Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Tuesday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, February 25, 2025

812 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $264.04/cwt -0.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,911/hd at 724 lb · 124 head
light 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $255.42/cwt ≈ $2,068/hd at 810 lb · 59 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $274.02/cwt +27.83 vs last sale · ≈ $1,720/hd at 628 lb · 39 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 812 340 767
Feeder cattle 743 273 722
Slaughter cattle 66 43 44
Replacement cattle 3 24 1

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Tuesday feeder steers 500-700 lbs sold sharply higher in a limited comparison with last week's lite test. Feeder heifers 300-600 lbs sold sharply higher in a limited comparison with last week's lite test. Yearlings traded with very good demand in a limited comparison. Slaughter cows sold 5.00 lower with moderate demand. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00 higher with good demand. Active feeder market with good buyer participation for weaned packages. Better weather combined with higher CME feeder cattle futures improved demand for calves today.

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
391–396 value added 392 12 400.00–410.00 $407.48 $1,597 —
400–430 value added 407 5 335.00–380.00 $353.76 $1,440 —
456–490 value added 466 17 327.50–390.00 $368.37 $1,717 —
520–524 value added 523 9 319.00–337.00 $333.02 $1,742 —
554–582 value added 560 10 320.00–356.00 $348.51 $1,952 —
570–590 580 9 297.50–312.50 $303.72 $1,762 +18.73
600–645 value added 616 21 297.00–316.00 $304.47 $1,876 +40.88
600–640 618 5 279.00–283.00 $281.25 $1,738 +35.21
665–668 value added 667 4 294.00–296.00 $295.50 $1,971 —
650–692 686 17 280.00–281.00 $280.11 $1,922 —
700–740 value added 712 24 263.00–285.00 $279.52 $1,990 +23.09
700–745 734 4 257.50 $257.50 $1,890 —
758 758 3 243.00 $243.00 $1,842 —
752–770 759 4 252.00–257.00 $254.61 $1,932 —
770 value added 770 19 258.00 $258.00 $1,987 —
808 value added 808 35 258.25 $258.25 $2,087 —
800–836 812 24 240.00–254.00 $251.30 $2,041 —
945 945 1 235.00 $235.00 $2,221 —
1037 1037 2 222.00 $222.00 $2,302 —
1145 1145 2 210.00 $210.00 $2,404 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290–295 293 2 310.00 $310.00 $908 —
415 415 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,224 —
540 540 2 261.00–272.50 $266.75 $1,440 —
570–590 583 3 282.50–285.00 $284.19 $1,657 —
600–645 631 5 255.00–270.00 $259.89 $1,640 —
692 692 10 262.00 $262.00 $1,813 —
765 765 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,836 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
650 650 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,528 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 300.00 $300.00 $825 +25.00
320–348 value added 341 4 320.00–337.50 $333.39 $1,137 —
345 345 1 298.00 $298.00 $1,028 +14.26
360–370 365 2 301.00–305.00 $302.97 $1,106 +24.83
363–375 value added 366 6 345.00–360.00 $353.30 $1,293 —
405 405 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,134 +16.49
405–448 value added 424 21 295.00–333.00 $316.70 $1,343 —
460–472 value added 466 13 292.50–322.00 $313.21 $1,460 —
450–495 481 6 270.00–285.00 $280.88 $1,351 +20.08
505 505 3 274.00 $274.00 $1,384 +9.80
517–545 value added 530 30 282.50–292.50 $287.83 $1,525 —
562 562 2 278.00 $278.00 $1,562 +23.05
550–599 value added 589 24 282.50–292.50 $286.82 $1,689 —
620 620 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,488 -2.58
600–648 value added 628 38 253.00–289.00 $274.92 $1,726 +25.92
652–660 value added 656 10 255.00–272.00 $262.18 $1,720 —
660 660 1 244.00 $244.00 $1,610 +4.00
702–741 value added 718 71 243.00–263.50 $260.56 $1,871 -4.34
700–740 722 6 233.00–237.00 $234.98 $1,697 —
733 733 47 273.00 $273.00 $2,001 —
750–755 753 4 237.00 $237.00 $1,785 —
760 value added 760 13 252.00 $252.00 $1,915 —
811–815 814 13 237.50–255.00 $249.97 $2,035 —
805–845 827 3 215.00–225.00 $221.75 $1,834 —
880 880 4 231.00–234.00 $233.25 $2,053 +25.25
935 935 2 221.00 $221.00 $2,066 +41.00
955 955 1 212.00 $212.00 $2,025 —
1055–1095 1075 2 205.00–206.00 $205.51 $2,209 —
1165 1165 1 190.00 $190.00 $2,214 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 260.00 $260.00 $676 —
345 345 1 260.00 $260.00 $897 —
370 370 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,036 +20.00
435–440 438 2 259.00–262.00 $260.49 $1,141 +6.56
460–485 473 2 265.00 $265.00 $1,253 +18.03
500–545 520 15 235.00–272.00 $251.71 $1,309 +29.21
566–590 579 10 245.00–271.00 $267.05 $1,546 —
600–620 610 2 239.00–240.00 $239.51 $1,461 +21.96
660–665 663 2 227.00–240.00 $233.52 $1,548 +26.77
785 785 1 233.00 $233.00 $1,829 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 1 289.00 $289.00 $1,228 —
460 460 1 289.00 $289.00 $1,329 —
540 540 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,458 —
748 748 3 239.00 $239.00 $1,788 —
750 750 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,725 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1240 1157 3 164.00–185.00 $173.50 $2,007 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,168 +35.00
355–382 value added 373 3 340.00–373.00 $362.53 $1,352 —
452–481 value added 466 10 323.00–389.00 $348.27 $1,623 —
482–490 485 3 307.00–316.00 $312.97 $1,518 +26.68
505–529 value added 524 9 295.00–322.50 $299.49 $1,569 —
527 527 2 282.00 $282.00 $1,486 -5.12
555–582 567 5 280.00–285.00 $282.95 $1,604 +5.45
565–571 value added 570 5 294.00–305.00 $297.40 $1,695 —
615–635 625 2 261.00–271.00 $265.92 $1,662 +25.92
600–648 value added 634 8 253.00–280.00 $269.64 $1,710 —
660–676 672 5 247.50–251.00 $249.70 $1,678 —
655–693 value added 678 5 259.00–278.00 $270.66 $1,835 —
705–725 719 4 245.00–250.00 $248.13 $1,784 +33.13
752 752 2 247.50 $247.50 $1,861 —
810–825 814 4 200.00–207.50 $201.90 $1,643 +21.90
850–865 855 3 217.00–225.00 $222.30 $1,901 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 1 262.50 $262.50 $669 +12.50
337 337 2 340.00 $340.00 $1,146 +90.00
470–485 475 3 280.00–301.00 $287.15 $1,364 —
570 570 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,539 +12.50
610–640 630 3 232.00–240.00 $234.58 $1,478 —
690 690 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,587 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 2 300.00–305.00 $302.50 $1,467 —
660 660 1 241.00 $241.00 $1,591 —
970 970 1 173.00 $173.00 $1,678 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1275 1167 80-85% 3 126.00–130.00 $127.38 $1,487 -16.07
1060–1540 1258 80-85% 12 133.00–140.00 $137.64 $1,732 —
1135–1755 1382 80-85% 7 142.00–155.00 $145.77 $2,015 -8.70
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1185–1760 1468 75-80% 7 135.00–140.00 $137.84 $2,023 —
1245–1775 1500 75-80% 11 142.00–155.00 $146.32 $2,195 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895 895 85-90% 1 95.00 $95.00 $850 +2.50
915–1190 1053 85-90% 2 104.00–110.00 $106.61 $1,123 -3.39
895–1190 1076 85-90% 4 130.00–134.00 $132.36 $1,424 +22.36
1105–1145 1125 85-90% 2 114.00–121.00 $117.56 $1,323 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1915 1533 6 158.00–169.00 $165.43 $2,536 —
1900–2130 2015 2 172.00–175.00 $173.59 $3,498 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
895–1075 985 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 135.00–144.00 $139.09 $1,370

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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
1375 1375 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,950.00 $1,950.00 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320 1320 85-90% 1 128.00 $128.00 $1,690 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
402 402 4 152.50 $152.50 $613 —
455 455 2 142.50 $142.50 $648 —

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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.