Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 19, 2025

862 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 $336.49/cwt -12.73 vs last sale · ≈ $1,784/hd at 530 lb · 54 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $356.04/cwt -16.28 vs last sale · ≈ $1,680/hd at 472 lb · 45 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $379.96/cwt -6.14 vs last sale · ≈ $2,195/hd at 578 lb · 43 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 862 1,062 1,392
Feeder cattle 726 908 1,221
Slaughter cattle 118 140 158
Replacement cattle 18 14 13

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers and heifers under 600 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 lower with moderate to good demand with more fleshy and average quality calves on offer this week compared to last week. Good demand for long-weaned calves in thin-flesh suitable for grass. Yearlings lightly tested. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 4.00 higher with some lean cows 5.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00 to 10.00 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
255–290 273 2 405.00–442.50 $422.55 $1,154 —
340 340 2 425.00 $425.00 $1,445 —
370–395 382 7 413.00–435.00 $420.56 $1,607 —
400–421 418 6 391.00–406.00 $403.60 $1,687 —
400–448 value added 437 8 411.00–430.00 $417.79 $1,826 -13.77
450–452 value added 451 3 410.00–411.00 $410.67 $1,852 —
455–459 458 7 394.00–400.00 $395.70 $1,812 -11.24
515–538 value added 521 22 381.00–392.00 $389.73 $2,030 -27.21
505–545 532 18 364.00–373.00 $371.06 $1,974 -10.57
550–585 573 3 360.00–361.00 $360.68 $2,067 -16.09
560–585 value added 578 40 376.00–386.00 $381.41 $2,205 -6.72
610 610 1 321.00 $321.00 $1,958 -14.12
602–643 value added 624 15 342.00–360.00 $350.22 $2,185 -18.99
675 675 1 318.00 $318.00 $2,146 -9.20
652–692 value added 684 26 324.00–339.00 $332.31 $2,273 -26.44
700–725 value added 710 9 297.00–311.00 $304.21 $2,160 -12.11
702–740 715 3 286.00–299.00 $294.51 $2,106 -0.62
810 fancy 810 1 285.00 $285.00 $2,308 —
910 910 1 267.00 $267.00 $2,430 —
934 fancy 934 17 267.00 $267.00 $2,494 —
1015 1015 1 197.00 $197.00 $2,000 -52.00
1055 1055 1 236.00 $236.00 $2,490 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500–525 515 3 355.00–367.00 $360.70 $1,858 -4.30
722 722 2 281.00 $281.00 $2,029 —
1005 1005 1 233.00 $233.00 $2,342 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460–467 465 3 352.50–364.00 $360.21 $1,675 —
560 560 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,876 -30.25
670–680 675 2 283.00–297.00 $289.95 $1,957 +7.95
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1225 1225 1 187.00 $187.00 $2,291 —
1280 1280 1 234.00 $234.00 $2,995 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
560 560 1 301.00 $301.00 $1,686 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 fancy 235 1 415.00 $415.00 $975 —
275–285 278 3 337.50–373.00 $349.62 $972 -35.33
325 325 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,202 -10.00
345 fancy 345 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,380 —
350–380 364 4 350.00–375.00 $365.20 $1,329 -1.04
350–390 value added 369 24 389.00–417.50 $402.78 $1,486 +1.60
410–445 429 6 340.00–355.00 $346.10 $1,485 -21.28
400–448 value added 433 34 356.00–387.50 $369.55 $1,600 -13.45
450–488 value added 470 39 337.00–373.00 $359.91 $1,692 -22.27
475–490 483 6 321.00–337.00 $330.87 $1,598 -32.08
500–535 522 10 295.00–320.00 $308.83 $1,612 —
500–547 value added 532 44 320.00–359.00 $342.78 $1,824 -6.44
550–590 value added 569 35 322.50–382.00 $344.09 $1,958 -1.44
550–595 572 3 295.00–317.50 $308.26 $1,763 -0.45
600–647 value added 618 7 309.00–331.00 $315.95 $1,953 -18.42
602–635 620 5 281.00–303.00 $298.39 $1,850 +16.54
656–695 value added 665 25 304.00–314.00 $311.64 $2,072 +0.80
670–680 675 4 284.00–297.00 $290.00 $1,958 +7.36
710–744 value added 740 18 275.00–286.00 $284.53 $2,106 —
785 785 1 253.00 $253.00 $1,986 -6.00
808 value added 808 5 276.00 $276.00 $2,230 —
860–880 870 2 247.00–263.00 $254.91 $2,218 —
945 value added 945 3 255.00 $255.00 $2,410 —
960 960 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,920 —
1025 1025 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,845 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 320.00 $320.00 $736 —
260 260 1 250.00 $250.00 $650 -87.06
300–342 328 3 300.00–360.00 $341.71 $1,121 +3.41
350–375 363 3 232.50–300.00 $262.60 $953 —
440 440 1 330.00 $330.00 $1,452 -15.69
455–495 482 6 293.00–345.00 $311.13 $1,500 -31.03
507–545 527 6 270.00–300.00 $282.86 $1,491 -30.94
550–585 570 4 240.00–265.00 $257.20 $1,466 -39.58
625–640 634 4 272.50–276.00 $274.63 $1,741 +25.21
680–695 688 2 251.00–256.00 $253.53 $1,744 +11.03
810 810 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,701 -15.97
865 865 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,557 —
975 975 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,658 -50.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070 1070 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,819 —
1195–1300 1230 3 195.00–197.00 $195.70 $2,407 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 1 345.00 $345.00 $1,604 +52.50
835 835 1 239.00 $239.00 $1,996 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555 555 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,360 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
185–190 188 —— 2 392.00–395.00 $393.48 $740 —
230 230 —— 1 417.50 $417.50 $960 —
290 fancy 290 —— 1 439.00 $439.00 $1,273 +6.00
307–345 324 —— 5 397.00–415.00 $407.37 $1,320 -3.58
325–345 fancy 335 —— 2 423.00–439.00 $431.24 $1,445 —
350–395 373 —— 2 410.00–412.50 $411.17 $1,534 +0.31
350–395 value added 374 —— 5 420.00–430.00 $426.10 $1,594 -10.58
400–440 value added 416 —— 7 410.00–427.50 $419.10 $1,743 -2.56
410–440 424 —— 7 365.00–407.50 $392.74 $1,665 +2.86
450–485 470 —— 9 365.00–397.50 $381.86 $1,795 -8.58
510–547 value added 521 —— 10 350.00–371.00 $365.64 $1,905 -18.32
550–588 value added 573 —— 12 350.00–364.00 $355.49 $2,037 —
575–580 578 —— 6 321.00–343.00 $336.69 $1,946 -36.82
600–625 value added 609 —— 5 323.00–349.00 $341.64 $2,081 +9.82
610–645 628 —— 3 302.00–314.00 $309.77 $1,945 -9.23
650–695 value added 669 —— 4 318.00–336.00 $325.08 $2,175 +2.37
655–695 677 —— 8 275.00–313.00 $297.21 $2,012 -26.15
705–745 value added 723 —— 3 286.00–307.00 $294.68 $2,131 -5.59
705–745 725 —— 2 279.00–284.00 $281.57 $2,041 -10.79
770–775 773 —— 4 269.00–270.00 $269.75 $2,085 +7.75
831 fancy 831 —— 3 253.00 $253.00 $2,102 —
820–842 835 —— 3 244.00 $244.00 $2,037 +20.07
860 860 —— 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,150 +13.94
930 930 —— 1 226.00 $226.00 $2,102 —
955–980 970 —— 3 220.00–233.00 $227.97 $2,211 -8.30
1030 1030 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 221.00 $221.00 $2,276 —
1050 1050 —— 1 226.00 $226.00 $2,373 —
1210 1210 —— 1 213.00 $213.00 $2,577 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 335.00 $335.00 $888 -26.95
335 335 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,290 —
390 390 1 382.00 $382.00 $1,490 +8.66
405–435 416 4 337.50–365.00 $350.77 $1,459 -19.16
470–488 482 10 332.50–357.00 $350.53 $1,690 -12.94
515–535 521 5 320.00–344.00 $328.78 $1,713 -33.05
550–590 561 8 280.00–315.00 $308.28 $1,729 -30.41
610 610 1 257.50 $257.50 $1,571 -47.50
790 790 1 246.00 $246.00 $1,943 +4.23
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 1 357.50 $357.50 $1,537 —
562–595 577 5 310.00–329.00 $320.74 $1,851 —
665 665 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,928 —
760 760 1 261.00 $261.00 $1,984 —
800 800 1 237.00 $237.00 $1,896 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 310.00 $310.00 $822 —
465 465 1 281.00 $281.00 $1,307 —
510–520 515 2 252.50–255.00 $253.76 $1,307 -63.74
600 600 2 252.00 $252.00 $1,512 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1090–1375 1233 80-85% 2 144.00–147.00 $145.33 $1,792 —
1085–1525 1236 80-85% 7 153.00–158.00 $154.76 $1,913 —
1045–1590 1250 80-85% 29 158.00–180.00 $168.96 $2,112 +2.75
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1500 1341 75-80% 8 140.00–148.00 $145.50 $1,951 —
1240–1580 1387 75-80% 9 163.00–171.00 $166.91 $2,315 +17.70
1290–1660 1487 75-80% 9 152.00–158.00 $155.47 $2,312 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865–1050 958 85-90% 2 137.00–138.00 $137.55 $1,318 +13.46
715–1245 1045 85-90% 3 140.00–149.00 $144.32 $1,508 -8.50
1005–1465 1134 85-90% 11 153.00–170.00 $163.10 $1,850 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
780–1545 1163 2 157.00–170.00 $161.36 $1,877 —
1005–1770 1403 6 172.00–198.00 $183.65 $2,577 +13.82
1050–2215 1681 15 201.00–228.00 $214.45 $3,605 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
810–1050 920 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 9 149.00–167.50 $160.06 $1,473
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
790–1055 939 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 168.00–185.00 $175.96 $1,652

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
970 970 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00
985–1285 1174 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,850.00–2,625.00 $2,160.13
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
725 725 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00
1200 1200 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00

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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
1525 1525 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,925.00 $2,925.00 —
1520–1680 1600 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,650.00–3,300.00 $2,958.75 —
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
825 825 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,625.00 $1,625.00 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1130–1145 1138 80-85% 2 147.00–148.00 $147.50 $1,679 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 207.50 $207.50 $820 —

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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.