Sale reports / Kentucky / Lexington Livestock Auction - Kentucky / 2026-03-16

Lexington Livestock Auction - Kentucky

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Lexington, Kentucky · Mon, Mar 16
● Final119 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2127
Feeder Cattle receipts
608 head
164 vs last sale 772 276 vs year ago 884 · 31.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
106 head
10 vs last sale 96 15 vs year ago 91 · +16.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
5 head
10 vs last sale 15 3 vs year ago 8 · 37.5%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Monday the feeder market was stronger with a good quality offering. Light weight steers 350 lbs and under appeared steady with a light test, while the 400-600 lbs steers were 6.00 to 10.00 higher or greater in spots with a good supply and strong demand for weaned and thinner conditioned calves. Feeder heifers 300-450 lbs were mostly steady with a good supply, while the 500-600 lbs heifers were 6.00 to 8.00 higher with a good supply and strong demand. Slaughter cows were 4.00 to 8.00 higher with a good supply and slaughter bulls were 4.00 to 6.00 higher with strong demand.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $409.38/cwt on 37 head, up $22.09 from the prior sale. That ranks 18 of 30 comparable sales and sits +3.24 against this barn's trailing median of $406.14.
Average price
$409.38
22.09 vs prior sale
37 head · 536 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,194
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$514
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2-3
$85.48/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+4.93
vs KY average
6.74 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2537415.482,23033
Medium and Large 2532368.751,9623thin
Medium and Large 2-3520330.001,7161thin
One grade step is worth $85.48/cwt here — about $514 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 100–200 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

30 sales
460418377336median 406.1401/0503/0204/2706/2208/17
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $445.63, low $349.69, median $406.14 across 30 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 sale37 hd
409.38
KY average27 barns · 1,255 hd
404.45
+4.93
National average164 barns · 8,069 hd
416.12
−6.74
This barn, trailing median30 sales
406.14
+3.24
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
BullsHigh1,744216.263,77213
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,553180.302,80039
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,262173.222,18720
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,071150.751,61414

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 Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,313$2,7362thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,305$2,2001thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)840$2,4501thin

Every lot, as filed

119 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 2350–400365448.58/cwt442.50–455.001,6372
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3200–250220400.00/cwt400.00–400.008801
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3300–350325402.50/cwt402.50–402.501,3081
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added500–550513424.58/cwt418.00–447.502,17815
BullsMedium and Large 1-21000–10501,005280.00/cwt280.00–280.002,8141
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500459452.84/cwt449.00–457.502,07917
SteersMedium and Large 2500–550535400.00/cwt400.00–400.002,1401
SteersMedium and Large 2600–650640357.50/cwt357.50–357.502,2881
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2750–800753318.47/cwt308.00–322.002,3984
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600569468.68/cwt447.50–481.002,66723
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450425543.68/cwt537.50–550.002,3114
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500480533.72/cwt517.00–550.002,56214
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400355567.46/cwt565.00–570.002,0142
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350330620.00/cwt620.00–620.002,0461
HeifersMedium and Large 2550–600560360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,0161
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2300–350331493.13/cwt471.00–497.501,6327
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2250–300287478.37/cwt475.00–480.001,3733
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2350–400372475.53/cwt462.50–487.501,7699
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2150–200170620.00/cwt620.00–620.001,0541
HeifersMedium and Large 1-21150–12001,160222.50/cwt222.50–222.502,5811
HeifersMedium and Large 2250–300280455.00/cwt455.00–455.001,2741
HeifersMedium and Large 2600–650638329.20/cwt325.00–337.002,1004
HeifersMedium and Large 2500–550518373.12/cwt365.00–381.001,9332
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2950–1000996237.00/cwt237.00–237.002,3615
HeifersMedium and Large 2400–450400401.67/cwt400.00–402.501,6073
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650641365.79/cwt360.00–380.002,3458
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added600–650615399.12/cwt390.00–404.002,45538
HeifersMedium and Large 2450–500495409.50/cwt408.00–412.502,0273
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2500–550515403.91/cwt399.00–412.502,0803
HeifersMedium and Large 2650–700667320.91/cwt315.00–329.002,1403
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2400–450419470.29/cwt440.00–477.501,97116
HeifersMedium and Large 2700–750723298.88/cwt295.00–303.002,1612
HeifersMedium and Large 2150–200180480.00/cwt480.00–480.008641
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3500–550520330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,7161
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3400–450428374.49/cwt362.50–397.501,6033
SteersMedium and Large 1-2700–750715373.71/cwt357.50–382.002,6729
SteersMedium and Large 2-3250–300290400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,1601
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy250–300255700.00/cwt700.00–700.001,7852
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2450–500483434.28/cwt420.00–445.002,09824
SteersMedium and Large 1-2400–450429504.65/cwt492.50–517.502,16510
SteersMedium and Large 1-2650–700672395.38/cwt389.00–405.002,6575
SteersMedium and Large 2650–700680361.00/cwt361.00–361.002,4552
SteersMedium and Large 2400–450432485.00/cwt485.00–485.002,0952
SteersMedium and Large 2450–500460455.00/cwt455.00–455.002,0931
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650–700655360.00/cwt352.50–367.502,3582
SteersMedium and Large 1-2150–200185630.00/cwt630.00–630.001,1663
SteersMedium and Large 1-2750–800755349.00/cwt349.00–349.002,6351
SteersMedium and Large 1-2550–600576429.00/cwt429.00–429.002,4713
SteersMedium and Large 1-2450–500478498.03/cwt490.00–510.002,3813
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600–650608399.70/cwt387.00–412.502,4302
SteersMedium and Large 1-2500–550521446.97/cwt437.50–457.502,3294
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added500–550527490.33/cwt479.00–500.002,5849
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added600–650614434.58/cwt425.00–451.002,66811
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy600–650630422.43/cwt411.00–437.502,66113
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy550–600560460.83/cwt460.00–462.502,5813
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy700–750720361.00/cwt359.00–363.002,5993
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450426525.43/cwt511.00–530.002,2384
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed450–500465552.50/cwt552.50–552.502,5691
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed500–550515515.00/cwt515.00–515.002,6522
SteersMedium and Large 1-2800–850824334.18/cwt330.00–339.002,7545
SteersMedium and Large 1-2200–250225600.00/cwt600.00–600.001,3501
SteersMedium and Large 2250–300262540.00/cwt540.00–540.001,4152
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added650–700668425.42/cwt414.00–436.002,84233
SteersMedium and Large 1-2900–950901326.00/cwt326.00–326.002,9376
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed500–550511527.05/cwt510.00–532.502,69315
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,115220.90/cwt217.50–225.002,4632
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2908241.28/cwt237.50–245.002,1912
Bulls2,002227.76/cwt225.00–231.004,5603
Bulls1,620197.00/cwt197.00–197.003,1911
Bulls1,672214.56/cwt205.00–220.003,5879
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,502183.41/cwt176.00–195.002,75530
CowsLean 85-90%990133.00/cwt133.00–133.001,3171
CowsBoner 80-85%1,302167.29/cwt157.00–172.002,1789
CowsBoner 80-85%1,230178.07/cwt174.00–186.002,19011
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,722169.92/cwt164.00–173.002,9269
CowsLean 85-90%1,165173.20/cwt170.00–175.002,0182
CowsLean 85-90%1,061148.28/cwt140.00–155.001,57311
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1-28402,450.00/head2,450.00–2,450.002,4501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3132,736.19/head2,725.00–2,750.002,7362
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3052,200.00/head2,200.00–2,200.002,2001
BullsMedium and Large 1-2750–800755302.48/cwt300.00–305.002,2842
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy250–300297655.00/cwt655.00–655.001,9452
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500478531.16/cwt525.00–540.002,5394
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy500–550512492.09/cwt475.00–499.002,5208
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy750–800758354.95/cwt350.00–360.002,6912
BullsMedium and Large 1-2800–850840317.50/cwt317.50–317.502,6671
BullsMedium and Large 2-3950–1000980210.00/cwt210.00–210.002,0581
BullsMedium and Large 2-3500–550515347.50/cwt347.50–347.501,7901
BullsMedium and Large 2-3400–450425417.50/cwt417.50–417.501,7741
BullsMedium and Large 2550–600570420.00/cwt420.00–420.002,3941
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400368580.10/cwt575.00–585.002,1352
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy150–200165620.00/cwt620.00–620.001,0231
BullsMedium and Large 2350–400388470.15/cwt442.50–487.501,8243
BullsMedium and Large 2300–350323513.95/cwt500.00–530.001,6602
BullsMedium and Large 2400–450423461.23/cwt450.00–465.001,9516
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600570380.82/cwt371.00–391.002,1712
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open1050–11001,090259.00/cwt259.00–259.002,8231
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400384505.21/cwt500.00–510.001,94012
BullsMedium and Large 1-2650–700665363.22/cwt355.00–376.002,4153
BullsMedium and Large 2250–300250500.00/cwt500.00–500.001,2501
BullsMedium and Large 1-2900–950935318.00/cwt318.00–318.002,9735
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350330540.00/cwt540.00–540.001,7825
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450431482.50/cwt482.50–482.502,0803
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600564412.99/cwt402.50–422.502,32913
BullsMedium and Large 1-2350–400385543.20/cwt531.00–557.502,0918
BullsMedium and Large 2-3250–300280400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,1201
BullsMedium and Large 1-2300–350300590.00/cwt590.00–590.001,7701
BullsMedium and Large 1-2700–750710345.15/cwt331.00–350.002,4514
BullsMedium and Large 1-2200–250240547.24/cwt535.00–560.001,3132
BullsMedium and Large 1-2250–300255570.00/cwt570.00–570.001,4541
BullsMedium and Large 2200–250240512.50/cwt512.50–512.501,2301
BullsMedium and Large 1-2500–550545447.50/cwt447.50–447.502,4392
BullsMedium and Large 1-2450–500475498.44/cwt489.00–510.002,36810
BullsMedium and Large 1-2550–600569445.80/cwt439.00–455.002,53710
BullsMedium and Large 1-2400–450416501.02/cwt492.50–505.002,0845
BullsMedium and Large 1-2600–650616395.08/cwt392.50–400.002,4343
BullsMedium and Large 2-3450–500457405.00/cwt405.00–405.001,8512
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350308624.96/cwt620.00–630.001,9252
BullsMedium and Large 2450–500489442.69/cwt435.00–462.502,1655

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.