Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Tuesday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, December 12, 2023

1,495 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $198.23/cwt +4.59 vs last sale · ≈ $1,265/hd at 638 lb · 155 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $191.47/cwt -1.75 vs last sale · ≈ $1,484/hd at 775 lb · 91 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $192.32/cwt +11.28 vs last sale · ≈ $1,327/hd at 690 lb · 87 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,495 1,430 1,682
Feeder cattle 1,315 1,349 1,598
Slaughter cattle 152 81 82
Replacement cattle 28 — 2

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Tuesday feeder steers under 600 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with some attractive quality weaned packages sharply higher with very good demand; over 600 lbs traded 5.00 to 10.00 lower with light demand. Feeder heifers traded 3.00 to 5.00 lower with light to moderate demand. Slaughter cows sold 5.00 to 8.00 lower with light demand. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 1.00 lower 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
348 value added 348 3 289.00 $289.00 $1,006 —
370–398 value added 389 6 287.50–299.00 $291.15 $1,133 +25.15
400–438 value added 427 26 253.00–289.00 $281.30 $1,201 +22.23
440 440 1 243.00 $243.00 $1,069 -2.51
467–475 470 7 242.50–247.50 $244.22 $1,148 -5.78
456–496 value added 478 23 248.00–271.00 $259.58 $1,241 +4.58
536 536 3 244.00 $244.00 $1,308 —
518–546 value added 538 45 248.00–276.00 $265.76 $1,430 +18.65
570–591 582 10 238.00–243.00 $239.58 $1,394 +5.75
557–596 value added 588 36 244.00–262.00 $251.68 $1,480 +10.68
604 fancy 604 15 246.00 $246.00 $1,486 +2.51
613–645 620 11 190.00–205.00 $202.07 $1,253 -9.28
620–645 value added 634 23 209.00–223.00 $218.58 $1,386 -6.59
650–680 value added 668 34 214.00–239.00 $222.03 $1,483 -0.47
657–680 670 29 195.00–204.00 $199.70 $1,338 -1.68
707–725 714 5 191.00–198.00 $193.00 $1,378 -7.00
710–737 value added 734 8 210.00 $210.00 $1,541 -2.00
757–775 value added 759 8 198.00–200.00 $198.26 $1,505 —
780–795 788 3 178.00–189.00 $183.03 $1,442 -8.72
806 fancy 806 13 200.00 $200.00 $1,612 —
800–845 819 5 182.00–191.00 $186.34 $1,526 —
903–948 929 7 164.00–171.00 $168.08 $1,561 -28.92
990 990 35 176.75 $176.75 $1,750 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 1 232.50 $232.50 $930 —
485–495 490 2 231.00–238.00 $234.46 $1,149 +0.46
513–542 526 6 221.00–230.00 $226.91 $1,194 +4.13
555–595 579 4 225.00–231.00 $228.55 $1,323 +5.97
811–825 812 11 176.00–177.00 $176.91 $1,437 —
880–885 884 5 170.00–176.00 $174.81 $1,545 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
755 755 2 195.00 $195.00 $1,472 —

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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 1 160.00 $160.00 $320 —
305 fancy 305 1 210.00 $210.00 $640 —
310–320 315 2 190.00 $190.00 $598 -10.16
360–365 362 3 195.00–205.00 $198.32 $718 -5.70
370–383 fancy 380 5 210.00–212.50 $210.49 $800 —
410–440 423 6 190.00–191.00 $190.35 $805 -8.77
420–441 value added 427 12 196.00–198.00 $196.69 $840 -9.17
466–471 value added 468 9 195.00–196.00 $195.45 $915 -12.55
475–495 485 2 189.00–192.00 $190.47 $924 -3.98
500–539 519 20 186.00–195.00 $192.47 $999 -2.30
500–543 value added 522 47 195.00–210.00 $204.17 $1,066 +2.17
550–598 571 18 188.00–195.00 $191.63 $1,094 -7.73
552–591 value added 573 21 197.00–206.00 $200.59 $1,149 -12.44
600–646 638 69 170.00–192.00 $187.63 $1,197 -3.22
608–649 value added 638 85 196.00–211.25 $206.95 $1,320 +10.43
640 640 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,210 -1.85
650–691 675 9 164.00–180.00 $173.53 $1,171 -4.37
686–695 690 5 188.00–191.00 $189.21 $1,306 +11.31
670–692 value added 692 73 194.75–202.00 $194.85 $1,348 —
700–730 712 73 165.00–179.00 $165.83 $1,181 -7.07
750–795 761 16 177.50–189.00 $186.63 $1,420 +7.63
778 value added 778 75 192.50 $192.50 $1,498 -10.50
963 963 39 149.00 $149.00 $1,435 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235–240 238 3 155.00–175.00 $161.57 $385 +1.57
260–280 270 2 170.00–182.50 $176.02 $475 +16.02
300–345 317 7 160.00–180.00 $172.41 $547 —
350–385 363 4 140.00–183.00 $171.09 $621 -0.91
437–447 442 8 170.00–185.00 $180.71 $799 —
450–465 458 3 160.00–185.00 $170.13 $779 +1.84
515–540 527 5 160.00–185.00 $171.42 $903 -16.51
600–620 610 2 140.00–157.50 $148.89 $908 -26.37
670–690 676 4 140.00–163.00 $147.35 $996 -28.03
715–740 732 3 144.00–153.00 $150.07 $1,099 +16.81
800 800 1 121.00 $121.00 $968 -19.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 250 1 192.50 $192.50 $481 —
565 565 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,074 +2.00
635 635 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,016 -13.00
720 720 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,087 —
785 785 2 160.00 $160.00 $1,256 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 1 140.00 $140.00 $567 +25.00
480 480 2 145.00 $145.00 $696 +20.00
525 525 1 140.00 $140.00 $735 +3.44
680 680 1 130.00 $130.00 $884 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010 1010 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,353 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340–345 342 3 278.00–281.00 $279.99 $958 —
355–375 368 3 240.00–250.00 $243.21 $895 -7.63
390 value added 390 1 293.00 $293.00 $1,143 —
445–447 value added 446 3 257.00 $257.00 $1,146 —
457 457 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,097 +3.70
455–490 value added 467 5 248.00–257.00 $254.29 $1,188 —
502–535 516 10 229.00–241.00 $235.15 $1,213 -1.85
517 value added 517 2 248.00 $248.00 $1,282 +1.00
557–565 561 6 226.00–231.00 $228.68 $1,283 -2.32
600–640 617 5 175.00–182.00 $179.86 $1,110 -28.06
630–635 value added 631 4 189.00–194.00 $190.26 $1,201 —
655–665 662 3 173.00–197.50 $186.90 $1,237 -13.10
725–740 733 2 163.00–166.00 $164.48 $1,206 -20.68
755–780 764 5 160.00–173.00 $167.78 $1,282 -11.79
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 212.50 $212.50 $616 +5.00
310–333 327 4 210.00–214.00 $210.95 $690 -19.05
380 380 1 200.00 $200.00 $760 -33.00
460–465 463 2 202.50–220.00 $211.30 $978 +1.30
500–545 526 5 195.00–223.00 $216.05 $1,136 -0.04
572–590 577 4 185.00–221.00 $202.40 $1,168 -13.60
645 645 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,096 —
690 690 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,132 —
715 715 1 137.50 $137.50 $983 —
750–760 755 2 130.00–140.00 $134.97 $1,019 +10.97
820 820 1 120.00 $120.00 $984 —
860 860 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,118 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 130.00 $130.00 $442 —
510–532 526 4 140.00–160.00 $149.89 $788 —
575–580 578 2 142.50–160.00 $151.29 $874 +3.79
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,292 +14.00

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350–1735 1475 75-80% 6 74.00–79.00 $77.75 $1,147 -8.70
1170–1945 1494 75-80% 22 83.00–88.00 $85.63 $1,279 -0.82
1230–1935 1591 75-80% 26 88.00–96.00 $91.84 $1,461 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
775–1180 924 85-90% 7 57.00–65.00 $62.27 $575 —
740–1355 1082 85-90% 17 75.00–82.00 $78.53 $850 +7.02
950–1295 1143 85-90% 8 71.00–74.00 $72.38 $827 -9.16
1170 1170 85-90% 1 88.00 $88.00 $1,030 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030–1535 1200 80-85% 13 83.00–88.00 $85.66 $1,028 —
1045–1480 1269 80-85% 11 89.00–104.00 $94.00 $1,193 +4.14
1190–1705 1437 80-85% 6 74.00–82.00 $78.23 $1,124 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–2170 1538 4 99.00–107.00 $103.23 $1,588 —
1310–1850 1544 10 108.00–119.00 $113.62 $1,754 —
1775–2045 1950 4 124.00–134.00 $127.85 $2,493 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1025–1340 1119 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,225.00–1,450.00 $1,325.70
1145–1350 1248 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,325.00–1,400.00 $1,365.58
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000 1000 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 850.00 $850.00
865–1320 1075 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 900.00–1,000.00 $967.75
1195 1195 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00

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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
1420–1750 1540 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 1,375.00–1,775.00 $1,519.32 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1270 1270 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
601 601 65 183.00 $183.00 $1,100 —
688 fancy 688 80 187.00 $187.00 $1,287 —

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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.