Sale reports / Kentucky / Mount Sterling Livestock Auction / 2026-04-15

Mount Sterling Livestock Auction

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · Wed, Apr 15
● Final108 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2202
Feeder Cattle receipts
536 head
245 vs last sale 291 58 vs year ago 478 · +12.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
70 head
22 vs last sale 48 9 vs year ago 79 · 11.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
39 head
19 vs last sale 58 11 vs year ago 28 · +39.3%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was mixed with a good quality offering. Feeder steers 450 lbs and under appeared sharply higher, while the 500-650 lbs steers were 4.00 to 6.00 higher with a good supply and good demand for weaned and harder conditioned calves. Feeder heifers 350 lbs and under were sharply lower with a lite test, while the 400-600 lbs heifers were mostly steady with a good supply and good demand. Slaughter cows were 4.00 to 6.00 lower with a good supply and slaughter bulls were 2.00 to 3.00 lower with moderate demand for slaughter cattle.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $429.45/cwt on 85 head, up $11.91 from the prior sale. That ranks 29 of 30 comparable sales and sits +27.73 against this barn's trailing median of $401.72.
Average price
$429.45
11.91 vs prior sale
85 head · 564 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,421
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$353
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2
$53.08/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+13.68
vs KY average
+2.06 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2564431.332,43482
Medium and Large 2550378.252,0823thin
One grade step is worth $53.08/cwt here — about $353 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
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 sale85 hd
429.45
KY average26 barns · 1,175 hd
415.77
+13.68
National average182 barns · 12,591 hd
427.39
+2.06
This barn, trailing median30 sales
401.72
+27.73
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
BullsAverage1,484203.483,0196thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,186173.752,06015
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,456173.082,51915
CowsLean 85-90%Average941149.971,41116

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)1,088$2,6893thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,185$2,6251thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,113$2,5252thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,275$2,2501thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)713$1,9142thin
BullsN/AYoung (2-4 yrs)1,395$6,1251thin
BullsN/A(<2 yrs)1,005$2,7002thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,198$3,9048
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)765$2,9251thin

Every lot, as filed

108 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 1-2Fancy400–450431492.04/cwt485.00–510.002,12139
HeifersMedium and Large 2600–650640350.57/cwt341.00–360.002,2442
HeifersMedium and Large 2300–350345472.50/cwt472.50–472.501,6301
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3300–350330402.50/cwt402.50–402.501,3281
HeifersMedium and Large 2500–550515385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,9831
HeifersMedium and Large 2400–450440425.00/cwt425.00–425.001,8701
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2800–850805342.00/cwt342.00–342.002,7531
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2350–400377486.04/cwt482.50–492.501,83211
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2400–450421462.62/cwt447.50–470.001,9484
HeifersMedium and Large 2550–600568374.87/cwt365.00–385.002,1292
HeifersMedium and Large 2750–800785300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,3551
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2450–500492444.60/cwt435.00–450.002,18715
HeifersMedium and Large 2650–700665327.00/cwt327.00–327.002,1751
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650613393.73/cwt390.00–397.502,4142
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2250–300270505.00/cwt505.00–505.001,3641
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2300–350320488.40/cwt477.50–500.001,5632
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2850–900865341.00/cwt341.00–341.002,9501
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2700–750724349.00/cwt349.00–349.002,52718
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600560411.79/cwt397.50–420.002,30621
SteersMedium and Large 2550–600555425.00/cwt425.00–425.002,3591
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450413569.29/cwt550.00–585.002,3517
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400365645.00/cwt645.00–645.002,3542
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500489543.68/cwt540.00–557.502,65931
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added500–550527437.26/cwt427.50–447.502,3049
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600573439.82/cwt430.00–440.502,52051
SteersMedium and Large 2-3400–450440425.00/cwt425.00–425.001,8701
SteersMedium and Large 2600–650610348.74/cwt347.50–350.002,1272
SteersMedium and Large 2450–500495467.50/cwt467.50–467.502,3141
SteersMedium and Large 2-3500–550508415.00/cwt415.00–415.002,1083
SteersMedium and Large 2500–550526457.50/cwt457.50–457.502,4064
SteersMedium and Large 2-3450–500475430.00/cwt430.00–430.002,0431
SteersMedium and Large 1-2700–750732386.12/cwt382.00–395.002,8268
SteersMedium and Large 1-2400–450427524.17/cwt512.50–537.502,2386
SteersMedium and Large 1-2650–700685404.18/cwt400.00–413.002,7693
SteersMedium and Large 1-2500–550537484.31/cwt470.00–502.002,6017
SteersMedium and Large 1-2750–800764381.63/cwt381.00–382.002,9168
SteersMedium and Large 1-2450–500475485.87/cwt485.00–487.502,3083
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed400–450435602.50/cwt602.50–602.502,6211
SteersMedium and Large 1-2300–350330590.00/cwt590.00–590.001,9471
SteersMedium and Large 1-2350–400390571.25/cwt570.00–572.502,2282
SteersMedium and Large 1-2550–600570475.00/cwt475.00–475.002,7082
SteersMedium and Large 1-2950–1000980285.00/cwt285.00–285.002,7931
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600–650645400.00/cwt400.00–400.002,5801
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600595485.46/cwt485.25–495.002,88842
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added650–700659422.49/cwt420.00–430.002,7848
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added500–550512527.55/cwt512.00–543.002,70118
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added600–650628437.89/cwt430.00–444.002,75014
SteersMedium and Large 1-2850–900878340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,9853
BullsMedium and Large 1-2300–350330603.48/cwt592.50–610.001,9915
BullsMedium and Large 1-2650–700666377.25/cwt360.00–385.002,5124
BullsMedium and Large 1-2800–850831320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,6593
BullsMedium and Large 1-2850–900868312.39/cwt305.00–320.002,7122
BullsMedium and Large 1-2550–600583431.29/cwt425.00–445.002,5144
BullsLarge 1-2600–650630347.50/cwt347.50–347.502,1891
BullsLarge 1-2450–500455400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,8201
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy600–650600432.50/cwt432.50–432.502,5951
BullsMedium and Large 1-21,0052,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7002
BullsMedium and Large 1-21,3956,125.00/head6,125.00–6,125.006,1251
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,2384,149.72/head3,725.00–4,500.004,1505
Cow-Calf PairsMedium 1-27652,925.00/head2,925.00–2,925.002,9251
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 21,1303,495.74/head3,050.00–3,700.003,4963
Bred CowsMedium 28651,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8501
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2952234.41/cwt220.00–247.502,2325
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2985180.02/cwt173.00–192.501,7733
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3003,150.00/head3,150.00–3,150.003,1501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 21,2752,250.00/head2,250.00–2,250.002,2501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1852,625.00/head2,625.00–2,625.002,6251
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2003,108.85/head3,025.00–3,200.003,1092
Bred CowsMedium and Large 29251,900.00/head1,900.00–1,900.001,9001
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1-27131,913.95/head1,875.00–1,950.001,9142
Bulls1,492195.44/cwt186.00–200.002,9163
Bulls1,475211.53/cwt208.00–217.003,1203
CowsBoner 80-85%1,153175.86/cwt166.00–185.002,02813
CowsBoner 80-85%1,398160.00/cwt160.00–160.002,2372
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,625189.00/cwt189.00–189.003,0711
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,360157.00/cwt157.00–157.002,1351
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,450173.09/cwt166.00–182.002,51013
CowsLean 85-90%860141.17/cwt134.00–148.001,2144
CowsLean 85-90%1,001164.35/cwt157.50–173.001,6459
CowsLean 85-90%870125.87/cwt124.00–128.001,0952
CowsLean 85-90%860104.00/cwt104.00–104.008941
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500476472.09/cwt470.00–492.502,24716
HeifersMedium and Large 2350–400388477.50/cwt477.50–477.501,8532
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650–700684353.95/cwt342.00–365.002,42112
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy550–600550355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,9531
HeifersLarge 1-2650–700685310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,1241
BullsMedium and Large 1-2450–500483480.00/cwt480.00–480.002,3183
BullsMedium and Large 2500–550505430.00/cwt430.00–430.002,1721
BullsMedium and Large 2550–600565400.00/cwt400.00–400.002,2601
BullsMedium and Large 1-2500–550520468.66/cwt462.50–472.502,4374
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350328538.63/cwt530.00–550.001,7673
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400387516.64/cwt505.00–522.001,99912
BullsMedium and Large 1-21000–10501,045245.00/cwt245.00–245.002,5601
BullsMedium and Large 2800–850800265.00/cwt265.00–265.002,1201
BullsMedium and Large 2600–650620340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,1081
BullsMedium and Large 2650–700680320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,1761
BullsMedium and Large 1-2400–450424518.54/cwt510.00–527.502,1995
BullsMedium and Large 1-2200–250215530.00/cwt530.00–530.001,1401
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500457517.00/cwt517.00–517.002,3632
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400355617.50/cwt617.50–617.502,1921
BullsMedium and Large 1-2750–800761371.25/cwt370.00–372.502,8254
BullsMedium and Large 2450–500462440.96/cwt432.50–450.002,0373
BullsMedium and Large 1-2900–950940282.50/cwt282.50–282.502,6563
BullsMedium and Large 1-2600–650615375.83/cwt355.00–395.002,3115
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy550–600555463.47/cwt458.00–474.002,57211
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350315700.00/cwt700.00–700.002,2051
BullsMedium and Large 1-2700–750708367.42/cwt355.00–370.002,6016
BullsMedium and Large 1-2350–400384579.59/cwt545.00–592.502,22612

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.