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 class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $352.77/cwt on 48 head. That ranks 3 of 31 comparable sales and sits 51.96 against this barn's trailing median of $404.73.
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

What quality paid 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.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

31 sales
460418377336median 404.7312/1502/2304/2006/2208/17
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $445.63, low $349.69, median $404.73 across 31 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

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 median31 sales
404.73
−51.96
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

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
BullsLow1,809206.263,7318thin
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, as filed

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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open550–600595344.00/cwt344.00–344.002,0475
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650–700680307.56/cwt303.00–317.002,09113
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600578330.39/cwt320.00–337.501,9106
BullsMedium and Large 1-2650–700650319.00/cwt319.00–319.002,0741
SteersMedium and Large 1-2650–700685347.00/cwt347.00–347.002,3771
BullsMedium and Large 1-2750–800765256.00/cwt252.00–260.001,9582
BullsMedium and Large 1-2550–600585352.97/cwt345.00–355.002,0655
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2300–350323417.71/cwt413.00–422.501,3492
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2350–400367403.27/cwt397.00–412.501,4805
BullsMedium and Large 1-2450–500475390.67/cwt375.00–410.001,8565
SteersMedium and Large 1-2750–800762313.49/cwt310.00–324.002,3894
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2400–450430376.48/cwt367.50–387.001,6199
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2450–500474371.99/cwt359.00–378.001,76312
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2900–950902259.00/cwt259.00–259.002,3362
SteersMedium and Large 1-2800–850816332.25/cwt330.00–335.002,7114
SteersMedium and Large 1-2400–450430405.00/cwt405.00–405.001,7421
SteersMedium and Large 1-2250–300270362.50/cwt362.50–362.509791
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2500–550527346.00/cwt346.00–346.001,8232
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650625315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,9692
SteersMedium and Large 1-2500–550533364.27/cwt361.00–367.501,9422
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added450–500465472.50/cwt472.50–472.502,1972
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600–650625345.81/cwt335.00–353.002,1613
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added600–650620370.25/cwt370.25–370.252,29674
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2750–800755269.00/cwt269.00–269.002,0312
SteersMedium and Large 1-2700–750732331.97/cwt318.00–341.502,43012
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added650–700660375.25/cwt375.25–375.252,47780
SteersMedium and Large 1-2850–900885322.17/cwt321.00–327.002,8515
BullsMedium and Large 1-2350–400395441.00/cwt441.00–441.001,7421
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2700–750737292.66/cwt291.00–297.002,1576
BullsMedium and Large 1-2400–450400400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,6001
BullsMedium and Large 1-2500–550519373.75/cwt372.50–375.001,9406
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy800–850805271.00/cwt271.00–271.002,1821
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450428492.12/cwt482.50–500.002,10611
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy500–550503389.68/cwt387.00–395.001,9603
BullsMedium and Large 1-2900–950905238.00/cwt238.00–238.002,1541
BullsMedium and Large 1-2600–650615315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,9371
BullsMedium and Large 1-2700–750718256.97/cwt250.00–264.001,8458
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open800–850819301.89/cwt289.00–304.002,4727
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy550–600563386.11/cwt380.00–392.502,1742
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350335436.23/cwt430.00–450.001,4618
BullsMedium and Large 1-2300–350345490.00/cwt490.00–490.001,6911
BullsMedium and Large 1-2250–300260505.00/cwt505.00–505.001,3131
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450421481.00/cwt481.00–481.002,0253
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400365495.50/cwt492.50–497.501,8095
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400385498.73/cwt497.50–500.001,9202
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400355450.00/cwt450.00–450.001,5981
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500455447.50/cwt447.50–447.502,0361
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450426405.01/cwt395.00–412.501,7256
CowsLean 85-90%874127.99/cwt121.00–133.001,1196
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,476169.54/cwt164.00–173.002,5027
CowsBoner 80-85%1,231180.26/cwt177.00–182.002,2194
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%1,158144.05/cwt143.00–145.001,6682
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed885210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,8591
CowsLean 85-90%1,060107.50/cwt107.50–107.501,1401
CowsBoner 80-85%1,221163.31/cwt156.00–171.001,9942
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,512179.16/cwt178.00–181.002,7093
CowsLean 85-90%872166.03/cwt164.00–168.001,4483
HeifersSelect and Choice1,135211.00/cwt211.00–211.002,3951
Bulls1,835180.00/cwt180.00–180.003,3031
Bulls1,738209.80/cwt207.00–211.003,6464
SteersLarge 2650–700670282.50/cwt282.50–282.501,8931
Dairy SteersLarge 3Value Added550–600592334.00/cwt334.00–334.001,97718
BullsLarge 1-2550–600580300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,7401
Bulls1,860219.42/cwt217.00–222.004,0812
CowsLean 85-90%1,214149.34/cwt138.00–156.001,8135
Bulls1,965192.00/cwt192.00–192.003,7731
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,1751,775.00/head1,775.00–1,775.001,7751
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3852,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1001
SteersMedium 1-2500–550530267.50/cwt267.50–267.501,4181
Dairy HeifersLarge 3550–600590209.00/cwt209.00–209.001,2331
Dairy SteersLarge 3Value Added700–750722325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,34710
SteersLarge 2750–800765283.00/cwt283.00–283.002,1651
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3250–300290292.50/cwt292.50–292.508481
SteersMedium and Large 2-3600–650600275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,6501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,5452,675.00/head2,675.00–2,675.002,6751
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3352,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1001
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1-28052,038.90/head2,000.00–2,075.002,0392
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,1553,275.00/head3,275.00–3,275.003,2751
HeifersMedium and Large 2650–700670284.00/cwt284.00–284.001,9031
HeifersMedium and Large 2400–450425356.43/cwt352.50–360.001,5152
HeifersMedium and Large 2500–550523308.98/cwt308.00–310.001,6162
SteersMedium and Large 1-2550–600568378.94/cwt377.00–383.002,1523
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600552362.50/cwt362.50–362.502,00126
SteersMedium and Large 1-2900–950935301.00/cwt301.00–301.002,8141
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added750–800760349.32/cwt332.50–351.002,65511
SteersMedium and Large 2650–700695300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,0852
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added450–500465385.82/cwt385.00–390.001,7946
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600550387.00/cwt387.00–387.002,1292
SteersMedium and Large 2400–450447380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,6992
SteersMedium and Large 1-2450–500470419.18/cwt400.00–439.001,9708
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added500–550520393.52/cwt385.00–400.002,04611
HeifersMedium and Large 2450–500477346.57/cwt340.00–350.001,6533
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added750–800763326.00/cwt326.00–326.002,48742
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added500–550521365.98/cwt357.50–370.001,9076
BullsMedium and Large 2650–700669264.54/cwt255.00–271.001,7706
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added600–650623374.81/cwt367.00–385.002,33515
SteersMedium and Large 2850–900855291.00/cwt291.00–291.002,4881
HeifersMedium and Large 2550–600575300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,7251
SteersMedium and Large 2600–650631310.24/cwt305.00–321.001,9583
SteersMedium and Large 2450–500479374.02/cwt360.00–391.001,7926
SteersMedium and Large 2-3550–600595261.00/cwt261.00–261.001,5531
SteersMedium and Large 2550–600573333.84/cwt330.00–338.001,9132
BullsMedium and Large 2500–550525334.50/cwt331.00–337.501,7563
SteersMedium and Large 2-3450–500460330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,5181
BullsMedium and Large 2600–650600280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,6802
BullsMedium and Large 2350–400375374.58/cwt362.00–387.501,4052
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3650–700655260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,7031
BullsMedium and Large 2450–500490364.00/cwt364.00–364.001,7841
BullsMedium and Large 2550–600590289.00/cwt289.00–289.001,7051

How this sale compares

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.