Sale reports / Kentucky / Mount Sterling Livestock Auction / 2025-12-17

Mount Sterling Livestock Auction

Name: Mount Sterling Livestock Auction livestock auction prices — 2025-12-17
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-12-17

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · Wed, Dec 17

● Final76 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2202

← Dec 10Dec 17Jan 7 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

203 head

▼ 612 vs last sale 815▼ 33 vs year ago 236 · −14.0%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

45 head

▼ 21 vs last sale 66▼ 4 vs year ago 49 · −8.2%

Replacement Cattle receipts

17 head

▼ 8 vs last sale 25▲ 1 vs year ago 16 · +6.3%

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was mostly steady with an average quality offering. Good quality feeder steers and heifers 600 lbs and under were mostly steady with a limited supply and good demand for weaned calves. Buyers were active today and willing to pay premiums for quality, while discounting plainer and off colored calves severely. Slaughter cows and bulls were steady to 2.00 higher with a light supply and good demand.

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 $343.72/cwt on 45 head. That ranks 9 of 31 comparable sales and sits −51.11 against this barn's trailing median of $394.83.

Average price

$343.72

45 head · 542 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,864

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$571

per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2-3

$104.29/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−6.87

vs KY average

−46.19 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	542	349.29	1,894	37
Medium and Large 2	542	328.37	1,780	7thin
Medium and Large 2-3	540	245.00	1,323	1thin

One grade step is worth $104.29/cwt here — about $571 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 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 sale45 hd

343.72

—

KY average26 barns · 1,122 hd

350.59

−6.87

National average175 barns · 15,310 hd

389.91

−46.19

This barn, trailing median31 sales

394.83

−51.11

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

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Average	1,647	181.43	2,988	6thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,534	165.61	2,541	10
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,271	156.21	1,986	15
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,061	136.10	1,445	15

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	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,390	$2,110	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	995	$2,050	1thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,035	$1,625	1thin
Bred Heifers	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	970	$2,400	2thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,490	$2,952	4thin

Every lot

76 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.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers16 lots · lightest first
Steers	200–250	Medium and Large 1-2	200	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	850	1
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	370	317.09/cwt	310.00–325.00	1,173	2
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	421	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,684	3
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 2	438	376.40/cwt	367.50–385.00	1,649	2
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Fancy	450	447.50/cwt	447.50–447.50	2,014	10
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	465	415.00/cwt	415.00–415.00	1,930	1
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	466	379.57/cwt	375.00–387.50	1,769	5
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	505	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,970	1
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	536	368.74/cwt	355.00–380.00	1,976	4
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	562	366.13/cwt	360.00–367.50	2,058	7
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 2	587	328.18/cwt	326.00–335.00	1,926	4
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	635	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	2,159	1
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	662	336.98/cwt	333.00–339.00	2,231	8
Steers	650–700	Large 1-2	670	327.00/cwt	327.00–327.00	2,191	1
Steers	800–850	Large 1-2	800	292.50/cwt	292.50–292.50	2,340	1
Steers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1-2	960	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	2,544	1
Feeder Cattle · Heifers19 lots · lightest first
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 2	345	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,139	2
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	367	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,285	2
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	390	392.00/cwt	392.00–392.00	1,529	1
Heifers	350–400	Large 1-2	390	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,190	1
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Fancy	425	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	1,828	1
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	428	378.70/cwt	377.50–380.00	1,621	2
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Fancy	477	395.00/cwt	395.00–395.00	1,884	10
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	490	357.60/cwt	346.00–367.00	1,752	6
Heifers	450–500	Large 1-2	497	344.00/cwt	344.00–344.00	1,710	2
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open	503	368.00/cwt	368.00–368.00	1,851	7
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	522	348.33/cwt	340.00–360.00	1,818	9
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2-3	540	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,323	1
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	542	328.37/cwt	325.00–337.50	1,780	7
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	564	343.47/cwt	325.00–347.50	1,937	21
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	610	308.97/cwt	305.00–313.00	1,885	2
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 2	625	282.00/cwt	282.00–282.00	1,763	1
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 2	680	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,938	1
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 2	710	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,846	1
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 2	855	247.50/cwt	247.50–247.50	2,116	1
Feeder Cattle · Bulls25 lots · lightest first
Bulls	250–300	Medium and Large 2-3	265	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	795	1
Bulls	250–300	Medium and Large 2	275	362.50/cwt	362.50–362.50	997	1
Bulls	250–300	Medium and Large 1-2	278	404.93/cwt	397.50–407.50	1,126	4
Bulls	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	323	399.96/cwt	395.00–405.00	1,292	2
Bulls	300–350	Medium and Large 2	345	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,225	3
Bulls	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	350	407.00/cwt	402.00–412.00	1,425	2
Bulls	350–400	Medium and Large 2	368	375.03/cwt	370.00–385.00	1,380	3
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Fancy	415	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	1,868	1
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	422	421.50/cwt	405.00–430.00	1,779	3
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 2	437	354.62/cwt	350.00–370.00	1,550	6
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	460	378.79/cwt	375.00–390.00	1,742	4
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 2	467	359.75/cwt	350.00–365.00	1,680	3
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	530	364.70/cwt	362.00–367.50	1,933	2
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 2	532	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,756	2
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 2	570	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,710	1
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	574	350.40/cwt	340.00–354.00	2,011	4
Bulls	600–650	Medium and Large 2	618	271.52/cwt	265.00–275.00	1,678	3
Bulls	600–650	Large 1-2	645	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	2,032	2
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	678	320.82/cwt	320.00–322.50	2,175	3
Bulls	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	720	312.50/cwt	312.50–312.50	2,250	1
Bulls	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	800	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	2,040	1
Bulls	850–900	Medium and Large 1-2	880	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,936	1
Bulls	850–900	Medium and Large 2	880	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,584	1
Bulls	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	920	212.42/cwt	207.50–217.50	1,954	2
Bulls	1100–1150	Medium and Large 1-2	1,105	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	2,265	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,248	165.48/cwt	165.00–166.00	2,065	2
Bulls	—	—	1,727	179.37/cwt	176.00–183.50	3,098	3
Bulls	—	—	2,205	219.50/cwt	219.50–219.50	4,840	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows7 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	963	124.14/cwt	122.00–127.00	1,195	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,078	158.73/cwt	157.50–160.00	1,711	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,141	139.89/cwt	131.00–144.00	1,596	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,223	147.86/cwt	147.00–149.00	1,808	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,289	159.25/cwt	152.00–167.00	2,053	11
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,530	172.40/cwt	170.00–174.50	2,638	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,536	162.70/cwt	156.00–167.50	2,499	7
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows1 lot · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,000	173.66/cwt	170.00–178.00	1,737	2
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	970	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	2
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 2	995	2,050.00/head	2,050.00–2,050.00	2,050	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium 1-2	1,035	1,625.00/head	1,625.00–1,625.00	1,625	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,390	2,110.00/head	2,110.00–2,110.00	2,110	1
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,490	2,951.69/head	2,825.00–3,000.00	2,952	4

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 →

Bluegrass Stockyard - Mt. Sterling, KY

Wed Dec 17, 2025

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 203Last week 815Year ago 236

Slaughter CattleReceipts 45Last week 66Year ago 49

Replacement CattleReceipts 17Last week 25Year ago 16

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
1	400–450	415	450.00	450.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	250–300	278	397.50–407.50	404.93
2	300–350	323	395.00–405.00	399.96
2	350–400	350	402.00–412.00	407.00
3	400–450	422	405.00–430.00	421.50
4	450–500	460	375.00–390.00	378.79
2	500–550	530	362.00–367.50	364.70
4	550–600	574	340.00–354.00	350.40
3	650–700	678	320.00–322.50	320.82
1	700–750	720	312.50	312.50
1	800–850	800	255.00	255.00
1	850–900	880	220.00	220.00
2	900–950	920	207.50–217.50	212.42
1	1100–1150	1,105	205.00	205.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	275	362.50	362.50
3	300–350	345	355.00	355.00
3	350–400	368	370.00–385.00	375.03
6	400–450	437	350.00–370.00	354.62
3	450–500	467	350.00–365.00	359.75
2	500–550	532	330.00	330.00
1	550–600	570	300.00	300.00
3	600–650	618	265.00–275.00	271.52
1	850–900	880	180.00	180.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	265	300.00	300.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	600–650	645	315.00	315.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	500–550	505	390.00	390.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	200–250	200	425.00	425.00
3	400–450	421	400.00	400.00
1	450–500	465	415.00	415.00
4	500–550	536	355.00–380.00	368.74
7	550–600	562	360.00–367.50	366.13
1	600–650	635	340.00	340.00
8	650–700	662	333.00–339.00	336.98
1	950–1000	960	265.00	265.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	370	310.00–325.00	317.09
2	400–450	438	367.50–385.00	376.40
5	450–500	466	375.00–387.50	379.57
4	550–600	587	326.00–335.00	328.18

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	650–700	670	327.00	327.00
1	800–850	800	292.50	292.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
10	450–500	450	447.50	447.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	345	330.00	330.00
2	350–400	367	350.00	350.00
7	500–550	542	325.00–337.50	328.37
1	600–650	625	282.00	282.00
1	650–700	680	285.00	285.00
1	700–750	710	260.00	260.00
1	850–900	855	247.50	247.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	350–400	390	392.00	392.00
2	400–450	428	377.50–380.00	378.70
6	450–500	490	346.00–367.00	357.60
9	500–550	522	340.00–360.00	348.33
21	550–600	564	325.00–347.50	343.47
2	600–650	610	305.00–313.00	308.97

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
1	500–550	540	245.00	245.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	350–400	390	305.00	305.00
2	450–500	497	344.00	344.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
1	400–450	425	430.00	430.00
10	450–500	477	395.00	395.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Guaranteed Open$ per cwt · actual wt
7	500–550	503	368.00	368.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,141	131.00–144.00	139.89
6	—	963	122.00–127.00	124.14
2	—	1,078	157.50–160.00	158.73

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,530	170.00–174.50	172.40
7	—	1,536	156.00–167.50	162.70

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,223	147.00–149.00	147.86
11	—	1,289	152.00–167.00	159.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,727	176.00–183.50	179.37
2	—	1,248	165.00–166.00	165.48
1	—	2,205	219.50	219.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,000	170.00–178.00	173.66

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	970	2,400.00	2,400.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,390	2,110.00	2,110.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	995	2,050.00	2,050.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	1,035	1,625.00	1,625.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,490	2,825.00–3,000.00	2,951.69

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.