Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 20, 2026

1,148 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 steers $476.96/cwt -14.26 vs last sale · ≈ $2,711/hd at 568 lb · 106 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $434.68/cwt +9.37 vs last sale · ≈ $2,290/hd at 527 lb · 74 head
light 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $346.00/cwt ≈ $3,187/hd at 921 lb · 59 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,148 1,269 782
Feeder cattle 1,031 1,055 681
Slaughter cattle 105 179 94
Replacement cattle 12 35 7

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday the feeder market was spotty with an average quality offering. Feeder steers and heifers 600 lbs and under were unevenly steady ranging from 4.00 higher to 4.00 lower in spots with a good supply and good demand for weaned and harder conditioned calves. Yearling steers and heifers appeared firm with a good supply and good demand. Buyers were active today and willing to pay premiums for quality cattle, while discounting the fatter bawling calves severely and increasing the price spread in most weight classes. Slaughter cows were 1.00 to 2.00 lower with a good supply and slaughter bulls were steady with 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 thin fleshed 255 2 760.00 $760.00 $1,938 —
310–325 fancy 318 2 695.00–710.00 $702.68 $2,235 +22.76
315–345 330 2 585.00–602.50 $594.15 $1,961 -31.93
352 fancy 352 2 655.00 $655.00 $2,306 -11.87
370–391 385 7 600.00–610.00 $607.25 $2,338 +15.89
401–430 fancy 412 8 585.00–597.50 $593.54 $2,445 -2.01
422 thin fleshed 422 6 635.00 $635.00 $2,680 —
410–443 429 9 537.00–560.00 $548.40 $2,353 -12.08
450–472 fancy 459 6 537.50–550.00 $544.16 $2,498 +5.30
456–490 474 35 499.00–523.00 $504.72 $2,392 -7.99
511–515 value added 512 18 507.00–535.00 $529.47 $2,711 +3.77
507–547 529 19 462.50–490.00 $474.00 $2,507 -20.59
550–568 value added 566 64 483.00–532.50 $488.80 $2,767 -13.96
550–593 572 41 445.00–473.00 $460.12 $2,632 -1.63
575 575 1 410.00 $410.00 $2,358 -51.75
600–632 612 18 412.50–430.00 $423.42 $2,591 +4.23
671 value added 671 3 470.00 $470.00 $3,154 —
670–695 688 31 410.00–417.00 $415.90 $2,861 +10.28
720–745 739 11 382.50–400.00 $390.76 $2,888 +31.29
772 772 5 369.00 $369.00 $2,849 -11.00
800–842 831 5 345.00–361.00 $348.89 $2,899 -2.05
868–880 872 6 333.00 $333.00 $2,904 -11.15
921 value added 921 59 346.00 $346.00 $3,187 —
1090 1090 1 310.00 $310.00 $3,379 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375–395 385 2 537.50–547.50 $542.63 $2,089 +31.13
430 430 1 505.00 $505.00 $2,172 -3.00
470 470 1 495.00 $495.00 $2,326 +6.87
565–591 585 12 430.00–432.00 $431.52 $2,524 —
620 620 1 362.50 $362.50 $2,248 -19.15
675 675 3 379.00–380.00 $379.67 $2,563 +1.48
795–798 797 5 320.00–332.50 $330.01 $2,630 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,760 +10.00
535 535 1 380.00 $380.00 $2,033 +5.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 535 1 405.00 $405.00 $2,167 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1355 1355 1 237.50 $237.50 $3,218 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205 fancy 205 1 620.00 $620.00 $1,271 —
215 215 1 540.00 $540.00 $1,161 —
255–265 fancy 260 2 570.00–585.00 $577.36 $1,501 -49.30
275–298 291 5 510.00–530.00 $519.93 $1,513 -51.80
315–335 328 12 525.00–560.00 $549.28 $1,802 +5.21
330 fancy 330 3 577.50 $577.50 $1,906 -35.95
355–385 372 19 507.50–535.00 $523.74 $1,948 -2.29
375 375 1 485.00 $485.00 $1,819 -41.03
376 fancy 376 3 547.50 $547.50 $2,059 -31.01
412–415 fancy 413 13 505.00–517.50 $511.71 $2,113 -28.29
400–445 429 28 457.50–492.50 $473.79 $2,033 -14.12
458–497 fancy 477 28 467.50–477.50 $470.54 $2,244 -4.12
460–495 486 23 437.50–460.00 $448.95 $2,182 +4.52
500–545 526 19 410.00–423.00 $418.22 $2,200 -3.87
500–540 value added 527 55 430.00–441.00 $440.37 $2,321 +4.21
565–567 value added 566 4 412.50–413.00 $412.75 $2,336 -1.13
572 572 2 360.00 $360.00 $2,059 -35.61
555–596 580 22 385.00–407.50 $393.68 $2,283 +22.68
600–644 626 16 370.00–393.00 $384.00 $2,404 +3.02
627 value added 627 2 421.00 $421.00 $2,640 —
660 660 1 390.00 $390.00 $2,574 +15.99
650–682 664 12 362.50–385.00 $378.14 $2,511 +4.13
720 720 6 359.00 $359.00 $2,585 +10.90
752–775 761 5 330.00–352.00 $345.23 $2,627 +4.23
820–840 830 2 322.50–333.00 $327.69 $2,720 +1.69
950 950 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,802 —
1065 1065 1 285.00 $285.00 $3,035 +17.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 452.50 $452.50 $1,063 —
300–330 320 3 475.00–490.00 $485.31 $1,553 -24.69
375–395 385 6 455.00–495.00 $476.64 $1,835 -13.84
400–430 418 4 421.00–435.00 $428.30 $1,790 -17.14
490–495 494 5 412.50–428.00 $422.72 $2,088 +4.31
565–591 585 4 365.00–381.00 $377.13 $2,206 —
600–642 626 6 340.00–357.50 $349.32 $2,187 -9.17
695 695 3 331.00–347.50 $342.00 $2,377 -3.05
720 720 2 292.50 $292.50 $2,106 -14.50
822 822 6 280.00 $280.00 $2,302 —
866 866 4 270.00 $270.00 $2,338 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 345.00 $345.00 $1,276 —
440 440 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,628 —
455–465 460 2 380.00–395.00 $387.42 $1,782 —
550 550 1 345.00 $345.00 $1,898 —
835 835 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,879 +30.00

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 2 600.00 $600.00 $1,440 -55.00
267 fancy 267 4 650.00 $650.00 $1,736 -30.00
306–315 thin fleshed 309 5 685.00–695.00 $690.95 $2,135 +7.44
325 fancy 325 1 665.00 $665.00 $2,161 —
310–345 330 5 600.00–605.00 $601.05 $1,983 -3.99
360 thin fleshed 360 1 655.00 $655.00 $2,358 -45.00
350–380 fancy 363 8 610.00–630.00 $618.23 $2,244 -0.66
355–390 372 8 570.00–600.00 $585.98 $2,180 +39.38
400–415 fancy 408 2 587.50–595.00 $591.18 $2,412 +10.00
410 thin fleshed 410 1 620.00 $620.00 $2,542 —
416–445 428 18 530.00–565.00 $550.22 $2,355 +12.39
450 fancy 450 1 570.00 $570.00 $2,565 +30.90
450–495 475 19 485.00–525.00 $498.06 $2,366 -8.64
503–520 507 11 477.50–501.00 $491.23 $2,491 +11.21
560–575 fancy 568 3 442.50–449.00 $445.53 $2,531 -26.37
575–591 587 5 410.00–437.50 $420.39 $2,468 +9.41
610–645 624 8 385.00–405.00 $393.12 $2,453 +8.04
625–645 fancy 633 4 410.00–415.00 $412.88 $2,614 -2.12
670–683 677 9 390.00–407.00 $398.82 $2,700 +22.53
720 fancy 720 1 400.00 $400.00 $2,880 +17.00
702–745 721 4 360.00–380.00 $367.71 $2,651 +9.20
755 755 1 373.00 $373.00 $2,816 —
805 805 1 345.00 $345.00 $2,777 —
987 987 2 250.00 $250.00 $2,468 —
1005 1005 1 227.50 $227.50 $2,286 -40.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 540.00 $540.00 $1,809 -10.00
415–440 427 11 490.00–512.50 $506.81 $2,164 +3.46
490–497 494 4 452.50–465.00 $458.71 $2,266 -1.29
502–536 518 10 455.00–465.00 $457.47 $2,370 +20.47
570–590 583 3 389.00–393.00 $391.70 $2,284 +9.20
625 625 1 371.00 $371.00 $2,319 —
740 740 1 300.00 $300.00 $2,220 —
945 945 1 220.00 $220.00 $2,079 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
445 445 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,290 -155.00
525–535 530 2 390.00–400.00 $395.05 $2,094 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1150 1094 80-85% 4 156.00–160.00 $158.69 $1,736 —
995–1380 1156 80-85% 16 164.00–183.00 $175.15 $2,025 —
1100–1465 1254 80-85% 4 187.00–190.00 $188.33 $2,362 -1.73
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1310–1680 1486 75-80% 8 184.00–195.00 $187.22 $2,782 -1.80
1355–1720 1556 75-80% 9 171.00–180.00 $175.75 $2,735 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
750–1060 899 85-90% 6 137.50–152.00 $146.83 $1,320 —
815–985 900 85-90% 2 132.50–133.00 $132.77 $1,195 +0.66
915–1085 1014 85-90% 8 156.00–176.00 $162.98 $1,653 +12.74

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1370–1495 1433 2 189.00–203.00 $196.31 $2,813 —
1610 1610 1 174.00 $174.00 $2,801 —
1075–2205 1689 9 209.00–229.00 $218.79 $3,695 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
900–1305 1103 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 195.00–221.00 $205.61 $2,268
991–1350 1114 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 7 178.00–200.00 $187.92 $2,093

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1175 1175 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00
1255–1310 1283 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,750.00–2,900.00 $2,826.61
1300–1445 1387 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 2,150.00–2,700.00 $2,392.07
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1085 1085 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1695 1695 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 3,600.00 $3,600.00 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 2 295.00–300.00 $297.50 $967 —
645 645 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,338 —

↑ 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.