Sale reports / Kentucky / Lexington Livestock Auction - Kentucky / 2025-08-18

Lexington Livestock Auction - Kentucky

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Lexington, Kentucky · Mon, Aug 18
● Final109 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2127
Feeder Cattle receipts
574 head
▲ 147 vs last sale 427▼ 290 vs year ago 864 · −33.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
48 head
▼ 45 vs last sale 93▼ 78 vs year ago 126 · −61.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
10 head
▼ 4 vs last sale 14▼ 6 vs year ago 16 · −37.5%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Monday the feeder market was stronger with a good quality offering. Good quality feeder steers and heifers were 3.00 to 8.00 higher or greater in several spots with an average supply and strong demand for quality feeder cattle. Yearling steers and heifers appeared sharply higher as well but with limited comparisons. Increased gains in the feeder cattle futures market coupled with limited cattle movement is increasing the premiums buyers are willing to pay for quality cattle, while discounting plainer and off colored cattle more severely and increasing the price spread in most class breaks. Slaughter cows were steady to 2.00 lower with a moderate supply and slaughter bulls were steady with good demand.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $352.77/cwt on 48 head. That ranks 10 of 33 comparable sales and sits −45.56 against this barn's trailing median of $398.34.
Average price
$352.77
48 head · 554 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,955
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$322
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2
$49.91/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.09
vs KY average
−7.03 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2555355.891,97545
Medium and Large 2540305.991,6533thin
One grade step is worth $49.91/cwt here — about $322 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 600–700 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale48 hd
352.77
—
KY average26 barns · 995 hd
352.68
+0.09
National average158 barns · 7,895 hd
359.80
−7.03
This barn, trailing median33 sales
398.34
−45.56
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

33 sales
460409358308median 398.3403/0204/2707/0608/3111/02
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $445.63, low $321.52, median $398.34 across 33 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—Low1,809206.263,7318thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,228174.612,1446thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,487172.432,56410
CowsLean 85-90%Low992145.641,44516
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Average1,158144.051,6682thin
HeifersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,135211.002,3951thin

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age
Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,545$2,6751thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,385$2,1001thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,335$2,1001thin
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)805$2,0392thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,155$3,2751thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,175$1,7751thin

Every lot

109 lots · USDA AMS · Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) - Lexington, KY
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers31 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1-2270362.50/cwt362.50–362.509791
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Fancy365495.50/cwt492.50–497.501,8095
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Fancy421481.00/cwt481.00–481.002,0253
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2430405.00/cwt405.00–405.001,7421
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2447380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,6992
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2-3460330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,5181
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Value Added465472.50/cwt472.50–472.502,1972
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2470419.18/cwt400.00–439.001,9708
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2479374.02/cwt360.00–391.001,7926
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Value Added520393.52/cwt385.00–400.002,04611
Steers500–550Medium 1-2530267.50/cwt267.50–267.501,4181
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2533364.27/cwt361.00–367.501,9422
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Value Added550387.00/cwt387.00–387.002,1292
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2568378.94/cwt377.00–383.002,1523
Steers550–600Medium and Large 2573333.84/cwt330.00–338.001,9132
Steers550–600Medium and Large 2-3595261.00/cwt261.00–261.001,5531
Steers600–650Medium and Large 2-3600275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,6501
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Value Added623374.81/cwt367.00–385.002,33515
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2625345.81/cwt335.00–353.002,1613
Steers600–650Medium and Large 2631310.24/cwt305.00–321.001,9583
Steers650–700Large 2670282.50/cwt282.50–282.501,8931
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2685347.00/cwt347.00–347.002,3771
Steers650–700Medium and Large 2695300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,0852
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2732331.97/cwt318.00–341.502,43012
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2Value Added760349.32/cwt332.50–351.002,65511
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2762313.49/cwt310.00–324.002,3894
Steers750–800Large 2765283.00/cwt283.00–283.002,1651
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2816332.25/cwt330.00–335.002,7114
Steers850–900Medium and Large 2855291.00/cwt291.00–291.002,4881
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2885322.17/cwt321.00–327.002,8515
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2935301.00/cwt301.00–301.002,8141
Feeder Cattle · Heifers30 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 2-3290292.50/cwt292.50–292.508481
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2323417.71/cwt413.00–422.501,3492
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Fancy335436.23/cwt430.00–450.001,4618
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Fancy355450.00/cwt450.00–450.001,5981
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2367403.27/cwt397.00–412.501,4805
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2425356.43/cwt352.50–360.001,5152
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Fancy426405.01/cwt395.00–412.501,7256
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2430376.48/cwt367.50–387.001,6199
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Value Added465385.82/cwt385.00–390.001,7946
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2474371.99/cwt359.00–378.001,76312
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2477346.57/cwt340.00–350.001,6533
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Value Added521365.98/cwt357.50–370.001,9076
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2523308.98/cwt308.00–310.001,6162
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2527346.00/cwt346.00–346.001,8232
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Value Added552362.50/cwt362.50–362.502,00126
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2575300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,7251
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2578330.39/cwt320.00–337.501,9106
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open595344.00/cwt344.00–344.002,0475
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Value Added620370.25/cwt370.25–370.252,29674
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2625315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,9692
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2-3655260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,7031
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Value Added660375.25/cwt375.25–375.252,47780
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2670284.00/cwt284.00–284.001,9031
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2680307.56/cwt303.00–317.002,09113
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2737292.66/cwt291.00–297.002,1576
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2755269.00/cwt269.00–269.002,0312
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2Value Added763326.00/cwt326.00–326.002,48742
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy805271.00/cwt271.00–271.002,1821
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open819301.89/cwt289.00–304.002,4727
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2902259.00/cwt259.00–259.002,3362
Feeder Cattle · Bulls24 lots · lightest first
Bulls250–300Medium and Large 1-2260505.00/cwt505.00–505.001,3131
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1-2345490.00/cwt490.00–490.001,6911
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 2375374.58/cwt362.00–387.501,4052
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2Fancy385498.73/cwt497.50–500.001,9202
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2395441.00/cwt441.00–441.001,7421
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2400400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,6001
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2Fancy428492.12/cwt482.50–500.002,10611
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2Fancy455447.50/cwt447.50–447.502,0361
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2475390.67/cwt375.00–410.001,8565
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 2490364.00/cwt364.00–364.001,7841
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2Fancy503389.68/cwt387.00–395.001,9603
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2519373.75/cwt372.50–375.001,9406
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 2525334.50/cwt331.00–337.501,7563
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2Fancy563386.11/cwt380.00–392.502,1742
Bulls550–600Large 1-2580300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,7401
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2585352.97/cwt345.00–355.002,0655
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 2590289.00/cwt289.00–289.001,7051
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 2600280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,6802
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2615315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,9371
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2650319.00/cwt319.00–319.002,0741
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 2669264.54/cwt255.00–271.001,7706
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1-2718256.97/cwt250.00–264.001,8458
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1-2765256.00/cwt252.00–260.001,9582
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1-2905238.00/cwt238.00–238.002,1541
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Steers2 lots · lightest first
Dairy Steers550–600Large 3Value Added592334.00/cwt334.00–334.001,97718
Dairy Steers700–750Large 3Value Added722325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,34710
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Heifers550–600Large 3590209.00/cwt209.00–209.001,2331
Slaughter Cattle · Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Heifers—Select and Choice1,135211.00/cwt211.00–211.002,3951
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,738209.80/cwt207.00–211.003,6464
Bulls——1,835180.00/cwt180.00–180.003,3031
Bulls——1,860219.42/cwt217.00–222.004,0812
Bulls——1,965192.00/cwt192.00–192.003,7731
Slaughter Cattle · Cows9 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%872166.03/cwt164.00–168.001,4483
Cows—Lean 85-90%874127.99/cwt121.00–133.001,1196
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed885210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,8591
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,060107.50/cwt107.50–107.501,1401
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,214149.34/cwt138.00–156.001,8135
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,221163.31/cwt156.00–171.001,9942
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,231180.26/cwt177.00–182.002,2194
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,476169.54/cwt164.00–173.002,5027
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,512179.16/cwt178.00–181.002,7093
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%1,158144.05/cwt143.00–145.001,6682
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs2 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,1553,275.00/head3,275.00–3,275.003,2751
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,1751,775.00/head1,775.00–1,775.001,7751
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3352,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3852,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,5452,675.00/head2,675.00–2,675.002,6751
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1-28052,038.90/head2,000.00–2,075.002,0392

This sale against other markets

Kentucky weighted averages
One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every Kentucky auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.