Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 12, 2026

1,189 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $347.20/cwt ≈ $3,013/hd at 868 lb · 139 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $400.78/cwt +55.52 vs last sale · ≈ $2,640/hd at 659 lb · 98 head
light 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $335.00/cwt ≈ $3,139/hd at 937 lb · 60 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,189 1,441 994
Feeder cattle 1,009 1,277 928
Slaughter cattle 165 149 62
Replacement cattle 15 15 4

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday the feeder market was sharply higher with a good quality offering. Feeder steers and heifers 650 lbs and under were mostly 10.00 to 20.00 higher or greater in spots with a good supply and strong demand for all classes of feeder cattle. Yearling steers and heifers appeared stronger as well but with limited head to head comparisons. Feeder buyers were highly active today and willing to increase the premiums paid for weaned and pre-conditioned calves. Slaughter cows and bulls were 2.00 to 5.00 lower with a good supply and 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
200–230 fancy 215 2 610.00–630.00 $620.70 $1,335 +20.70
320–342 335 3 530.00–550.00 $536.37 $1,797 +27.62
335 fancy 335 1 615.00 $615.00 $2,060 —
357–375 363 3 457.50–485.00 $466.97 $1,695 -34.69
360–390 fancy 370 10 602.50–630.00 $623.54 $2,307 +58.44
405 405 1 465.00 $465.00 $1,883 +30.97
410–417 value added 414 4 555.00–595.00 $574.83 $2,380 +84.83
425–442 fancy 440 10 500.00–525.00 $517.56 $2,277 +57.54
457 value added 457 4 525.00 $525.00 $2,399 +54.95
450–495 fancy 481 21 457.00–482.00 $466.70 $2,245 +21.18
476–498 489 9 430.00–442.50 $438.06 $2,142 +19.42
503–540 value added 525 17 430.00–452.00 $445.89 $2,341 +8.44
525–527 526 4 393.00–405.00 $398.99 $2,099 +14.48
535 535 1 337.50 $337.50 $1,806 -47.01
558–595 value added 577 31 427.00–455.00 $433.43 $2,501 -3.43
560–595 583 22 380.00–407.00 $401.90 $2,343 +15.49
618 fancy 618 6 457.50 $457.50 $2,827 +27.50
600–642 value added 620 15 395.00–420.00 $410.92 $2,548 +15.73
600–640 621 7 363.00–377.50 $371.76 $2,309 -2.75
650–679 value added 656 80 387.00–411.00 $408.52 $2,680 +44.55
650–687 671 18 349.00–377.00 $366.36 $2,458 +24.10
715–730 716 11 327.00–349.00 $346.96 $2,484 +14.44
757 value added 757 9 360.00 $360.00 $2,725 -13.52
757–764 763 25 332.00–347.00 $344.97 $2,632 +17.55
813–845 827 11 326.00–339.00 $330.36 $2,732 +18.59
865–867 value added 867 133 331.00–350.00 $349.26 $3,028 —
857–897 884 6 300.00–302.50 $301.52 $2,665 —
937 value added 937 60 335.00 $335.00 $3,139 —
957 957 5 296.00 $296.00 $2,833 —
1020 1020 1 271.00 $271.00 $2,764 -19.00
1083 1083 3 266.00 $266.00 $2,881 -17.00
1150–1175 1158 3 202.00–220.00 $208.09 $2,410 —
1201–1241 1214 9 210.00–218.00 $215.27 $2,613 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 1 397.50 $397.50 $1,948 +20.50
545 545 1 362.00 $362.00 $1,973 +25.00
915 915 1 262.50 $262.50 $2,402 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 1 395.00 $395.00 $1,224 +75.00
500–535 518 2 315.00–330.00 $322.25 $1,669 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290 1290 1 261.00 $261.00 $3,367 —
1335 1335 1 223.00 $223.00 $2,977 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
180 180 1 470.00 $470.00 $846 —
220–245 233 2 435.00–455.00 $445.54 $1,038 —
270 fancy 270 1 470.00 $470.00 $1,269 -10.00
280–295 288 3 415.00–440.00 $425.00 $1,224 +25.00
302–325 fancy 307 6 427.50–442.50 $431.66 $1,325 -14.42
305–310 308 2 401.00–410.00 $405.54 $1,249 -13.63
350–395 373 9 415.00–447.50 $433.03 $1,615 +16.06
362–381 fancy 375 8 480.00–502.50 $488.57 $1,832 +57.02
401–430 fancy 413 17 430.00–462.50 $442.45 $1,827 +19.70
405–445 427 15 402.00–427.50 $414.47 $1,770 +16.12
450–475 fancy 463 16 422.50–447.50 $434.02 $2,010 +19.80
452–498 480 24 390.00–417.50 $407.33 $1,955 +13.45
505–543 value added 522 12 389.00–392.00 $390.14 $2,037 -3.42
505–545 536 13 360.00–383.00 $367.47 $1,970 -13.66
553–596 value added 575 33 380.00–402.00 $384.77 $2,212 +11.97
560–598 579 14 350.00–375.00 $361.10 $2,091 +0.73
615–617 value added 617 9 362.00–375.00 $364.88 $2,251 -0.42
615–647 636 17 340.00–357.50 $354.39 $2,254 +7.43
650–690 669 27 335.00–357.00 $347.80 $2,327 +8.92
700–745 723 10 305.00–327.00 $320.85 $2,320 +7.41
758–797 781 8 300.00–319.00 $315.59 $2,465 -3.10
825 825 2 303.00 $303.00 $2,500 -16.00
1015 1015 1 242.00 $242.00 $2,456 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 410.00 $410.00 $902 —
275–295 285 2 390.00–402.50 $396.03 $1,129 —
330 330 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,270 —
475 475 1 341.00 $341.00 $1,620 -18.84
520–540 527 5 347.50–351.00 $350.31 $1,846 +7.66
570 570 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,824 -14.42
690 690 2 315.00–320.00 $317.50 $2,191 +15.00
760–781 773 7 262.50–285.00 $277.54 $2,145 +2.54
835 835 1 261.00 $261.00 $2,179 +28.61
855 855 1 260.00 $260.00 $2,223 +26.53
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
595 595 1 339.00 $339.00 $2,017 —
965 965 1 230.00 $230.00 $2,220 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 375.00 $375.00 $862 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205–240 217 3 520.00–522.50 $520.79 $1,130 +15.79
235 fancy 235 1 590.00 $590.00 $1,386 —
345 thin fleshed 345 1 645.00 $645.00 $2,225 —
350–390 373 6 502.50–510.00 $503.96 $1,880 +53.55
360–395 fancy 375 3 575.00–590.00 $579.93 $2,175 +67.84
377 thin fleshed 377 4 645.00 $645.00 $2,432 —
420 fancy 420 2 547.50 $547.50 $2,300 +62.50
425 425 2 425.00 $425.00 $1,806 -9.19
450 fancy 450 1 475.00 $475.00 $2,138 -5.00
475–495 481 10 405.00–429.00 $424.88 $2,044 +1.08
515 thin fleshed 515 1 445.00 $445.00 $2,292 —
515–525 520 2 385.00–401.00 $392.92 $2,043 +12.43
515–541 fancy 529 8 407.50–432.50 $417.18 $2,207 +1.15
550–562 fancy 557 4 387.00–402.00 $391.48 $2,181 -8.64
565–590 573 4 370.00–381.00 $375.21 $2,150 +2.55
625–635 630 2 355.00–369.00 $361.94 $2,280 +19.58
660–665 fancy 661 6 367.50 $367.50 $2,429 +15.11
650–695 683 5 342.50–350.00 $348.32 $2,379 +16.60
725–731 730 4 330.00–335.00 $333.76 $2,436 +15.19
805–820 813 2 300.00–313.00 $306.44 $2,491 +1.44
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 465.00 $465.00 $1,070 —
250–295 273 2 430.00–445.00 $438.12 $1,196 —
500–510 505 2 329.00–365.00 $346.82 $1,751 +5.58
572–585 576 3 350.00–353.00 $351.98 $2,027 +24.48
660–690 675 2 315.00–325.00 $320.11 $2,161 +20.11
840 840 1 280.00 $280.00 $2,352 +23.79
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
185 185 1 380.00 $380.00 $703 —
215–220 218 2 400.00–405.00 $402.47 $877 —
511 511 3 307.50 $307.50 $1,571 —
805–820 813 2 170.00–190.00 $180.09 $1,464 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1380–1705 1543 75-80% 2 169.00 $169.00 $2,608 —
1240–2025 1573 75-80% 32 150.00–166.00 $158.72 $2,497 +7.72
1175–2015 1653 75-80% 6 143.00–148.00 $146.12 $2,415 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945–1505 1225 80-85% 2 169.00–170.00 $169.39 $2,075 -4.85
1070–1650 1277 80-85% 21 150.00–165.00 $157.57 $2,012 —
1145–1610 1301 80-85% 12 139.00–149.00 $144.74 $1,883 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
770–1090 880 85-90% 3 85.00–100.00 $95.57 $841 -22.79
945–1450 1141 85-90% 7 152.00–168.00 $156.74 $1,788 —
930–1560 1146 85-90% 10 105.00–125.00 $119.20 $1,366 —
930–1415 1159 85-90% 14 129.00–145.00 $136.59 $1,583 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045–1820 1461 4 154.00–173.00 $165.71 $2,421 —
1315–2105 1604 13 183.00–198.00 $188.73 $3,027 —
1660–2235 1977 5 201.00–218.00 $208.63 $4,125 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
820–1140 980 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 217.00–233.00 $226.31 $2,218
1145–1150 1148 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 187.50–188.00 $187.75 $2,155

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1030–1320 1158 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,450.00–2,900.00 $2,576.24
1085–1605 1428 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 2,350.00–3,050.00 $2,621.41

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
890 890 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,750.00 $1,750.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1080–1340 1210 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 2,150.00–2,850.00 $2,462.40 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
787 787 2 202.50 $202.50 $1,594 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625 625 1 237.50 $237.50 $1,484 —
850 850 1 192.50 $192.50 $1,636 —

↑ Back to top

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.