Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 17, 2025

983 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 $321.68/cwt +13.84 vs last sale · ≈ $1,862/hd at 579 lb · 137 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $282.01/cwt +33.28 vs last sale · ≈ $2,228/hd at 790 lb · 73 head
light 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $272.34/cwt +8.88 vs last sale · ≈ $2,307/hd at 847 lb · 71 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 983 1,240 1,488
Feeder cattle 884 1,045 1,321
Slaughter cattle 91 176 154
Replacement cattle 8 19 13

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers sold steady with very good demand for weaned packages. Feeder heifers sold steady; except weaned preconditioned 500-700 lbs traded 5.00 to 10.00 higher with most advance on 500-600 lbs with very good demand. Very good demand for yearlings in a limited comparison with last week's lite test. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 3.00 higher with good demand. Slaughter bulls sold 4.00 to 5.00 higher with very 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
200–235 value added 212 3 430.00–435.00 $433.15 $918 —
257 value added 257 2 430.00 $430.00 $1,105 —
310 value added 310 1 445.00 $445.00 $1,380 —
330 330 2 380.00–383.00 $381.50 $1,259 —
365–392 value added 381 17 407.50–437.50 $413.79 $1,577 -16.21
375–395 387 13 384.00–405.00 $394.63 $1,527 +4.22
403–445 value added 420 12 392.50–427.00 $404.83 $1,700 +3.14
415–445 432 5 355.00–377.50 $365.66 $1,580 -10.01
480–495 value added 486 7 345.00–385.00 $368.58 $1,791 -6.52
500–542 value added 526 24 343.00–395.00 $367.13 $1,931 +5.48
535 535 1 330.00 $330.00 $1,766 +0.26
560–590 578 6 311.00–329.00 $321.39 $1,858 -8.23
575–597 value added 587 16 333.00–358.00 $344.32 $2,021 -11.11
610–640 value added 630 7 317.00–330.00 $321.66 $2,026 +8.06
625–645 635 2 284.00–311.00 $297.71 $1,890 +37.71
660–685 666 5 265.00–291.00 $283.18 $1,886 —
650–695 value added 675 11 286.00–313.00 $299.91 $2,024 +9.35
700–747 value added 725 11 274.00–288.00 $280.98 $2,037 -8.60
767–775 value added 772 10 276.00–280.00 $277.59 $2,143 +22.09
785 785 1 249.00 $249.00 $1,955 -2.00
793 fancy 793 62 283.25 $283.25 $2,246 —
838–846 842 11 260.00–266.00 $263.26 $2,217 +6.27
848 value added 848 60 274.00 $274.00 $2,324 —
850–895 874 5 248.00–257.00 $252.60 $2,208 —
905 905 1 240.00 $240.00 $2,172 +0.07
950–987 975 7 237.00–239.00 $238.29 $2,323 +18.29
1020 1020 1 233.00 $233.00 $2,377 +17.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,278 —
425 425 1 292.50 $292.50 $1,243 —
505–540 523 2 270.00–301.00 $284.98 $1,490 -17.25
560 560 1 291.00 $291.00 $1,630 —
640 640 1 262.00 $262.00 $1,677 —
777 777 2 219.00 $219.00 $1,702 -6.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
616 616 3 276.00 $276.00 $1,700 —
815 815 2 259.00 $259.00 $2,111 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1420 1420 1 188.00 $188.00 $2,670 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220–245 239 4 330.00–355.00 $341.02 $815 +11.02
242 fancy 242 2 405.00 $405.00 $980 —
250–297 value added 277 10 342.00–393.00 $373.33 $1,034 -10.86
300–325 value added 312 5 352.00–370.00 $358.37 $1,118 -24.15
305–325 312 5 290.00–327.00 $316.75 $988 -10.48
350–393 value added 374 30 338.00–403.00 $377.42 $1,412 -8.23
360–390 382 5 300.00–327.50 $312.26 $1,193 -5.06
410–422 418 3 312.50 $312.50 $1,306 +20.19
415–442 value added 427 12 333.00–377.50 $353.52 $1,510 -4.99
450–495 value added 478 31 312.50–347.50 $333.48 $1,594 +17.38
460–495 479 4 292.50–305.00 $298.69 $1,431 +3.40
500–548 value added 522 33 307.50–337.50 $322.52 $1,684 +18.02
510–545 529 12 292.50–306.00 $297.67 $1,575 +9.45
571–585 573 7 287.50–295.00 $289.64 $1,660 +12.40
550–593 value added 579 130 297.50–328.25 $323.41 $1,873 +13.86
610–635 623 2 252.50–270.00 $261.43 $1,629 -2.57
618–640 value added 626 16 280.00–316.00 $303.61 $1,901 +5.01
650–672 value added 655 12 293.00–300.00 $298.55 $1,956 +8.95
715 value added 715 3 273.00 $273.00 $1,952 +6.90
715 715 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,752 +5.00
719 719 11 283.50 $283.50 $2,038 +43.50
775 775 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,821 —
780 value added 780 7 254.00 $254.00 $1,981 —
791 791 5 275.00 $275.00 $2,175 —
840 840 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,722 -24.00
865 865 1 224.00 $224.00 $1,938 +11.00
899 899 6 252.00 $252.00 $2,265 +39.00
945 945 2 191.00–220.00 $205.50 $1,942 +13.50
990 990 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,881 -19.00
1035 1035 1 203.00 $203.00 $2,101 —
1130 1130 1 200.00 $200.00 $2,260 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
252–275 257 6 312.50–320.00 $315.10 $810 +12.10
332 332 2 257.50 $257.50 $855 -28.36
355–395 376 7 235.00–285.00 $263.18 $990 -25.77
400–440 423 3 263.00–291.00 $274.24 $1,160 +9.32
480 480 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,416 +41.12
640 640 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,536 +0.28
663–690 668 7 210.00–241.00 $236.41 $1,579 +19.26
700–745 730 3 204.00–223.00 $216.93 $1,584 -1.13
755 755 1 206.00 $206.00 $1,555 +22.29
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250 1250 1 210.00 $210.00 $2,625 —
1070–1525 1261 7 179.00–184.00 $180.62 $2,278 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
615 615 1 259.00 $259.00 $1,593 +16.00
705 705 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,727 +10.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
620 620 1 228.00 $228.00 $1,414 +16.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
180 180 1 415.00 $415.00 $747 —
200 200 1 415.00 $415.00 $830 —
290 290 1 417.50 $417.50 $1,211 —
295 fancy 295 1 435.00 $435.00 $1,283 —
315 315 1 330.00 $330.00 $1,040 -46.27
380 fancy 380 1 405.00 $405.00 $1,539 —
371–390 381 6 331.00–380.00 $369.92 $1,409 +9.92
413–446 value added 431 13 360.00–380.00 $369.93 $1,594 -16.20
445 445 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,513 —
455–495 476 5 310.00–339.00 $324.47 $1,544 +4.03
455–495 value added 484 15 341.00–372.50 $353.33 $1,710 -22.09
505–545 515 4 291.00–313.00 $307.18 $1,582 -5.04
505–542 value added 532 5 321.00–327.50 $323.87 $1,723 -15.94
550–562 value added 556 4 321.00–339.00 $331.09 $1,841 +9.96
550–576 565 13 290.00–312.00 $301.60 $1,704 +1.40
602–630 614 6 266.00–272.50 $268.63 $1,649 +4.49
601–638 value added 620 12 277.50–296.00 $288.48 $1,789 -22.85
660–695 672 3 251.00–271.00 $264.10 $1,775 +10.83
700–735 727 8 244.00–256.00 $252.57 $1,836 -0.81
780–790 785 2 245.00–262.00 $253.45 $1,990 +7.45
800–820 810 2 200.00–201.00 $200.49 $1,624 -16.72
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 285.00 $285.00 $969 -27.28
355–390 373 2 262.00–310.00 $284.87 $1,063 -62.43
432 432 2 303.00 $303.00 $1,309 —
455–485 475 3 297.50–299.00 $298.52 $1,418 +14.80
540–545 544 5 271.00–280.00 $272.79 $1,484 +41.79
670 670 1 244.00 $244.00 $1,635 -6.00
737 737 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,739 +12.03
755–790 773 2 226.00–238.00 $231.86 $1,792 —
860–885 873 2 188.00–194.00 $190.96 $1,667 +10.96
945 945 1 182.00 $182.00 $1,720 +1.01
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 270.00 $270.00 $648 —
505 505 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,262 —
555 555 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,207 +7.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
615–620 618 2 250.00–252.00 $251.00 $1,551 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 1 247.50 $247.50 $631 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1380 1211 80-85% 16 133.00–141.00 $136.78 $1,656 +1.77
1105–1380 1226 80-85% 6 127.00–132.00 $130.19 $1,596 +1.75
1170–1435 1303 80-85% 5 144.00–155.00 $147.73 $1,925 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1755 1407 75-80% 8 134.00–142.00 $138.36 $1,947 +2.67
1320–2000 1607 75-80% 18 143.00–154.00 $149.58 $2,404 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–1080 944 85-90% 5 117.00–126.00 $122.10 $1,153 +12.47
1040–1180 1091 85-90% 4 128.00–135.00 $132.24 $1,443 +1.58

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1190–1690 1440 2 163.00–168.00 $165.93 $2,389 +0.53
1630 1630 1 145.00 $145.00 $2,364 —
1255–2245 1730 11 173.00–202.00 $186.00 $3,218 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
980–1150 1071 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 147.00–164.00 $155.85 $1,669

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1015 1015 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00
1765 1765 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,475.00 $2,475.00

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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
985–1175 1080 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,375.00 $2,375.00 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030–1550 1290 85-90% 2 121.00–127.00 $124.60 $1,607 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
595 595 1 186.00 $186.00 $1,107 —
637 637 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,178 —
795 795 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,391 —
822 822 2 191.00 $191.00 $1,570 —

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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.