Sale reports / Kentucky / Stanford Livestock Auction / 2026-05-18

Stanford Livestock Auction

Name: Stanford Livestock Auction livestock auction prices — 2026-05-18
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-05-18

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Stanford, Kentucky · Mon, May 18

● Final67 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2190

← May 11May 18Jun 1 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

218 head

▲ 150 vs last sale 68▲ 134 vs year ago 84 · +159.5%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

35 head

▲ 12 vs last sale 23▼ 8 vs year ago 43 · −18.6%

Replacement Cattle receipts

3 head

▲ 2 vs last sale 1▲ 3 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers sold steady. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls steady on a light test.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $421.88/cwt on 33 head, up $48.94 from the prior sale (only 12 head in that comparison). That ranks 10 of 13 comparable sales and sits +48.94 against this barn's trailing median of $372.94.

Average price

$421.88

▲ 48.94 vs prior sale

33 head · 541 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,282

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$462

per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 2

$72.48/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+10.80

vs KY average

+3.62 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	544	432.48	2,352	24
Medium and Large 2	526	405.43	2,134	6thin
Medium and Large 2-3	558	375.00	2,091	2thin
Large 2	525	360.00	1,890	1thin

One grade step is worth $72.48/cwt here — about $462 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 sale33 hd

421.88

—

KY average30 barns · 1,724 hd

411.08

+10.80

National average175 barns · 12,602 hd

418.26

+3.62

This barn, trailing median13 sales

372.94

+48.94

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

13 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $435.33, low $307.95, median $372.94 across 13 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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	High	1,830	229.00	4,191	1thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,319	187.12	2,467	8thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,467	170.21	2,497	7thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,169	154.46	1,806	11

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.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,105	$3,400	1thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,060	$2,450	1thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,120	$1,850	1thin

Every lot

67 lots · USDA AMS · Blue Grass South Stockyards (Monday) - Stanford, 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.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers4 lots · lightest first
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	345	535.00/cwt	535.00–535.00	1,846	1
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	440	500.00/cwt	500.00–500.00	2,200	1
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	600	432.50/cwt	432.50–432.50	2,595	1
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	655	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	2,620	1
Feeder Cattle · Heifers26 lots · lightest first
Heifers	200–250	Medium and Large 1-2	235	590.00/cwt	590.00–590.00	1,387	2
Heifers	250–300	Medium and Large 2	275	505.00/cwt	505.00–505.00	1,389	1
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	305	490.00/cwt	490.00–490.00	1,495	1
Heifers	300–350	Large 1-2	330	462.50/cwt	462.50–462.50	1,526	1
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 2	342	462.52/cwt	460.00–467.50	1,582	3
Heifers	350–400	Large 1-2	375	455.00/cwt	455.00–455.00	1,706	1
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	375	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	1,650	1
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 2	416	423.22/cwt	420.00–430.00	1,761	6
Heifers	450–500	Large 1-2	465	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,790	1
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	490	437.42/cwt	430.00–445.00	2,143	2
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	507	400.67/cwt	390.00–407.50	2,031	4
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	511	423.95/cwt	420.00–435.00	2,166	9
Heifers	500–550	Large 2	525	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,890	1
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2-3	545	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,071	1
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	563	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	2,505	9
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	564	426.50/cwt	420.00–430.00	2,405	6
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 2	565	414.96/cwt	412.50–417.50	2,345	2
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 2-3	570	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	2,109	1
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	620	390.02/cwt	385.00–392.50	2,418	3
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	630	412.25/cwt	412.25–412.25	2,597	80
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	680	373.30/cwt	365.00–385.00	2,538	3
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 2-3	680	297.50/cwt	297.50–297.50	2,023	1
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 2	682	351.70/cwt	350.00–352.50	2,399	3
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	710	347.50/cwt	347.50–347.50	2,467	1
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	720	327.34/cwt	320.00–335.00	2,357	2
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	910	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	2,480	1
Feeder Cattle · Bulls24 lots · lightest first
Bulls	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	323	546.83/cwt	545.00–547.50	1,766	4
Bulls	300–350	Medium and Large 2	325	520.00/cwt	520.00–520.00	1,690	1
Bulls	350–400	Medium and Large 2	368	503.42/cwt	500.00–505.00	1,853	3
Bulls	400–450	Large 2	405	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	1,701	1
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	425	500.00/cwt	500.00–500.00	2,125	1
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 2	440	452.50/cwt	452.50–452.50	1,991	1
Bulls	400–450	Large 1-2	445	472.50/cwt	472.50–472.50	2,103	1
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 2	480	461.65/cwt	460.00–465.00	2,216	3
Bulls	450–500	Large 1-2	485	447.50/cwt	447.50–447.50	2,170	1
Bulls	450–500	Large 2	485	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	2,086	1
Bulls	500–550	Medium 1-2	505	382.50/cwt	382.50–382.50	1,932	1
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	516	450.41/cwt	440.00–457.50	2,324	4
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 2-3	540	412.50/cwt	412.50–412.50	2,228	1
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 2-3	568	406.85/cwt	400.00–415.00	2,311	3
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	569	444.49/cwt	437.50–457.50	2,529	5
Bulls	550–600	Large 1-2	580	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,204	1
Bulls	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	615	412.47/cwt	395.00–420.00	2,537	5
Bulls	600–650	Large 1-2	620	363.71/cwt	362.50–365.00	2,255	2
Bulls	600–650	Large 2	625	347.50/cwt	347.50–347.50	2,172	1
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 2	673	366.25/cwt	365.00–367.50	2,465	2
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 2-3	678	329.82/cwt	320.00–340.00	2,236	2
Bulls	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	920	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	2,668	1
Bulls	950–1000	Medium and Large 2	985	242.50/cwt	242.50–242.50	2,389	1
Bulls	1050–1100	Medium and Large 1-2	1,085	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	2,984	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,830	229.00/cwt	229.00–229.00	4,191	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows9 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,050	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	1,155	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,107	158.52/cwt	157.50–160.00	1,755	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,212	166.10/cwt	163.00–171.00	2,013	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,215	141.51/cwt	141.00–142.00	1,719	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,269	179.94/cwt	171.00–185.00	2,283	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,360	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	2,067	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,368	194.29/cwt	188.00–201.00	2,658	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,470	169.09/cwt	166.00–176.00	2,486	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,515	181.54/cwt	180.00–183.00	2,750	2
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,060	2,450.00/head	2,450.00–2,450.00	2,450	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,105	3,400.00/head	3,400.00–3,400.00	3,400	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,120	1,850.00/head	1,850.00–1,850.00	1,850	1

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.

Kentucky feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Blue Grass South Stockyards (Monday) - Stanford, KY

Mon May 18, 2026

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Frankfort, KY (LS-LG)

Feeder CattleReceipts 218Last week 68Year ago 84

Slaughter CattleReceipts 35Last week 23Year ago 43

Replacement CattleReceipts 3Last week 1Year ago 0

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers sold steady. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls steady on a light test.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
1	500–550	545	380.00	380.00
1	550–600	570	370.00	370.00
1	650–700	680	297.50	297.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	200–250	235	590.00	590.00
1	300–350	305	490.00	490.00
9	500–550	511	420.00–435.00	423.95
6	550–600	564	420.00–430.00	426.50
3	600–650	620	385.00–392.50	390.02
3	650–700	680	365.00–385.00	373.30
2	700–750	720	320.00–335.00	327.34
1	900–950	910	272.50	272.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
9	550–600	563	445.00	445.00
80	600–650	630	412.25	412.25
1	700–750	710	347.50	347.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	275	505.00	505.00
3	300–350	342	460.00–467.50	462.52
1	350–400	375	440.00	440.00
6	400–450	416	420.00–430.00	423.22
2	450–500	490	430.00–445.00	437.42
4	500–550	507	390.00–407.50	400.67
2	550–600	565	412.50–417.50	414.96
3	650–700	682	350.00–352.50	351.70

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	330	462.50	462.50
1	350–400	375	455.00	455.00
1	450–500	465	385.00	385.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	500–550	525	360.00	360.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	400–450	405	420.00	420.00
1	450–500	485	430.00	430.00
1	600–650	625	347.50	347.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	325	520.00	520.00
3	350–400	368	500.00–505.00	503.42
1	400–450	440	452.50	452.50
3	450–500	480	460.00–465.00	461.65
2	650–700	673	365.00–367.50	366.25
1	950–1000	985	242.50	242.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
1	500–550	540	412.50	412.50
3	550–600	568	400.00–415.00	406.85
2	650–700	678	320.00–340.00	329.82

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	400–450	445	472.50	472.50
1	450–500	485	447.50	447.50
1	550–600	580	380.00	380.00
2	600–650	620	362.50–365.00	363.71

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	300–350	323	545.00–547.50	546.83
1	400–450	425	500.00	500.00
4	500–550	516	440.00–457.50	450.41
5	550–600	569	437.50–457.50	444.49
5	600–650	615	395.00–420.00	412.47
1	900–950	920	290.00	290.00
1	1050–1100	1,085	275.00	275.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	500–550	505	382.50	382.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	345	535.00	535.00
1	400–450	440	500.00	500.00
1	600–650	600	432.50	432.50
1	650–700	655	400.00	400.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,269	171.00–185.00	179.94
4	—	1,368	188.00–201.00	194.29

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,050	110.00	110.00
2	—	1,215	141.00–142.00	141.51
5	—	1,212	163.00–171.00	166.10
3	—	1,107	157.50–160.00	158.52

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,360	152.00	152.00
2	—	1,515	180.00–183.00	181.54
4	—	1,470	166.00–176.00	169.09

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,830	229.00	229.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	1,060	2,450.00	2,450.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,105	3,400.00	3,400.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,120	1,850.00	1,850.00

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.