Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Tuesday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, August 26, 2025

1,795 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 steers $365.88/cwt +9.81 vs last sale · ≈ $3,019/hd at 825 lb · 261 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 steers $351.14/cwt ≈ $3,100/hd at 883 lb · 251 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $394.60/cwt +52.10 vs last sale · ≈ $2,802/hd at 710 lb · 248 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,795 750 701
Feeder cattle 1,708 716 620
Slaughter cattle 86 30 80
Replacement cattle 1 4 1

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Tuesday the feeder market was stronger with a good quality offering. Good quality feeder steers 650 lbs and under were 10.00 to 12.00 higher or greater in spots with a good supply and strong demand. Yearling steers appeared sharply higher as well, but with limited head to head comparisons. Feeder heifers were mostly 3.00 to 8.00 higher across the weight classes with a good supply and strong demand. Slaughter cows and bulls appeared steady with a good supply and 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
260 260 1 465.00 $465.00 $1,209 —
385–390 388 2 467.50–490.00 $478.82 $1,858 +31.39
387–395 fancy 390 6 499.00–510.00 $504.63 $1,968 +0.88
400–440 420 4 447.50–470.00 $462.21 $1,941 —
400–445 fancy 431 14 487.00–510.00 $498.20 $2,147 —
462–496 487 11 455.00–465.00 $458.34 $2,232 +20.76
496 fancy 496 4 480.00 $480.00 $2,381 +15.00
528–530 value added 529 4 447.50–461.00 $457.62 $2,421 +48.81
540–545 542 3 389.00–407.50 $401.30 $2,175 +29.95
555–597 value added 573 32 402.50–423.00 $414.04 $2,372 +15.28
577–592 587 9 379.00–387.00 $381.92 $2,242 +13.23
615–645 628 5 355.00–369.00 $362.77 $2,278 +15.27
632 value added 632 13 392.50 $392.50 $2,481 +21.71
656–682 value added 658 38 371.00–378.00 $377.46 $2,484 +14.96
665–670 669 4 321.00–340.00 $335.28 $2,243 —
661–684 fancy 673 61 399.75–410.00 $404.70 $2,724 —
703–712 thin fleshed 708 151 399.00–402.00 $400.46 $2,835 —
708–715 value added 713 92 376.00–391.50 $387.49 $2,763 —
700–732 722 5 335.00–357.00 $348.35 $2,515 +5.85
755 755 2 345.00–361.00 $353.00 $2,665 —
769 value added 769 42 388.25 $388.25 $2,986 —
803–846 value added 825 259 350.00–375.00 $366.02 $3,020 +8.52
830 830 2 347.50 $347.50 $2,884 +10.00
850–896 882 23 317.00–339.00 $330.51 $2,915 —
853–899 value added 883 228 350.50–358.50 $353.22 $3,119 —
900–930 921 5 309.00–322.50 $315.25 $2,903 —
929–946 value added 937 113 336.50–337.00 $336.75 $3,155 —
967 value added 967 61 332.50 $332.50 $3,215 —
1015 1015 1 290.00 $290.00 $2,944 +2.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 440.00 $440.00 $1,298 —
300 300 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,200 +7.50
452–485 467 5 380.00–392.00 $389.51 $1,819 +7.01
520 520 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,872 +15.00
710 710 1 319.00 $319.00 $2,265 +29.00
765 765 1 322.50 $322.50 $2,467 +42.50
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–1188 1177 7 275.00–276.00 $275.28 $3,240 +0.28
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
642 642 2 295.00 $295.00 $1,894 —
665 665 1 277.50 $277.50 $1,845 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 250 1 407.50 $407.50 $1,019 —
305–325 fancy 315 2 425.00–435.00 $430.16 $1,355 —
370–395 388 4 402.50–407.50 $403.69 $1,566 +143.69
400–436 fancy 427 14 421.00–439.00 $425.46 $1,817 +4.55
400–447 438 9 392.50–402.50 $397.31 $1,740 +2.31
450–487 474 20 360.00–383.00 $375.25 $1,779 +6.25
455–490 fancy 478 3 387.00–400.00 $395.88 $1,892 +7.62
490 490 1 345.00 $345.00 $1,690 -24.00
505–540 521 11 330.00–352.50 $344.64 $1,796 +8.55
500–548 value added 525 23 359.00–385.00 $365.16 $1,917 +9.62
567 567 2 372.50 $372.50 $2,112 +22.50
567–585 576 4 350.00–351.00 $350.49 $2,019 +0.49
601–621 value added 611 33 365.00–369.00 $367.21 $2,244 —
610–645 624 10 317.50–327.50 $321.08 $2,004 +6.08
654–676 value added 665 148 357.50–376.75 $367.22 $2,442 —
665 665 1 261.00 $261.00 $1,736 -59.00
665–695 678 5 296.00–309.00 $301.14 $2,042 -18.86
675–680 678 2 320.00–330.00 $324.98 $2,203 +4.98
715 715 2 294.00 $294.00 $2,102 —
707–730 value added 721 57 349.00–358.50 $352.76 $2,543 +8.26
755–762 760 3 285.00–290.00 $288.34 $2,191 -29.16
815–845 835 3 265.00–271.00 $269.05 $2,247 -18.95
855 855 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,522 —
955 955 1 262.00 $262.00 $2,502 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,224 —
355 355 1 367.50 $367.50 $1,305 —
430 430 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,591 —
470–485 478 2 340.00–354.00 $347.11 $1,659 +22.11
515–520 518 2 320.00–328.00 $323.98 $1,678 —
560–575 568 2 320.00–327.50 $323.80 $1,839 +20.51
685 685 1 281.00 $281.00 $1,925 —
840 840 1 227.50 $227.50 $1,911 -32.50
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 347.50 $347.50 $1,025 —
390 390 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,306 +32.50
522–540 528 3 295.00–300.00 $298.30 $1,575 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625 625 1 297.50 $297.50 $1,859 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 —— 2 447.50 $447.50 $1,052 —
260–280 270 —— 2 467.50–477.50 $472.69 $1,276 —
335–340 338 —— 2 475.00–480.00 $477.52 $1,614 —
381 fancy 381 —— 6 512.50 $512.50 $1,953 +12.50
433 fancy 433 —— 3 507.50 $507.50 $2,197 +19.15
460–465 fancy 462 —— 5 472.50–485.00 $477.52 $2,206 -7.06
480 480 —— 2 335.00 $335.00 $1,608 -100.00
496 496 —— 3 420.00 $420.00 $2,083 -15.00
515–542 527 —— 5 371.00–393.00 $383.16 $2,019 +20.62
525–535 fancy 530 —— 2 410.00–417.50 $413.79 $2,193 —
555–585 fancy 570 —— 5 373.00–387.50 $378.70 $2,159 -5.54
585–590 588 —— 2 341.00–362.50 $351.70 $2,068 —
602–645 622 —— 11 327.00–350.00 $338.23 $2,104 +16.73
670–695 685 —— 3 322.50–330.00 $324.95 $2,226 —
705–745 725 —— 4 280.00–302.50 $291.56 $2,114 —
730 fancy 730 —— 1 319.00 $319.00 $2,329 —
755–760 758 —— 2 260.00–280.00 $269.97 $2,046 —
890 890 —— 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,403 —
1030 1030 —— 1 240.00 $240.00 $2,472 —
1075 1075 —— 1 225.00 $225.00 $2,419 +4.00
1150 1150 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 186.00 $186.00 $2,139 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,260 —
390 390 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,560 —
555 555 1 331.00 $331.00 $1,837 —
620 620 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,922 —
870 870 1 227.50 $227.50 $1,979 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
387 387 2 345.00 $345.00 $1,335 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920 920 1 240.00 $240.00 $2,208 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
770–900 835 85-90% 2 100.00–103.00 $101.62 $849 -36.38
875 875 85-90% 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,094 —
910–1165 1039 85-90% 12 138.00–152.00 $144.06 $1,497 -10.51
830–1395 1143 85-90% 13 159.00–170.00 $164.60 $1,881 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
950–1340 1206 80-85% 11 161.00–169.00 $165.43 $1,995 -1.83
1210–1560 1323 80-85% 5 173.00–187.00 $178.72 $2,364 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1325–1620 1478 75-80% 4 174.00–189.00 $179.02 $2,646 —
1345–1625 1485 75-80% 10 156.00–169.00 $162.65 $2,415 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220–1335 1278 2 164.00–168.00 $165.91 $2,120 —
1445–1840 1675 3 184.00–199.00 $193.65 $3,244 —
1835–2165 2033 3 206.00 $206.00 $4,188 —
YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1830–2165 1951 5 219.00–224.00 $221.17 $4,315 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
845–1040 973 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 220.00–222.50 $220.66 $2,147

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1080 1080 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
885 885 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,726 —

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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.