Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 3, 2025

2,212 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $307.57/cwt +21.82 vs last sale · ≈ $1,591/hd at 517 lb · 143 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $326.66/cwt +28.98 vs last sale · ≈ $1,542/hd at 472 lb · 123 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $364.49/cwt +45.78 vs last sale · ≈ $1,388/hd at 381 lb · 101 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,212 926 1,344
Feeder cattle 1,906 753 1,185
Slaughter cattle 217 153 149
Replacement cattle 89 20 10

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday 350-550 lb steer and bull calves sold sharply higher with very good demand; over 600 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand. Feeder heifers under 550 lbs sold sharply higher with very good demand; over 600 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand. Active market with good buyer participation for weaned packages. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 higher with good demand. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 4.00 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
220–225 223 2 380.00–405.00 $392.36 $875 —
255 255 1 382.50 $382.50 $975 —
296 value added 296 11 412.50 $412.50 $1,221 —
320–338 value added 334 7 375.00–392.50 $378.29 $1,263 —
340 340 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,139 -2.14
355 355 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,207 -2.29
370–396 value added 394 89 377.50–404.00 $402.07 $1,584 +13.92
405–435 423 3 345.00–352.50 $348.92 $1,476 +21.13
400–445 value added 425 23 360.00–395.00 $377.32 $1,604 +25.36
455–490 474 6 327.50–353.00 $343.98 $1,630 +30.11
450–498 value added 490 67 359.00–407.50 $371.57 $1,821 +33.20
500–531 value added 513 45 343.00–372.00 $354.59 $1,819 +24.18
510–545 523 9 323.00–337.50 $329.61 $1,724 +24.59
550–582 558 10 316.00–319.00 $317.23 $1,770 +24.88
550–586 value added 575 58 320.00–337.00 $325.95 $1,874 -6.55
600–636 value added 614 60 299.00–319.00 $314.36 $1,930 +9.95
625–635 630 2 265.00–296.00 $280.38 $1,766 +13.77
671–690 value added 674 21 280.00–288.00 $284.19 $1,915 -3.85
700–705 703 2 258.00–261.00 $259.51 $1,824 +5.54
705–731 value added 723 53 271.00–290.00 $280.83 $2,030 +21.83
751–767 value added 759 16 270.00–276.00 $272.05 $2,065 +9.25
793–795 793 6 251.00–254.00 $253.50 $2,010 +7.49
800–832 816 4 243.00–249.00 $246.06 $2,008 +7.06
852–860 854 5 236.00–248.00 $245.58 $2,097 +8.58
905–940 928 3 232.00–236.00 $233.30 $2,165 +1.30
943 fancy 943 55 256.75 $256.75 $2,421 —
950–995 972 11 221.00–245.00 $227.96 $2,216 +5.63
1000–1040 1020 2 219.00–228.00 $223.41 $2,279 —
1050 1050 1 222.00 $222.00 $2,331 +18.00
1121 1121 5 202.00 $202.00 $2,264 —
1215–1230 1223 6 201.00–212.00 $208.33 $2,548 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555–560 558 2 307.00–308.00 $307.50 $1,716 —
635 635 1 277.00 $277.00 $1,759 —
651–690 value added 653 18 279.00–296.00 $295.00 $1,926 —
717 717 9 274.00 $274.00 $1,965 —
805–827 824 7 240.00–252.00 $250.32 $2,063 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 1 312.50 $312.50 $1,266 +25.00
470–475 472 3 289.00–302.50 $293.53 $1,385 +19.42
510 510 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,479 —
555–595 575 2 268.00–277.00 $272.34 $1,566 -0.17
635 635 1 238.00 $238.00 $1,511 —
670–680 675 2 237.00–249.00 $242.96 $1,640 +1.37
780–795 785 3 224.00–241.00 $229.74 $1,803 —
825–830 828 2 236.00–240.00 $238.01 $1,971 +37.01
850 850 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,955 —
910 910 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,993 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265 1265 1 199.00 $199.00 $2,517 —
1530 1530 1 163.00 $163.00 $2,494 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
422 422 2 230.00 $230.00 $971 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–245 220 4 347.50–370.00 $357.39 $786 +67.39
240 value added 240 1 377.50 $377.50 $906 +57.50
255–275 268 3 307.50–325.00 $319.46 $856 +16.96
260–295 value added 282 12 340.00–391.00 $375.85 $1,060 +48.77
302–345 314 13 309.00–327.50 $316.34 $993 +25.84
303–349 value added 338 27 330.00–372.50 $357.56 $1,209 —
360–395 380 15 285.00–320.00 $305.74 $1,162 —
350–396 value added 381 86 321.00–399.00 $374.74 $1,428 +56.03
400–445 value added 425 79 317.00–370.00 $345.15 $1,467 +44.81
425–445 435 3 270.00–311.00 $293.69 $1,278 +11.69
450–490 value added 471 110 309.00–355.00 $329.80 $1,553 +27.72
450–495 482 13 289.00–308.00 $300.13 $1,447 +16.27
500–547 value added 517 141 290.00–317.00 $307.90 $1,592 +18.65
530–540 535 2 281.00–287.50 $284.28 $1,521 +18.34
550–595 value added 575 35 280.00–291.00 $284.89 $1,638 -0.89
561–593 578 11 267.50–280.00 $274.70 $1,588 +9.07
602–645 value added 622 37 269.50–294.00 $281.30 $1,750 +14.17
615–638 628 7 243.00–264.00 $253.28 $1,591 +6.91
651–690 value added 672 27 252.50–263.00 $258.73 $1,739 -2.78
660–692 682 4 239.00–249.00 $241.93 $1,650 -2.17
700–745 713 5 238.00–240.00 $238.99 $1,704 +10.53
703–740 value added 721 32 240.00–259.00 $250.02 $1,803 +9.85
760–787 value added 778 13 243.00–259.00 $255.69 $1,989 —
795 795 2 221.00 $221.00 $1,757 —
825 825 1 206.00 $206.00 $1,700 +5.67
800–840 826 4 212.50–223.00 $217.54 $1,797 +17.21
850 850 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,785 +17.59
850–880 value added 865 2 225.00–231.00 $227.95 $1,972 —
940 940 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,786 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225–240 233 2 255.00–275.00 $264.68 $617 —
250–275 263 2 270.00–275.00 $272.62 $717 —
315–335 325 4 257.50–310.00 $278.76 $906 +9.74
350–375 363 6 230.00–290.00 $258.82 $940 -6.61
420–425 421 4 230.00–263.00 $243.21 $1,024 +8.31
450–490 471 7 236.00–307.50 $269.01 $1,267 +35.48
550–590 578 14 240.00–267.50 $248.87 $1,438 +1.22
610–642 632 4 215.00–232.50 $222.99 $1,409 -7.55
675–677 676 3 220.00–230.00 $226.67 $1,532 -3.69
700–725 713 2 207.50–228.00 $217.93 $1,554 +3.01
795 795 6 187.50 $187.50 $1,491 —
805–820 813 2 185.00–195.00 $189.95 $1,544 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 value added 455 2 335.00 $335.00 $1,524 —
550 550 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,540 —
616 value added 616 15 291.00 $291.00 $1,793 —
615–625 623 4 249.00–269.00 $264.06 $1,645 —
671–680 value added 672 13 256.00–259.00 $258.77 $1,739 —
673–690 677 4 235.00–254.00 $249.16 $1,687 +17.57
910 910 1 206.00 $206.00 $1,875 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205 205 1 202.50 $202.50 $415 -10.00
330–335 333 2 210.00–222.50 $216.30 $720 —
470 470 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,140 —
585 585 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,199 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1200 1142 3 161.00–187.50 $176.74 $2,018 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–265 value added 260 3 377.50–380.00 $378.30 $984 —
255–267 265 5 332.50–372.50 $364.79 $967 +47.29
305–345 318 6 350.00–367.50 $361.44 $1,149 +56.44
318–340 value added 325 9 382.50–400.00 $395.51 $1,285 +45.47
353–385 value added 365 17 380.00–410.00 $402.02 $1,467 +53.66
370–395 387 5 340.00–362.50 $356.88 $1,381 +50.50
400–428 417 5 323.00–327.50 $324.73 $1,354 +17.73
400–448 value added 426 29 332.50–399.00 $365.65 $1,558 +33.89
450–495 474 12 319.00–335.00 $327.65 $1,553 +10.36
450–490 value added 474 24 332.50–386.00 $355.70 $1,686 +14.89
500–535 514 9 300.00–320.00 $307.23 $1,579 +26.89
505–548 value added 529 19 304.00–343.00 $322.36 $1,705 +19.72
550–597 572 13 263.00–312.50 $289.19 $1,654 +5.29
555–585 value added 575 26 291.00–321.00 $309.68 $1,781 +22.15
600–640 value added 620 18 268.00–281.00 $275.49 $1,708 +9.95
610–645 628 8 245.00–265.00 $253.90 $1,594 -8.15
660–695 667 10 241.00–267.00 $259.86 $1,733 +15.86
650–675 value added 670 14 264.00–275.00 $272.54 $1,826 +9.83
700–748 value added 714 14 245.00–262.00 $257.96 $1,842 +5.84
700–745 720 3 235.00–236.00 $235.68 $1,697 -1.35
750–756 value added 755 4 248.00–263.00 $259.27 $1,957 —
783 783 16 237.50 $237.50 $1,860 +0.19
825–830 828 2 191.00–196.00 $193.49 $1,602 -23.49
860–885 873 2 202.00–240.00 $220.73 $1,927 +12.31
900–904 904 8 188.00–217.00 $191.61 $1,732 +16.61
960–995 970 4 170.00–180.00 $174.95 $1,697 —
1000–1043 1034 5 175.00–186.00 $183.87 $1,901 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–235 213 3 285.00–325.00 $300.94 $641 —
300–330 313 3 317.50–330.00 $322.42 $1,009 +36.53
360–390 365 12 322.00–354.00 $344.14 $1,256 +76.54
406 406 5 303.00 $303.00 $1,230 +43.00
455–495 478 8 282.50–315.00 $307.83 $1,471 +60.23
505–545 536 16 259.00–302.00 $283.47 $1,519 +9.85
565–590 578 3 242.50–250.00 $247.45 $1,430 -12.56
755–790 773 2 231.00–234.00 $232.53 $1,797 +10.53
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 1 299.00 $299.00 $1,630 —
750 750 1 229.00 $229.00 $1,718 —
880 880 1 182.00 $182.00 $1,602 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,242 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890–1350 1129 80-85% 16 134.00–140.00 $136.65 $1,543 —
920–1425 1153 80-85% 4 130.00–132.00 $131.60 $1,517 +3.15
1005–1475 1281 80-85% 28 141.00–162.00 $146.65 $1,879 +1.28
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145–1610 1392 75-80% 8 133.00–139.00 $136.44 $1,899 +6.45
1190–1880 1459 75-80% 37 141.00–156.00 $147.77 $2,156 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790 790 85-90% 1 96.00 $96.00 $758 —
710–1265 934 85-90% 12 112.00–126.00 $120.38 $1,124 +29.08
815–1185 988 85-90% 3 100.00–104.00 $102.08 $1,009 -7.97
765–1260 1015 85-90% 10 127.00–135.00 $130.87 $1,328 +13.77

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1735 1383 12 148.00–170.00 $159.80 $2,210 —
1490–2130 1834 15 172.00–206.00 $184.97 $3,392 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
870–880 875 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 185.00–190.00 $187.51 $1,641
795–1070 925 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 10 154.00–189.00 $169.00 $1,563
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
725–1165 963 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 125.00–150.00 $139.29 $1,341

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
980 980 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
925–1580 1135 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 23 1,800.00–2,625.00 $2,145.81
905–1490 1166 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12 1,800.00–2,700.00 $2,168.70
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
830–1280 1043 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,375.00–1,725.00 $1,592.73
1080–1190 1141 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,650.00–1,750.00 $1,725.58
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
715–875 797 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 875.00–1,375.00 $1,091.53
890 890 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,150.00 $1,150.00
945 945 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
860 860 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
860 860 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
805 805 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,210.00 $1,210.00

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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
960–1125 1043 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,750.00–1,775.00 $1,763.49 —
750–1305 1070 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 6 1,850.00–2,475.00 $2,290.32 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1210 1210 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,700.00 $2,700.00 —
1280 1280 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,475.00 $2,475.00 —
1295 1295 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00 —
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1005–1110 1052 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,425.00–1,550.00 $1,489.54 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
975 975 85-90% 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,297 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
980 980 1 149.00 $149.00 $1,460 —
1010 1010 1 154.00 $154.00 $1,555 —
1145 1145 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,775 —
1230 1230 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,870 —
1265–1295 1280 2 158.00–165.00 $161.46 $2,067 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 242.50 $242.50 $909 —
465 465 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,011 —

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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.