Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 7, 2024

1,104 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 steers $258.66/cwt ≈ $1,901/hd at 735 lb · 61 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $242.00/cwt +6.75 vs last sale · ≈ $2,088/hd at 863 lb · 57 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $225.00/cwt ≈ $1,946/hd at 865 lb · 56 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,104 1,010 1,461
Feeder cattle 916 864 1,216
Slaughter cattle 177 94 214
Replacement cattle 11 52 31

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers and bull calves sold steady except weaned lightweight calves under 500 lbs sharply higher with very good demand. Yearling steers sold steady in a limited comparison. Feeder heifers sold unevenly steady with moderate to good demand. Yearling heifers limited comparison.

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
300–332 value added 320 14 330.00–352.50 $345.11 $1,104 +20.94
350–370 value added 360 3 320.00–337.50 $329.00 $1,184 +12.00
415–430 value added 425 15 314.00–330.00 $320.51 $1,362 +39.28
425–449 443 8 280.00–294.00 $290.42 $1,287 —
460 value added 460 2 327.50 $327.50 $1,506 +18.01
457–485 465 16 270.00–289.00 $271.87 $1,264 -5.26
503–536 value added 519 24 279.00–295.00 $285.40 $1,481 —
500–548 523 17 260.00–273.00 $268.73 $1,405 -7.27
558–575 value added 570 10 273.00–274.00 $273.71 $1,560 -12.29
575–580 578 2 253.00–260.00 $256.48 $1,482 -3.52
607–620 fancy 614 4 249.00 $249.00 $1,529 —
600–635 623 3 234.00–235.00 $234.32 $1,460 -1.70
627 value added 627 2 261.00 $261.00 $1,636 -5.00
660–676 value added 671 9 258.00–264.00 $262.03 $1,758 —
662–686 674 7 231.00–235.00 $232.57 $1,568 -5.98
725 725 1 238.00 $238.00 $1,726 —
735 value added 735 60 259.00 $259.00 $1,904 —
765 value added 765 19 243.00–244.00 $243.95 $1,866 -11.55
863 863 57 242.00 $242.00 $2,088 —
909 909 55 228.25 $228.25 $2,075 —
970 970 1 220.00 $220.00 $2,134 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,040 —
500–547 531 4 235.00–246.00 $238.22 $1,265 -6.22
550–585 563 6 238.00–250.00 $244.54 $1,377 +14.54
645 645 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,419 —
687 687 2 222.00 $222.00 $1,525 —
720 720 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,512 -4.00
770 770 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,686 -5.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 220.00 $220.00 $759 —
405 405 2 200.00–222.00 $211.00 $855 —
505 505 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,111 —
585 585 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,287 —
655 655 1 208.00 $208.00 $1,362 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 1 252.00 $252.00 $1,096 +2.00
526 526 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,315 —
675 675 2 218.00 $218.00 $1,472 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100 1100 1 178.00 $178.00 $1,958 —
1240 1240 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,798 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 1 250.00 $250.00 $700 -37.50
285 value added 285 3 290.00 $290.00 $826 —
340–345 343 2 230.00 $230.00 $789 —
355–382 375 5 232.50–247.50 $241.24 $905 -13.76
370–380 value added 375 2 260.00–264.00 $261.97 $982 —
405–440 422 3 240.00–246.00 $242.79 $1,025 -1.76
410–445 value added 438 13 247.00–261.00 $257.32 $1,127 -26.03
450–467 value added 458 8 252.50–270.00 $259.67 $1,189 +12.67
455–477 470 4 242.50–248.00 $244.09 $1,147 +7.20
489–491 fancy 489 18 275.00–276.00 $275.22 $1,346 —
530–545 536 7 234.00–237.00 $235.55 $1,263 +3.05
568 568 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,301 -1.00
582–591 value added 587 11 247.00–252.00 $249.25 $1,463 —
607 value added 607 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,457 —
618 618 3 226.00 $226.00 $1,397 +11.00
710–735 724 6 196.00–210.00 $204.38 $1,480 +8.85
815 815 1 179.00 $179.00 $1,459 —
865 value added 865 56 225.00 $225.00 $1,946 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–345 328 3 220.00–245.00 $230.15 $755 +0.15
350 350 1 230.00 $230.00 $805 -8.00
422 422 7 225.00 $225.00 $950 +0.49
455–492 481 10 220.00–230.00 $221.14 $1,064 +1.62
503–545 515 9 213.00–227.00 $221.65 $1,141 -3.35
552–580 560 15 210.00–228.00 $220.24 $1,233 +3.29
607–645 624 7 196.00–216.00 $205.67 $1,283 +24.95
650–690 674 10 170.00–212.00 $195.23 $1,316 —
717–745 726 3 178.00–192.00 $182.79 $1,327 —
780 780 1 166.00 $166.00 $1,295 —
805–825 815 2 160.00–169.00 $164.56 $1,341 +3.56
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–425 408 4 200.00–215.00 $209.97 $857 —
490 490 1 214.00 $214.00 $1,049 +14.00
525–530 528 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,056 —
565–575 572 3 200.00–216.00 $210.73 $1,205 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 230.00 $230.00 $632 —
465 465 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,070 —
550 550 2 211.00 $211.00 $1,160 —
605 605 1 218.00 $218.00 $1,319 —
687 687 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,271 -5.00
770 770 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,540 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1125 1125 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,828 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 300.00 $300.00 $735 —
285 value added 285 2 325.00–332.50 $328.75 $937 —
287 287 2 300.00 $300.00 $861 +50.00
320 320 1 307.50 $307.50 $984 +12.50
350–370 value added 360 2 322.50–335.00 $328.58 $1,183 +8.58
372–395 380 4 260.00–317.00 $295.72 $1,124 +32.63
400–445 417 5 257.00–260.00 $258.04 $1,076 +8.04
410–445 value added 435 5 295.00–297.50 $296.38 $1,289 —
463–495 value added 472 6 273.00–285.00 $281.62 $1,329 +12.62
460–482 475 3 251.00–260.00 $253.91 $1,206 +8.91
500–546 value added 524 6 254.00–255.00 $254.16 $1,332 —
500–548 525 9 240.00–251.00 $246.60 $1,295 +12.86
560 value added 560 3 267.00 $267.00 $1,495 —
550–586 567 12 238.00–252.00 $245.11 $1,390 +3.16
600–626 value added 616 10 232.00–237.50 $233.63 $1,439 —
615–640 626 7 220.00–226.00 $222.88 $1,395 +6.42
725–740 735 3 190.00–196.00 $193.66 $1,423 -11.34
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 270.00 $270.00 $891 +48.75
350 350 1 260.00 $260.00 $910 +30.00
423–445 430 5 230.00–242.00 $239.16 $1,028 +9.16
465–485 478 3 245.00–250.00 $248.38 $1,187 —
500–546 527 8 223.00–230.00 $226.37 $1,193 +1.46
561–590 567 5 233.00–235.00 $233.42 $1,323 +17.42
635 635 3 190.00 $190.00 $1,206 —
680 680 2 199.00–208.00 $203.50 $1,384 —
710 710 1 186.00 $186.00 $1,321 —
785 785 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,342 —
850 850 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,445 —
960–990 975 2 144.00–150.00 $146.95 $1,433 +1.92
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 1 207.50 $207.50 $872 +7.50
450–470 460 2 191.00–200.00 $195.40 $899 -10.82
545 545 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,144 +10.09
550 550 1 199.00 $199.00 $1,094 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
502 502 2 237.00 $237.00 $1,190 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1395 1216 80-85% 14 119.00–124.00 $121.98 $1,483 —
1045–1655 1283 80-85% 20 125.00–136.00 $130.11 $1,669 —
1150–1540 1293 80-85% 6 114.00–117.00 $116.14 $1,502 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170–1310 1252 75-80% 3 115.00–117.00 $116.30 $1,456 —
1165–1615 1445 75-80% 18 117.00–124.00 $121.04 $1,749 —
1265–1850 1500 75-80% 13 125.00–131.00 $128.82 $1,932 -2.05
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625 625 85-90% 1 80.00 $80.00 $500 —
740–830 790 85-90% 3 92.00–93.00 $92.35 $730 +6.45
700–1250 985 85-90% 11 104.00–113.00 $108.13 $1,065 +0.87
780–1210 1047 85-90% 13 114.00–127.00 $119.21 $1,248 +18.44

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080–2225 1661 14 140.00–160.00 $150.51 $2,500 —
1460–2145 1741 11 160.00–169.00 $163.53 $2,847 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
910–1175 1017 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 12 121.00–162.00 $135.56 $1,379

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1080 1080 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,775.00 $1,775.00
1130 fancy 1130 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,250.00 $2,250.00
985–1330 1158 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,775.00–1,925.00 $1,838.82
1035–1385 1238 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,635.00–1,650.00 $1,644.41
1300 fancy 1300 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,275.00 $2,275.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1165 1165 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00
1180–1245 1213 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,350.00–1,550.00 $1,452.68

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045 1045 63 182.00 $182.00 $1,902 —
1161 1161 49 172.00 $172.00 $1,997 —

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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.