Sale reports / Kentucky / Mount Sterling Livestock Auction / 2026-03-25

Mount Sterling Livestock Auction

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · Wed, Mar 25
● Final109 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2202
Feeder Cattle receipts
439 head
▲ 159 vs last sale 280▼ 215 vs year ago 654 · −32.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
47 head
▲ 23 vs last sale 24▼ 25 vs year ago 72 · −34.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
44 head
▲ 24 vs last sale 20▲ 14 vs year ago 30 · +46.7%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was mostly stronger with an average quality offering. Feeder steers 350 lbs and under appeared sharply higher with a lite test, while the 400-600 lbs steers were unevenly steady with a good supply and good demand. Feeder heifers 300-600 lbs were mostly 2.00 to 6.00 higher or greater in spots with a good supply and good demand for weaned and thinner conditioned feeders. Slaughter cows appeared steady and slaughter bulls appeared 4.00 to 6.00 higher, with a good supply and good demand, compared to last weeks lite test.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $411.05/cwt on 55 head, down $11.10 from the prior sale. That ranks 25 of 31 comparable sales and sits +16.21 against this barn's trailing median of $394.83.
Average price
$411.05
▼ 11.10 vs prior sale
55 head · 537 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,209
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$920
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2-3
$150.66/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.05
vs KY average
−14.14 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2540420.662,27048
Medium and Large 2520358.161,8645thin
Large 1-2555355.001,9701thin
Medium and Large 2-3500270.001,3501thin
One grade step is worth $150.66/cwt here — about $920 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 sale55 hd
411.05
—
KY average25 barns · 1,478 hd
411.00
+0.05
National average176 barns · 15,314 hd
425.19
−14.14
This barn, trailing median31 sales
394.83
+16.21
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—Average1,817210.023,8159thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,458177.632,5902thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,240173.622,1539thin
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,112155.601,73018
HeifersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,263225.342,8462thin

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)1,228$3,6242thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,229$3,3397
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,108$3,2022thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,122$2,8752thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,284$2,7075
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,280$2,4225
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)815$2,4522thin
Cow-Calf Pairs2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,750$5,3001thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,155$3,7001thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,250$3,5663thin
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,270$3,3501thin

Every lot

109 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 · Steers25 lots · lightest first
Steers200–250Medium and Large 1-2Fancy240627.00/cwt627.00–627.001,5051
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Fancy277672.50/cwt672.50–672.501,8634
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1-2280565.00/cwt565.00–565.001,5823
Steers300–350Medium and Large 2-3320427.50/cwt427.50–427.501,3681
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2325512.50/cwt512.50–512.501,6661
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Fancy356635.00/cwt635.00–635.002,2614
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2368585.70/cwt570.00–605.002,1557
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2378482.25/cwt475.00–490.001,8232
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Fancy412558.12/cwt554.00–570.002,2994
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2418524.56/cwt500.00–541.002,19318
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2-3445417.00/cwt417.00–417.001,8561
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Fancy468541.00/cwt541.00–541.002,5326
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2472528.61/cwt523.00–531.002,49514
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2479446.74/cwt440.00–465.002,1405
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Value Added516505.00/cwt504.00–507.002,6063
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2520420.00/cwt420.00–420.002,1841
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2532490.81/cwt481.00–494.002,6117
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Value Added568483.70/cwt483.00–487.002,74711
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2592463.00/cwt463.00–463.002,7414
Steers600–650Medium and Large 2605367.50/cwt367.50–367.502,2231
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2622447.45/cwt442.50–450.002,7836
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Value Added668433.42/cwt426.00–441.002,8952
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2Value Added723386.75/cwt380.00–390.002,7963
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2788348.29/cwt336.00–357.002,7453
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2829347.00/cwt347.00–347.002,8776
Feeder Cattle · Heifers34 lots · lightest first
Heifers150–200Medium and Large 1-2175490.00/cwt490.00–490.008581
Heifers150–200Medium and Large 2195450.00/cwt450.00–450.008781
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 1-2220460.00/cwt460.00–460.001,0121
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 2270437.50/cwt437.50–437.501,1811
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2278482.39/cwt480.00–485.001,3412
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Fancy283527.04/cwt515.00–532.501,4923
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 2-3330400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,3201
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2368401.22/cwt400.00–402.501,4762
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Fancy369518.82/cwt502.00–530.001,91410
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2370487.55/cwt457.50–497.501,80412
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2420415.00/cwt415.00–415.001,7431
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Fancy426495.28/cwt482.50–502.002,11019
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2427463.22/cwt442.50–470.001,97811
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Fancy463464.49/cwt455.00–467.502,1519
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2475400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,9002
Heifers450–500Large 1-2485345.00/cwt345.00–345.001,6733
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2493430.86/cwt410.00–441.002,12423
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2-3500270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,3501
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2513357.70/cwt350.00–367.501,8354
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Value Added519427.51/cwt416.00–434.502,21920
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2524397.06/cwt385.00–410.002,0814
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2550360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,9801
Heifers550–600Large 1-2555355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,9701
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Value Added556428.93/cwt420.00–438.502,38514
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2564404.83/cwt385.00–414.002,28310
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Value Added611398.88/cwt390.00–415.002,4374
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2619353.66/cwt345.00–360.002,1894
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2620312.00/cwt312.00–312.001,9341
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2657315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,0702
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2725327.10/cwt310.00–335.002,3715
Heifers750–800Large 1-2770275.00/cwt275.00–275.002,1181
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open785338.00/cwt338.00–338.002,6539
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2975210.00/cwt210.00–210.002,0481
Heifers1100–1150Medium and Large 1-21,115183.00/cwt183.00–183.002,0401
Feeder Cattle · Bulls27 lots · lightest first
Bulls200–250Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed210670.00/cwt670.00–670.001,4071
Bulls200–250Medium and Large 1-2Fancy233605.00/cwt605.00–605.001,4102
Bulls250–300Medium and Large 1-2272545.17/cwt500.00–572.501,4835
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1-2320535.12/cwt532.50–537.501,7122
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1-2Fancy330620.27/cwt600.00–635.002,0478
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2Fancy372568.81/cwt565.00–570.002,1164
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2387527.88/cwt510.00–537.502,0433
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2Fancy429544.28/cwt540.00–547.502,3355
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2430521.32/cwt510.00–528.002,2425
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 2465429.19/cwt427.50–432.501,9963
Bulls450–500Large 2475392.50/cwt392.50–392.501,8641
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2Fancy483504.49/cwt500.00–516.002,4379
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2488469.51/cwt447.00–481.002,2913
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2Fancy511485.21/cwt483.00–487.502,4794
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed515516.00/cwt516.00–516.002,6572
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2534452.15/cwt440.00–462.502,4147
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 2-3545357.50/cwt357.50–357.501,9481
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2Fancy557481.93/cwt471.00–490.002,68411
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 2-3565360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,0341
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2575434.52/cwt417.50–455.002,4986
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 2590410.00/cwt410.00–410.002,4191
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2Fancy608410.66/cwt410.00–412.002,4973
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2627383.92/cwt370.00–395.002,4074
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2Fancy665400.00/cwt400.00–400.002,6603
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2668364.95/cwt350.00–370.002,4384
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1-2Fancy725372.50/cwt372.50–372.502,7011
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1-2Fancy866346.00/cwt346.00–346.002,9963
Slaughter Cattle · Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Heifers—Select and Choice1,263225.34/cwt220.00–231.002,8462
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,731216.92/cwt214.00–220.503,7554
Bulls——1,885204.50/cwt201.00–206.503,8555
Slaughter Cattle · Cows6 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,065110.00/cwt110.00–110.001,1721
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,078165.20/cwt156.00–175.001,78110
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,166148.41/cwt143.00–153.001,7307
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,218166.95/cwt163.00–170.002,0334
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,258178.96/cwt176.50–181.002,2515
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,458177.63/cwt176.00–179.002,5902
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows7 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1083,202.14/head3,000.00–3,450.003,2022
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1222,875.00/head2,875.00–2,875.002,8752
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 21,1801,900.00/head1,900.00–1,900.001,9001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2283,623.73/head3,500.00–3,750.003,6242
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2293,339.08/head2,950.00–3,750.003,3397
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2842,706.67/head2,400.00–2,875.002,7075
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3052,553.00/head2,375.00–2,600.002,5534
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows1 lot · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2948197.70/cwt187.50–215.001,8743
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs5 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,0803,750.00/head3,750.00–3,750.003,7501
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,1553,700.00/head3,700.00–3,700.003,7001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 21,2703,350.00/head3,350.00–3,350.003,3501
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,3353,474.72/head3,450.00–3,500.003,4752
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,7505,300.00/head5,300.00–5,300.005,3001
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1-28152,452.45/head2,350.00–2,550.002,4522

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.