Sale reports / Kentucky / Mount Sterling Livestock Auction / 2026-07-08

Mount Sterling Livestock Auction

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · Wed, Jul 8
● Final72 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2202
Feeder Cattle receipts
447 head
221 vs last sale 226 71 vs year ago 376 · +18.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
38 head
7 vs last sale 31 18 vs year ago 56 · 32.1%
Replacement Cattle receipts
8 head
17 vs last sale 25 92 vs year ago 100 · 92.0%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Wednesday: No trends due to market being closed last week for July 4th Holiday. However the feeder market appeared firm and stronger in spots with a strong demand for higher quality feeders and long weaned calves.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $431.17/cwt on 93 head, up $28.62 from the prior sale (only 17 head in that comparison). That ranks 30 of 30 comparable sales and sits +29.45 against this barn's trailing median of $401.72.
Average price
$431.17
28.62 vs prior sale
93 head · 553 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,385
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$453
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 2
$77.51/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+14.70
vs KY average
+15.06 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2552435.512,40486
Medium and Large 2579385.802,2345thin
Large 2545358.001,9512thin
One grade step is worth $77.51/cwt here — about $453 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 400–500 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 sale93 hd
431.17
KY average19 barns · 795 hd
416.47
+14.70
National average149 barns · 8,242 hd
416.11
+15.06
This barn, trailing median30 sales
401.72
+29.45
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
BullsAverage1,932229.104,4266thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,228182.552,2426thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,345179.682,4173thin
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,031164.641,69713

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)1,215$3,2001thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,160$2,3501thin
BullsN/AYoung (2-4 yrs)1,400$3,1001thin
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,430$4,3001thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,455$3,4001thin

Every lot, as filed

72 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
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added600–650613466.30/cwt450.00–467.002,85825
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2300–350338475.00/cwt467.00–490.001,6069
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650–700665341.20/cwt330.00–346.002,2696
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650633366.69/cwt360.00–380.002,3213
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2350–400383470.83/cwt470.00–472.501,8033
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600–650633425.16/cwt422.00–430.002,6915
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2450–500466448.85/cwt440.00–460.002,09210
BullsMedium and Large 1-2550–600553458.79/cwt457.00–460.002,5375
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2500–550545410.00/cwt410.00–410.002,2352
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2250–300263516.24/cwt515.00–517.501,3582
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2400–450414472.32/cwt455.00–478.001,95511
BullsMedium and Large 1-2950–1000980265.00/cwt265.00–265.002,5971
BullsMedium and Large 1-2750–800795295.00/cwt295.00–295.002,3451
BullsMedium and Large 1-2650–700673377.00/cwt377.00–377.002,5373
BullsMedium and Large 1-2400–450417488.94/cwt475.00–496.002,0393
BullsMedium and Large 1-2450–500461470.00/cwt470.00–470.002,1676
SteersMedium and Large 1-2550–600563422.47/cwt420.00–425.002,3792
BullsMedium and Large 1-2500–550520455.28/cwt440.00–465.002,36711
BullsMedium and Large 1-2200–250215575.00/cwt575.00–575.001,2361
BullsMedium and Large 1-2350–400370555.00/cwt555.00–555.002,0541
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open600–650619418.00/cwt418.00–418.002,58714
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open700–750745335.00/cwt335.00–335.002,4961
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400377580.00/cwt580.00–580.002,1872
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy300–350323567.73/cwt557.50–577.501,8342
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500470505.00/cwt505.00–505.002,3741
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy400–450414513.82/cwt505.00–520.002,1275
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500475472.44/cwt468.00–478.002,2449
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy250–300250570.00/cwt570.00–570.001,4252
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy200–250220620.00/cwt620.00–620.001,3641
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy350–400351605.00/cwt605.00–605.002,1244
CowsLean 85-90%715141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,0081
CowsLean 85-90%1,165178.83/cwt178.00–181.002,0833
CowsLean 85-90%1,021162.53/cwt150.00–170.001,6599
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,345179.68/cwt177.00–184.002,4173
CowsBoner 80-85%1,160190.00/cwt190.00–190.002,2041
CowsBoner 80-85%1,242181.06/cwt175.00–185.002,2495
BullsMedium and Large 1-21,4003,100.00/head3,100.00–3,100.003,1001
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,4553,400.00/head3,400.00–3,400.003,4001
HeifersLarge 2500–550545358.00/cwt358.00–358.001,9512
SteersLarge 1600–650605370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,2391
Bulls1,952224.36/cwt219.50–227.504,3803
Bulls1,912233.84/cwt233.50–234.004,4713
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3450–500495320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,5841
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3300–350335340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,1391
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,4304,300.00/head4,300.00–4,300.004,3001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2153,200.00/head3,200.00–3,200.003,2001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1602,350.00/head2,350.00–2,350.002,3501
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,223184.73/cwt163.00–199.002,2596
HeifersMedium and Large 2850–900855250.00/cwt250.00–250.002,1381
BullsMedium and Large 2600–650626350.05/cwt345.00–355.002,1914
BullsMedium and Large 2550–600568424.98/cwt415.00–430.002,4143
BullsMedium and Large 2450–500477440.00/cwt440.00–440.002,0992
BullsMedium and Large 2350–400385502.50/cwt502.50–502.501,9351
BullsMedium and Large 2200–250210520.00/cwt520.00–520.001,0921
BullsMedium and Large 2750–800790257.50/cwt257.50–257.502,0341
BullsMedium and Large 2400–450420435.00/cwt435.00–435.001,8271
SteersMedium and Large 2450–500485440.00/cwt440.00–440.002,1341
HeifersMedium and Large 2400–450400450.00/cwt450.00–450.001,8001
HeifersMedium and Large 2550–600579385.80/cwt385.00–386.002,2345
HeifersMedium and Large 2600–650610340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,0741
SteersMedium and Large 2350–400360490.00/cwt490.00–490.001,7641
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed250–300261626.68/cwt620.00–630.001,6363
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed300–350310660.00/cwt660.00–660.002,0461
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600582440.00/cwt440.00–440.002,56130
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added500–550529438.60/cwt430.00–449.002,32045
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added450–500494498.00/cwt498.00–498.002,46041
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600563473.00/cwt473.00–473.002,6634
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600568410.73/cwt397.00–420.002,3339
SteersMedium and Large 1-2400–450433510.66/cwt505.00–515.002,2119
SteersMedium and Large 1-2500–550538472.88/cwt460.00–482.502,5446
SteersMedium and Large 1-2450–500470495.00/cwt495.00–495.002,3271
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added500–550512525.16/cwt508.00–526.252,68966

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.