Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 18, 2026

1,184 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $367.49/cwt ≈ $3,026/hd at 823 lb · 130 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $462.47/cwt +30.01 vs last sale · ≈ $2,910/hd at 629 lb · 91 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $394.33/cwt +14.92 vs last sale · ≈ $2,671/hd at 677 lb · 89 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,184 624 862
Feeder cattle 1,047 508 726
Slaughter cattle 105 94 118
Replacement cattle 32 22 18

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday the feeder market was mixed with an average quality offering. Feeder steers 300-600 lbs were steady to 5.00 higher in spots with a good supply, while the 600-700 lbs steers were 6.00 to 8.00 higher with a good demand for weaned packages and groups. Feeder heifers 500 lbs and under were 3.00 to 6.00 lower with a good supply and spotty demand, while the yearling heifers appeared stronger with a good supply and good demand. Slaughter cows were 3.00 to 6.00 higher with strong demand and slaughter bulls were steady with a good supply.

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
237 thin fleshed 237 2 695.00 $695.00 $1,647 —
250–290 270 2 580.00–610.00 $593.89 $1,604 —
335 335 1 560.00 $560.00 $1,876 +5.00
360 360 1 522.50 $522.50 $1,881 -27.50
415 415 2 489.00 $489.00 $2,029 -40.94
461 fancy 461 3 540.00 $540.00 $2,489 —
490 490 1 505.00 $505.00 $2,474 +5.00
500–536 value added 513 73 500.00–516.00 $508.48 $2,609 -9.02
535–545 540 2 460.00–471.00 $465.45 $2,513 -23.02
555–586 value added 572 30 472.50–494.00 $487.22 $2,787 +17.22
577 577 2 420.00 $420.00 $2,423 -29.26
600–640 614 10 420.00–440.00 $428.63 $2,632 +9.30
612–631 value added 631 81 452.50–467.00 $466.65 $2,945 +21.06
655–665 660 2 411.00–417.00 $413.98 $2,732 +15.20
677 value added 677 26 435.00 $435.00 $2,945 —
728 728 3 372.00 $372.00 $2,708 -12.04
815–830 value added 823 128 364.75–371.00 $367.75 $3,027 —
845 845 2 351.00 $351.00 $2,966 —
865 865 1 330.00 $330.00 $2,854 -19.00
923 value added 923 57 358.90 $358.90 $3,313 —
1100 1100 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,750 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 1 460.00 $460.00 $1,955 —
490 490 1 452.50 $452.50 $2,217 —
542 542 2 445.00 $445.00 $2,412 -3.39
637 637 2 405.00 $405.00 $2,580 —
750 750 2 347.00 $347.00 $2,602 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520–535 528 2 380.00–385.00 $382.54 $2,020 -15.84
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1310 1310 1 203.00 $203.00 $2,659 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280–285 283 2 510.00–515.00 $512.48 $1,450 -27.52
310 fancy 310 1 540.00 $540.00 $1,674 -32.76
338 338 4 490.00 $490.00 $1,656 -13.12
345 thin fleshed 345 1 560.00 $560.00 $1,932 —
360–395 376 8 455.00–482.50 $468.36 $1,761 -24.53
367–393 fancy 384 21 497.50–512.50 $505.91 $1,943 -9.09
405–425 415 5 455.00–477.50 $469.01 $1,946 +8.09
431–440 fancy 435 11 481.00–494.00 $489.18 $2,128 -9.51
457–475 fancy 468 9 460.00–487.50 $469.57 $2,198 -3.64
460–495 485 67 415.00–440.00 $431.80 $2,094 -12.51
500–508 value added 503 8 419.00–420.00 $419.38 $2,109 -11.61
502–522 515 7 390.00–410.00 $402.51 $2,073 -3.71
551–581 value added 568 30 407.00–412.00 $409.73 $2,327 +5.37
575–595 584 8 388.00–400.00 $391.61 $2,287 +5.98
612–615 615 21 379.00–397.50 $380.75 $2,342 +0.49
675–677 value added 677 85 395.50–396.00 $395.55 $2,678 —
670–690 685 4 365.00–379.00 $368.42 $2,524 -10.99
705–710 709 9 357.00–372.50 $360.43 $2,555 +5.56
705–725 720 5 327.50–346.00 $335.96 $2,419 -18.91
730 value added 730 66 360.50 $360.50 $2,632 —
750 750 1 333.00 $333.00 $2,498 -18.00
790 790 6 349.00 $349.00 $2,757 +21.21
820–835 828 2 307.50–329.00 $318.15 $2,634 -31.85
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
277 277 2 467.50 $467.50 $1,295 —
320–335 328 2 435.00–445.00 $439.89 $1,443 -36.98
430 430 1 410.00 $410.00 $1,763 -10.00
470–490 479 4 402.50–412.50 $408.69 $1,958 -5.31
565–570 566 6 355.00–370.00 $367.48 $2,080 —
615–627 621 5 339.00–350.00 $345.22 $2,144 -4.78
695 695 1 350.00 $350.00 $2,432 ±0.00
780 780 1 302.00 $302.00 $2,356 —
940 940 1 203.00 $203.00 $1,908 —
1040 1040 1 200.00 $200.00 $2,080 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
190 190 1 415.00 $415.00 $788 —
305 305 1 405.00 $405.00 $1,235 —
446 446 4 385.00 $385.00 $1,717 —
480–485 483 2 380.00–382.50 $381.24 $1,841 —
541 541 3 351.00 $351.00 $1,899 —
575 575 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,955 —
665 665 1 267.50 $267.50 $1,779 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 2 387.50 $387.50 $1,434 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 600.00 $600.00 $1,740 -13.14
310–345 326 6 530.00–560.00 $538.99 $1,757 -66.01
362–385 374 4 510.00–530.00 $520.31 $1,946 -25.49
415 fancy 415 5 550.00–552.50 $552.00 $2,291 —
450 fancy 450 1 525.00 $525.00 $2,362 +0.46
455–495 468 3 479.00–509.00 $498.43 $2,333 +10.13
501–515 fancy 508 12 490.00–517.50 $498.41 $2,532 +10.85
530–545 535 5 439.00–460.00 $451.26 $2,414 -9.74
565–595 584 7 420.00–450.00 $434.25 $2,536 +18.37
618–625 620 6 388.00–405.00 $394.35 $2,445 +5.01
650–655 fancy 651 11 387.00–395.00 $393.54 $2,562 —
669 669 6 351.00 $351.00 $2,348 -19.00
700–727 fancy 718 3 369.00–380.00 $376.43 $2,703 —
705–735 725 4 340.00–355.00 $348.21 $2,525 -6.79
770 770 1 332.00 $332.00 $2,556 +69.00
807–840 813 6 297.50–302.00 $301.22 $2,449 +18.77
825 fancy 825 2 325.00 $325.00 $2,681 —
870 870 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,349 —
905 905 2 266.00 $266.00 $2,407 —
1045 1045 1 240.00 $240.00 $2,508 +16.34
1130 1130 1 219.00 $219.00 $2,475 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390–395 392 3 497.50–500.00 $499.16 $1,957 +49.16
422–440 428 3 462.50–475.00 $466.78 $1,998 +36.78
450–460 455 2 450.00 $450.00 $2,048 —
541 541 3 419.00 $419.00 $2,267 -11.00
560–595 577 8 399.00–417.00 $413.80 $2,388 +20.80
615 615 1 363.00 $363.00 $2,232 —
835 835 1 264.00 $264.00 $2,204 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 425.00 $425.00 $935 —
385 385 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,540 —
455–475 465 2 352.50–370.00 $361.06 $1,679 —
575 575 1 360.00 $360.00 $2,070 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
452 452 2 407.50 $407.50 $1,842 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320–1710 1511 75-80% 13 188.00–210.00 $196.14 $2,964 +16.12
1375–1945 1579 75-80% 17 170.00–186.00 $180.44 $2,849 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035–1585 1267 80-85% 15 170.00–185.00 $178.11 $2,257 —
1210–1470 1295 80-85% 8 190.00–205.00 $195.46 $2,531 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
695–1075 885 85-90% 2 125.00 $125.00 $1,106 +7.50
730–1180 971 85-90% 8 140.00–156.00 $150.58 $1,462 +2.97
935–1185 1090 85-90% 8 159.00–174.00 $162.25 $1,769 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–2275 1522 3 207.00–210.00 $209.03 $3,181 —
1410–2355 1903 9 217.00–239.00 $221.65 $4,218 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
855–1145 994 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 232.00–237.50 $235.52 $2,341
1330 1330 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 212.50 $212.50 $2,826

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1130 1130 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
940–1625 1279 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 2,850.00–3,500.00 $3,219.31
1370 1370 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,950.00 $2,950.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1190 1190 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,975.00 $1,975.00

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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
1125 1125 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 4,700.00 $4,700.00 —
1365 1365 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,450.00 $3,450.00 —
1425 1425 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 3,800.00 $3,800.00 —
1475 1475 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 4,350.00 $4,350.00 —
1735 1735 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 5,400.00 $5,400.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
905 905 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00 —
1040 1040 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,850.00 $2,850.00 —

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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.