Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Tuesday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, February 6, 2024

1,267 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 8-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $204.07/cwt +31.90 vs last sale · ≈ $1,673/hd at 820 lb · 123 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $258.53/cwt +4.93 vs last sale · ≈ $1,720/hd at 665 lb · 107 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $225.71/cwt +5.16 vs last sale · ≈ $1,405/hd at 623 lb · 78 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,267 1,098 1,150
Feeder cattle 1,055 1,016 1,050
Slaughter cattle 138 76 95
Replacement cattle 74 6 5

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Tuesday feeder steers sold 3.00 to 5.00 higher with good demand. Feeder heifers sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with some attractive quality 300-500 lb packages sharply higher with very good demand. Slaughter cows sold 3.00 higher and slaughter bulls sold 2.00 higher 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
300 300 2 260.00 $260.00 $780 —
375–380 378 2 270.00–291.00 $280.57 $1,061 +0.22
400–440 value added 428 24 272.50–305.00 $291.47 $1,247 +3.27
455–498 value added 482 26 271.00–302.00 $291.03 $1,403 -2.85
500–542 value added 514 24 267.00–301.00 $284.20 $1,461 +5.50
527–545 537 6 259.00–265.00 $260.50 $1,399 +1.17
557–595 value added 574 11 266.00–277.00 $271.82 $1,560 +1.76
570–593 582 12 250.00–260.00 $254.97 $1,484 +6.66
615–625 620 2 231.00 $231.00 $1,432 -6.00
610–645 value added 632 24 244.00–266.00 $251.99 $1,593 -3.57
655–687 value added 665 96 240.00–265.50 $261.59 $1,740 +7.36
667–668 667 11 231.00–234.00 $231.82 $1,546 -2.18
701–745 value added 732 47 227.00–250.00 $243.35 $1,781 +9.67
742–745 743 3 210.00–219.00 $215.99 $1,605 -0.58
758–791 value added 775 13 222.00–230.00 $224.28 $1,738 +2.59
820–845 832 8 190.00–200.00 $193.81 $1,612 -10.34
878 878 3 206.00 $206.00 $1,809 +1.49
960–976 972 4 181.00–182.00 $181.75 $1,767 —
1010 1010 2 184.00 $184.00 $1,858 —
1110 1110 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,554 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 242.50 $242.50 $812 -16.50
550–590 568 10 226.00–249.00 $239.83 $1,362 —
601–647 621 7 212.00–227.00 $223.50 $1,388 —
660–675 665 3 211.00–224.00 $215.40 $1,432 -9.60
728–730 728 6 168.00–209.00 $202.15 $1,472 —
805–810 808 2 180.00–189.00 $184.51 $1,491 —
890 890 1 176.00 $176.00 $1,566 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
831 831 3 185.00 $185.00 $1,537 —
915 915 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,656 -10.00
950 950 2 183.00 $183.00 $1,738 —
1050 1050 2 146.00 $146.00 $1,533 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–295 278 2 215.00–230.00 $222.03 $617 -18.26
277–288 value added 284 5 257.00–260.00 $258.17 $733 —
315–325 value added 322 3 247.00–255.00 $249.61 $804 +12.99
317–345 326 3 220.00–230.00 $223.52 $729 —
367–378 374 5 241.00–262.50 $249.45 $933 +44.45
400–445 value added 428 13 238.00–265.00 $251.90 $1,078 -2.05
435 435 1 224.00 $224.00 $974 +6.50
450–495 value added 464 47 234.00–274.00 $256.41 $1,190 +9.20
485–495 490 3 220.00–231.00 $224.98 $1,102 +8.98
502–540 522 16 209.00–215.00 $212.22 $1,108 +13.36
510–545 value added 528 25 218.00–242.00 $231.47 $1,222 -5.61
551–593 value added 572 71 221.00–238.00 $232.92 $1,332 +16.63
595 595 3 208.00–210.00 $208.67 $1,242 +0.67
606–647 value added 622 71 213.00–234.00 $229.50 $1,427 +1.34
600–646 628 7 183.00–206.00 $187.28 $1,176 -9.04
654–686 value added 667 42 206.00–219.00 $213.18 $1,422 -8.31
652–692 676 14 180.00–192.50 $186.22 $1,259 -8.78
705–730 716 4 160.00–177.00 $169.75 $1,215 -11.44
700–735 value added 731 24 191.00–204.00 $201.72 $1,475 -10.78
744–747 745 9 193.00–200.00 $198.44 $1,478 —
782 782 5 180.00 $180.00 $1,408 +27.90
805–822 811 7 159.00–179.00 $172.40 $1,398 -0.40
820 value added 820 110 208.00 $208.00 $1,706 —
823 823 6 163.00–175.00 $169.00 $1,391 ±0.00
907–947 927 4 160.00–162.00 $160.98 $1,492 +4.98
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
272 272 2 200.00 $200.00 $544 +10.00
320 320 1 187.50 $187.50 $600 +7.50
370 370 1 190.00 $190.00 $703 —
440 440 1 190.00 $190.00 $836 —
490 490 1 190.00 $190.00 $931 -7.73
500–535 514 5 185.00–200.00 $192.10 $987 +8.10
550–595 572 5 180.00–200.00 $189.23 $1,082 —
600 600 2 181.00 $181.00 $1,086 +9.06
650–680 670 3 152.00–178.00 $163.11 $1,093 -8.61
765 765 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,148 +8.19
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 350 1 245.00 $245.00 $858 —
560 560 1 199.00 $199.00 $1,114 —
645 645 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,032 —
720 720 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,116 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
995–1135 1078 4 129.00–152.50 $142.22 $1,533 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 1 152.50 $152.50 $747 —
495 value added 495 1 169.00 $169.00 $837 —
560–575 568 2 141.00–160.00 $150.63 $856 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307–345 320 3 250.00–260.00 $256.40 $820 —
350–385 364 4 260.00–281.00 $272.98 $994 —
357–395 value added 370 3 294.00–302.50 $297.03 $1,099 -17.97
405–410 value added 407 6 271.00–284.00 $281.48 $1,146 -11.13
420 420 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,071 -11.38
450–495 value added 478 6 275.00–290.00 $284.41 $1,359 +0.41
520 520 1 231.00 $231.00 $1,201 —
505–545 value added 532 3 255.00–260.00 $256.58 $1,365 -1.13
567 567 2 234.00 $234.00 $1,327 —
570–573 value added 572 6 248.00–250.00 $248.66 $1,422 +2.66
600–633 value added 625 6 220.00–235.00 $229.60 $1,435 —
600–645 630 4 191.00–200.00 $197.71 $1,246 -7.26
665–676 675 13 198.00–205.00 $198.68 $1,341 -5.17
700 value added 700 3 205.00 $205.00 $1,435 —
710–745 728 15 170.00–190.00 $181.24 $1,319 +5.96
755–775 770 6 178.00–186.00 $181.99 $1,401 -12.77
820–835 828 2 170.00–185.00 $177.43 $1,469 +19.93
850 850 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,275 +8.00
905–907 906 3 146.00–150.00 $147.33 $1,335 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
362–365 363 3 251.00–267.50 $256.53 $931 —
445 445 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,001 —
521 521 6 220.00 $220.00 $1,146 —
550–560 555 2 220.00–225.00 $222.52 $1,235 +16.51
610 610 1 176.00 $176.00 $1,074 —
685 685 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,164 —
805–845 818 3 130.00–145.00 $135.16 $1,106 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
897 897 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,525 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 220.00 $220.00 $869 —
480 480 1 160.00 $160.00 $768 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1255 1255 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1125–1700 1381 75-80% 14 94.00–103.00 $100.51 $1,388 —
1070–1880 1413 75-80% 34 104.00–113.00 $108.52 $1,533 -0.14
1305–1845 1537 75-80% 12 114.00–120.00 $115.72 $1,779 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970–1460 1166 80-85% 25 104.00–113.00 $108.84 $1,269 —
1075–1425 1271 80-85% 7 91.00–103.00 $97.74 $1,242 -10.86
970–1590 1392 80-85% 6 115.00–123.00 $117.67 $1,638 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820–910 865 85-90% 3 79.00–83.00 $81.07 $701 +10.58
920–1140 1007 85-90% 3 86.00–91.00 $89.10 $897 —
980–1075 1028 85-90% 2 103.00–112.00 $107.71 $1,107 —
1010–1200 1068 85-90% 4 92.00–101.00 $95.25 $1,017 +4.32

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1415 1415 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,556 —
1430–2000 1715 2 118.00–120.00 $118.83 $2,038 —
1230–2375 1771 8 125.00–141.00 $130.52 $2,312 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1250 1250 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00
950–1535 1256 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 1,225.00–1,600.00 $1,424.93
1120–1530 1256 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,225.00–1,625.00 $1,422.05
1295 1295 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00
1325 1325 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1045 1045 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00

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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
1030–1585 1348 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 18 1,600.00–1,750.00 $1,670.83 —
1520 1520 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1005–1300 1133 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 1,325.00–1,425.00 $1,359.49 —
1280 1280 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
610 610 1 140.00 $140.00 $854 —
675 675 1 125.00 $125.00 $844 —

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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.