Sale reports / Kentucky / Mount Sterling Livestock Auction / 2025-03-05

Mount Sterling Livestock Auction

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · Wed, Mar 5
● Final119 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2202
Feeder Cattle receipts
549 head
▲ 82 vs last sale 467▲ 238 vs year ago 311 · +76.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
64 head
▼ 14 vs last sale 78▲ 21 vs year ago 43 · +48.8%
Replacement Cattle receipts
42 head
▲ 28 vs last sale 14▲ 24 vs year ago 18 · +133.3%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers sold steady except; softer undertone on 500-700 lbs with more fleshy new-crop and plainer old-crop calves on offer compared to last week. Feeder heifers under 550 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher; over 550 lbs sold steady with very good demand for weaned thin-fleshed packages. Market active for good quality weaned calf packages and yearlings. Slaughter cows sold steady with good demand. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00 higher with very 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 $282.02/cwt on 74 head. That ranks 1 of 31 comparable sales and sits −112.82 against this barn's trailing median of $394.83.
Average price
$282.02
74 head · 544 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,534
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$333
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Small and Medium 1-2
$55.84/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−5.98
vs KY average
−23.00 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2545284.591,55169
Medium and Large 2-3526258.331,3603thin
Small and Medium 1-2533228.751,2182thin
One grade step is worth $55.84/cwt here — about $333 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.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale74 hd
282.02
—
KY average27 barns · 2,233 hd
287.99
−5.98
National average185 barns · 16,988 hd
305.02
−23.00
This barn, trailing median31 sales
394.83
−112.82
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

31 sales
445400355309median 394.8303/0404/2206/2409/0910/28
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $431.17, low $323.36, median $394.83 across 31 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—Low1,672168.412,81611
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,334136.641,82210
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,441134.231,93518
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,100119.261,31216
HeifersChoiceAverage1,505144.002,1671thin

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)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,134$2,1783thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,237$2,1276
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,015$1,6001thin
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)865$1,8251thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,181$2,4339
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,015$1,3501thin

Every lot

119 lots · USDA AMS · Bluegrass Stockyard - Mt. Sterling, 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 · Steers27 lots · lightest first
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2300330.00/cwt330.00–330.009901
Steers300–350Medium and Large 2-3330296.42/cwt292.50–300.009782
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2-3370300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,1101
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Value Added373417.15/cwt400.00–422.501,55617
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Value Added420376.92/cwt350.00–417.001,58316
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Value Added467369.22/cwt350.00–392.501,72419
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2-3473320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,5144
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Value Added520328.57/cwt320.00–350.001,7098
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2530295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,5641
Steers500–550Large 1-2540307.00/cwt307.00–307.001,6581
Steers550–600Medium and Large 2-3555252.50/cwt252.50–252.501,4011
Steers550–600Large 1-2565272.50/cwt272.50–272.501,5401
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Value Added583315.29/cwt315.00–320.001,83817
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Value Added601277.01/cwt276.00–280.001,6654
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Value Added669287.24/cwt270.00–291.001,92221
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2678260.74/cwt252.00–271.001,7684
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2Value Added720258.01/cwt257.00–260.001,8584
Steers700–750Medium and Large 2-3740245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,8131
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2Fancy746291.25/cwt291.25–291.252,17364
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2Value Added767266.00/cwt266.00–266.002,0405
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2780257.50/cwt257.50–257.502,0092
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2800248.00/cwt248.00–248.001,9843
Steers800–850Medium and Large 2-3805226.00/cwt226.00–226.001,8191
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2885252.00/cwt252.00–252.002,2301
Steers850–900Large 1-2890217.00/cwt217.00–217.001,9312
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,015217.00/cwt217.00–217.002,2031
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 1-2Fancy1,035240.00/cwt240.00–240.002,4841
Feeder Cattle · Heifers38 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Small and Medium 1-2260257.50/cwt257.50–257.506701
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Value Added280343.00/cwt343.00–343.009601
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2290307.50/cwt307.50–307.508921
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2326307.40/cwt305.00–310.001,0026
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Value Added328325.33/cwt321.00–330.001,0672
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2355300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,0652
Heifers350–400Large 1-2360300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,0801
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2-3377241.61/cwt237.50–243.009114
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Value Added381343.62/cwt320.00–360.001,3097
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2430288.81/cwt285.00–290.001,2424
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2-3430258.06/cwt240.00–280.001,1107
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Value Added431332.41/cwt295.00–347.501,43332
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2-3450230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,0351
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2473282.27/cwt280.00–285.001,3353
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Value Added475316.75/cwt288.00–335.001,50512
Heifers500–550Small and Medium 1-2500247.50/cwt247.50–247.501,2381
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2-3502267.50/cwt267.50–267.501,3432
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Value Added517289.74/cwt280.00–300.001,49822
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2523272.01/cwt270.00–276.001,4236
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Value Added563284.82/cwt279.00–290.001,60437
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2564273.01/cwt270.00–276.001,5404
Heifers550–600Small and Medium 1-2565210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,1871
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2-3575240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,3801
Heifers600–650Large 1-2605235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,4221
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2620243.90/cwt241.00–247.001,5122
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Value Added624259.39/cwt250.00–270.001,6195
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2-3641206.65/cwt200.00–232.501,3258
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2673240.39/cwt240.00–242.001,6185
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Value Added678256.51/cwt250.00–260.001,73914
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2Replacement701254.50/cwt254.50–254.501,7844
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2708234.97/cwt233.00–240.001,66419
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2Value Added716249.95/cwt247.00–259.001,7904
Heifers700–750Large 1-2735221.00/cwt221.00–221.001,6241
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2756237.00/cwt237.00–237.001,7923
Heifers750–800Large 1-2760220.00/cwt220.00–220.001,6722
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2808205.40/cwt200.00–215.001,6603
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2862227.00/cwt227.00–227.001,9572
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2910227.00/cwt227.00–227.002,0661
Feeder Cattle · Bulls27 lots · lightest first
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 2-3330302.50/cwt302.50–302.509981
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1-2340365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,2411
Bulls300–350Small and Medium 1-2345300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,0351
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2358340.63/cwt310.00–370.001,2192
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2Value Added365370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,3511
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 2-3365280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,0222
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 2-3415269.70/cwt245.00–295.001,1192
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2446315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,4053
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2472313.04/cwt305.00–330.001,4783
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2Value Added473352.48/cwt330.00–380.001,6676
Bulls450–500Small and Medium 1-2475220.68/cwt220.00–222.001,0483
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 2-3478288.02/cwt245.00–308.001,3773
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 2-3500235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,1751
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2Value Added528294.54/cwt285.00–335.001,55521
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2Value Added565291.45/cwt280.00–305.001,6477
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2570264.00/cwt264.00–264.001,5051
Bulls550–600Large 1-2585256.00/cwt256.00–256.001,4981
Bulls550–600Small and Medium 1-2590230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,3571
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 2-3595235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,3981
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 2-3615220.00/cwt220.00–220.001,3531
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2623258.28/cwt250.00–271.001,6095
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 2-3660224.96/cwt220.00–230.001,4852
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2683246.99/cwt244.00–250.001,6872
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1-2713239.17/cwt227.00–245.001,7059
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1-2915195.00/cwt195.00–195.001,7841
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,045170.00/cwt170.00–170.001,7772
Bulls1050–1100Medium and Large 1-21,080173.00/cwt173.00–173.001,8682
Slaughter Cattle · Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Heifers—Choice1,505144.00/cwt144.00–144.002,1671
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,105144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,5911
Bulls——1,668182.78/cwt174.00–198.003,0494
Bulls——1,769162.90/cwt155.00–174.002,8826
Slaughter Cattle · Cows10 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%878107.43/cwt105.00–111.009433
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,050134.00/cwt134.00–134.001,4071
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,089127.59/cwt123.00–134.001,3898
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,231118.02/cwt114.00–122.001,4534
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,33093.00/cwt93.00–93.001,2371
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,346128.29/cwt124.00–131.001,7275
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,387135.05/cwt133.00–137.501,8737
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,389147.75/cwt143.50–152.002,0524
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,452127.74/cwt120.00–131.501,8556
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,505140.86/cwt138.50–143.502,1205
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs6 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Small and Medium 2-39952,200.00/head2,200.00–2,200.002,2001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 2-31,0151,350.00/head1,350.00–1,350.001,3501
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,0252,300.00/head2,300.00–2,300.002,3001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 2-31,1951,900.00/head1,900.00–1,900.001,9001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,2292,678.72/head2,550.00–2,875.002,6795
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 2-31,2652,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1001
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 2-39451,675.00/head1,675.00–1,675.001,6751
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 2-31,0151,600.00/head1,600.00–1,600.001,6001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2282,428.82/head2,400.00–2,450.002,4292
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2372,127.36/head1,850.00–2,400.002,1276
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1-28651,825.00/head1,825.00–1,825.001,8251
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 2-31,076125.15/cwt123.00–128.501,3474
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,078141.09/cwt136.00–146.001,5214

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.