Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 9, 2024

2,010 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 $256.93/cwt +5.83 vs last sale · ≈ $1,463/hd at 569 lb · 109 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $281.18/cwt +20.82 vs last sale · ≈ $1,339/hd at 476 lb · 90 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $258.00/cwt +2.42 vs last sale · ≈ $2,032/hd at 788 lb · 82 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,010 1,150 923
Feeder cattle 1,657 996 759
Slaughter cattle 250 152 157
Replacement cattle 103 2 7

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday weaned feeder steers under 600 lbs traded sharply higher on a very active market with good buyer participation; over 600 lbs sold 3.00 to 7.00 higher in a lite test. Feeder heifers under 500 lbs traded sharply higher; 500-600 lbs sold 3.00 to 7.00 higher; over 600 lbs lite test. Yearlings lite test. Good buyer participation on an active market with a good through attractive quality offering. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold 3.00 to 5.00 lower with moderate demand under heavy supply.

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
275 fancy 275 1 407.00 $407.00 $1,119 —
295 295 1 365.00 $365.00 $1,077 —
310–345 fancy 328 5 395.00–401.00 $397.69 $1,304 +38.59
310–347 338 8 348.00–385.00 $354.04 $1,197 +20.24
355–390 fancy 370 26 370.00–410.00 $392.58 $1,453 +38.58
380–390 388 6 331.00–349.00 $334.27 $1,297 +9.33
400–440 414 13 313.00–327.00 $319.83 $1,324 +29.15
400–445 value added 423 29 312.00–374.00 $340.10 $1,439 +19.84
455–495 value added 470 21 323.00–372.50 $350.98 $1,650 +44.61
450–488 478 12 290.00–322.50 $296.75 $1,418 +7.18
500–535 value added 525 45 302.50–333.00 $322.36 $1,692 +27.66
515–535 526 14 286.00–300.00 $290.70 $1,529 +9.33
550–590 573 9 275.00–286.00 $282.12 $1,617 +4.12
550–587 value added 574 30 293.00–326.00 $310.92 $1,785 +24.31
600–645 value added 626 49 267.00–305.00 $280.55 $1,756 +2.46
622–635 628 6 250.00–262.50 $259.74 $1,631 +8.76
650–680 663 4 248.00–262.00 $255.71 $1,695 +3.71
652–685 value added 668 44 262.50–288.00 $271.95 $1,817 -0.32
700–737 value added 717 16 252.00–265.00 $260.36 $1,867 +1.45
720–730 726 5 240.00–243.00 $242.00 $1,757 -4.06
755–763 761 4 241.00–244.00 $241.74 $1,840 +0.08
765–790 value added 789 78 247.00–260.00 $258.83 $2,042 +0.02
805–845 825 2 219.00–230.00 $224.37 $1,851 -13.57
853–865 855 6 230.00–245.00 $242.47 $2,073 —
935–940 937 3 230.00–236.00 $233.99 $2,192 +9.99
952 952 2 237.00 $237.00 $2,256 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 305.00 $305.00 $1,098 —
410–420 417 3 257.00–282.00 $266.41 $1,111 -1.59
460 460 1 262.50 $262.50 $1,208 -12.50
510–525 518 2 261.00–270.00 $265.43 $1,375 +1.43
555–590 577 10 250.00–273.00 $259.12 $1,495 -1.88
620 620 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,426 -10.00
650 650 2 230.00–240.00 $235.00 $1,528 —
710 710 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,633 —
800 800 1 184.00 $184.00 $1,472 -24.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–430 419 4 227.50–233.00 $231.38 $969 —
490 490 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,054 —
503 503 3 216.00 $216.00 $1,086 —
550 550 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,141 -27.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 510 2 284.00 $284.00 $1,448 —
550–562 558 3 271.00–287.50 $276.42 $1,542 +19.42
650 650 1 263.00 $263.00 $1,710 +14.00
815 815 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,874 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 305.00 $305.00 $671 —
250–265 fancy 258 5 322.50–360.00 $342.58 $884 —
275–290 282 5 285.00–312.50 $303.21 $855 +19.59
302–325 309 8 277.50–302.00 $287.94 $890 +15.33
300–347 value added 319 29 307.50–347.50 $327.55 $1,045 +34.42
350–390 value added 360 35 308.00–347.50 $317.59 $1,143 +22.40
360–395 376 11 277.50–302.50 $284.28 $1,069 +13.17
415–447 429 6 252.00–263.00 $257.57 $1,105 +9.57
400–448 value added 434 69 267.00–310.00 $292.04 $1,267 +24.25
450–496 value added 476 75 267.00–300.00 $286.07 $1,362 +22.44
450–493 478 15 250.00–265.00 $256.75 $1,227 +6.92
500–535 value added 514 58 256.00–292.00 $271.47 $1,395 +6.43
500–540 518 18 240.00–254.00 $248.27 $1,286 +2.85
550–586 value added 566 67 255.00–271.00 $263.49 $1,491 +8.49
550–588 575 42 240.00–255.00 $246.47 $1,417 +3.43
600–630 616 6 230.00–236.00 $233.14 $1,436 -2.48
600–640 value added 618 67 237.00–270.00 $256.50 $1,585 -1.52
658–695 value added 677 19 241.00–250.00 $247.62 $1,676 -4.52
685 685 4 224.00 $224.00 $1,534 -7.00
700–722 712 10 221.00–229.00 $225.17 $1,603 +12.11
750–755 value added 752 6 230.00–233.00 $232.00 $1,745 —
788 788 13 217.00 $217.00 $1,710 +34.00
832 832 2 211.00 $211.00 $1,756 +29.98
915–930 920 3 170.00–176.00 $173.98 $1,601 —
985–990 988 2 170.00–185.00 $177.48 $1,754 —
1000–1045 1015 4 165.00–171.00 $169.02 $1,716 —
1055–1090 1075 3 132.00–150.00 $138.74 $1,491 —
1135 1135 1 161.00 $161.00 $1,827 —
1170 1170 1 147.00 $147.00 $1,720 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360–395 377 5 230.00–263.00 $247.13 $932 -12.87
425 425 2 223.00–253.00 $238.00 $1,012 +8.00
462–490 475 11 222.50–245.00 $238.32 $1,132 +8.73
505–545 526 13 220.00–240.00 $232.38 $1,222 -2.29
550–595 572 23 220.00–237.50 $231.33 $1,323 -4.25
600–645 622 21 184.00–228.00 $217.24 $1,351 -2.76
662–685 670 8 200.00–228.00 $219.76 $1,472 +19.76
710–735 724 7 198.00–217.00 $208.27 $1,508 +7.27
775–790 783 6 172.00–199.00 $188.47 $1,476 —
825–845 835 2 177.50–180.00 $178.74 $1,492 —
865–875 870 4 142.50–185.00 $163.63 $1,424 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500–540 513 3 244.00 $244.00 $1,252 —
555 555 1 232.00 $232.00 $1,288 —
720 720 1 199.00 $199.00 $1,433 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170–1420 1285 3 130.00–155.00 $143.11 $1,839 -18.40
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370–390 380 2 200.00–227.50 $214.11 $814 +1.11
545 545 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,185 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 2 340.00–352.50 $346.25 $692 —
265–295 fancy 280 3 352.50–385.00 $367.72 $1,030 —
300–315 304 4 327.00–330.00 $327.78 $996 +5.34
335 value added 335 1 332.50 $332.50 $1,114 —
360–391 value added 383 7 332.50–387.50 $348.38 $1,334 —
380–390 385 2 325.00–330.00 $327.53 $1,261 +34.81
405–440 value added 422 10 322.50–375.00 $343.24 $1,448 +24.82
427–440 434 4 270.00–317.50 $284.59 $1,235 +1.06
450–495 value added 474 18 297.50–342.50 $316.53 $1,500 +5.88
450–490 477 16 260.00–292.50 $281.03 $1,341 +15.43
500–542 value added 515 21 281.00–306.00 $289.24 $1,490 +9.24
505–545 528 21 250.00–275.00 $266.20 $1,406 +0.92
560–591 value added 571 22 275.00–309.00 $287.81 $1,643 +9.25
560–595 585 18 256.00–275.00 $266.23 $1,557 +2.51
602–630 607 10 245.00–253.00 $250.40 $1,520 +14.40
610–640 value added 621 11 255.00–263.00 $260.08 $1,615 +10.08
651–690 666 7 234.00–242.00 $237.85 $1,584 -3.15
655–685 value added 672 5 250.00–263.00 $259.65 $1,745 +13.65
706 value added 706 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,730 +8.00
702–730 711 3 221.00–224.00 $222.03 $1,579 -4.01
757–767 762 12 220.00–222.00 $220.84 $1,683 —
800–847 819 13 185.00–218.00 $198.69 $1,627 —
880–885 883 2 199.00–216.00 $207.48 $1,832 +31.70
900–925 906 4 177.00–181.00 $179.98 $1,631 —
1015–1035 1025 2 180.00–183.00 $181.51 $1,860 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 2 310.00 $310.00 $760 —
340 340 1 272.50 $272.50 $926 +0.50
370 370 1 291.00 $291.00 $1,077 +31.15
481 481 3 247.50 $247.50 $1,190 -5.12
525–547 540 3 245.00–250.00 $246.62 $1,332 —
555–592 582 6 230.00–253.00 $243.95 $1,420 +1.05
605–637 623 9 201.00–237.50 $225.11 $1,402 +2.13
653–660 656 5 191.00–222.50 $209.82 $1,376 -8.86
700–740 715 4 192.00–217.00 $204.15 $1,460 -6.85
750–790 770 5 181.00–207.00 $195.46 $1,505 -5.54
805–845 825 2 174.00–181.00 $177.42 $1,464 —
935 935 1 163.00 $163.00 $1,524 -4.00
985 985 1 142.00 $142.00 $1,399 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 217.50 $217.50 $478 —
375–385 380 2 225.50–230.00 $227.78 $866 —
445 445 1 220.00 $220.00 $979 —
530–540 535 2 212.50–231.00 $221.84 $1,187 —
555–580 568 2 200.00–227.00 $213.80 $1,214 —
615 615 1 206.00 $206.00 $1,267 +4.00
655–680 668 2 197.00–200.00 $198.47 $1,326 -1.53
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555 555 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,388 —
690 690 1 239.00 $239.00 $1,649 +18.00
702–735 715 4 220.00–231.00 $223.75 $1,600 —
795 795 1 203.00 $203.00 $1,614 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1425 1203 80-85% 13 110.00–117.00 $113.57 $1,366 -8.73
1000–1575 1220 80-85% 24 114.00–119.00 $116.73 $1,424 -5.57
1020–1720 1288 80-85% 33 119.00–132.50 $123.52 $1,591 +6.52
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795–1050 902 85-90% 6 83.00–90.00 $86.34 $779 —
805–1160 946 85-90% 10 90.00–101.00 $95.73 $906 —
780–1300 1050 85-90% 23 102.00–111.00 $107.18 $1,125 —
835–1470 1105 85-90% 23 111.00–119.00 $113.79 $1,257 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1660 1356 75-80% 18 116.00–119.00 $117.70 $1,596 —
1105–1685 1416 75-80% 9 109.00–115.00 $111.87 $1,584 —
1240–1760 1493 75-80% 35 119.00–130.00 $121.81 $1,819 +2.81

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–1465 1044 11 95.00–138.00 $120.15 $1,254 -9.29
1144–2000 1615 15 140.00–153.00 $145.25 $2,346 —
1755–2235 1946 7 154.00–165.00 $158.49 $3,084 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1165–1185 1172 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,975.00–2,000.00 $1,983.43
905–1540 1226 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 14 1,650.00–2,325.00 $2,034.06
980–1535 1242 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,700.00–2,325.00 $1,924.32
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1040–1250 1138 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,375.00–1,625.00 $1,472.64
1150 1150 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00
1185–1285 1235 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,550.00 $1,550.00

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Beef Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 2 220.00 $220.00 $671 —

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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
1115–1845 1355 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 28 2,400.00–3,050.00 $2,767.67 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1097–1550 1321 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 2,125.00–2,500.00 $2,330.75 —

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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.