Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Tuesday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, September 3, 2024

1,145 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $238.46/cwt +2.46 vs last sale · ≈ $1,652/hd at 693 lb · 97 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $277.94/cwt +5.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,829/hd at 658 lb · 88 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $242.88/cwt +4.60 vs last sale · ≈ $1,399/hd at 576 lb · 64 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,145 701 1,219
Feeder cattle 1,024 620 1,046
Slaughter cattle 116 80 166
Replacement cattle 5 1 7

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Tuesday feeder steers sold steady to 5.00 higher with good demand for weaned calves. Yearling steers sold steady to 3.00 higher with good demand. Feeder heifers sold steady on similar quality with moderate demand. Yearling heifers stronger undertone in a limited comparison. Buyers showing preference for long-weaned preconditioned calf packages and yearlings. Fleshy, soft, short-weaned calves facing discounts. Slaughter cows sold 5.00 lower with moderate demand. Slaughter bulls sold steady 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
434 434 6 276.00 $276.00 $1,198 +1.00
490–492 491 3 260.00–268.00 $262.66 $1,290 -14.84
500–530 521 14 257.50–277.50 $266.16 $1,387 —
500–532 value added 524 23 283.00–305.00 $295.14 $1,547 +19.43
550–573 value added 559 12 277.50–287.00 $283.75 $1,586 —
580–593 593 27 262.50–270.00 $269.73 $1,599 —
611–649 value added 634 38 256.00–270.00 $265.55 $1,684 -0.69
640 640 1 254.00 $254.00 $1,626 —
655–670 value added 658 88 255.00–282.50 $277.94 $1,829 +5.20
706–746 value added 718 31 245.00–261.00 $256.36 $1,841 +3.36
720 720 2 243.00 $243.00 $1,750 +10.50
760 760 3 247.00 $247.00 $1,877 +8.54
845–846 846 39 235.50–239.00 $236.93 $2,004 —
949 949 53 232.00 $232.00 $2,202 +2.71
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,020 —
475 475 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,140 —
500–545 517 3 245.00–252.50 $248.45 $1,284 —
558–586 574 7 230.00–240.00 $235.62 $1,352 —
600 600 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,380 -10.00
671–690 677 6 230.00–235.00 $232.52 $1,574 +0.02
700–727 716 5 227.50–230.00 $228.52 $1,636 -1.48
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
552 552 2 224.00 $224.00 $1,236 —
779 779 7 230.00 $230.00 $1,792 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435–445 440 2 210.00–220.00 $214.94 $946 —
620 620 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,240 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1455 1455 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,935 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–290 261 4 252.50–260.00 $256.38 $669 —
305–337 329 4 242.50–270.00 $249.52 $821 +9.52
422–447 429 11 240.00–245.00 $243.10 $1,043 +13.10
411–447 value added 432 10 247.00–254.00 $249.87 $1,079 -2.63
465 465 4 240.00 $240.00 $1,116 —
450–492 value added 472 17 247.00–252.50 $248.52 $1,173 —
501–540 507 16 235.00–244.00 $238.81 $1,211 -1.68
500–545 value added 521 15 247.00–249.00 $248.22 $1,293 -19.28
550–586 575 12 231.00–239.00 $233.56 $1,343 -4.72
560–584 value added 576 52 242.00–248.00 $245.03 $1,411 —
602 602 4 229.00 $229.00 $1,379 —
610–639 value added 621 27 247.00–250.00 $248.88 $1,546 —
670–675 672 10 222.00–224.00 $222.60 $1,496 -13.40
695 value added 695 87 239.00–240.50 $240.28 $1,670 —
706 706 3 207.00 $207.00 $1,461 +1.85
710 710 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,349 -15.15
709–724 value added 717 21 232.00–240.00 $235.77 $1,690 —
780 780 4 198.00 $198.00 $1,544 —
799 value added 799 17 227.00 $227.00 $1,814 —
804 value added 804 41 220.50 $220.50 $1,773 —
875 875 4 195.00 $195.00 $1,706 -25.95
935 935 3 180.00 $180.00 $1,683 +5.00
1112 1112 4 165.00 $165.00 $1,835 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 232.50 $232.50 $570 —
305–340 318 3 210.00–230.00 $222.88 $709 —
350–387 375 5 222.50–235.00 $225.84 $847 —
420–445 429 11 200.00–239.00 $219.03 $940 —
450–485 459 4 220.00–232.00 $225.59 $1,035 —
500–545 517 5 220.00–224.00 $221.56 $1,145 —
590 590 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,127 —
610–640 626 12 200.00–222.00 $216.08 $1,353 +28.58
650–685 668 7 190.00–225.00 $208.35 $1,392 +16.32
740 740 1 167.50 $167.50 $1,240 -23.50
765–770 768 2 161.00–164.00 $162.50 $1,248 —
830–840 835 2 170.00–177.50 $173.77 $1,451 +9.77
850 850 1 143.00 $143.00 $1,216 —
955 955 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,576 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 1 200.00 $200.00 $610 ±0.00
390 390 1 200.00 $200.00 $780 —
415 415 1 205.00 $205.00 $851 ±0.00
545 545 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,144 —
580 580 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,166 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,069 —
550 550 1 239.00 $239.00 $1,314 —
735 735 1 203.00 $203.00 $1,492 +18.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115 1115 1 143.00 $143.00 $1,594 -30.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225–245 235 2 232.50–257.50 $244.47 $575 —
340 340 1 230.00 $230.00 $782 —
355–381 373 5 230.00 $230.00 $858 -35.00
400–415 402 7 237.50–240.00 $238.22 $958 —
453–487 467 8 220.00–242.00 $228.04 $1,065 —
533–540 535 7 230.00–237.50 $234.64 $1,255 +4.20
552–563 559 9 220.00–247.00 $227.73 $1,273 —
600–617 614 12 190.00–210.00 $205.84 $1,264 —
710–725 715 3 172.50–192.50 $179.26 $1,282 —
780 780 1 193.00 $193.00 $1,505 —
985 985 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,625 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307 307 2 265.00 $265.00 $814 -3.01
350–355 353 5 275.00–277.00 $275.79 $974 -6.71
410–445 428 16 257.50–273.00 $264.76 $1,133 -6.86
450–495 477 6 255.00–273.00 $263.05 $1,255 +0.15
487 value added 487 2 279.00 $279.00 $1,359 —
505 505 1 249.00 $249.00 $1,257 -6.21
500–515 value added 508 2 264.00–275.00 $269.42 $1,369 +9.09
565–570 568 2 248.00–249.00 $248.50 $1,411 —
600 600 1 232.00 $232.00 $1,392 —
830 830 1 194.00 $194.00 $1,610 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–335 323 2 210.00–220.00 $215.19 $695 +20.19
365 365 1 207.50 $207.50 $757 —
417–420 419 4 200.00–225.00 $215.59 $903 —
460 460 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,012 —
500–528 521 4 190.00–200.00 $197.60 $1,029 —
550–570 560 2 200.00–202.50 $201.23 $1,127 —
600 600 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,080 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,104 —
805 805 1 179.00 $179.00 $1,441 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
745–920 805 85-90% 3 93.00–98.00 $95.83 $771 —
735–1250 949 85-90% 8 107.00–118.00 $112.97 $1,072 —
855–1480 1079 85-90% 23 118.00–135.00 $124.76 $1,346 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1840 1428 75-80% 12 129.00–135.00 $131.58 $1,879 —
1275–1645 1467 75-80% 13 135.00–151.00 $140.62 $2,063 +2.90
1285–1935 1588 75-80% 4 118.00–128.00 $122.82 $1,950 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1060–1300 1192 80-85% 7 130.00–136.00 $132.58 $1,580 +5.53
1090–1325 1236 80-85% 5 119.00–129.00 $122.79 $1,518 -12.92
1040–1470 1254 80-85% 14 136.00–147.00 $139.28 $1,747 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1225–1285 1255 2 145.00–149.00 $146.95 $1,844 —
1510–1770 1640 2 156.00–164.00 $159.68 $2,619 -1.61
1455–2065 1692 5 168.00–185.00 $175.12 $2,963 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1030–1240 1153 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 146.00–159.00 $152.72 $1,761
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
985–1210 1098 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 128.00–140.00 $134.62 $1,478

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1060–1100 1087 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,800.00–1,875.00 $1,824.39

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 1 142.50 $142.50 $841 —

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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.