Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Tuesday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, September 12, 2023

1,948 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $237.13/cwt ≈ $1,821/hd at 768 lb · 314 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $232.17/cwt ≈ $2,247/hd at 968 lb · 192 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $237.35/cwt +49.22 vs last sale · ≈ $1,688/hd at 711 lb · 140 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,948 1,219 1,781
Feeder cattle 1,843 1,046 1,720
Slaughter cattle 83 166 60
Replacement cattle 22 7 1

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Tuesday feeder steers and heifers sold steady on similar quality with very good demand for weaned and vaccinated calf packages. Softer undertone noted for fleshy new crop bawling calves. Very good demand for yearling packages. Slaughter cows sold steady with good demand. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00 to 3.00 higher with very 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
320–347 331 6 253.00–269.00 $259.90 $860 —
397 397 5 259.00 $259.00 $1,028 —
464–475 value added 466 6 269.00–274.00 $273.15 $1,273 —
469–495 474 11 262.00–268.00 $265.83 $1,260 +1.67
500–535 value added 505 9 264.00–271.00 $270.07 $1,364 -5.92
505–525 515 9 247.00–257.50 $251.04 $1,293 -14.86
557–590 value added 568 22 255.50–270.00 $259.33 $1,473 -15.54
560–575 573 7 247.00–253.00 $251.72 $1,442 -7.98
607–618 613 10 241.00–242.00 $241.50 $1,480 -0.90
600–633 value added 625 12 255.00–259.00 $256.01 $1,600 +1.36
670–685 value added 672 82 255.00–275.00 $273.33 $1,837 +8.12
657–697 682 16 238.00–241.00 $239.38 $1,633 +6.38
700–739 value added 721 23 243.00–251.00 $245.32 $1,769 -21.81
763 fancy 763 65 265.95 $265.95 $2,029 —
790–795 value added 790 63 255.75–260.00 $255.82 $2,021 +2.42
835 fancy 835 15 255.00 $255.00 $2,129 —
852 fancy 852 2 250.00 $250.00 $2,130 —
860–897 886 119 233.75–244.00 $234.63 $2,079 —
900 900 1 227.00 $227.00 $2,043 +15.00
915 fancy 915 109 240.75 $240.75 $2,203 —
957–976 968 192 229.90–233.90 $232.17 $2,247 —
1003 1003 11 224.00 $224.00 $2,247 -1.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 227.50 $227.50 $512 —
265 265 1 252.00 $252.00 $668 —
300 300 1 233.00 $233.00 $699 —
405 405 4 231.00 $231.00 $936 +26.00
450–470 457 3 200.00–248.00 $216.47 $989 -19.95
525–545 535 2 221.00–222.00 $221.51 $1,185 -24.49
558–587 570 5 215.00–241.00 $230.28 $1,313 +8.28
625 625 1 222.00 $222.00 $1,388 +6.46
665–690 678 4 222.00–226.00 $224.04 $1,519 +14.43
800–805 803 2 170.00–192.00 $180.97 $1,453 +0.64
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
651 651 3 217.00 $217.00 $1,413 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 2 209.00 $209.00 $637 -1.00
370–375 372 3 212.50–231.00 $224.78 $836 -5.22
385 value added 385 1 235.00 $235.00 $905 +10.00
405–415 value added 409 5 235.00–249.00 $240.25 $983 +2.04
405–437 426 3 220.00–232.50 $223.96 $954 -3.38
455–465 value added 459 11 231.00–236.00 $234.53 $1,076 +0.58
465 465 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,046 -5.31
507–541 value added 525 29 230.00–244.00 $238.52 $1,252 +5.79
512–545 534 6 218.00–224.00 $222.08 $1,186 -6.92
575–590 583 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,283 -4.14
600–620 612 6 220.00–224.00 $221.99 $1,359 +10.92
655–665 662 7 226.00–229.00 $228.15 $1,510 +24.15
675–680 value added 680 86 230.00–252.00 $251.75 $1,712 +18.30
706–716 value added 711 139 234.75–240.00 $237.56 $1,689 —
735 735 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,525 +17.50
762–799 value added 768 313 220.00–240.00 $237.20 $1,822 —
770 770 1 214.00 $214.00 $1,648 —
820 820 1 199.00 $199.00 $1,632 +13.67
866 fancy 866 58 228.00 $228.00 $1,974 —
918 fancy 918 50 219.00 $219.00 $2,010 —
930 930 3 181.00 $181.00 $1,683 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 145.00 $145.00 $355 —
290 290 1 171.00 $171.00 $496 -22.00
355–390 378 9 181.00–200.00 $188.59 $713 —
425–441 437 4 200.00–210.00 $202.43 $885 —
457–492 475 4 189.00–215.00 $202.48 $962 -10.37
513–535 518 9 180.00–206.00 $193.68 $1,003 -21.32
555–587 572 14 198.00–220.00 $202.88 $1,160 +5.34
605–630 615 3 190.00–204.00 $195.60 $1,203 +7.60
655–697 686 4 181.00–204.00 $194.83 $1,337 +4.83
700–725 710 5 167.00–190.00 $177.30 $1,259 —
785–795 788 6 160.00–185.00 $179.00 $1,411 —
855 855 1 163.00 $163.00 $1,394 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 495 4 200.00 $200.00 $990 —
500 500 2 212.00 $212.00 $1,060 +27.73
750 750 2 207.00 $207.00 $1,552 —
1005 1005 1 168.00 $168.00 $1,688 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–1418 1299 8 151.00–152.00 $151.32 $1,966 —

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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 1 237.50 $237.50 $689 +30.00
300 300 1 233.00 $233.00 $699 +0.50
370–390 382 8 240.00–255.00 $245.17 $937 -7.59
415–430 421 4 242.50–257.50 $248.45 $1,046 +4.92
450–495 477 8 230.00–250.00 $235.27 $1,122 -3.15
500–527 508 14 230.00–241.00 $235.96 $1,199 -5.27
578–582 580 5 237.00–247.00 $242.98 $1,409 +2.07
610–625 617 3 200.00–223.00 $211.07 $1,302 -11.43
665–675 669 5 218.00–220.00 $218.81 $1,464 +10.84
710–742 721 6 210.00–218.00 $212.75 $1,534 +10.30
782 782 2 217.00 $217.00 $1,697 —
810 810 2 201.00 $201.00 $1,628 —
915 915 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,738 —
1070 1070 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,177 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
316–320 317 4 202.00–240.00 $230.41 $730 +15.49
395 395 1 246.00 $246.00 $972 +18.29
430 430 1 220.00 $220.00 $946 +5.00
454–478 463 12 201.00–241.00 $217.34 $1,006 +5.99
510–531 522 12 212.00–223.00 $218.87 $1,143 -10.13
560–590 569 18 200.00–221.00 $214.04 $1,218 -10.56
630 630 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,140 —
680 680 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,292 -19.00
705–745 732 3 163.00–170.00 $165.59 $1,212 -3.41
830 830 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,411 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 187.50 $187.50 $675 —
512 512 2 180.00 $180.00 $922 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010–1505 1260 80-85% 13 104.00–114.00 $109.23 $1,376 +11.44
1355–1420 1387 80-85% 3 97.00–99.00 $98.01 $1,359 —
1155–1595 1389 80-85% 12 114.00–128.00 $118.30 $1,643 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1640 1431 75-80% 9 103.00–114.00 $108.37 $1,551 —
1255–2025 1623 75-80% 12 115.00–126.00 $118.07 $1,916 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875–1020 953 85-90% 3 65.00–76.00 $69.94 $667 -13.06
970–1275 1101 85-90% 5 98.00–105.00 $102.43 $1,128 —
975–1210 1113 85-90% 4 108.00–111.00 $109.55 $1,219 —
1160 1160 85-90% 1 83.00 $83.00 $963 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1735 1245 8 115.00–128.00 $122.90 $1,530 —
1540–2000 1716 9 132.00–148.00 $142.22 $2,440 +3.62

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
935 935 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 127.50 $127.50 $1,192

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1090–1375 1255 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,525.00 $1,525.00
1265 1265 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00
1195–1645 1345 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 12 1,400.00–2,200.00 $1,803.93
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000 1000 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 975.00 $975.00
1200 1200 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,175.00 $1,175.00

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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
1230 1230 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00 —

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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.