Cattle Market Pulse

Lexington Livestock Market Report

Lexington, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, August 18, 2023

1,040 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Lexington Livestock Market report →

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $247.71/cwt +1.21 vs last sale · ≈ $2,163/hd at 873 lb · 181 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $242.77/cwt -2.76 vs last sale · ≈ $2,209/hd at 910 lb · 159 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $237.88/cwt ≈ $2,317/hd at 974 lb · 154 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,040 1,383 1,863
Feeder cattle 1,040 1,383 1,863

Compared to two weeks ago, steers 900-950 lbs sold 5.00 lower and heifers over 850 lbs sold 4.00 to 8.00 higher. Demand was good from the buyers in the crowd.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
453 unweaned 453 9 300.00 $300.00 $1,359
854–884 873 181 246.75–248.50 $247.71 $2,163 +1.21
902–917 910 159 242.00–243.50 $242.77 $2,209 -4.88
957–985 974 154 236.50–240.00 $237.88 $2,317
1006 1006 239 235.50 $235.50 $2,369
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
753–764 759 13 253.00–257.00 $254.83 $1,934 +6.83
912 912 6 230.00 $230.00 $2,098
1059 1059 44 220.50 $220.50 $2,335

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 unweaned 275 7 297.50 $297.50 $818
365 unweaned 365 8 296.00 $296.00 $1,080
714 714 5 241.50 $241.50 $1,724 +4.50
785–798 788 18 235.50–237.50 $235.95 $1,859
850–865 859 16 233.00–234.00 $233.37 $2,005 +4.37
907–949 930 11 231.00–231.50 $231.28 $2,151 +9.28
955–987 968 60 229.50–233.00 $230.09 $2,227 +11.09
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
594 594 7 260.00 $260.00 $1,544
991 991 15 213.00 $213.00 $2,111

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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.