Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 21, 2024

1,351 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $264.34/cwt +25.12 vs last sale · ≈ $1,481/hd at 560 lb · 143 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $256.11/cwt +14.54 vs last sale · ≈ $1,554/hd at 607 lb · 127 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $245.50/cwt -0.67 vs last sale · ≈ $1,285/hd at 523 lb · 83 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,351 939 1,137
Feeder cattle 1,098 795 869
Slaughter cattle 240 126 259
Replacement cattle 13 18 9

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers 400-700 lbs sold 3.00 to 10.00 higher with most advance on weaned 450-500 lb packages. Yearling steers lightly tested. Feeder heifers sold steady to 5.00 higher; preconditioned yearling packages noticeably higher in a limited comparison. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher with very good demand. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher with 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
315 value added 315 1 315.00 $315.00 $992 -24.07
330 330 2 290.00 $290.00 $957 -35.00
365 365 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,058 -15.00
400–445 415 3 286.00 $286.00 $1,187 +9.94
411–445 value added 433 16 290.00–314.00 $297.39 $1,288 +1.23
450–475 458 3 269.00–289.00 $275.91 $1,264 +4.69
454–489 value added 469 20 294.00–304.00 $297.55 $1,396 +19.33
500–530 value added 510 3 275.00–280.00 $276.73 $1,411 -3.76
500–540 523 8 264.00–272.00 $269.32 $1,409 +4.76
552 552 2 265.00 $265.00 $1,463 +1.21
552–596 value added 579 52 269.00–289.00 $281.63 $1,631 +3.63
610–640 622 5 244.00–259.00 $253.44 $1,576 +11.75
623–648 value added 638 27 259.00–273.00 $265.32 $1,693 +3.44
660 660 3 254.00 $254.00 $1,676 +12.05
655–671 value added 669 17 256.00–279.00 $276.58 $1,850 +12.16
717 717 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,692 -2.62
700–732 value added 718 30 244.00–263.00 $250.70 $1,800 -19.15
760 value added 760 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,862 ±0.00
770–790 777 3 234.00 $234.00 $1,818 —
1170 1170 1 180.00 $180.00 $2,106 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 280.00 $280.00 $812 -17.50
322 322 2 260.00 $260.00 $837 +18.94
512 512 2 260.00 $260.00 $1,331 +23.07
555–565 558 3 262.00–263.00 $262.34 $1,464 +37.04
675 675 1 238.00 $238.00 $1,606 —
700 700 3 220.00–230.00 $226.67 $1,587 +15.42
795 795 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,749 +16.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 505 1 268.00 $268.00 $1,353 —
1015 1015 1 198.00 $198.00 $2,010 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 225.00 $225.00 $810 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–280 268 2 257.50–259.00 $258.21 $692 +14.02
310 310 1 250.00 $250.00 $775 +9.00
356–390 370 10 245.00–264.00 $257.38 $952 +7.96
405–422 value added 415 11 255.00–261.00 $258.98 $1,075 -7.23
400–447 419 12 240.00–245.00 $242.15 $1,015 -1.70
454 fancy 454 6 267.00 $267.00 $1,212 —
450–495 value added 475 40 252.00–258.00 $255.01 $1,211 +3.86
484–492 487 13 240.00–252.50 $247.07 $1,203 +12.33
500–548 521 35 235.00–245.00 $240.39 $1,252 -1.56
500–540 value added 525 48 245.00–254.00 $249.23 $1,308 +2.49
552–587 value added 559 126 248.00–274.75 $268.42 $1,500 +16.42
556–585 570 17 229.00–237.00 $234.11 $1,334 +2.29
600–607 value added 606 98 254.00–265.50 $264.57 $1,603 +15.90
600–633 609 29 222.00–231.00 $227.52 $1,386 +0.14
650–687 671 5 221.00–230.00 $225.34 $1,512 -1.09
700–735 716 7 197.00–209.00 $200.29 $1,434 -4.73
775–797 790 3 198.00 $198.00 $1,564 +12.00
800 800 3 194.00 $194.00 $1,552 +13.00
900–945 923 2 178.00–196.00 $186.78 $1,724 +10.28
1030–1045 1038 2 161.00–185.00 $172.91 $1,795 +2.91
1050–1080 1065 2 173.00–183.00 $177.93 $1,895 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–295 273 4 197.50–243.00 $226.72 $619 —
320–330 325 3 233.00–235.00 $234.34 $762 +14.34
360–397 375 7 223.00–247.00 $239.51 $898 -0.44
400–422 415 4 230.00 $230.00 $954 +9.96
450–492 472 8 222.50–232.00 $229.63 $1,084 +13.15
520–530 529 7 224.00–225.00 $224.86 $1,190 +2.48
580 580 1 223.00 $223.00 $1,293 ±0.00
605–645 622 15 190.00–220.00 $209.30 $1,302 +12.51
660–685 673 2 191.00–213.00 $202.20 $1,361 +9.20
742 742 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,261 -15.00
765 765 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,446 +19.00
850–875 867 3 159.00–171.00 $162.92 $1,413 -4.08
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 2 200.00 $200.00 $520 —
300 300 1 215.00 $215.00 $645 —
360–395 378 2 200.00 $200.00 $756 —
432 432 2 210.00 $210.00 $907 +2.81
505–510 508 2 202.50–210.00 $206.23 $1,048 —
550–555 553 3 200.00–215.00 $210.03 $1,161 +6.65
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 2 240.00 $240.00 $720 —
475 475 1 234.00 $234.00 $1,112 —
522–540 528 3 228.00–240.00 $235.91 $1,246 —
585 585 2 231.00 $231.00 $1,351 —
600–630 618 3 217.00–219.00 $218.33 $1,349 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1053–1145 1099 2 161.00–187.00 $173.46 $1,906 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–340 323 2 280.00–290.00 $285.27 $921 -29.73
325 value added 325 2 309.00 $309.00 $1,004 -36.00
350–360 355 2 287.00–291.00 $288.97 $1,026 -26.08
415–445 value added 428 7 271.00–280.00 $276.97 $1,185 —
450 fancy 450 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,350 +8.97
471–495 value added 478 8 271.00–288.00 $279.76 $1,337 -2.56
480–495 487 8 246.00–267.00 $257.57 $1,254 -5.15
500–545 516 30 244.00–263.00 $250.03 $1,290 -3.43
520–530 value added 526 4 262.00–267.00 $265.26 $1,395 -0.78
557–560 value added 558 3 262.00–267.00 $265.33 $1,481 +3.86
552–592 571 14 234.00–259.00 $249.73 $1,426 -2.30
600–647 619 27 221.00–241.00 $228.45 $1,414 +1.55
665 value added 665 3 233.00 $233.00 $1,549 —
650–695 680 14 221.00–257.00 $229.33 $1,559 +8.33
705–745 732 7 207.00–226.00 $219.49 $1,607 +13.22
750–765 758 2 229.00–240.00 $234.45 $1,777 +41.45
802–815 806 3 180.00–209.00 $189.77 $1,530 +28.77
850 850 3 180.00 $180.00 $1,530 —
920–940 925 4 160.00 $160.00 $1,480 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 240.00 $240.00 $576 —
265–295 285 3 250.00–293.00 $279.67 $797 +39.67
315–330 325 3 270.00–298.00 $288.95 $939 —
395 395 1 272.00 $272.00 $1,074 +22.21
425 425 1 230.00 $230.00 $978 -10.00
465 465 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,070 +5.24
518–545 527 8 222.00–241.00 $235.29 $1,240 +12.75
570–572 571 3 223.00–229.00 $227.00 $1,296 +2.15
612–645 626 5 195.00–220.00 $205.90 $1,289 +5.90
665–695 679 5 183.00–200.00 $194.05 $1,318 -15.42
705 705 1 193.00 $193.00 $1,361 —
866–895 873 4 168.00–170.00 $169.49 $1,480 +32.99
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
442 442 2 258.00 $258.00 $1,140 —
520–535 527 5 228.00–245.00 $233.43 $1,230 —
657 657 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,445 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 200.00 $200.00 $480 —
400 400 1 200.00 $200.00 $800 —
492 492 2 208.00 $208.00 $1,023 —
535 535 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,124 -2.00
550–565 558 4 191.00–219.00 $205.99 $1,149 +6.66

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085–1505 1255 80-85% 14 115.00–123.00 $119.70 $1,502 -13.30
1000–1825 1262 80-85% 33 124.00–132.00 $128.07 $1,616 -4.93
1090–1935 1448 80-85% 21 132.00–147.00 $138.29 $2,002 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170–1800 1426 75-80% 10 118.00–123.00 $120.70 $1,721 -4.83
1130–1730 1454 75-80% 34 123.00–132.00 $127.81 $1,858 -5.09
1235–1780 1471 75-80% 23 132.00–146.00 $135.75 $1,997 +2.85
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820–905 863 85-90% 2 97.50–102.00 $99.86 $862 -9.05
815–1375 1110 85-90% 30 117.00–135.00 $123.89 $1,375 —
945–1390 1154 85-90% 13 110.00–117.00 $113.43 $1,309 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1290 1103 2 129.00–131.00 $130.17 $1,436 —
1620–1905 1699 4 150.00–162.00 $158.36 $2,691 —
1315–1945 1766 12 162.00–172.00 $168.57 $2,977 +4.78

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1005 1005 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00
1310 1310 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00
1285–1405 1345 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,675.00–1,875.00 $1,779.46
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000–1160 1080 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,225.00–1,500.00 $1,372.69

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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
1340 1340 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,825.00 $1,825.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
512 512 2 193.00 $193.00 $988 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555 555 1 157.00 $157.00 $871 —

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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.