Sale reports / Kentucky / Stanford Livestock Auction / 2026-04-16

Stanford Livestock Auction

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Stanford, Kentucky · Thu, Apr 16
● Final115 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2191
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,112 head
110 vs last sale 1,222 691 vs year ago 1,803 · 38.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
75 head
60 vs last sale 135 7 vs year ago 68 · +10.3%
Replacement Cattle receipts
8 head
3 vs last sale 5 1 vs year ago 7 · +14.3%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Thursday: Feeder steers under 700 lbs steady, over 700 lbs 4.00-6.00 higher, Feeder and yearling heifers steady, Good demand for feeder and yearling classes. Slaughter cows 8.00-12.00 lower, Slaughter bulls 3.00-5.00 lower, Moderate demand for slaughter classes.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $494.11/cwt on 73 head, up $3.86 from the prior sale. That ranks 29 of 30 comparable sales and sits +40.52 against this barn's trailing median of $453.59.
Average price
$494.11
3.86 vs prior sale
73 head · 544 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,686
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$795
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Small 1-2
$123.37/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+10.40
vs KY average
+5.76 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2543498.372,70869
Medium and Large 2-3560435.802,4403thin
Small 1-2510375.001,9131thin
One grade step is worth $123.37/cwt here — about $795 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.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

30 sales
528467407346median 453.5912/1802/2604/3006/1808/13
Steers 500–600 lb: high $514.05, low $359.98, median $453.59 across 30 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale73 hd
494.11
KY average24 barns · 1,183 hd
483.71
+10.40
National average180 barns · 13,019 hd
488.35
+5.76
This barn, trailing median30 sales
453.59
+40.52
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

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
BullsAverage1,720217.783,7459thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,533173.502,6592thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,307173.202,26326
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,067157.581,68122
SteersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,103284.473,1382thin

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 Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,180$2,8001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,455$2,6001thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,005$2,6001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,175$2,3001thin
BullsN/AYoung (2-4 yrs)1,170$2,0501thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,220$4,6501thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,155$3,2501thin

Every lot, as filed

115 lots · USDA AMS · Blue Grass South Stockyards (Thursday) - Stanford, KY
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2400–450428466.60/cwt465.00–470.001,9973
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2850–900850335.00/cwt335.00–335.002,8481
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2750–800774343.96/cwt340.00–353.002,6629
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650–700667359.56/cwt349.00–365.002,3983
BullsMedium and Large 1-2750–800760360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,7362
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600579375.05/cwt362.50–392.502,1724
SteersMedium and Large 1-2550–600589461.37/cwt460.00–472.502,71716
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2300–350332470.00/cwt470.00–470.001,5602
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2350–400369484.56/cwt477.50–495.001,78810
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added500–550518458.02/cwt412.50–476.002,37342
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2500–550520397.50/cwt397.50–397.502,0671
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650645365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,3541
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2450–500478473.29/cwt467.50–477.502,26221
BullsMedium and Large 1-2550–600560455.00/cwt455.00–455.002,5481
BullsMedium and Large 1-2400–450415481.57/cwt472.50–490.001,9992
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added650–700663431.50/cwt429.00–447.502,86129
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2200–250238500.00/cwt500.00–500.001,1903
BullsMedium and Large 1-2500–550538473.20/cwt472.50–477.502,5467
BullsMedium and Large 1-2800–850812330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,6804
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600551500.00/cwt500.00–500.002,7557
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600564422.18/cwt400.00–435.002,38112
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added700–750724392.23/cwt380.00–395.002,8408
BullsMedium and Large 1-2650–700695357.50/cwt357.50–357.502,4851
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added750–800772377.16/cwt377.00–377.502,9123
BullsMedium and Large 1-2350–400370502.50/cwt502.50–502.501,8591
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added900–950900353.00/cwt353.00–353.003,17763
BullsMedium and Large 1-2850–900875292.50/cwt292.50–292.502,5591
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3400–450447445.00/cwt445.00–445.001,9892
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added1050–11001,053327.00/cwt327.00–327.003,44355
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added600–650616443.97/cwt409.00–462.502,73529
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added600–650622388.62/cwt377.50–410.002,41719
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added500–550525513.15/cwt495.00–542.502,69443
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added650–700667387.56/cwt375.00–390.002,5856
SteersMedium and Large 2-3650–700672331.00/cwt331.00–331.002,2244
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added800–850818367.75/cwt360.00–374.603,008147
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added850–900899348.50/cwt348.50–348.503,13345
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added950–1000959343.25/cwt343.25–343.253,29257
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added1000–10501,036317.50/cwt317.50–317.503,28956
SteersMedium and Large 2-3550–600560435.80/cwt402.50–455.002,4403
SteersMedium and Large 2-3450–500473461.20/cwt460.00–462.502,1812
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3850–900860303.00/cwt303.00–303.002,6061
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3600–650630317.00/cwt317.00–317.001,9971
BullsMedium and Large 2-3350–400380450.00/cwt450.00–450.001,7101
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3350–400350450.00/cwt450.00–450.001,5752
SteersSmall 1-2500–550510375.00/cwt375.00–375.001,9131
HeifersSmall 1-2550–600585295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,7261
BullsMedium and Large 2-3550–600591416.68/cwt400.00–440.002,46310
BullsMedium and Large 2-3500–550503423.05/cwt407.50–432.502,1283
BullsMedium and Large 2-3750–800787315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,4792
BullsMedium and Large 2-3700–750735320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,3521
SteersSmall 1-2750–800795305.00/cwt305.00–305.002,4251
CowsLean 85-90%843119.75/cwt110.00–129.001,0092
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,500184.00/cwt184.00–184.002,7601
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,565163.00/cwt163.00–163.002,5511
CowsBoner 80-85%1,307176.68/cwt166.00–200.002,30920
CowsBoner 80-85%1,305161.61/cwt153.00–164.002,1096
Bulls1,205200.00/cwt200.00–200.002,4101
SteersMedium and Large 2-3850–900895325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,9091
SteersSelect and Choice1,103284.47/cwt261.00–312.503,1382
Bulls1,784220.00/cwt211.00–230.003,9258
CowsLean 85-90%1,005130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,3071
CowsLean 85-90%1,127171.56/cwt165.00–180.001,9339
CowsLean 85-90%1,064155.33/cwt143.00–164.001,65310
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy550–600569485.50/cwt485.00–487.002,7624
SteersMedium and Large 2-3900–950905233.00/cwt233.00–233.002,1091
SteersMedium and Large 2-3700–750710347.00/cwt347.00–347.002,4641
SteersMedium and Large 2-3800–850835269.00/cwt269.00–269.002,2461
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3450–500478418.36/cwt370.00–450.002,0006
BullsMedium and Large 2-3450–500488463.77/cwt462.50–465.002,2632
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,4552,600.00/head2,600.00–2,600.002,6001
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,1553,250.00/head3,250.00–3,250.003,2501
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy250–300270670.00/cwt670.00–670.001,8091
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,150193.00/cwt193.00–193.002,2201
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy500–550508505.90/cwt480.00–517.502,5709
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350328656.34/cwt600.00–690.002,1536
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy600–650617414.78/cwt410.00–433.002,55916
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400375620.45/cwt600.00–645.002,3277
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy700–750711372.50/cwt372.50–372.502,6483
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy650–700675390.31/cwt387.50–393.002,6352
BullsMedium and Large 1-21,1702,050.00/head2,050.00–2,050.002,0501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,0052,600.00/head2,600.00–2,600.002,6001
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy700–750735315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,3152
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy200–250240565.00/cwt565.00–565.001,3561
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,2204,650.00/head4,650.00–4,650.004,6501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1802,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,8001
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350318528.22/cwt500.00–575.001,6806
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600–650635378.63/cwt376.00–400.002,4049
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400382600.24/cwt562.50–620.002,2935
BullsMedium and Large 1-2450–500491484.99/cwt482.50–490.002,3813
SteersMedium and Large 1-21000–10501,008307.50/cwt307.50–307.503,10013
SteersMedium and Large 1-2650–700682390.27/cwt382.00–397.502,6625
SteersMedium and Large 1-2700–750731372.50/cwt372.50–372.502,7233
SteersMedium and Large 1-2750–800765353.77/cwt350.00–357.502,7062
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy200–250205640.00/cwt640.00–640.001,3121
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2250–300297525.00/cwt525.00–525.001,5592
SteersMedium and Large 1-2350–400370550.00/cwt550.00–550.002,0351
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450427541.53/cwt515.00–585.002,31223
SteersMedium and Large 1-2500–550545480.00/cwt480.00–480.002,6163
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350335666.43/cwt625.00–680.002,2334
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy750–800750315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,3631
SteersMedium and Large 1-2800–850812346.41/cwt330.00–347.002,81342
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2800–850823321.14/cwt315.00–330.002,6435
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450423499.16/cwt485.00–520.002,11129
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy200–250235680.00/cwt665.00–695.001,5982
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy250–300283594.90/cwt540.00–635.001,6845
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500482518.65/cwt500.00–532.502,50010
BullsMedium and Large 1-2600–650618374.98/cwt370.00–380.002,3172
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2700–750712355.76/cwt347.50–360.002,5337
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450416569.45/cwt525.00–580.002,36914
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500460486.83/cwt480.00–492.502,23912
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1752,300.00/head2,300.00–2,300.002,3001
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500473516.46/cwt500.00–535.002,44311
SteersMedium and Large 1-2450–500477490.02/cwt480.00–495.002,3373
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400369506.54/cwt500.00–515.001,8699
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy250–300272637.76/cwt625.00–645.001,7353

How this sale compares

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.