Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report, Lexington, KY

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 2, 2024

1,150 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 steers $277.24/cwt +28.49 vs last sale · ≈ $1,722/hd at 621 lb · 96 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $256.01/cwt -2.99 vs last sale · ≈ $1,841/hd at 719 lb · 71 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $248.78/cwt +16.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,660/hd at 667 lb · 63 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,150 601 2,777
Feeder cattle 996 478 2,605
Slaughter cattle 152 115 164
Replacement cattle 2 8 8

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher in a limited comparison with very good demand for weaned packages. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher; over 600 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand. Very good demand for yearling packages in a limited comparison. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold steady 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
305–340 fancy 330 6 356.00–375.00 $359.10 $1,185 —
335–340 338 4 327.50–340.00 $333.80 $1,128 —
365 fancy 365 1 354.00 $354.00 $1,292 —
380–390 385 2 320.00–330.00 $324.94 $1,251 —
400–430 420 3 290.00–291.00 $290.68 $1,221 -2.32
405–445 value added 424 26 302.00–330.00 $320.26 $1,358 -5.82
450–495 470 3 280.00–299.00 $289.57 $1,361 —
455–490 value added 475 8 300.00–320.00 $306.37 $1,455 -6.75
517–525 value added 520 3 291.00–302.00 $294.70 $1,532 +21.70
535–545 540 3 274.00–285.00 $281.37 $1,519 +17.51
562–567 value added 565 19 280.00–292.00 $286.61 $1,619 -2.39
565 565 2 278.00 $278.00 $1,571 +13.17
600–649 value added 621 93 257.00–290.00 $278.09 $1,727 +29.59
620–635 630 3 250.00–253.00 $250.98 $1,581 +0.98
658–695 value added 665 53 258.00–275.00 $272.27 $1,811 +14.07
690 690 1 252.00 $252.00 $1,739 —
700–733 value added 717 55 254.00–263.50 $258.91 $1,856 -0.09
710–742 726 16 241.00–249.00 $246.06 $1,786 —
751–781 value added 758 43 245.50–263.00 $258.81 $1,962 +14.81
755–790 769 10 239.00–246.00 $241.66 $1,858 —
811–835 816 9 229.00–244.00 $237.94 $1,942 +4.90
916 916 5 224.00 $224.00 $2,052 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 272.50 $272.50 $722 —
430 430 1 268.00 $268.00 $1,152 —
455 455 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,251 +15.00
525 525 1 264.00 $264.00 $1,386 —
560 560 1 261.00 $261.00 $1,462 —
630–637 635 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,524 +4.00
760 760 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,672 —
835 835 1 208.00 $208.00 $1,737 +8.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 235.00 $235.00 $811 —
560 560 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,316 —
660–675 668 3 200.00–217.00 $209.38 $1,399 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 2 257.00 $257.00 $1,516 —
650 650 1 249.00 $249.00 $1,618 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–285 value added 270 3 292.50–305.00 $297.31 $803 —
270–290 280 2 280.00–287.50 $283.62 $794 -6.38
300–320 314 4 265.00–275.00 $272.61 $856 +5.67
325–345 value added 341 7 275.00–300.00 $293.13 $1,000 +4.03
357–390 364 5 269.00–277.00 $271.11 $987 +0.11
350–391 value added 376 29 280.00–310.00 $295.19 $1,110 +1.88
400–445 value added 429 19 257.00–287.00 $267.79 $1,149 -18.79
437 437 2 248.00 $248.00 $1,084 -2.60
452–492 472 9 246.00–255.00 $249.83 $1,179 +1.33
450–490 value added 476 29 256.00–270.00 $263.63 $1,255 +4.19
500–522 511 4 242.00–249.00 $245.42 $1,254 +2.66
500–545 value added 520 56 253.00–268.00 $265.04 $1,378 +9.12
550–590 value added 571 29 250.00–260.00 $255.00 $1,456 -1.21
552–590 576 14 239.00–249.00 $243.04 $1,400 +4.27
600–645 value added 618 52 239.00–265.00 $258.02 $1,595 +10.02
613–645 623 6 230.00–237.00 $235.62 $1,468 +11.29
655–675 value added 665 53 245.00–256.00 $252.14 $1,677 +9.14
679 679 10 231.00 $231.00 $1,568 +4.93
700–740 715 15 209.00–217.00 $213.06 $1,523 -3.45
700–740 value added 735 18 233.00–238.00 $237.47 $1,745 —
790 790 1 183.00 $183.00 $1,446 —
810 810 3 195.00 $195.00 $1,580 +12.00
800–830 815 4 180.00–182.00 $181.02 $1,475 -1.98
950 950 1 184.00 $184.00 $1,748 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–230 215 2 257.50–265.00 $260.99 $561 +13.34
255 255 1 265.00 $265.00 $676 +7.50
300–312 308 3 245.00–260.00 $249.87 $770 —
375 375 3 260.00 $260.00 $975 +35.00
435 435 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,000 +8.00
452–472 465 6 227.00–235.00 $229.59 $1,068 -0.92
500–505 502 3 234.00–235.00 $234.67 $1,178 +9.50
552–585 563 3 231.00–238.00 $235.58 $1,326 —
635 635 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,397 +14.36
690 690 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,380 -2.39
712 712 2 201.00 $201.00 $1,431 +21.00
992 992 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,686 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–325 315 4 230.00–233.00 $230.73 $727 +28.23
368 368 3 213.00 $213.00 $784 +2.00
405 405 1 195.00 $195.00 $790 +0.62
550 550 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,100 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1465 1290 7 144.00–179.00 $161.51 $2,083 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–330 323 2 320.00–325.00 $322.44 $1,041 +12.44
300–340 fancy 327 3 330.00–343.00 $339.02 $1,109 —
362 fancy 362 2 342.50 $342.50 $1,240 —
390–395 394 4 290.00–301.00 $292.72 $1,153 -17.98
415–420 418 2 279.00–288.00 $283.53 $1,185 +5.73
415–449 value added 433 11 311.00–330.00 $318.42 $1,379 +21.63
455–475 462 3 261.00–268.00 $265.60 $1,227 +1.44
455–485 value added 465 16 290.00–320.00 $310.65 $1,445 +24.09
500–535 511 10 263.00–270.00 $265.28 $1,356 +4.90
505–523 value added 519 4 280.00 $280.00 $1,453 —
562–583 value added 569 9 270.00–283.00 $278.56 $1,585 +13.13
550–583 572 6 258.00–266.00 $263.72 $1,508 +14.03
617 value added 617 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,542 +8.01
620 620 1 236.00 $236.00 $1,463 +4.98
662 value added 662 2 246.00 $246.00 $1,629 —
692 692 2 241.00 $241.00 $1,668 +14.82
700 value added 700 2 237.00 $237.00 $1,659 —
717–740 725 3 224.00–230.00 $226.04 $1,639 +21.71
760–777 value added 772 8 233.00–240.00 $235.49 $1,818 —
872–890 879 5 170.00–183.00 $175.78 $1,545 -21.26
932 fancy 932 2 204.00 $204.00 $1,901 —
1055–1090 1065 4 155.00–160.00 $157.73 $1,680 —
1135 1135 1 187.00 $187.00 $2,122 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 2 264.00–280.00 $272.00 $911 +22.00
365–385 372 3 245.00–288.00 $259.85 $967 —
465–477 473 3 250.00–258.00 $252.62 $1,195 +5.62
550–580 568 3 240.00–249.00 $242.90 $1,380 +13.91
605–635 620 3 210.00–231.00 $222.98 $1,382 +31.98
655–685 669 4 209.00–231.00 $218.68 $1,463 +19.80
740 740 1 211.00 $211.00 $1,561 —
760 760 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,528 —
900 900 1 167.00 $167.00 $1,503 —
1035 1035 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,656 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
487 487 2 207.50 $207.50 $1,011 —
625 625 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,262 +2.00
680 680 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,360 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
635 635 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,334 —
655 655 1 221.00 $221.00 $1,448 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1685 1454 75-80% 14 119.00–126.00 $122.86 $1,786 —
1490 1490 75-80% 1 119.00 $119.00 $1,773 —
1180–1835 1515 75-80% 32 126.00–135.00 $130.13 $1,971 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
780 780 85-90% 1 93.00 $93.00 $725 —
815–1300 959 85-90% 6 96.00–103.00 $99.69 $956 —
810–1305 966 85-90% 11 104.00–111.00 $107.51 $1,039 —
820–1305 1039 85-90% 19 113.00–121.00 $116.93 $1,215 -5.11
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
980–1425 1211 80-85% 15 119.00–125.00 $122.30 $1,481 —
1220–1315 1268 80-85% 2 117.00 $117.00 $1,484 —
1035–1740 1359 80-85% 19 126.00–135.00 $130.20 $1,769 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
935–1370 1028 5 122.00–138.00 $129.44 $1,331 —
1130–1740 1439 10 144.00–155.00 $151.41 $2,179 —
1330–2020 1730 4 158.00–171.00 $162.49 $2,811 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
912 912 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 158.00 $158.00 $1,441
915–1270 1057 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 128.00–161.00 $140.94 $1,490

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1135 1135 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
675 675 1 135.00 $135.00 $911 —
830 830 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,038 —
885 885 1 113.00 $113.00 $1,000 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
610 610 1 198.00 $198.00 $1,208 —
730 730 2 191.00 $191.00 $1,394 —

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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.