00 $123.21 $1,546 —
915–1775 1311 80-85% 18 128.00–145.00 $134.56 $1,764 -2.84
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175–1555 1363 75-80% 6 118.00–126.00 $121.43 $1,655 -13.71
1275–1475 1370 75-80% 4 109.00–118.00 $114.25 $1,565 -20.89
1180–1650 1423 75-80% 21 126.00–133.00 $129.05 $1,836 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200 1200 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,380 —
1100–2220 1638 19 140.00–162.00 $155.52 $2,547 —
1425–2025 1729 5 163.00–184.00 $172.70 $2,986 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1000–1210 1124 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 129.00–134.00 $131.71 $1,480

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1185 fancy 1185 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00
1050–1385 1218 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,575.00–1,600.00 $1,589.22
1230 1230 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,825.00 $1,825.00
1270 fancy 1270 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,325.00 $2,325.00
1290 1290 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
945–1100 998 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,075.00–1,335.00 $1,218.07

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
735 735 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00

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Beef Dairy Steers

Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
706 706 21 203.50 $203.50 $1,437 —

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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
1075–1200 1138 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 1,825.00–2,150.00 $1,986.40 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1080–1295 1185 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 1,325.00–1,700.00 $1,514.56 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
897 897 55 190.00 $190.00 $1,704 —

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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.