Sale reports / Kentucky / Lexington Livestock Auction - Kentucky / 2026-05-04

Lexington Livestock Auction - Kentucky

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Lexington, Kentucky · Mon, May 4
● Final114 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2127
Feeder Cattle receipts
748 head
60 vs last sale 808 172 vs year ago 920 · 18.7%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
62 head
63 vs last sale 125 15 vs year ago 77 · 19.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
14 head
3 vs last sale 11 5 vs year ago 9 · +55.6%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Monday the feeder market was mostly stronger, but spotty at times with an average quality offering. Feeder steers 450 lbs and under were sharply higher, while the 500-550 lbs steers were mostly steady with a good supply and good demand. Yearling steers appeared 6.00 to 8.00 higher with a good supply and strong demand. Feeder heifers 600 lbs and under were steady to 8.00 higher or greater in spots with a good supply and good demand. Slaughter cows were steady to 2.00 higher with a good supply and slaughter bulls were 3.00 to 5.00 higher with good demand.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $410.81/cwt on 64 head, down $10.27 from the prior sale. That ranks 20 of 30 comparable sales and sits +4.67 against this barn's trailing median of $406.14.
Average price
$410.81
10.27 vs prior sale
64 head · 543 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,233
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$753
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2-3
$135.12/cwt at this weight
vs the market
2.69
vs KY average
17.09 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2546416.122,27157
Medium and Large 2523382.011,9986thin
Medium and Large 2-3540281.001,5171thin
One grade step is worth $135.12/cwt here — about $753 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 300–400 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 sale64 hd
410.81
KY average26 barns · 1,247 hd
413.50
−2.69
National average182 barns · 12,459 hd
427.90
−17.09
This barn, trailing median30 sales
406.14
+4.67
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
BullsAverage1,709215.513,68410
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,502178.952,68710
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,260178.542,25012
CowsLean 85-90%High1,150160.601,84611

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)1,155$3,3692thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,225$3,1744thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,085$1,9501thin
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)927$2,7173thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,335$5,0502thin

Every lot, as filed

114 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 2-3250–300255395.00/cwt395.00–395.001,0071
BullsMedium and Large 1-2950–1000960250.00/cwt250.00–250.002,4001
BullsMedium and Large 1-2750–800775320.32/cwt311.00–330.002,4822
BullsMedium and Large 1-2550–600570410.00/cwt410.00–410.002,3371
BullsMedium and Large 2500–550534416.04/cwt400.00–427.002,2224
BullsMedium and Large 1-2250–300292590.84/cwt590.00–592.501,7253
BullsMedium and Large 1-2800–850830323.00/cwt323.00–323.002,6813
Dairy SteersLarge 3800–850836247.50/cwt247.50–247.502,0693
Dairy SteersLarge 3700–750721258.38/cwt255.00–260.001,8633
SteersMedium and Large 1-2700–750735383.26/cwt372.50–388.002,8177
SteersMedium and Large 1-21000–10501,035324.00/cwt324.00–324.003,3531
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added600–650635452.79/cwt449.00–457.502,87527
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added650–700666427.00/cwt427.00–427.002,8448
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600558521.94/cwt499.00–530.002,91215
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added500–550505517.92/cwt511.00–533.002,61516
SteersMedium and Large 1-2300–350304575.89/cwt555.00–595.001,7517
SteersMedium and Large 1-2900–950933333.04/cwt330.00–336.003,1072
SteersMedium and Large 1-2350–400373549.87/cwt522.50–565.002,05113
SteersMedium and Large 1-2850–900857351.00/cwt345.00–352.003,0087
SteersMedium and Large 1-2550–600571475.88/cwt451.00–485.002,71725
SteersMedium and Large 1-2750–800779368.76/cwt362.50–377.502,87325
SteersMedium and Large 2400–450430494.97/cwt492.50–500.002,1283
SteersMedium and Large 1-2500–550508470.39/cwt470.00–471.002,3905
SteersMedium and Large 1-2400–450425544.28/cwt537.50–547.502,3134
SteersMedium and Large 1-2650–700652383.00/cwt383.00–383.002,4975
SteersLarge 1-2600–650640380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,4321
SteersMedium and Large 1-21100–11501,135310.00/cwt310.00–310.003,5195
SteersMedium and Large 2-3400–450428421.56/cwt420.00–425.001,8043
SteersMedium and Large 2-3500–550535292.50/cwt292.50–292.501,5651
SteersMedium and Large 2450–500488475.72/cwt472.00–477.502,3223
SteersMedium and Large 2550–600580387.50/cwt387.50–387.502,2481
SteersMedium and Large 2600–650615400.00/cwt400.00–400.002,4601
SteersLarge 2400–450415380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,5771
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350336635.00/cwt635.00–635.002,1343
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450405579.00/cwt579.00–579.002,34511
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500465530.50/cwt527.50–537.502,46715
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400360609.00/cwt609.00–609.002,19212
SteersMedium and Large 1-2450–500474515.63/cwt510.00–522.502,4447
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy750–800752282.50/cwt282.50–282.502,1242
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2200–250200510.00/cwt510.00–510.001,0201
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2700–750745340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,5331
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added600–650645403.78/cwt399.00–404.002,60464
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600563423.05/cwt415.00–431.002,38215
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added750–800772353.75/cwt353.75–353.752,73169
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added500–550506448.97/cwt435.00–463.002,2724
HeifersMedium and Large 2550–600565380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,1472
HeifersMedium and Large 2500–550502383.01/cwt377.50–390.001,9234
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650–700693334.00/cwt333.00–335.002,3152
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2750–800780339.00/cwt339.00–339.002,6442
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2500–550522416.62/cwt401.00–423.002,17522
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2800–850810309.00/cwt309.00–309.002,5031
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2900–950935295.00/cwt295.00–295.002,7581
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2450–500484423.54/cwt410.00–445.002,05012
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650627368.19/cwt357.50–386.002,30911
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600572400.72/cwt390.00–407.002,29216
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2400–450435465.11/cwt460.00–470.002,0232
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2350–400390489.28/cwt480.00–500.001,9083
CowsLean 85-90%1,135169.25/cwt164.00–175.001,9216
CowsLean 85-90%1,167150.22/cwt138.00–154.001,7535
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,380185.00/cwt185.00–185.002,5531
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,515178.28/cwt167.00–181.002,7019
CowsBoner 80-85%1,205175.42/cwt173.00–181.002,1148
CowsBoner 80-85%1,370184.78/cwt184.00–186.002,5314
Bulls1,823206.53/cwt200.00–210.003,7652
Bulls1,645180.76/cwt180.00–182.002,9742
Bulls1,693230.08/cwt219.00–238.003,8956
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,253215.53/cwt200.00–233.002,7017
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1-29272,716.64/head2,500.00–3,000.002,7173
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1553,369.37/head3,050.00–3,700.003,3692
Bred CowsMedium and Large 21,0851,950.00/head1,950.00–1,950.001,9501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 21,1302,726.55/head2,500.00–2,900.002,7272
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3203,621.21/head3,250.00–3,950.003,6212
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,3355,050.00/head5,050.00–5,050.005,0502
BullsMedium and Large 1-2400–450422516.13/cwt505.00–527.502,1786
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450428561.11/cwt555.00–563.002,4024
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350317665.00/cwt665.00–665.002,1082
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500455545.00/cwt545.00–545.002,4801
BullsMedium and Large 1-2650–700667378.92/cwt363.00–387.502,52712
BullsMedium and Large 1-2500–550532461.44/cwt450.00–477.502,45519
BullsMedium and Large 2-3300–350340355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,2071
BullsMedium and Large 2850–900895250.00/cwt250.00–250.002,2381
BullsMedium and Large 2600–650640340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,1761
BullsMedium and Large 2550–600575395.00/cwt395.00–395.002,2713
BullsMedium and Large 1-2450–500474495.95/cwt480.00–507.502,35110
BullsMedium and Large 1-2350–400375553.10/cwt547.50–562.002,0747
BullsMedium and Large 1-2600–650618370.98/cwt361.00–397.502,2935
BullsMedium and Large 1-21000–10501,015275.00/cwt275.00–275.002,7913
BullsMedium and Large 1-2900–950930271.00/cwt271.00–271.002,5201
BullsMedium and Large 1-2700–750700363.00/cwt363.00–363.002,5411
BullsMedium and Large 2400–450427460.00/cwt460.00–460.001,9642
BullsMedium and Large 2-3500–550545361.00/cwt361.00–361.001,9671
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350330571.63/cwt559.00–595.001,88618
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400353533.40/cwt520.00–540.001,8833
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500471473.30/cwt452.50–487.502,22935
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy250–300288635.00/cwt635.00–635.001,8293
BullsMedium and Large 2350–400360510.00/cwt510.00–510.001,8361
BullsMedium and Large 2-3350–400395420.00/cwt420.00–420.001,6591
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open700–750717370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,6537
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open1050–11001,085264.00/cwt264.00–264.002,8641
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Full600–650642351.00/cwt351.00–351.002,2532
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Full450–500497393.00/cwt393.00–393.001,9532
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450420494.68/cwt485.00–499.002,07820
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open650–700656395.00/cwt395.00–395.002,5913
HeifersMedium and Large 2300–350302481.00/cwt481.00–481.001,4532
HeifersMedium and Large 21000–10501,020230.00/cwt230.00–230.002,3461
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3400–450435350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,5231
HeifersMedium and Large 2450–500475393.07/cwt386.00–400.001,8672
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3300–350340325.00/cwt325.00–325.001,1051
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3600–650635250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,5881
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2300–350342505.00/cwt505.00–505.001,7272
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3500–550540281.00/cwt281.00–281.001,5171
HeifersMedium and Large 2350–400365460.00/cwt460.00–460.001,6791
HeifersMedium and Large 2600–650626345.61/cwt330.00–350.002,1647
HeifersMedium and Large 2700–750715310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,2171

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.