Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Tuesday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, May 19, 2026

947 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 $354.42/cwt +4.73 vs last sale · ≈ $3,282/hd at 926 lb · 118 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $368.39/cwt +15.22 vs last sale · ≈ $2,608/hd at 708 lb · 74 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $393.68/cwt +3.68 vs last sale · ≈ $2,911/hd at 739 lb · 64 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 947 941 755
Feeder cattle 868 897 692
Slaughter cattle 56 44 54
Replacement cattle 23 0 9

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Tuesday the feeder market was spotty and mostly lower with an average quality offering. Feeder steers and heifers 300-600 lbs were 3.00 to 6.00 lower or greater in spots with a good supply and moderate demand. Yearling steers appeared 1.00 to 3.00 higher with a good supply and good demand. Slaughter cows were 2.00 to 4.00 higher and slaughter bulls were 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
308 fancy 308 3 580.00 $580.00 $1,786 -30.00
393 393 3 495.00 $495.00 $1,945 —
425 425 1 502.50 $502.50 $2,136 -10.59
465–492 483 7 485.00–500.00 $490.64 $2,370 -19.89
515–548 534 10 460.00–477.50 $469.35 $2,506 -28.26
526–548 value added 544 18 491.00–510.00 $494.06 $2,688 -23.79
552–580 564 6 440.00–460.00 $453.28 $2,556 -6.01
565–575 value added 573 6 480.00–485.00 $484.18 $2,774 -10.49
615 615 2 377.50 $377.50 $2,322 -51.46
620–628 624 9 411.00–437.50 $421.31 $2,629 -7.65
620–639 value added 632 40 442.50–452.50 $448.30 $2,833 -9.07
660–685 673 2 395.00–400.00 $397.55 $2,676 -13.32
676 value added 676 27 421.00 $421.00 $2,846 -16.50
712–745 729 4 370.00–377.50 $373.83 $2,725 -16.17
740 value added 740 60 395.00 $395.00 $2,923 —
775 775 1 342.50 $342.50 $2,654 -0.55
835 835 2 330.00 $330.00 $2,756 -6.10
855 value added 855 59 370.00 $370.00 $3,164 +16.00
901–947 value added 926 118 347.50–362.75 $354.42 $3,282 +3.84
1042 value added 1042 107 334.75 $334.75 $3,488 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
441 441 4 480.00 $480.00 $2,117 -5.00
480–490 485 2 435.00–460.00 $447.37 $2,170 —
500 500 1 450.00 $450.00 $2,250 —
595 595 1 435.00 $435.00 $2,588 +38.00
625 625 1 402.50 $402.50 $2,516 +5.50
840 840 1 302.50 $302.50 $2,541 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 495 1 402.50 $402.50 $1,992 —
530 530 1 400.00 $400.00 $2,120 —
880 880 1 240.00 $240.00 $2,112 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305 1305 1 240.00 $240.00 $3,132 —
1340 1340 1 225.00 $225.00 $3,015 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 600.00 $600.00 $1,410 +107.50
255 255 2 575.00–600.00 $587.50 $1,498 —
300–335 320 5 470.00–505.00 $482.05 $1,543 +2.05
325–347 fancy 340 3 515.00–540.00 $532.03 $1,809 —
363 363 1 492.50 $492.50 $1,788 +33.47
363–373 fancy 367 8 525.00–540.00 $533.05 $1,956 —
405 fancy 405 1 485.00 $485.00 $1,964 -7.98
430–445 435 6 457.50–465.00 $460.44 $2,003 -0.95
450–486 462 9 422.50–447.50 $437.93 $2,023 -15.98
500–538 518 7 382.50–397.50 $392.10 $2,031 -11.86
505–529 value added 525 37 412.50–429.00 $425.93 $2,236 +3.72
550 550 3 362.50 $362.50 $1,994 -34.24
581–597 value added 588 15 399.00–417.50 $407.46 $2,396 -19.12
605–645 622 29 396.00–407.50 $398.11 $2,476 +13.22
600–640 623 8 390.00–392.50 $390.60 $2,433 +5.71
651 value added 651 40 390.00 $390.00 $2,539 —
660 660 1 340.00 $340.00 $2,244 -50.91
700 700 1 360.00 $360.00 $2,520 +6.83
708 value added 708 73 368.50 $368.50 $2,609 —
790 790 3 332.50 $332.50 $2,627 -0.48
805 805 2 300.00 $300.00 $2,415 -18.00
905 905 1 311.00 $311.00 $2,815 —
930 930 1 329.00 $329.00 $3,060 —
965 965 1 293.00 $293.00 $2,827 —
1050–1085 1068 2 275.00–292.50 $283.89 $3,032 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 2 425.00 $425.00 $1,296 —
370 370 1 435.00 $435.00 $1,610 -10.00
415–440 434 6 410.00–420.00 $417.50 $1,812 -12.50
486–490 487 4 392.50–403.00 $400.36 $1,950 -3.46
530 530 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,908 -10.24
555–580 568 2 333.00–342.50 $337.65 $1,918 -10.46
610 610 1 342.50 $342.50 $2,089 —
655–660 658 3 300.00–312.50 $308.35 $2,029 -23.81
805 805 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,932 —
965 965 2 220.00 $220.00 $2,123 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,323 —
435 435 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,522 —
485 485 1 375.00 $375.00 $1,819 —
500 500 1 322.50 $322.50 $1,612 —
675 675 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,890 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 fancy 280 1 615.00 $615.00 $1,722 —
307 307 2 525.00 $525.00 $1,612 -27.60
360 360 1 485.00 $485.00 $1,746 -25.00
461–495 468 5 460.00–472.50 $469.85 $2,199 —
470 fancy 470 1 500.00 $500.00 $2,350 -10.72
516–530 520 4 457.50–465.00 $459.41 $2,389 -10.59
580–595 fancy 588 2 440.00–442.50 $441.23 $2,594 —
588–590 589 6 407.50–420.00 $413.74 $2,437 —
640 640 1 402.50 $402.50 $2,576 +9.03
747 747 2 340.00 $340.00 $2,540 —
755–772 766 3 322.50–330.00 $327.54 $2,509 +9.54
800 800 1 322.50 $322.50 $2,580 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
327 327 2 487.50 $487.50 $1,594 —
380–393 390 4 450.00–475.00 $456.09 $1,779 +3.59
405 405 1 395.00 $395.00 $1,600 —
765 765 1 297.50 $297.50 $2,276 —
820 820 1 280.00 $280.00 $2,296 —
870 870 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,936 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1550 1257 80-85% 12 165.00–186.00 $175.80 $2,210 —
1325–1370 1340 80-85% 3 193.00–200.00 $195.39 $2,618 +3.90
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
660 660 85-90% 1 80.00 $80.00 $528 —
905–1170 1031 85-90% 4 150.00–155.00 $152.79 $1,575 —
905–1310 1132 85-90% 8 159.00–175.00 $168.58 $1,908 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440–1710 1575 75-80% 2 192.00–194.00 $193.09 $3,041 —
1265–1874 1589 75-80% 6 174.00–181.00 $177.83 $2,826 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175–1490 1333 2 197.00–213.00 $205.95 $2,745 —
1475–2130 1861 4 219.00–236.00 $226.63 $4,218 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1020–1165 1070 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 181.00–199.00 $191.92 $2,054

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1230–1510 1348 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,800.00–3,200.00 $2,910.94
1420–1585 1489 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 2,700.00–3,700.00 $3,057.47

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
920 920 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00

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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
1550 1550 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 3,850.00–4,150.00 $4,000.00 —
1754 1754 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 4,150.00 $4,150.00 —

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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.