Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Tuesday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, September 2, 2025

1,981 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1-2 steers $344.39/cwt +8.55 vs last sale · ≈ $3,145/hd at 913 lb · 289 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $385.80/cwt +29.31 vs last sale · ≈ $2,414/hd at 626 lb · 206 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $345.54/cwt +57.20 vs last sale · ≈ $2,646/hd at 766 lb · 143 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,981 1,795 1,145
Feeder cattle 1,859 1,708 1,024
Slaughter cattle 117 86 116
Replacement cattle 5 1 5

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Tuesday the feeder market was uneven with an average quality offering. Light weight steers 400 lbs and under appeared sharply higher and with strong demand, but with limited head to head comparisons. The 450-750 lbs steers were steady to 4.00 higher with good demand and yearling steers were uneven with a good supply. Feeder heifers 500 lbs and under were 1.00 to 3.00 lower, while the 500-700 lbs heifers were 2.00 to 6.00 higher or greater in spots with a good supply and good demand. Buyers were active today and willing to pay premiums for higher quality cattle and weaned packages or groups, while discounting plainer and non weaned cattle severely. Slaughter cows were steady to 2.00 higher with a good supply and slaughter bulls were 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
195 195 1 480.00 $480.00 $936 —
250 fancy 250 1 555.00 $555.00 $1,388 —
285 285 1 490.00 $490.00 $1,396 +25.00
340 340 1 470.00 $470.00 $1,598 —
395 fancy 395 4 520.00 $520.00 $2,054 +15.37
397 397 2 492.50 $492.50 $1,955 +13.68
405–430 fancy 418 2 500.00–519.00 $509.22 $2,129 +11.02
443–445 444 7 450.00–477.50 $465.74 $2,068 +3.53
457–475 463 3 455.00–460.00 $456.71 $2,115 -1.63
466 fancy 466 3 485.00 $485.00 $2,260 +5.00
505–542 value added 515 12 415.00–430.00 $420.77 $2,167 -36.85
500–540 520 4 382.50–405.00 $396.66 $2,063 -4.64
550–598 value added 569 21 402.50–421.00 $412.48 $2,347 -1.56
557–580 569 10 370.00–392.50 $380.04 $2,162 -1.88
605–610 607 3 388.00–391.00 $389.99 $2,367 +27.22
608–639 value added 631 29 405.00–421.00 $416.57 $2,629 +24.07
655 fancy 655 6 423.00 $423.00 $2,771 +18.30
666–675 668 6 340.00–345.00 $340.84 $2,277 +5.56
705–732 value added 717 97 385.25–409.00 $389.75 $2,795 +2.26
745 745 6 319.00 $319.00 $2,377 -29.35
761 value added 761 59 392.25 $392.25 $2,985 +4.00
785 785 1 347.00 $347.00 $2,724 -6.00
808 value added 808 59 365.50 $365.50 $2,953 -0.52
846 846 4 322.00 $322.00 $2,724 -25.50
876 value added 876 60 337.00 $337.00 $2,952 -16.22
887 887 20 315.00 $315.00 $2,794 -15.51
903–934 value added 913 287 341.00–349.85 $344.73 $3,147 +7.98
905–945 925 2 290.00–300.00 $294.89 $2,728 -20.36
959 value added 959 61 336.00 $336.00 $3,222 +3.50
965–980 973 2 299.00–302.00 $300.51 $2,924 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320–325 322 3 420.00–425.00 $421.68 $1,358 +21.68
481–490 485 9 415.00–427.50 $420.84 $2,041 +31.33
500 500 2 380.00 $380.00 $1,900 +20.00
750 750 1 290.00 $290.00 $2,175 -32.50
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
635 635 1 292.50 $292.50 $1,857 -2.50
690 690 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,898 -2.50
875 875 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,903 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165–1410 1288 2 159.00–167.50 $162.85 $2,098 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
760 760 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,843 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
190 190 1 465.00 $465.00 $884 —
285 285 1 435.00 $435.00 $1,240 +27.50
305–340 327 5 380.00–400.00 $385.19 $1,260 —
355–395 371 6 380.00–400.00 $389.65 $1,446 -14.04
355–385 fancy 373 4 412.50–435.00 $427.80 $1,596 —
392 392 2 331.00 $331.00 $1,298 -72.69
400–425 fancy 413 2 407.50–422.50 $415.23 $1,715 -10.23
405–445 425 12 389.00–400.00 $393.58 $1,673 -3.73
450–485 465 12 370.00–385.00 $373.83 $1,738 -1.42
450–498 fancy 470 9 390.00–397.50 $392.20 $1,843 -3.68
505–545 522 9 360.00–377.50 $363.42 $1,897 +18.78
515–547 value added 540 21 380.00–405.00 $389.68 $2,104 +24.52
564–579 value added 571 14 385.00–390.00 $386.43 $2,207 —
558–599 583 13 357.50–372.50 $366.53 $2,137 +16.04
624–626 value added 625 163 390.25–394.25 $392.34 $2,452 +25.13
605–637 629 13 325.00–350.00 $330.52 $2,079 +9.44
629–630 629 30 371.00–375.00 $374.20 $2,354 +53.12
660 660 9 349.00 $349.00 $2,303 +88.00
660–690 675 2 305.00–312.50 $308.83 $2,085 +7.69
670–698 value added 696 109 354.75–365.00 $358.31 $2,494 -8.91
700–740 710 9 283.00–309.00 $292.82 $2,079 -1.18
750–775 757 4 282.00–299.00 $294.65 $2,231 +6.31
766 value added 766 139 347.00 $347.00 $2,658 —
802–805 803 5 260.00–283.00 $278.39 $2,235 +9.34
804 value added 804 45 336.00 $336.00 $2,701 —
916–937 value added 925 99 310.25–314.50 $312.59 $2,891 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 390.00 $390.00 $1,053 —
350–385 367 6 345.00–375.00 $353.67 $1,298 -13.83
420–445 431 6 347.50–365.00 $353.89 $1,525 -16.11
460–483 477 4 332.00–352.50 $336.94 $1,607 -10.17
531 531 5 322.50 $322.50 $1,712 -1.48
570 570 1 322.50 $322.50 $1,838 -1.30
730–745 734 6 255.00–270.00 $264.15 $1,939 —
765–772 770 3 225.00–240.00 $229.97 $1,771 —
855 855 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,710 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,173 —
375 375 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,088 -45.00
487 487 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,558 —
510 510 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,020 -98.30
550 550 1 237.50 $237.50 $1,306 —
655 655 1 262.50 $262.50 $1,719 —
785 785 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,256 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625 625 1 325.00 $325.00 $2,031 +27.50
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1190 1190 1 197.50 $197.50 $2,350 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
185 fancy 185 1 570.00 $570.00 $1,054 —
272–285 279 4 495.00–510.00 $502.32 $1,401 +29.63
305 305 1 492.50 $492.50 $1,502 +14.98
355 355 1 442.50 $442.50 $1,571 —
353–365 fancy 358 9 537.50–570.00 $551.73 $1,975 +39.23
400 fancy 400 4 500.00–517.50 $504.38 $2,018 -3.12
415–433 428 7 455.00–460.00 $457.86 $1,960 —
454–471 fancy 459 16 480.00–490.00 $485.26 $2,227 +7.74
450–463 460 4 452.50–465.00 $461.94 $2,125 +126.94
512–530 fancy 517 14 413.00–455.00 $425.30 $2,199 +11.51
510–545 523 15 370.00–395.00 $376.73 $1,970 -6.43
577–590 583 5 350.00–367.50 $360.06 $2,099 +8.36
592 fancy 592 5 389.00 $389.00 $2,303 +10.30
625–635 630 5 322.50–345.00 $334.44 $2,107 -3.79
670 670 1 330.00 $330.00 $2,211 +5.05
710–740 727 6 299.00–320.00 $310.47 $2,257 +18.91
755–760 757 5 302.50–310.00 $304.99 $2,309 +35.02
805–830 813 3 275.00–290.00 $280.10 $2,277 —
860–865 863 2 287.00–290.00 $288.50 $2,490 +18.50
910 910 1 245.00 $245.00 $2,230 —
1050 1050 2 245.00 $245.00 $2,572 +20.00
1120 1120 1 213.00 $213.00 $2,386 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
252 252 2 382.50 $382.50 $964 —
365 365 1 402.50 $402.50 $1,469 +2.50
405–430 422 3 380.00–402.50 $387.20 $1,634 —
490–495 493 3 415.00–422.00 $419.68 $2,069 —
525–535 530 4 352.00–365.00 $356.73 $1,891 —
560–590 569 4 335.00–340.00 $338.12 $1,924 +7.12
615–640 627 4 297.00–315.00 $305.37 $1,915 -4.63
650 650 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,918 —
715 715 1 285.00 $285.00 $2,038 —
857 857 2 260.00 $260.00 $2,228 +32.50
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 355.00 $355.00 $1,331 +10.00
440 440 2 302.50 $302.50 $1,331 —
475–492 486 3 295.00–310.00 $299.88 $1,457 —
552 552 2 325.00 $325.00 $1,794 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
517 517 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,137 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555 555 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,665 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 395.00 $395.00 $1,304 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
660–950 805 85-90% 2 82.00–86.00 $84.36 $679 -17.26
810–1050 930 85-90% 2 107.00–121.00 $114.90 $1,069 —
845–1360 1093 85-90% 24 136.00–152.00 $145.46 $1,590 —
750–1350 1161 85-90% 9 154.00–165.00 $157.67 $1,831 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920–1375 1241 80-85% 4 150.00–154.00 $151.66 $1,882 -13.77
1060–1465 1279 80-85% 21 161.00–173.00 $167.80 $2,146 —
1200–1430 1279 80-85% 4 175.00–178.00 $176.45 $2,257 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1415–1740 1578 75-80% 12 159.00–173.00 $165.98 $2,619 —
1530–1725 1613 75-80% 4 175.00–185.00 $179.14 $2,890 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
995–1810 1472 5 170.00–184.00 $178.93 $2,634 —
1445–1915 1606 5 202.00–212.00 $207.39 $3,331 —
1385–1845 1659 6 189.00–199.00 $194.04 $3,219 +0.39

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1135 1135 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 203.00 $203.00 $2,304

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1040 1040 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,700.00 $2,700.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
990 990 1 167.50 $167.50 $1,658 —

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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.