Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 27, 2026

944 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 heifers $430.25/cwt +36.25 vs last sale · ≈ $2,484/hd at 577 lb · 107 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $411.15/cwt -23.53 vs last sale · ≈ $2,150/hd at 523 lb · 41 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $428.54/cwt -32.26 vs last sale · ≈ $2,041/hd at 476 lb · 38 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 944 1,148 1,375
Feeder cattle 808 1,031 1,153
Slaughter cattle 125 105 210
Replacement cattle 11 12 12

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday the feeder market was lower with an average quality offering. Feeder steers 400 lbs and under were sharply lower, while the 500-650 lbs steers were 3.00 to 6.00 lower with a good supply and moderate demand. Feeder heifers 300-600 lbs were 6.00 to 8.00 lower or greater in spots with a good supply and moderate demand. Yearling steers and heifers appeared firm with a lite test, while the slaughter cows and bulls were mostly steady with a good supply and 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
325–330 327 3 577.50–585.00 $580.03 $1,897 -14.12
355–378 372 4 520.00–530.00 $527.62 $1,963 -79.63
405 fancy 405 1 550.00 $550.00 $2,228 -43.54
402–441 433 12 500.00–530.00 $505.07 $2,187 -43.33
460–492 473 7 470.00–512.50 $497.78 $2,354 -6.94
507 value added 507 7 520.00 $520.00 $2,636 -9.47
500–545 511 16 460.00–485.00 $470.50 $2,404 -3.50
562–590 578 24 445.00–470.00 $459.21 $2,654 +49.21
610–625 620 3 412.00–412.50 $412.16 $2,555 -11.26
615–645 value added 627 10 430.00–432.50 $430.26 $2,698 —
659–695 663 34 385.00–403.00 $394.01 $2,612 -21.89
672 value added 672 2 425.00 $425.00 $2,856 -45.00
720 720 1 367.50 $367.50 $2,646 -23.26
760–765 value added 763 2 379.00–389.00 $383.98 $2,930 —
760–767 765 3 349.00–370.00 $355.96 $2,723 -13.04
835 835 1 350.00 $350.00 $2,922 +1.11
865 865 4 354.00 $354.00 $3,062 +21.00
900–925 917 3 313.00–343.00 $322.82 $2,960 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 500.00 $500.00 $1,225 —
345 345 1 515.00 $515.00 $1,777 —
405–410 406 5 465.00–485.00 $474.50 $1,926 -30.50
470 470 2 455.00 $455.00 $2,138 -40.00
521–542 534 8 410.00–430.00 $417.32 $2,228 —
562–592 578 11 422.50–432.50 $426.12 $2,463 -5.40
600–625 613 2 367.50–372.50 $369.95 $2,268 +7.45
731 731 9 300.00 $300.00 $2,193 —
793 793 3 325.00 $325.00 $2,577 -5.01
870 870 1 317.50 $317.50 $2,762 —
1060 1060 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,862 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 3 402.50 $402.50 $1,731 +2.50
453–490 462 4 362.50–370.00 $364.49 $1,684 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 550.00 $550.00 $1,100 +10.00
248 fancy 248 5 570.00 $570.00 $1,414 —
257–280 fancy 265 3 570.00–620.00 $602.37 $1,596 +25.01
270–285 278 2 530.00–540.00 $534.86 $1,487 +14.93
322 fancy 322 6 565.00 $565.00 $1,819 -12.50
330–335 332 3 505.00–530.00 $513.42 $1,705 -35.86
350–390 370 11 482.50–502.50 $493.31 $1,825 -30.43
355–385 fancy 374 19 507.50–515.00 $509.95 $1,907 -37.55
415–425 fancy 420 2 485.00 $485.00 $2,037 -26.71
400–447 429 25 442.50–477.50 $464.51 $1,993 -9.28
457–465 fancy 461 4 452.50–455.00 $453.74 $2,092 -16.80
451–497 478 34 410.00–437.50 $425.58 $2,034 -23.37
505–527 value added 519 15 420.00–428.00 $423.31 $2,197 -17.06
510–541 525 26 390.00–415.00 $404.14 $2,122 -14.08
555–595 571 10 370.00–387.50 $376.31 $2,149 +16.31
572–590 value added 578 97 410.00–438.50 $435.81 $2,519 +23.06
600–640 622 9 365.00–390.00 $381.38 $2,372 -2.62
660–678 673 9 370.00–385.00 $380.04 $2,558 +1.90
700–740 722 8 328.00–343.00 $333.69 $2,409 -25.31
755–770 763 2 347.50–350.00 $348.74 $2,661 +3.51
865 865 1 340.00 $340.00 $2,941 —
935 935 3 325.00 $325.00 $3,039 —
980 980 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,891 ±0.00
1070 1070 1 290.00 $290.00 $3,103 +5.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 2 495.00 $495.00 $1,287 —
345 345 1 480.00 $480.00 $1,656 -5.31
380–395 390 3 452.50–457.50 $455.03 $1,775 -21.61
420–440 431 7 422.50–435.00 $430.31 $1,855 +2.01
473–495 485 8 392.50–405.00 $401.86 $1,949 -20.86
500–542 517 8 380.00–382.00 $380.25 $1,966 —
555–565 560 2 355.00–360.00 $357.52 $2,002 -19.61
600–640 618 4 330.00–350.00 $341.90 $2,113 -7.42
775 775 1 315.00 $315.00 $2,441 —
835 835 1 300.00 $300.00 $2,505 +20.00
895 895 1 307.50 $307.50 $2,752 +37.50
900 900 1 285.00 $285.00 $2,565 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,340 —
360–372 368 3 380.00–390.00 $383.26 $1,410 +38.26
570 570 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,710 -45.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440 1440 1 192.00 $192.00 $2,765 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 595.00 $595.00 $1,428 -5.00
295 295 1 540.00 $540.00 $1,593 —
300–330 307 7 530.00–580.00 $545.63 $1,675 -55.42
300–330 fancy 315 2 600.00–605.00 $602.62 $1,898 -62.38
358–390 365 7 525.00–565.00 $532.90 $1,945 -53.08
400–435 419 18 500.00–535.00 $509.57 $2,135 -40.65
420 fancy 420 1 570.00 $570.00 $2,394 -21.18
458 fancy 458 5 580.00 $580.00 $2,656 +10.00
460–497 478 13 470.00–515.00 $501.55 $2,397 +3.49
503–527 fancy 511 6 522.50–532.50 $525.94 $2,688 —
500–540 524 23 450.00–477.50 $461.65 $2,419 -29.58
555–586 fancy 580 7 427.50–445.00 $432.52 $2,509 -13.01
570–590 580 2 400.00 $400.00 $2,320 -20.39
610–645 fancy 625 7 422.50–450.00 $432.11 $2,701 +19.23
617–645 631 8 395.00–415.00 $402.01 $2,537 +8.89
660–675 670 8 360.00–390.00 $380.26 $2,548 -18.56
705–745 729 7 357.50–380.00 $367.98 $2,683 +0.27
770–790 778 3 327.50–355.00 $342.38 $2,664 -30.62
960 960 1 280.00 $280.00 $2,688 +30.00
1025–1035 1030 2 252.50–255.00 $253.74 $2,614 +26.24
1135 1135 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,838 —
1255 1255 1 210.00 $210.00 $2,636 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
207 207 2 500.00 $500.00 $1,035 —
330–340 335 2 515.00–520.00 $517.46 $1,733 -22.54
362–395 375 9 480.00–492.50 $486.59 $1,825 —
405–447 431 8 460.00–490.00 $481.94 $2,077 -24.87
460–487 478 3 430.00–432.50 $430.80 $2,059 -27.91
525–545 533 8 417.50–440.00 $431.25 $2,299 -26.22
555–575 565 2 375.00–385.00 $379.91 $2,146 -11.79
620 620 1 375.00 $375.00 $2,325 +4.00
690 690 1 332.50 $332.50 $2,294 —
865 865 2 302.50 $302.50 $2,617 —
1000–1035 1018 2 230.00–235.00 $232.54 $2,367 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,260 —
405 405 1 435.00 $435.00 $1,762 —
500–527 518 3 392.00–400.00 $397.43 $2,059 +2.38
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 1 445.00 $445.00 $1,869 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1505 1217 80-85% 20 162.00–180.00 $172.98 $2,105 —
1230–1255 1243 80-85% 2 153.00–155.00 $154.01 $1,914 —
1060–1540 1272 80-85% 12 182.00–191.00 $185.23 $2,356 -3.10
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815 815 85-90% 1 87.50 $87.50 $713 —
810–1145 963 85-90% 4 135.00–150.00 $143.93 $1,386 —
905–1105 968 85-90% 5 110.00–127.50 $117.78 $1,140 —
865–1330 1101 85-90% 22 156.00–176.00 $165.37 $1,821 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320–1645 1445 75-80% 15 168.00–181.00 $174.47 $2,521 —
1320–1810 1539 75-80% 8 183.00–193.00 $186.53 $2,871 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015 1015 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,878 —
1520–1955 1738 2 198.00–205.00 $201.06 $3,494 —
1900–2205 2103 4 210.00–228.00 $221.32 $4,654 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
755–1080 939 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 7 176.00–212.50 $185.29 $1,740

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1190 1190 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,800.00 $2,800.00
1135–1760 1409 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,875.00–3,250.00 $3,022.94
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1160 1160 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1075–1310 1193 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,800.00–3,450.00 $3,092.98

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Beef Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500–522 515 3 205.00–237.50 $215.52 $1,110 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1352 1352 2 195.00 $195.00 $2,636 —

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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
1245 1245 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,300.00 $3,300.00 —

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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.