Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 23, 2026

1,380 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $373.18/cwt +9.35 vs last sale · ≈ $2,912/hd at 780 lb · 152 head
light 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $336.47/cwt -0.56 vs last sale · ≈ $3,051/hd at 907 lb · 124 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $404.02/cwt -8.97 vs last sale · ≈ $2,314/hd at 573 lb · 119 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,380 962 926
Feeder cattle 1,285 835 753
Slaughter cattle 88 120 153
Replacement cattle 7 7 20

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday the feeder market was mixed with an average quality offering. Feeder steers 300 lbs and under appeared sharply higher with a light test, while the 350-600 lbs steers were unevenly steady with a good supply and good demand. Yearling steers were 3.00 to 5.00 lower with a good supply and moderate demand. Feeder heifers 600 lbs and under were 5.00 to 10.00 higher or greater in spots with a good supply and strong demand. Slaughter cows were steady to 3.00 higher with a good supply and increasing interest in cows returning to the farm. Slaughter bulls were steady to 3.00 higher with a good supply and strong demand for higher dressing bulls.

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
212–230 fancy 218 3 655.00–680.00 $671.21 $1,463 +123.71
273 fancy 273 3 655.00 $655.00 $1,788 —
320 fancy 320 3 617.50 $617.50 $1,976 +56.43
393 fancy 393 4 562.50 $562.50 $2,211 -3.54
395 395 1 500.00 $500.00 $1,975 -27.38
406–447 fancy 424 16 512.50–532.50 $526.22 $2,231 -16.04
425–435 430 3 480.00–496.00 $489.49 $2,105 -10.86
450–495 fancy 473 11 512.50–532.50 $520.05 $2,460 -1.67
465–490 483 4 470.00–507.50 $494.27 $2,387 +0.84
500–533 thin fleshed 520 23 512.50–522.50 $517.57 $2,691 +3.60
528–548 value added 539 13 495.00–507.00 $498.62 $2,688 +7.49
510–543 540 20 470.00–473.00 $472.72 $2,553 +32.72
550–570 562 6 412.50–430.00 $421.33 $2,368 +2.84
552–582 value added 578 20 442.50–469.00 $464.91 $2,687 -1.73
595 595 1 370.00 $370.00 $2,202 -48.49
600–617 609 5 381.00–400.00 $393.73 $2,398 +8.73
615–635 value added 631 19 437.50–454.00 $446.76 $2,819 -3.08
658–685 value added 669 36 405.00–415.00 $413.58 $2,767 -6.93
667–685 673 9 379.00–395.00 $389.81 $2,623 -5.25
715–725 720 2 324.00–337.50 $330.80 $2,382 -14.20
732–738 value added 738 54 368.00–381.50 $380.85 $2,811 -2.30
750–798 value added 780 146 362.50–375.50 $374.19 $2,919 -6.23
770–793 785 6 347.00–350.00 $348.50 $2,736 -5.65
800–835 818 9 322.50–342.00 $336.65 $2,754 -9.38
862–875 865 31 335.00–347.50 $341.71 $2,956 -6.46
905 value added 905 118 337.10 $337.10 $3,051 —
942 942 6 324.00 $324.00 $3,052 -13.03
1011–1047 1014 26 300.00–303.00 $302.76 $3,070 —
1067 1067 2 298.00 $298.00 $3,180 —
1285 1285 1 219.00 $219.00 $2,814 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
445 445 1 437.50 $437.50 $1,947 —
455–485 470 2 435.00 $435.00 $2,044 -16.00
575 575 1 390.00 $390.00 $2,242 +7.50
690 690 1 365.00 $365.00 $2,518 —
738 738 3 313.00 $313.00 $2,310 —
822 822 2 307.00 $307.00 $2,524 —
855 855 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,650 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1550 1550 1 255.00 $255.00 $3,952 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275–285 fancy 280 2 510.00–515.00 $512.54 $1,435 -17.66
295 295 1 485.00 $485.00 $1,431 +7.50
305–340 328 4 495.00–507.50 $504.59 $1,655 +43.42
331–335 fancy 332 7 525.00–527.50 $525.72 $1,745 +33.18
355–392 fancy 378 7 515.00–537.50 $527.17 $1,993 +24.01
355–395 380 3 462.50–505.00 $490.46 $1,864 +20.31
405–417 fancy 411 11 507.50–525.00 $517.45 $2,127 +45.52
412–437 428 8 477.50–497.50 $487.87 $2,088 +33.92
455–490 469 19 440.00–460.00 $449.94 $2,110 +2.34
455–485 fancy 474 4 477.50–487.50 $480.54 $2,278 +5.17
505–508 fancy 507 7 441.00–457.50 $445.07 $2,257 +3.68
500–547 521 10 387.50–410.00 $400.90 $2,089 -4.20
531–543 value added 539 17 415.00–438.00 $430.76 $2,322 +7.34
550–575 564 5 382.50–397.50 $388.59 $2,192 -3.36
550–596 value added 573 114 400.00–420.00 $404.70 $2,319 -14.31
603–631 610 18 387.50–406.00 $401.27 $2,448 +12.68
610 value added 610 15 435.00 $435.00 $2,654 +11.00
600–646 625 22 354.00–382.50 $371.14 $2,320 +6.79
652–677 value added 659 16 371.00–375.00 $373.80 $2,463 -1.11
655–680 667 17 340.00–355.00 $352.27 $2,350 +8.00
705–720 710 3 330.00–332.00 $331.32 $2,352 -5.04
732 732 5 351.00 $351.00 $2,569 -8.00
753–791 763 29 332.00–341.00 $337.22 $2,573 +10.44
780 780 1 307.50 $307.50 $2,398 -19.28
812–831 828 11 321.00–327.50 $326.34 $2,702 -4.40
873 873 18 309.50 $309.50 $2,702 -20.50
880 880 1 291.00 $291.00 $2,561 -39.00
915 915 1 293.00 $293.00 $2,681 —
950 950 4 266.00–275.00 $268.25 $2,548 —
1005 1005 1 281.00 $281.00 $2,824 +31.00
1220 1220 3 226.00 $226.00 $2,757 -1.95
1435 1435 1 188.00 $188.00 $2,698 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
165 165 1 480.00 $480.00 $792 —
425–445 435 2 430.00–437.50 $433.84 $1,887 —
485–496 493 6 420.00–432.50 $425.80 $2,099 +15.80
510–540 518 14 362.50–377.50 $371.26 $1,923 +11.26
565–585 571 5 355.00–370.00 $364.93 $2,084 +13.93
735 735 2 302.50 $302.50 $2,223 -2.50
805–810 806 5 279.00–290.00 $287.79 $2,320 —
880 880 1 230.00 $230.00 $2,024 -60.00
905 905 2 237.50 $237.50 $2,149 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 412.50 $412.50 $1,547 +42.50
413 413 3 372.00 $372.00 $1,536 —
485 485 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,794 —
585 585 2 312.50 $312.50 $1,828 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
605 605 1 350.00 $350.00 $2,118 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1490 1490 1 236.00 $236.00 $3,516 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
207 207 2 540.00 $540.00 $1,118 —
307–325 fancy 313 3 585.00–600.00 $594.81 $1,862 +35.81
320–340 330 2 535.00–555.00 $544.70 $1,798 +49.70
360 360 1 535.00 $535.00 $1,926 +35.00
358–377 fancy 367 11 562.50–577.50 $568.33 $2,086 -9.17
415–432 fancy 423 6 530.00–552.50 $541.17 $2,289 +19.89
425–440 433 2 477.50–500.00 $488.55 $2,115 -3.06
453–465 456 4 485.00–490.00 $486.27 $2,217 -2.41
480 fancy 480 3 517.50 $517.50 $2,484 -4.17
515–535 fancy 528 5 467.50–492.50 $476.43 $2,516 +0.42
550–590 fancy 568 8 432.50–462.50 $449.82 $2,555 -21.33
555–585 573 4 400.00–425.00 $413.04 $2,367 +2.54
605 605 2 385.00–397.50 $391.25 $2,367 -10.68
650–687 fancy 668 6 382.50–402.50 $388.76 $2,597 -0.24
670–690 680 5 365.00–375.00 $368.01 $2,502 +46.01
717–740 728 6 340.00–352.50 $347.96 $2,533 —
765–770 767 3 322.50–337.50 $332.48 $2,550 +23.18
815–845 830 2 335.00–337.50 $336.23 $2,791 +40.03
895 895 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,991 -62.50
1012 1012 2 217.50 $217.50 $2,201 -47.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 455.00 $455.00 $1,797 -9.97
515 515 2 400.00 $400.00 $2,060 —
640 640 1 362.50 $362.50 $2,320 +12.50
690 690 1 342.50 $342.50 $2,363 —
755 755 1 302.00 $302.00 $2,280 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
578 578 3 307.50 $307.50 $1,777 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
675 675 1 340.00 $340.00 $2,295 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810–1220 985 85-90% 6 158.00–173.00 $167.60 $1,651 —
915–1055 985 85-90% 2 120.00–130.00 $125.36 $1,235 —
905–1490 1135 85-90% 12 140.00–155.00 $147.58 $1,675 +3.65
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1220 1160 80-85% 4 179.00–191.00 $184.99 $2,146 —
1035–1495 1262 80-85% 13 160.00–175.00 $168.45 $2,126 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1410 1410 75-80% 1 182.00 $182.00 $2,566 —
1320–2030 1576 75-80% 8 160.00–174.00 $169.39 $2,670 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1280–1450 1365 2 181.00–182.00 $181.47 $2,477 —
1560–1945 1708 5 186.00–202.00 $197.48 $3,373 —
1685–2070 1892 7 205.00–215.00 $208.22 $3,940 -4.39
YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1690–2055 1922 3 223.00–228.00 $225.63 $4,337 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
800–1025 885 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 210.00–250.00 $225.61 $1,997
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775–1220 1042 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 180.00–196.00 $188.82 $1,968

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Bred Cows

Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
825–900 863 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,225.00–1,350.00 $1,290.22
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1390 1390 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,975.00 $2,975.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1050 1050 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930 930 1 217.50 $217.50 $2,023 —

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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.