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 class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $338.62/cwt on 18 head. That ranks 1 of 30 comparable sales and sits 63.10 against this barn's trailing median of $401.72.
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

What quality paid 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.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

30 sales
445407368330median 401.7212/1703/0404/2906/2408/19
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 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 median30 sales
401.72
−63.10
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
BullsHigh1,581190.103,00610
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, as filed

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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2350–400389389.36/cwt387.50–390.001,5154
SteersLarge 1-2650–700655255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,6701
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2750–800775280.00/cwt280.00–280.002,1701
SteersMedium and Large 1-2750–800766296.93/cwt295.00–302.502,2744
SteersMedium and Large 1-2500–550516365.79/cwt352.50–375.001,8874
SteersMedium and Large 1-2450–500474389.91/cwt377.50–394.001,8484
SteersMedium and Large 1-2650–700677325.47/cwt319.00–338.002,2039
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2300–350336384.49/cwt381.00–395.001,2924
SteersMedium and Large 1-2300–350300365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,0951
SteersMedium and Large 1-2700–750737320.56/cwt320.00–322.502,3638
BullsMedium and Large 1-2850–900870252.00/cwt252.00–252.002,19211
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650–700662322.96/cwt312.50–324.002,13813
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2700–750723302.03/cwt299.00–312.002,18410
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2900–950920180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,6561
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2800–850840287.50/cwt287.50–287.502,4151
BullsMedium and Large 1-2700–750740230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,7021
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2200–250214406.23/cwt405.00–410.008694
BullsMedium and Large 1-2550–600577346.04/cwt331.00–353.001,99714
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2500–550518351.18/cwt338.00–358.001,8193
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2450–500464363.87/cwt352.50–377.501,68810
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open1050–11001,055195.00/cwt195.00–195.002,0571
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy700–750735245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,8011
BullsMedium and Large 1-2450–500475380.80/cwt370.00–387.501,80911
BullsMedium and Large 1-2350–400363409.24/cwt405.00–417.501,4863
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650611326.73/cwt322.00–330.001,9965
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2850–900896238.00/cwt238.00–238.002,1324
BullsMedium and Large 1-2650–700677285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,9292
BullsMedium and Large 1-2500–550515367.00/cwt367.00–367.001,8901
BullsMedium and Large 1-2300–350310430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,3331
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy600–650645270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,7421
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500462398.00/cwt398.00–398.001,8394
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450400407.50/cwt407.50–407.501,6302
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400373412.50/cwt412.50–412.501,5393
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,2903,125.00/head3,125.00–3,125.003,1251
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,2902,775.58/head2,750.00–2,800.002,7762
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-29302,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0001
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2960152.00/cwt152.00–152.001,4591
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2372,141.53/head2,100.00–2,175.002,1425
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1092,571.08/head2,300.00–2,850.002,5714
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2152,095.57/head1,850.00–2,285.002,09611
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,5852,025.00/head2,025.00–2,025.002,0251
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,050184.00/cwt183.00–185.001,9322
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1503,075.00/head3,075.00–3,075.003,0752
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3192,611.70/head2,225.00–2,850.002,6129
Bred CowsMedium and Large 21,2701,950.00/head1,950.00–1,950.001,9501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 27051,400.00/head1,400.00–1,400.001,4001
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 27851,475.00/head1,475.00–1,475.001,4751
CowsLean 85-90%1,090139.70/cwt130.00–148.001,52322
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,447157.97/cwt153.50–163.502,28616
CowsBoner 80-85%1,208172.89/cwt166.00–179.502,0895
CowsBoner 80-85%1,196157.37/cwt153.50–164.001,88218
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%940117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,1001
CowsLean 85-90%91097.00/cwt97.00–97.008831
SteersSelect and Choice1,325175.00/cwt175.00–175.002,3191
Bulls1,713197.53/cwt193.00–204.003,3846
CowsLean 85-90%1,040123.23/cwt120.00–124.501,2824
CowsLean 85-90%1,086154.48/cwt150.00–159.001,6785
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,513170.86/cwt165.00–176.502,5859
CowsBoner 80-85%1,272144.69/cwt140.00–147.001,8403
BullsMedium 1-2550–600565300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,6951
HeifersLarge 1-2400–450442330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,4592
SteersLarge 1-2500–550520338.00/cwt338.00–338.001,7582
Bulls1,450183.12/cwt179.50–185.502,6553
Bulls1,185166.50/cwt166.50–166.501,9731
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,3053,085.92/head3,000.00–3,225.003,0863
Bred CowsMedium and Large 21,0601,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 21,1851,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 21,1851,910.00/head1,910.00–1,910.001,9101
BullsMedium 1-2400–450425330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,4031
BullsMedium 1-2300–350310350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,0852
SteersMedium and Large 21000–10501,015240.00/cwt240.00–240.002,4362
HeifersMedium and Large 2300–350305320.00/cwt320.00–320.009762
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3400–450415283.32/cwt282.50–285.001,1763
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3350–400350262.50/cwt262.50–262.509192
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,8724,250.00/head4,250.00–4,250.004,2502
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,2203,300.00/head3,300.00–3,300.003,3001
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3600–650610190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,1591
HeifersMedium and Large 2750–800760180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,3681
HeifersMedium and Large 2350–400388354.17/cwt350.00–357.501,3743
BullsMedium and Large 2400–450435360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,5661
HeifersMedium and Large 2500–550540330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,7821
SteersMedium and Large 2350–400390357.50/cwt357.50–357.501,3942
SteersMedium and Large 2600–650625325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,0311
SteersMedium and Large 2650–700675300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,0251
HeifersMedium and Large 2650–700653282.46/cwt272.50–292.501,8442
BullsMedium and Large 21050–11001,070175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,8731
HeifersMedium and Large 2250–300265347.50/cwt347.50–347.509211
HeifersMedium and Large 2200–250200335.00/cwt335.00–335.006701
HeifersMedium and Large 2450–500486335.84/cwt320.00–347.501,6329
HeifersMedium and Large 2400–450425336.16/cwt325.00–345.001,4295
SteersMedium and Large 1-2400–450433384.85/cwt375.00–395.001,6667
SteersMedium and Large 1-2900–950928270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,5065
BullsMedium and Large 2450–500480354.38/cwt352.50–355.001,7014
BullsMedium and Large 2500–550520287.40/cwt285.00–292.501,4943
BullsMedium and Large 2250–300273354.68/cwt350.00–360.009682
BullsMedium and Large 2300–350315380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,1971
SteersMedium and Large 1-2850–900870272.50/cwt272.50–272.502,3713
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600–650645350.52/cwt346.00–352.002,2618
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added700–750743331.00/cwt331.00–331.002,45978
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added500–550539403.00/cwt403.00–403.002,1726
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2400–450421375.84/cwt365.00–387.501,5827
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600566336.55/cwt330.00–350.001,90514

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.