Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Tuesday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, May 27, 2025

1,608 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 $334.13/cwt +16.63 vs last sale · ≈ $2,216/hd at 663 lb · 206 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $292.47/cwt ≈ $2,591/hd at 886 lb · 183 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $303.15/cwt +39.35 vs last sale · ≈ $2,143/hd at 707 lb · 79 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,608 755 770
Feeder cattle 1,393 692 645
Slaughter cattle 205 54 121
Replacement cattle 10 9 4

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Tuesday feeder steers unevenly steady with 400-500 lbs steady to 5.00 lower with more fleshy short-weaned calves on offer; 500-700 lb steers sold steady to 5.00 higher with very good demand. Yearling steers limited comparison. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs sold unevenly steady; over 600 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand for yearling packages. Buyers showing preference for long-weaned thin-fleshed calves suitable for grass. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 4.00 lower with moderate to good demand under heavy supply. Slaughter bulls sold steady 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
275 fancy 275 1 467.50 $467.50 $1,286 —
280 280 1 405.00 $405.00 $1,134 —
332 332 2 420.00 $420.00 $1,394 +2.40
385 385 1 422.50 $422.50 $1,627 +8.60
390 fancy 390 1 435.00 $435.00 $1,696 —
400 fancy 400 20 437.00–446.00 $444.65 $1,779 —
413–440 value added 428 9 417.00–429.00 $419.77 $1,797 -13.44
425–436 433 4 391.00–399.00 $392.96 $1,702 -6.82
450–488 481 21 381.00–400.00 $389.84 $1,875 -7.35
500–537 value added 517 18 387.50–411.00 $399.07 $2,063 +11.36
545–546 545 34 372.00–373.00 $372.19 $2,028 -3.35
552–557 value added 554 31 379.00–400.00 $390.59 $2,164 +10.02
569 569 12 350.00 $350.00 $1,992 -19.00
565–585 574 6 352.00–362.50 $355.73 $2,042 -13.27
600–642 value added 622 50 331.00–382.50 $371.34 $2,310 +10.76
617–625 622 6 320.00–325.00 $323.35 $2,011 -4.15
650–668 value added 659 17 342.50–368.00 $350.69 $2,311 -0.03
651–682 666 6 300.00–320.00 $316.60 $2,109 -4.40
700–745 value added 713 22 320.00–330.00 $324.51 $2,314 —
725–742 730 10 298.00–308.00 $302.48 $2,208 +7.81
750 750 4 280.00 $280.00 $2,100 -10.22
751–757 value added 754 8 310.00–322.00 $315.98 $2,382 —
835 fancy 835 4 289.00 $289.00 $2,413 —
863–888 fancy 886 183 289.80–293.85 $292.47 $2,591 —
946 946 3 263.00 $263.00 $2,488 -15.00
967 967 2 257.50 $257.50 $2,490 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 365.00 $365.00 $949 -30.00
380 380 1 387.50 $387.50 $1,472 —
470 470 1 371.00 $371.00 $1,744 +5.44
500–545 528 4 317.50–361.00 $340.21 $1,796 -25.77
566–585 571 4 335.00–337.50 $335.64 $1,917 +40.42
632–635 633 3 272.00–300.00 $290.64 $1,840 -23.05
655 655 1 292.50 $292.50 $1,916 +13.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515 515 2 367.50 $367.50 $1,893 +7.50

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 375.00 $375.00 $844 —
257 257 2 390.00 $390.00 $1,002 +52.50
295 fancy 295 1 402.50 $402.50 $1,187 —
315 fancy 315 1 415.00 $415.00 $1,307 —
315–345 337 5 385.00–392.50 $390.39 $1,316 —
370–395 384 8 345.00–389.00 $372.26 $1,429 -7.74
395 fancy 395 1 405.00 $405.00 $1,600 —
400–425 415 3 360.00 $360.00 $1,494 +4.56
413–437 value added 433 28 365.00–375.00 $368.10 $1,594 -14.33
450–495 value added 476 10 346.00–365.00 $356.34 $1,696 —
455–496 479 21 340.00–345.00 $340.24 $1,630 -14.76
510–525 519 7 310.00–322.00 $318.73 $1,654 —
505–545 value added 536 36 332.50–370.00 $341.98 $1,833 +0.64
560–598 value added 577 43 323.00–347.00 $335.11 $1,934 -1.55
572–590 577 4 297.50–321.00 $312.18 $1,801 —
592 fancy 592 4 330.00 $330.00 $1,954 —
600–640 619 13 300.00–317.50 $309.72 $1,917 +9.35
600–649 value added 621 24 320.00–355.00 $330.60 $2,053 +11.97
659 fancy 659 162 339.30 $339.30 $2,236 —
650–690 663 5 277.50–306.00 $292.99 $1,943 -24.51
660–686 value added 681 39 309.00–335.00 $317.93 $2,165 —
706–720 value added 706 73 300.00–305.30 $305.23 $2,155 —
700–728 719 6 272.50–290.00 $277.83 $1,998 +14.03
759–788 value added 763 74 277.50–296.75 $294.08 $2,244 —
750–790 764 4 251.00–275.00 $263.24 $2,011 +5.98
815 815 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,915 -2.00
970–990 980 2 215.00–225.00 $219.95 $2,156 +6.98
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 350.00 $350.00 $962 —
325 325 1 332.00 $332.00 $1,079 +1.00
373 373 3 342.50 $342.50 $1,278 -12.50
405–440 422 3 320.00–347.50 $331.23 $1,398 +1.23
450–495 476 8 300.00–339.00 $327.64 $1,560 +2.23
501–545 525 7 300.00–317.50 $310.86 $1,632 +0.86
560–585 570 4 285.00–295.00 $289.35 $1,649 -0.65
600–615 609 9 270.00–302.50 $288.80 $1,759 +43.80
650–690 664 5 253.00–275.00 $261.68 $1,738 —
770–775 773 3 247.00–247.50 $247.33 $1,912 +23.56
845 845 1 227.50 $227.50 $1,922 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1007–1131 1107 12 190.00–225.00 $214.46 $2,374 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 1 255.00 $255.00 $714 —
340 340 1 302.00 $302.00 $1,027 —
620 620 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,488 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 347.50 $347.50 $1,529 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,300 —
332 fancy 332 2 421.00 $421.00 $1,398 —
355–370 362 3 395.00–402.50 $399.11 $1,445 —
370–377 fancy 375 6 415.00–425.00 $421.68 $1,581 —
405–445 fancy 419 9 405.00–430.00 $417.79 $1,751 —
405–445 432 8 385.00–400.00 $393.98 $1,702 -9.93
477 fancy 477 2 409.00 $409.00 $1,951 —
470–490 478 3 383.00–400.00 $390.16 $1,865 +1.56
505–534 fancy 521 9 385.00–387.50 $386.42 $2,013 —
500–540 526 4 365.00–370.00 $366.88 $1,930 -3.14
550–591 574 16 330.00–371.00 $352.70 $2,024 -2.30
600–646 value added 621 13 325.00–347.00 $337.07 $2,093 —
605–646 630 7 320.00–321.00 $320.42 $2,019 +1.05
653–675 663 6 308.00–319.00 $315.16 $2,090 —
717 fancy 717 2 317.50 $317.50 $2,276 —
720–742 729 14 270.00–287.50 $282.59 $2,060 —
765–790 778 2 250.00–282.00 $266.26 $2,072 -8.74
805 805 1 223.00 $223.00 $1,795 —
832 fancy 832 2 247.50 $247.50 $2,059 —
865 865 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,838 +0.15
915 fancy 915 1 235.00 $235.00 $2,150 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–365 359 10 370.00–387.50 $380.71 $1,367 —
415–430 423 2 342.00–353.00 $347.40 $1,470 —
450–485 465 6 322.50–377.50 $361.52 $1,681 +10.52
520–525 523 2 341.00–347.50 $344.23 $1,800 —
550–580 568 7 305.00–345.00 $325.71 $1,850 -1.96
625–640 633 2 303.00–310.00 $306.46 $1,940 —
650–685 665 3 281.00–302.50 $295.49 $1,965 -14.51
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 387.50 $387.50 $949 —
615 615 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,937 +10.00
675–690 683 2 297.00–302.50 $299.78 $2,047 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
560 560 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,344 -60.00

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1450 1167 80-85% 11 140.00–151.00 $147.49 $1,721 —
1025–1795 1208 80-85% 15 151.00–161.00 $156.71 $1,893 -0.51
975–1395 1221 80-85% 35 161.00–179.00 $167.26 $2,042 +10.04
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1820 1413 75-80% 12 152.00–160.00 $156.35 $2,209 —
1200–1940 1435 75-80% 5 138.00–150.00 $145.54 $2,088 —
1115–1810 1468 75-80% 31 160.00–175.00 $166.42 $2,443 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855–1240 1045 85-90% 23 144.00–177.50 $155.36 $1,624 —
955–1135 1053 85-90% 5 124.00–133.00 $129.56 $1,364 —
890–1310 1059 85-90% 19 133.00–144.00 $139.82 $1,481 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
950–1825 1362 13 170.00–200.00 $189.37 $2,579 —
1350–1690 1520 2 160.00–165.00 $162.22 $2,466 —
1395–2105 1720 15 206.00–230.00 $214.40 $3,688 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
730–1230 1017 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 15 141.00–172.50 $159.30 $1,620
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
890 890 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,736
635–1150 998 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 10 172.50–192.50 $178.26 $1,779

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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.