Sale reports / Kentucky / Mount Sterling Livestock Auction / 2025-12-03

Mount Sterling Livestock Auction

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · Wed, Dec 3
● Final102 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2202
Feeder Cattle receipts
401 head
▼ 54 vs last sale 455▼ 191 vs year ago 592 · −32.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
112 head
▲ 41 vs last sale 71▲ 23 vs year ago 89 · +25.8%
Replacement Cattle receipts
71 head
▲ 41 vs last sale 30▲ 48 vs year ago 23 · +208.7%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Wednesday: No trends due to market being closed last week for the Thanksgiving holiday. However, both the feeder and slaughter markets appeared stronger with a good supply.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $338.62/cwt on 18 head. That ranks 7 of 31 comparable sales and sits −56.21 against this barn's trailing median of $394.83.
Average price
$338.62
18 head · 557 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,885
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$109
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2
$9.13/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−4.74
vs KY average
−31.83 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2558339.131,89117thin
Medium and Large 2540330.001,7821thin
One grade step is worth $9.13/cwt here — about $109 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 700–800 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 sale18 hd
338.62
—
KY average20 barns · 1,093 hd
343.36
−4.74
National average194 barns · 19,992 hd
370.45
−31.83
This barn, trailing median31 sales
394.83
−56.21
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—High1,581190.103,00610
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,471162.612,39225
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,207158.891,91826
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,078138.621,49432
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low940117.001,1001thin
SteersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,325175.002,3191thin

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)1,306$2,53610
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,002$2,5173thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,124$2,4395
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,243$2,1106
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,202$2,07512
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,585$2,0251thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)930$2,0001thin
Bred Heifers1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)785$1,4751thin
Cow-Calf Pairs2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,872$4,2502thin
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,220$3,3001thin
Cow-Calf Pairs2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,305$3,0863thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,290$2,8923thin

Every lot

102 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 · Steers17 lots · lightest first
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2300365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,0951
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2390357.50/cwt357.50–357.501,3942
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2433384.85/cwt375.00–395.001,6667
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2474389.91/cwt377.50–394.001,8484
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2516365.79/cwt352.50–375.001,8874
Steers500–550Large 1-2520338.00/cwt338.00–338.001,7582
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Value Added539403.00/cwt403.00–403.002,1726
Steers600–650Medium and Large 2625325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,0311
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2645350.52/cwt346.00–352.002,2618
Steers650–700Large 1-2655255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,6701
Steers650–700Medium and Large 2675300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,0251
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2677325.47/cwt319.00–338.002,2039
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2737320.56/cwt320.00–322.502,3638
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2766296.93/cwt295.00–302.502,2744
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2870272.50/cwt272.50–272.502,3713
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2928270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,5065
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 21,015240.00/cwt240.00–240.002,4362
Feeder Cattle · Heifers33 lots · lightest first
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 2200335.00/cwt335.00–335.006701
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 1-2214406.23/cwt405.00–410.008694
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 2265347.50/cwt347.50–347.509211
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 2305320.00/cwt320.00–320.009762
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2336384.49/cwt381.00–395.001,2924
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2-3350262.50/cwt262.50–262.509192
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Fancy373412.50/cwt412.50–412.501,5393
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2388354.17/cwt350.00–357.501,3743
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2389389.36/cwt387.50–390.001,5154
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Fancy400407.50/cwt407.50–407.501,6302
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2-3415283.32/cwt282.50–285.001,1763
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2421375.84/cwt365.00–387.501,5827
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2425336.16/cwt325.00–345.001,4295
Heifers400–450Large 1-2442330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,4592
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2464363.87/cwt352.50–377.501,68810
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2486335.84/cwt320.00–347.501,6329
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2518351.18/cwt338.00–358.001,8193
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2540330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,7821
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2566336.55/cwt330.00–350.001,90514
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2-3610190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,1591
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2611326.73/cwt322.00–330.001,9965
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy645270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,7421
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2653282.46/cwt272.50–292.501,8442
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2662322.96/cwt312.50–324.002,13813
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2723302.03/cwt299.00–312.002,18410
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy735245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,8011
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2Value Added743331.00/cwt331.00–331.002,45978
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 2760180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,3681
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2775280.00/cwt280.00–280.002,1701
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2840287.50/cwt287.50–287.502,4151
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2896238.00/cwt238.00–238.002,1324
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2920180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,6561
Heifers1050–1100Medium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open1,055195.00/cwt195.00–195.002,0571
Feeder Cattle · Bulls18 lots · lightest first
Bulls250–300Medium and Large 2273354.68/cwt350.00–360.009682
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1-2310430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,3331
Bulls300–350Medium 1-2310350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,0852
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 2315380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,1971
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2363409.24/cwt405.00–417.501,4863
Bulls400–450Medium 1-2425330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,4031
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 2435360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,5661
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2Fancy462398.00/cwt398.00–398.001,8394
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2475380.80/cwt370.00–387.501,80911
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 2480354.38/cwt352.50–355.001,7014
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2515367.00/cwt367.00–367.001,8901
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 2520287.40/cwt285.00–292.501,4943
Bulls550–600Medium 1-2565300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,6951
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2577346.04/cwt331.00–353.001,99714
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2677285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,9292
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1-2740230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,7021
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1-2870252.00/cwt252.00–252.002,19211
Bulls1050–1100Medium and Large 21,070175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,8731
Slaughter Cattle · Steers1 lot · lightest first
Steers—Select and Choice1,325175.00/cwt175.00–175.002,3191
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,185166.50/cwt166.50–166.501,9731
Bulls——1,450183.12/cwt179.50–185.502,6553
Bulls——1,713197.53/cwt193.00–204.003,3846
Slaughter Cattle · Cows9 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%91097.00/cwt97.00–97.008831
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,040123.23/cwt120.00–124.501,2824
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,086154.48/cwt150.00–159.001,6785
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,090139.70/cwt130.00–148.001,52322
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,196157.37/cwt153.50–164.001,88218
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,208172.89/cwt166.00–179.502,0895
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,272144.69/cwt140.00–147.001,8403
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,447157.97/cwt153.50–163.502,28616
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,513170.86/cwt165.00–176.502,5859
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%940117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,1001
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs5 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,2203,300.00/head3,300.00–3,300.003,3001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,2903,125.00/head3,125.00–3,125.003,1251
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,2902,775.58/head2,750.00–2,800.002,7762
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,3053,085.92/head3,000.00–3,225.003,0863
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,8724,250.00/head4,250.00–4,250.004,2502
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows12 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 27051,400.00/head1,400.00–1,400.001,4001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-29302,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 21,0601,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1092,571.08/head2,300.00–2,850.002,5714
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1503,075.00/head3,075.00–3,075.003,0752
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 21,1851,910.00/head1,910.00–1,910.001,9101
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 21,1851,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2152,095.57/head1,850.00–2,285.002,09611
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2372,141.53/head2,100.00–2,175.002,1425
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 21,2701,950.00/head1,950.00–1,950.001,9501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3192,611.70/head2,225.00–2,850.002,6129
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,5852,025.00/head2,025.00–2,025.002,0251
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2960152.00/cwt152.00–152.001,4591
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,050184.00/cwt183.00–185.001,9322
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 27851,475.00/head1,475.00–1,475.001,4751

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.