Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 28, 2025

1,375 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 heifers $333.87/cwt +28.01 vs last sale · ≈ $2,071/hd at 620 lb · 111 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $340.90/cwt +11.01 vs last sale · ≈ $2,281/hd at 669 lb · 101 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $381.34/cwt +4.19 vs last sale · ≈ $1,649/hd at 432 lb · 61 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,375 782 1,005
Feeder cattle 1,153 681 796
Slaughter cattle 210 94 189
Replacement cattle 12 7 20

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher; some weaned 500-600 lbs and yearling steer packages 10.00 higher with very good demand. Feeder heifers sold 3.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand. Very good demand for yearling heifers. Attractive quality offering with good buyer participation. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 2.00 lower under heavy supply. Slaughter bulls 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
215 fancy 215 1 460.00 $460.00 $989 —
225 225 1 422.50 $422.50 $951 —
300 300 1 417.50 $417.50 $1,252 —
310 fancy 310 1 430.00 $430.00 $1,333 —
360–390 373 5 410.00–423.00 $416.04 $1,552 +28.25
416–445 value added 425 12 420.00–431.00 $426.44 $1,812 +8.92
407–441 426 21 395.00–407.00 $400.21 $1,705 +1.46
455–460 value added 457 5 405.00–415.00 $413.01 $1,887 +2.39
500–530 value added 508 35 390.00–413.00 $402.17 $2,043 +13.55
500–547 531 17 365.00–380.00 $374.25 $1,987 +2.08
555–565 value added 556 19 367.50–373.00 $371.94 $2,068 +14.42
570–585 575 3 355.00–360.00 $357.52 $2,056 —
617 617 7 310.00 $310.00 $1,913 -9.00
600–645 value added 624 18 321.00–355.00 $343.72 $2,145 -8.40
650–679 value added 669 100 330.00–348.00 $341.11 $2,282 +10.12
685 685 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,192 +21.00
705–740 value added 722 17 290.00–316.00 $302.97 $2,187 -15.03
730 730 2 285.00–289.00 $287.00 $2,095 -12.17
760 760 3 283.00 $283.00 $2,151 +13.00
750–796 value added 783 19 287.50–296.00 $291.03 $2,279 -7.97
813–835 815 9 280.00–285.00 $284.43 $2,318 +10.43
870 fancy 870 26 288.00 $288.00 $2,506 —
939–945 939 19 240.00–260.00 $258.36 $2,426 —
985 985 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,462 —
1032–1035 1033 3 220.00–241.00 $227.01 $2,345 —
1050–1065 1060 3 230.00 $230.00 $2,438 —
1135 1135 2 226.00 $226.00 $2,565 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375–390 379 4 380.00–390.00 $382.57 $1,450 +30.07
415 415 1 377.50 $377.50 $1,567 —
455–490 465 5 335.00–380.00 $367.02 $1,707 —
505–525 513 5 320.00–360.00 $345.37 $1,772 +23.09
550–590 573 16 261.00–370.00 $350.21 $2,007 —
600–605 603 2 305.00–316.00 $310.48 $1,872 —
681 681 9 307.00 $307.00 $2,091 —
835 835 1 260.00 $260.00 $2,171 +46.00
887 887 2 250.00 $250.00 $2,218 —
925 925 2 221.00 $221.00 $2,044 —
1005 1005 1 187.00 $187.00 $1,879 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,758 —
580 580 1 347.50 $347.50 $2,016 —
643 643 5 319.00 $319.00 $2,051 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
170 170 1 425.00 $425.00 $722 —
230 230 1 435.00 $435.00 $1,000 —
265–288 281 7 390.00–420.00 $398.00 $1,118 +55.53
300–332 319 6 372.50–385.00 $378.67 $1,208 —
315–340 value added 329 5 400.00–417.00 $407.66 $1,341 +5.65
350–390 value added 372 14 392.00–410.00 $403.89 $1,502 +3.47
360–395 379 7 370.00–387.50 $379.41 $1,438 —
400–446 value added 417 19 375.00–403.00 $385.66 $1,608 +5.94
437–445 fancy 439 31 381.50–395.00 $384.15 $1,686 —
427–443 440 11 362.00–370.00 $365.97 $1,610 +20.97
450–485 value added 465 30 365.00–385.00 $374.52 $1,742 +11.03
455–492 473 16 340.00–363.00 $356.19 $1,685 +12.44
500–547 value added 518 48 327.00–365.00 $343.74 $1,781 +7.55
520–545 537 9 316.00–325.00 $318.85 $1,712 +0.85
551–568 value added 561 14 322.50–366.00 $344.39 $1,932 +11.49
565–590 571 16 295.00–319.00 $309.59 $1,768 +4.64
600–635 value added 611 19 309.00–330.00 $323.98 $1,980 +11.69
622 fancy 622 84 340.00 $340.00 $2,115 —
600–645 625 8 273.00–301.00 $292.99 $1,831 +25.73
660–670 663 8 281.00–302.50 $295.16 $1,957 +21.65
650–673 value added 670 9 306.00–322.50 $308.67 $2,068 +23.73
707–728 721 21 262.50–273.00 $269.52 $1,943 +6.33
750–767 765 8 252.00–254.00 $253.75 $1,941 +7.13
817 value added 817 9 257.00 $257.00 $2,100 +2.00
810–835 823 2 205.00–208.00 $206.52 $1,700 -18.48
865 865 2 223.00 $223.00 $1,929 —
965 965 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,843 —
1035 1035 1 193.00 $193.00 $1,998 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205 205 1 367.50 $367.50 $753 —
255 255 1 315.00 $315.00 $803 —
452–490 471 15 309.00–353.00 $330.75 $1,558 +38.25
500–540 517 3 232.50–301.00 $278.57 $1,440 +14.17
550–570 559 6 287.00–300.00 $297.85 $1,665 +24.23
630–645 638 2 252.50–260.00 $256.21 $1,635 —
665–695 680 2 256.00–260.00 $258.04 $1,755 +38.04
715 715 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,644 -10.00
760–795 778 4 227.00–235.00 $230.91 $1,796 —
955 955 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,791 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
577 577 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,731 —
645 645 2 304.00 $304.00 $1,961 —
850–855 852 3 198.00–205.00 $202.66 $1,727 —
980 980 2 182.00 $182.00 $1,784 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–270 260 2 397.50–417.50 $407.12 $1,059 +23.23
285–290 fancy 288 2 420.00–435.00 $427.43 $1,231 —
300–315 308 3 399.00–410.00 $403.93 $1,244 +13.93
341 fancy 341 3 422.50 $422.50 $1,441 +3.50
352–385 371 10 395.00–417.50 $411.05 $1,525 —
365–385 fancy 375 2 423.00–425.00 $424.03 $1,590 +8.03
400–445 408 8 389.00–410.00 $404.46 $1,650 +19.90
410–438 fancy 429 5 417.50–425.00 $421.11 $1,807 —
450–493 471 18 380.00–400.00 $392.28 $1,848 +29.10
500–545 526 14 365.00–385.00 $375.53 $1,975 —
555–585 563 15 340.00–370.00 $355.50 $2,001 +23.12
607–627 value added 614 6 307.50–320.00 $315.74 $1,939 -25.97
600–645 618 9 300.00–320.00 $307.35 $1,899 +14.68
655–682 value added 670 7 287.50–302.00 $294.90 $1,976 —
650–695 671 4 293.00–305.00 $298.85 $2,005 +14.22
700–745 716 7 247.00–284.00 $267.40 $1,915 -6.17
733 fancy 733 9 299.00 $299.00 $2,192 —
760–795 773 6 247.00–261.00 $252.48 $1,952 -15.89
800–845 811 4 221.00–258.00 $248.37 $2,014 —
940 940 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,777 —
1045 1045 1 174.00 $174.00 $1,818 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 372.50 $372.50 $987 —
330 330 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,155 -35.00
350–395 373 2 362.50–380.00 $371.78 $1,387 +1.78
400–445 420 12 312.50–373.00 $346.36 $1,455 -3.64
450–470 464 6 365.00–373.00 $369.85 $1,716 +54.86
500–545 520 9 270.00–359.00 $337.68 $1,756 +36.68
565–580 573 3 310.00 $310.00 $1,776 +30.00
605–615 608 3 287.50–294.00 $291.81 $1,774 +68.27
690 690 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,863 —
750–795 769 6 220.00–245.00 $232.80 $1,790 —
860–875 868 2 175.00–177.00 $175.99 $1,528 -4.01
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 2 370.00 $370.00 $1,720 —
560 560 1 361.00 $361.00 $2,022 —
645 645 1 311.00 $311.00 $2,006 —
915 915 1 177.00 $177.00 $1,620 —
1090 1090 1 174.00 $174.00 $1,897 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010–1480 1230 80-85% 12 129.00–141.00 $137.13 $1,687 —
1080–1505 1265 80-85% 35 150.00–165.00 $156.49 $1,980 —
1045–1560 1271 80-85% 12 141.00–149.00 $145.32 $1,847 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765–1035 898 85-90% 3 97.50–114.00 $108.14 $971 —
785–1255 981 85-90% 25 119.00–138.00 $128.44 $1,260 —
750–1290 1037 85-90% 29 138.00–155.00 $146.62 $1,520 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1245–1325 1285 75-80% 2 139.00–142.00 $140.45 $1,805 —
1060–1710 1325 75-80% 16 143.00–149.00 $146.70 $1,944 —
1195–1785 1514 75-80% 26 150.00–162.00 $154.27 $2,336 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
960–1475 1219 4 140.00–148.00 $142.32 $1,735 —
1060–1725 1283 7 159.00–185.00 $172.10 $2,208 +25.10
1460–2040 1658 9 185.00–211.00 $199.68 $3,311 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
805–1340 1062 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 9 149.00–181.00 $168.13 $1,786

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1100–1515 1303 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,850.00–2,200.00 $2,035.29
1390 1390 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
840–1280 1060 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,200.00–1,750.00 $1,532.08
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
690 690 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
960 960 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250 1250 85-90% 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,688 —

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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.