Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 16, 2024

1,283 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $286.70/cwt +5.52 vs last sale · ≈ $1,346/hd at 470 lb · 72 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 steers $369.85/cwt +36.02 vs last sale · ≈ $1,544/hd at 417 lb · 62 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $302.20/cwt +12.92 vs last sale · ≈ $1,279/hd at 423 lb · 56 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,283 2,010 973
Feeder cattle 1,081 1,657 763
Slaughter cattle 193 250 205
Replacement cattle 9 103 5

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers sold steady to 3.00 higher; some attractive quality weaned 400-500 lb packages 10.00 to sharply higher with very good demand. Yearlings lite test. Feeder heifers sold steady to 5.00 higher; some attractive quality weaned 400-500 lb packages 10.00 to sharply higher with very good demand. Yearlings lite test. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 2.00 lower with moderate demand. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00 to 3.00 lower with moderate 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
241 value added 241 3 355.00 $355.00 $856 —
280 value added 280 1 335.00 $335.00 $938 —
320–348 value added 337 12 393.00–405.00 $396.82 $1,337 —
355–365 362 5 337.00–352.50 $347.95 $1,260 +13.68
355–395 value added 378 23 355.00–409.00 $384.71 $1,454 —
400–445 value added 417 61 317.50–402.50 $370.75 $1,546 +30.65
445 445 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,402 -4.83
450–470 value added 462 40 321.00–377.50 $366.95 $1,695 +15.97
450–490 470 2 287.50–292.50 $290.11 $1,364 -6.64
500–540 value added 519 34 295.00–328.00 $318.72 $1,654 -3.64
500–545 539 13 289.00–299.00 $292.97 $1,579 +2.27
555–585 565 12 283.00–295.00 $288.91 $1,632 +6.79
556–588 value added 570 12 305.00–323.00 $313.18 $1,785 +2.26
600–645 value added 614 47 265.00–295.00 $285.75 $1,755 +5.20
600–647 629 6 251.00–262.50 $258.88 $1,628 -0.86
652–655 653 3 254.00–260.00 $256.01 $1,672 +0.30
650–695 value added 669 8 266.00–280.00 $275.47 $1,843 +3.52
710–745 717 8 241.00–247.00 $243.27 $1,744 +1.27
702–730 value added 721 11 248.00–263.00 $252.44 $1,820 -7.92
750–765 758 2 240.00–245.00 $242.52 $1,838 +0.78
800–825 808 5 228.00–234.00 $231.19 $1,868 +6.82
850–860 857 8 220.00–237.00 $234.14 $2,007 -8.33
960–970 965 2 205.00–222.00 $213.54 $2,061 -23.46
1006 fancy 1006 27 231.25 $231.25 $2,326 —
1090 1090 1 196.00 $196.00 $2,136 —
1181 1181 3 199.00 $199.00 $2,350 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,245 +33.59
550 550 1 253.00 $253.00 $1,392 -6.12
601–645 614 8 233.00–247.50 $237.30 $1,457 +7.30
725–747 741 4 237.00–240.00 $238.24 $1,765 +8.24
755 755 2 232.00–235.00 $233.50 $1,763 —
805 805 1 199.00 $199.00 $1,602 +15.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
787 787 2 228.00 $228.00 $1,794 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
462 462 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,040 +10.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215–245 230 2 287.50–317.50 $301.52 $693 -3.48
252 value added 252 2 355.00 $355.00 $895 —
282–295 289 4 285.00–307.50 $291.97 $844 -11.24
305–335 315 5 272.50–293.00 $280.75 $884 -7.19
320–340 value added 328 10 305.00–322.50 $315.63 $1,035 -11.92
360–375 367 3 267.50–295.00 $281.44 $1,033 -2.84
361–395 value added 372 34 300.00–350.00 $332.70 $1,238 +15.11
402–445 value added 421 45 275.00–328.00 $311.98 $1,313 +19.94
410–445 433 11 249.00–270.00 $262.21 $1,135 +4.64
450–495 value added 468 45 277.00–321.00 $298.25 $1,396 +12.18
450–495 472 27 250.00–273.00 $267.46 $1,262 +10.71
506–546 value added 524 17 265.00–290.00 $280.85 $1,472 +9.38
505–540 526 8 250.00–261.00 $256.61 $1,350 +8.34
550–592 567 20 246.00–261.00 $255.21 $1,447 +8.74
565–592 value added 583 3 267.00–271.00 $269.71 $1,572 +6.22
600–640 608 8 223.00–237.00 $232.53 $1,414 -0.61
620–642 value added 626 16 240.00–257.50 $245.36 $1,536 -11.14
655–668 value added 664 8 244.00–253.00 $248.51 $1,650 +0.89
667–690 672 9 230.00–238.00 $235.54 $1,583 +11.54
733–735 734 7 211.00–212.00 $211.71 $1,554 -13.46
745 745 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,676 -0.17
790 790 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,730 +2.00
805 805 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,763 +8.00
800–830 810 3 197.00–210.00 $205.56 $1,665 -5.44
890 890 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,682 —
900–910 905 2 182.00–191.00 $186.48 $1,688 +12.50
985 985 1 204.00 $204.00 $2,009 +26.52
990 990 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,703 -5.48
1050 1050 1 143.00 $143.00 $1,502 +4.26
1110 1110 1 149.00 $149.00 $1,654 -12.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 260.00 $260.00 $936 +12.87
455–490 469 7 230.00–247.50 $239.49 $1,123 +1.17
500–540 520 9 232.50–249.00 $241.07 $1,254 +8.69
540 value added 540 1 249.00 $249.00 $1,345 —
580–590 585 2 220.00–230.00 $224.96 $1,316 -6.37
635 635 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,270 -17.24
700–705 701 4 200.00 $200.00 $1,402 -8.27
800 800 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,440 +1.26
865 865 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,470 +6.37
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555–570 563 2 254.00–255.00 $254.49 $1,433 +22.49
600–635 617 3 208.00–220.00 $215.07 $1,327 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,144 -7.50
572 572 2 205.00 $205.00 $1,173 —
770 770 1 193.00 $193.00 $1,486 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1060 1050 2 147.00–170.00 $158.39 $1,663 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 320.00 $320.00 $864 —
315 315 2 347.50–355.00 $351.25 $1,106 +23.47
300–345 value added 327 8 360.00–390.00 $377.03 $1,233 +44.53
360–395 378 7 330.00–350.00 $339.00 $1,281 +11.47
355–395 value added 380 6 350.00–377.00 $366.82 $1,394 +18.44
405 405 1 327.50 $327.50 $1,326 +42.91
420–445 value added 430 15 337.00–382.50 $360.30 $1,549 +17.06
460–477 value added 469 6 322.50–372.50 $350.06 $1,642 +33.53
457–495 484 12 275.00–300.00 $293.36 $1,420 +12.33
500–530 value added 506 15 300.00–328.00 $319.59 $1,617 +30.35
505–530 524 4 280.00–296.00 $283.86 $1,487 +17.66
510–548 fancy 527 11 298.00–310.00 $304.33 $1,604 —
550–592 569 12 261.00–280.00 $274.51 $1,562 +8.28
550–592 value added 574 26 280.00–312.00 $293.36 $1,684 +5.55
602–647 617 19 232.00–253.00 $241.20 $1,488 -9.20
615–625 value added 620 2 257.50–268.00 $262.71 $1,629 +2.63
665–680 value added 672 6 245.00–256.00 $249.43 $1,676 -10.22
680 680 1 238.00 $238.00 $1,618 +0.15
700–740 value added 710 10 241.00–248.00 $245.59 $1,744 +0.59
710–745 723 4 220.00–239.00 $231.62 $1,675 +9.59
760 760 1 233.00 $233.00 $1,771 +12.16
820 820 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,886 +31.31
865–880 873 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,964 +17.52
900 900 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,665 +5.02
965 965 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,882 —
1045 1045 1 147.00 $147.00 $1,536 -34.51
1115 1115 1 181.00 $181.00 $2,018 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 275.00 $275.00 $674 -35.00
326 326 3 317.50 $317.50 $1,035 +45.00
350–395 385 8 245.00–314.00 $294.07 $1,132 +3.07
440 440 1 257.50 $257.50 $1,133 —
457–475 462 5 232.50–247.50 $240.02 $1,109 -7.48
520–535 525 3 232.00–249.00 $242.73 $1,274 -3.89
555–560 558 3 231.00–255.00 $246.14 $1,373 +2.19
610–625 618 2 223.00–230.00 $226.46 $1,400 +1.35
710 710 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,491 +5.85
775 775 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,558 +5.54
830 830 1 188.00 $188.00 $1,560 +10.58
855 855 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,624 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 242.00 $242.00 $726 —
370 370 1 260.00 $260.00 $962 +32.22
420–442 435 3 215.00–235.00 $228.56 $994 +8.56
490 490 1 202.50 $202.50 $992 —
625 625 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,281 -1.00

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–1005 930 85-90% 5 80.00–91.00 $86.22 $802 -9.51
705–1200 956 85-90% 14 92.00–100.00 $95.57 $914 —
860–1595 1048 85-90% 25 101.00–110.00 $105.62 $1,107 —
875–1260 1114 85-90% 14 110.00–120.00 $113.76 $1,267 -0.03
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
990–1325 1141 80-85% 14 112.00–117.00 $115.06 $1,313 —
1070–1515 1249 80-85% 13 107.00–112.00 $110.36 $1,378 -6.37
1075–1445 1255 80-85% 16 118.00–124.00 $119.83 $1,504 -3.69
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1420 1285 75-80% 4 106.00–111.00 $108.41 $1,393 —
1110–1500 1318 75-80% 8 113.00–117.00 $115.00 $1,516 —
1140–1795 1451 75-80% 26 118.00–128.00 $121.24 $1,759 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1295 1190 6 116.00–138.00 $131.25 $1,562 —
1140–2215 1598 7 139.00–150.00 $144.10 $2,303 —
1530–2080 1768 6 151.00–160.00 $153.75 $2,718 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
745–925 818 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 147.00–156.00 $150.56 $1,232
830–1160 1000 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 11 120.00–144.00 $132.46 $1,325

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1090–1385 1236 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,500.00–2,025.00 $1,816.13
1435 1435 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,975.00 $1,975.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
945 945 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00

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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
1415 1415 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,950.00 $1,950.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1007 1007 12 138.00 $138.00 $1,390 —
1072 1072 8 132.00 $132.00 $1,415 —
1115 1115 1 112.00 $112.00 $1,249 —
1160 1160 1 112.00 $112.00 $1,299 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 1 188.00 $188.00 $780 —

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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.