Sale reports / Kentucky / Mount Sterling Livestock Auction / 2025-08-27

Mount Sterling Livestock Auction

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · Wed, Aug 27
● Final113 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2202
Feeder Cattle receipts
544 head
▲ 377 vs last sale 167▲ 234 vs year ago 310 · +75.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
67 head
▲ 39 vs last sale 28▼ 52 vs year ago 119 · −43.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
17 head
▲ 16 vs last sale 1▼ 21 vs year ago 38 · −55.3%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was stronger with a good quality offering. Feeder steers and heifers 650 lbs and under were 6.00 to 10.00 higher or greater in several spots with a good supply and strong demand. Yearling cattle appeared sharply higher as well, but with limited head to head comparisons. Recent gains in the feeder cattle futures market and cooler weather conditions is increasing cattle movement and the premiums buyers are willing to pay for quality feeder cattle. Slaughter cows appeared 1.00 to 3.00 higher with a light test last week, and slaughter bulls were steady with a good supply of slaughter animals this week and buyers showing 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 $348.30/cwt on 52 head. That ranks 10 of 31 comparable sales and sits −46.53 against this barn's trailing median of $394.83.
Average price
$348.30
52 head · 555 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,934
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$427
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2-3
$60.80/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−9.59
vs KY average
−21.51 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2558354.271,97746
Medium and Large 2540317.501,7152thin
Large 1-2540300.001,6201thin
Medium and Large 2-3528293.471,5503thin
One grade step is worth $60.80/cwt here — about $427 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 sale52 hd
348.30
—
KY average25 barns · 1,352 hd
357.89
−9.59
National average160 barns · 10,603 hd
369.81
−21.51
This barn, trailing median31 sales
394.83
−46.53
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—Low1,947195.733,81110
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,476171.062,52510
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,266170.522,15918
CowsLean 85-90%High1,132148.871,68620
HeifersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,208191.722,3162thin

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)1,185$2,8001thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,175$2,1751thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,135$2,0751thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)865$1,8601thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,332$4,1252thin
Cow-Calf Pairs2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,420$4,0001thin
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,610$3,9501thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,530$3,9001thin

Every lot

113 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 · Steers28 lots · lightest first
Steers200–250Medium and Large 1-2Fancy237515.00/cwt515.00–515.001,2212
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Fancy295525.00/cwt525.00–525.001,5491
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2301450.00/cwt450.00–450.001,3553
Steers300–350Medium and Large 2-3328347.90/cwt340.00–350.001,1415
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Fancy330500.00/cwt500.00–500.001,6501
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Fancy360499.86/cwt492.00–507.501,7992
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2375437.50/cwt437.50–437.501,6413
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2405377.81/cwt375.00–390.001,5306
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2471393.56/cwt387.50–400.001,8544
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Fancy481459.72/cwt450.00–465.002,21119
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2496420.00/cwt420.00–420.002,0835
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2500372.50/cwt372.50–372.501,8636
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Value Added510420.00/cwt420.00–420.002,1425
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2520357.50/cwt357.50–357.501,8591
Steers550–600Large 1-2563350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,9713
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Value Added577397.31/cwt387.50–399.502,29223
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2587371.65/cwt370.00–375.002,1823
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Value Added606394.15/cwt392.00–397.002,38912
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2620362.50/cwt362.50–362.502,2482
Steers600–650Large 1-2622295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,8353
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Value Added688388.95/cwt386.00–390.002,67633
Steers700–750Medium and Large 2-3700282.00/cwt282.00–282.001,9742
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2Value Added704391.50/cwt391.50–391.502,75616
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2731324.00/cwt324.00–324.002,3683
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2Value Added776359.00/cwt359.00–359.002,78613
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2795320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,5441
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2870319.82/cwt312.00–338.502,78210
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2980242.50/cwt242.50–242.502,3771
Feeder Cattle · Heifers38 lots · lightest first
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 2205370.00/cwt370.00–370.007591
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 2-3205350.00/cwt350.00–350.007181
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 2260350.00/cwt350.00–350.009101
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2286391.79/cwt387.50–395.001,1217
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 2-3306339.39/cwt337.50–340.001,0394
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 2320350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,1202
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2355365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,2961
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2376402.03/cwt395.00–410.001,5127
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Fancy383447.55/cwt442.50–450.001,7143
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Fancy415416.32/cwt415.00–417.001,7286
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2432395.78/cwt390.00–397.501,7107
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2447350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,5652
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2-3465318.06/cwt300.00–335.001,4792
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Fancy477407.48/cwt400.00–415.001,9446
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2482378.36/cwt372.50–392.501,82410
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2495365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,8072
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2500318.00/cwt318.00–318.001,5901
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Value Added501382.00/cwt382.00–382.001,9144
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2-3528293.47/cwt285.00–300.001,5503
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2533355.69/cwt350.00–360.001,8967
Heifers500–550Large 1-2540300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,6201
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy565300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,6951
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2566341.01/cwt329.00–348.001,93013
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Value Added572359.30/cwt354.00–362.002,05521
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2580317.00/cwt317.00–317.001,8391
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open610345.60/cwt345.00–346.002,1085
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2611330.62/cwt320.00–340.002,0204
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2620295.82/cwt285.00–307.001,8342
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open660343.97/cwt327.50–345.002,27030
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2-3665240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,5961
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2670312.96/cwt300.00–320.002,0973
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open708354.50/cwt354.50–354.502,51017
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2708300.17/cwt292.50–308.002,1252
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 2-3730250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,8251
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2755285.51/cwt285.00–287.502,1565
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open816289.92/cwt287.00–310.002,3668
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2865235.00/cwt235.00–235.002,0331
Heifers1050–1100Medium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open1,065202.00/cwt202.00–202.002,1511
Feeder Cattle · Bulls26 lots · lightest first
Bulls200–250Medium and Large 2215367.50/cwt367.50–367.507904
Bulls250–300Medium and Large 1-2Fancy290500.00/cwt500.00–500.001,4502
Bulls250–300Medium and Large 1-2290480.00/cwt480.00–480.001,3921
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1-2Fancy310507.35/cwt497.50–525.001,5733
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1-2340440.00/cwt440.00–440.001,4961
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2Fancy360500.00/cwt500.00–500.001,8003
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2379455.06/cwt452.50–457.501,7254
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2408466.66/cwt462.50–470.001,9043
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2Fancy422491.72/cwt485.00–497.502,0758
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 2-3460320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,4721
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2461465.69/cwt460.00–477.502,1473
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 2469364.28/cwt363.50–372.501,70824
Bulls450–500Medium 1-2490367.50/cwt367.50–367.501,8012
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 2500330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,6501
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2Fancy515390.00/cwt390.00–390.002,0091
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2525358.21/cwt345.00–367.501,88114
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2560339.73/cwt336.00–345.001,9024
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 2-3570330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,8811
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 2605300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,8151
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2614324.32/cwt319.00–328.001,9919
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2670312.00/cwt312.00–312.002,0901
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1-2708309.00/cwt307.00–310.002,1883
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 2726273.80/cwt267.50–277.001,9886
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1-2780270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,1061
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 2836210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,7563
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1-2990210.00/cwt210.00–210.002,0791
Slaughter Cattle · Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Heifers—Select and Choice1,208191.72/cwt187.50–196.002,3162
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,727192.02/cwt187.00–197.003,3163
Bulls——1,870219.00/cwt219.00–219.004,0951
Bulls——1,920205.70/cwt200.00–209.003,9493
Bulls——2,220181.72/cwt176.00–185.004,0343
Slaughter Cattle · Cows7 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,115144.32/cwt136.00–154.001,60917
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,228167.19/cwt163.00–173.002,0538
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,230174.66/cwt160.00–180.002,1483
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,265179.27/cwt175.00–183.002,2687
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,372158.96/cwt157.00–160.002,1813
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,465176.89/cwt175.00–180.002,5914
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,483167.18/cwt164.00–173.002,4796
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs4 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,3324,125.00/head4,125.00–4,125.004,1252
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,4204,000.00/head4,000.00–4,000.004,0001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,5303,900.00/head3,900.00–3,900.003,9001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,6103,950.00/head3,950.00–3,950.003,9501
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 28651,860.00/head1,860.00–1,860.001,8601
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1352,075.00/head2,075.00–2,075.002,0751
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 21,1752,175.00/head2,175.00–2,175.002,1751
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1852,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,8001
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows1 lot · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2951200.34/cwt170.00–231.001,9056

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.