Name: Mount Sterling Livestock Auction livestock auction prices — 2025-02-26
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-02-26

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

No market comparison with last week due to winter weather closure; however feeder market has noticeably improved over the last two bad weather weeks. Market active today with good buyer participation.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $274.69/cwt on 49 head. That ranks 1 of 30 comparable sales and sits −127.03 against this barn's trailing median of $401.72.

Average price

$274.69

49 head · 556 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,527

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$243

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

$29.93/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.64

vs KY average

−32.32 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	561	280.19	1,573	40
Medium and Large 2-3	532	250.26	1,331	9thin

One grade step is worth $29.93/cwt here — about $243 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 300–400 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

30 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $431.17, low $343.72, median $401.72 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 sale49 hd

274.69

—

KY average20 barns · 937 hd

275.33

−0.64

National average189 barns · 18,586 hd

307.01

−32.32

This barn, trailing median30 sales

401.72

−127.03

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Low	1,521	152.97	2,327	5thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,301	137.77	1,793	20
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,417	133.95	1,898	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,068	113.65	1,214	28
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,215	128.00	1,555	1thin
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	928	100.72	935	2thin

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	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,223	$1,788	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,145	$1,650	1thin
Bred Heifers	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	786	$1,400	3thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	985	$1,475	2thin

Every lot, as filed

98 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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	350–400	373	328.13/cwt	322.50–334.00	1,224	2
Bulls	Large 1-2	750–800	785	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,821	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	385	300.26/cwt	290.00–310.00	1,156	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	820	216.00/cwt	216.00–216.00	1,771	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	450–500	466	302.20/cwt	292.00–318.00	1,408	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 2-3	700–750	740	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	1,606	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	980	206.00/cwt	206.00–206.00	2,019	1
Heifers	Small and Medium 1-2	250–300	280	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	630	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	400–450	419	314.94/cwt	291.00–327.00	1,320	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	788	230.66/cwt	228.00–238.00	1,818	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 2-3	500–550	530	251.31/cwt	240.00–265.00	1,332	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	395	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,462	1
Bulls	Large 1-2	550–600	585	264.00/cwt	264.00–264.00	1,544	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2-3	500–550	505	254.02/cwt	250.00–260.00	1,283	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 2-3	250–300	270	265.65/cwt	250.00–282.50	717	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	586	272.66/cwt	272.00–273.00	1,598	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	493	275.97/cwt	270.00–282.00	1,361	2
Heifers	Large 1-2	650–700	660	226.00/cwt	226.00–226.00	1,492	1
Heifers	Large 1-2	300–350	300	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	840	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	605	245.01/cwt	244.00–246.00	1,482	2
Heifers	Small and Medium 1-2	400–450	440	228.00/cwt	228.00–228.00	1,003	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2-3	600–650	630	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,386	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2-3	550–600	565	245.55/cwt	240.00–250.00	1,387	4
Heifers	Large 1-2	600–650	635	241.00/cwt	241.00–241.00	1,530	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	528	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,452	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Fancy	450–500	499	307.00/cwt	307.00–307.00	1,532	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 2-3	650–700	679	229.73/cwt	227.00–232.50	1,560	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2-3	500–550	545	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,472	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	700–750	733	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,796	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	667	242.65/cwt	240.00–245.00	1,618	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	531	272.56/cwt	270.00–278.00	1,447	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	550–600	578	283.20/cwt	280.00–289.00	1,637	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	500–550	521	280.67/cwt	280.00–287.00	1,462	10
Steers	Small and Medium 1-2	250–300	295	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	774	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	740	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,961	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2-3	350–400	380	237.50/cwt	237.50–237.50	903	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	600–650	617	257.50/cwt	257.50–257.50	1,589	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	890	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	2,100	1
Steers	Medium and Large 2-3	600–650	640	234.00/cwt	234.00–234.00	1,498	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	507	309.52/cwt	307.00–312.00	1,569	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	623	256.99/cwt	254.00–260.00	1,601	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	300–350	345	321.00/cwt	321.00–321.00	1,107	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	650–700	680	270.71/cwt	269.50–271.00	1,841	103
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	814	241.00/cwt	241.00–241.00	1,962	6
Steers	Small and Medium 1-2	350–400	385	258.00/cwt	258.00–258.00	993	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	700–750	707	281.44/cwt	270.00–285.00	1,990	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	550–600	594	325.43/cwt	318.00–335.00	1,933	12
Steers	Medium and Large 2-3	800–850	810	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,742	1
Steers	Large 1-2	500–550	515	271.84/cwt	262.50–281.00	1,400	2
Steers	Medium and Large 2-3	400–450	433	308.09/cwt	295.00–318.00	1,334	6
Steers	Medium and Large 2-3	550–600	562	267.50/cwt	267.50–267.50	1,503	2
Steers	Medium and Large 2-3	450–500	470	295.40/cwt	291.00–300.00	1,388	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 2-3	350–400	385	277.50/cwt	277.50–277.50	1,068	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	600–650	607	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,669	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	500–550	528	289.42/cwt	287.00–294.00	1,528	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	400–450	423	346.01/cwt	332.50–352.50	1,464	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	450–500	450	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,485	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	791	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,780	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	750–800	786	260.08/cwt	257.50–260.50	2,044	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	650–700	665	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,995	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	450–500	480	357.68/cwt	347.00–387.50	1,717	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	600–650	611	313.61/cwt	276.00–329.00	1,916	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	500–550	505	330.50/cwt	315.00–340.00	1,669	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	445	331.00/cwt	331.00–331.00	1,473	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	565	314.50/cwt	314.00–315.00	1,777	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	400–450	415	387.48/cwt	350.00–412.00	1,608	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,049	106.99/cwt	104.00–109.00	1,122	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,246	134.06/cwt	132.50–137.00	1,670	7
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,345	146.47/cwt	140.00–154.50	1,970	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,130	127.30/cwt	124.50–130.50	1,438	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,459	137.42/cwt	135.00–139.50	2,005	4
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,382	129.71/cwt	126.00–132.00	1,793	7
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	928	100.72/cwt	98.00–104.00	935	2
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,215	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,555	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,095	90.79/cwt	90.00–92.00	994	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,300	124.69/cwt	118.00–130.00	1,621	4
Bulls	—	—	1,310	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	1,821	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,046	115.07/cwt	112.50–121.00	1,204	12
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,455	141.82/cwt	141.00–142.50	2,063	2
Bulls	—	—	1,574	156.46/cwt	155.00–158.00	2,463	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 2-3	—	1,065	1,175.00/head	1,175.00–1,175.00	1,175	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,145	1,650.00/head	1,650.00–1,650.00	1,650	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,380	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	Small and Medium 1-2	—	755	1,125.00/head	1,125.00–1,125.00	1,125	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,012	148.67/cwt	141.00–157.50	1,505	5
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	786	1,400.00/head	1,400.00–1,400.00	1,400	3
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 2-3	—	1,215	1,825.00/head	1,825.00–1,825.00	1,825	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2-3	450–500	468	276.31/cwt	265.00–287.50	1,293	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	805	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	1,747	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	455	297.53/cwt	295.00–300.00	1,354	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	300–350	335	387.00/cwt	387.00–387.00	1,296	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	621	254.12/cwt	251.00–258.00	1,578	6
Bulls	Small and Medium 1-2	350–400	385	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	924	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	675	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	1,569	2
Bulls	Small and Medium 1-2	500–550	510	227.00/cwt	227.00–227.00	1,158	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2-3	550–600	560	263.00/cwt	261.00–265.00	1,473	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 2-3	300–350	315	307.62/cwt	300.00–315.00	969	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	565	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,526	4

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.

Kentucky feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Bluegrass Stockyard - Mt. Sterling, KY

Wed Feb 26, 2025

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 467Last week 31Year ago 223

Slaughter CattleReceipts 78Last week 13Year ago 27

Replacement CattleReceipts 14Last week 4Year ago 5

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	345	321.00	321.00
2	350–400	373	322.50–334.00	328.13
12	400–450	419	291.00–327.00	314.94
16	450–500	466	292.00–318.00	302.20
10	500–550	521	280.00–287.00	280.67
21	550–600	578	280.00–289.00	283.20
2	600–650	617	257.50	257.50
103	650–700	680	269.50–271.00	270.71
4	700–750	733	245.00	245.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	385	290.00–310.00	300.26
2	450–500	493	270.00–282.00	275.97
3	500–550	531	270.00–278.00	272.56
6	550–600	586	272.00–273.00	272.66
2	600–650	605	244.00–246.00	245.01
11	650–700	667	240.00–245.00	242.65
11	750–800	788	228.00–238.00	230.66
1	800–850	820	216.00	216.00
1	950–1000	980	206.00	206.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
2	250–300	270	250.00–282.50	265.65
1	350–400	380	237.50	237.50
5	500–550	505	250.00–260.00	254.02
4	550–600	565	240.00–250.00	245.55
1	600–650	630	220.00	220.00
1	700–750	740	217.00	217.00
Heifers — Small and Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	280	225.00	225.00
1	400–450	440	228.00	228.00
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	300	280.00	280.00
1	600–650	635	241.00	241.00
1	650–700	660	226.00	226.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
7	450–500	499	307.00	307.00
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	550–600	585	264.00	264.00
1	750–800	785	232.00	232.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	315	300.00–315.00	307.62
1	350–400	385	277.50	277.50
2	450–500	468	265.00–287.50	276.31
5	500–550	530	240.00–265.00	251.31
2	550–600	560	261.00–265.00	263.00
4	650–700	679	227.00–232.50	229.73
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	335	387.00	387.00
1	350–400	395	370.00	370.00
2	450–500	455	295.00–300.00	297.53
3	500–550	528	275.00	275.00
4	550–600	565	270.00	270.00
6	600–650	621	251.00–258.00	254.12
2	650–700	675	232.50	232.50
3	750–800	791	225.00	225.00
1	800–850	805	217.00	217.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
4	400–450	423	332.50–352.50	346.01
1	450–500	450	330.00	330.00
7	500–550	528	287.00–294.00	289.42
2	600–650	607	275.00	275.00
Bulls — Small and Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	350–400	385	240.00	240.00
1	500–550	510	227.00	227.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
6	400–450	433	295.00–318.00	308.09
2	450–500	470	291.00–300.00	295.40
1	500–550	545	270.00	270.00
2	550–600	562	267.50	267.50
1	600–650	640	234.00	234.00
1	800–850	810	215.00	215.00
Steers — Small and Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	295	262.50	262.50
1	350–400	385	258.00	258.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	400–450	445	331.00	331.00
4	500–550	507	307.00–312.00	309.52
2	550–600	565	314.00–315.00	314.50
2	600–650	623	254.00–260.00	256.99
1	700–750	740	265.00	265.00
6	800–850	814	241.00	241.00
1	850–900	890	236.00	236.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
13	400–450	415	350.00–412.00	387.48
8	450–500	480	347.00–387.50	357.68
9	500–550	505	315.00–340.00	330.50
12	550–600	594	318.00–335.00	325.43
21	600–650	611	276.00–329.00	313.61
1	650–700	665	300.00	300.00
23	700–750	707	270.00–285.00	281.44
7	750–800	786	257.50–260.50	260.08
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	500–550	515	262.50–281.00	271.84

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,049	104.00–109.00	106.99
6	—	1,130	124.50–130.50	127.30
2	—	1,095	90.00–92.00	90.79
12	—	1,046	112.50–121.00	115.07
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,246	132.50–137.00	134.06
9	—	1,345	140.00–154.50	146.47
4	—	1,300	118.00–130.00	124.69
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,459	135.00–139.50	137.42
7	—	1,382	126.00–132.00	129.71
2	—	1,455	141.00–142.50	141.82
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	928	98.00–104.00	100.72
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,215	128.00	128.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,310	139.00	139.00
4	—	1,574	155.00–158.00	156.46

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 2-3$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,065	1,175.00	1,175.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,145	1,650.00	1,650.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,380	2,400.00	2,400.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Small and Medium 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	755	1,125.00	1,125.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 2-3$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,215	1,825.00	1,825.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,012	141.00–157.50	148.67
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	786	1,400.00	1,400.00

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.

Feeder Cattle — prices, barns, and planning

Fed Cattle — the cash market and what quality pays

Beef & Retail — from the box to the grocery shelf

Feed & Hay — the cost side, cash not futures

Cows & Bred Stock — the rebuild market

More

Mount Sterling Livestock Auction

Reporter comment USDA

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

What quality paid 500–600 lb

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

How it compared 500–600 lb

Slaughter cattle

Replacement cattle Per head

Every lot, as filed

How this sale compares

Bluegrass Stockyard - Mt. Sterling, KY

Feeder Cattle

Slaughter Cattle

Replacement Cattle