Name: Mount Sterling Livestock Auction livestock auction prices — 2026-08-12
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-08-12

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder was mostly stronger with a good quality offering. Feeder steers 400 lbs and under were sharply higher with lite test, while the 450-600 lbs steers were steady to 5.00 higher with a moderate supply and good demand. Feeder heifers 500 lbs and under appeared sharply higher, while the 550-700 lbs heifers were mostly steady with good demand. Slaughter cows were 2.00 to 4.00 lower with a moderate supply and no test on slaughter bulls.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $436.03/cwt on 8 head, up $10.57 from the prior sale. That ranks 4 of 22 comparable sales and sits −20.62 against this barn's trailing median of $456.65.

Average price

$436.03

▲ 10.57 vs prior sale

8 head · 560 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,443

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$229

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

$52.61/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+1.65

vs KY average

+34.15 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	558	442.61	2,471	7thin
Medium and Large 2	575	390.00	2,243	1thin

One grade step is worth $52.61/cwt here — about $229 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

22 sales

Steers 500–600 lb: high $515.83, low $358.79, median $456.65 across 22 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 sale8 hd

436.03

—

KY average22 barns · 616 hd

434.38

+1.65

National average152 barns · 6,242 hd

401.88

+34.15

This barn, trailing median22 sales

456.65

−20.62

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
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,473	176.43	2,599	4thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,287	174.15	2,241	3thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,077	151.33	1,630	9thin
Steers	Select and Choice	Average	1,357	233.55	3,169	3thin

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	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,435	$3,300	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,384	$2,988	3thin
Bulls	N/A	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,300	$2,400	1thin

Every lot, as filed

57 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
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	400–450	429	443.08/cwt	440.00–447.50	1,901	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	600–650	635	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	2,159	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	800–850	815	368.00/cwt	368.00–368.00	2,999	64
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	900–950	900	343.00/cwt	343.00–343.00	3,087	65
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	825	335.51/cwt	335.00–336.00	2,768	2
Steers	Medium and Large 2	350–400	360	452.50/cwt	452.50–452.50	1,629	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	433	370.13/cwt	362.50–377.50	1,603	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	300–350	345	427.33/cwt	412.00–435.00	1,474	3
Steers	Medium and Large 2	450–500	470	442.50/cwt	442.50–442.50	2,080	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	425	442.50/cwt	442.50–442.50	1,881	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	450–500	463	365.14/cwt	360.00–370.00	1,691	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Fancy	600–650	603	391.66/cwt	390.00–395.00	2,362	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	350–400	388	405.00/cwt	405.00–405.00	1,571	3
Steers	Medium and Large 2	250–300	280	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	1,260	1
Steers	Medium and Large 2	300–350	325	458.58/cwt	455.00–462.50	1,490	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	900–950	907	295.50/cwt	295.50–295.50	2,680	46
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	450–500	480	412.00/cwt	412.00–412.00	1,978	2
Bulls	Large 1	600–650	630	322.00/cwt	322.00–322.00	2,029	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,418	3,331.35/head	3,225.00–3,450.00	3,331	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,435	3,300.00/head	3,300.00–3,300.00	3,300	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 2	—	1,315	2,300.00/head	2,300.00–2,300.00	2,300	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Fancy	250–300	257	505.00/cwt	505.00–505.00	1,298	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Fancy	550–600	565	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	2,430	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,087	153.70/cwt	145.00–160.00	1,671	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,160	166.56/cwt	165.00–168.00	1,932	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	970	130.19/cwt	128.00–132.00	1,263	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,287	174.15/cwt	169.00–180.00	2,241	3
Steers	Select and Choice	—	1,357	233.55/cwt	230.00–236.00	3,169	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,473	176.43/cwt	170.00–186.00	2,599	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	550	402.50/cwt	402.50–402.50	2,214	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	530	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	2,332	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	661	363.50/cwt	363.50–363.50	2,403	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	655	343.00/cwt	343.00–343.00	2,247	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	975	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	2,438	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	492	409.00/cwt	409.00–409.00	2,012	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open	700–750	730	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	2,446	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	498	453.50/cwt	453.50–453.50	2,258	10
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,300	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	785	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,748	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	520	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,872	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	375	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	1,669	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	615	342.50/cwt	342.50–342.50	2,106	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	795	307.00/cwt	307.00–307.00	2,441	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	820	291.50/cwt	287.00–296.00	2,390	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Value Added	500–550	513	407.00/cwt	407.00–407.00	2,088	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	665	366.28/cwt	362.50–370.00	2,436	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	250–300	270	500.00/cwt	500.00–500.00	1,350	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	520	452.19/cwt	432.50–465.00	2,351	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	585	349.33/cwt	346.00–370.00	2,044	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	615	416.00/cwt	416.00–416.00	2,558	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	300–350	340	562.50/cwt	560.00–565.00	1,913	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	550–600	580	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,030	2
Steers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	575	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	2,243	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	587	435.42/cwt	431.00–440.00	2,556	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	425	480.00/cwt	480.00–480.00	2,040	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	395	512.50/cwt	512.50–512.50	2,024	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	650–700	655	337.00/cwt	337.00–337.00	2,207	1

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 Aug 12, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 322Last week 277Year ago 358

Slaughter CattleReceipts 15Last week 20Year ago 31

Replacement CattleReceipts 8Last week 11Year ago 7

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	400–450	429	440.00–447.50	443.08
2	450–500	480	412.00	412.00
2	550–600	580	350.00	350.00
1	600–650	635	340.00	340.00
1	650–700	655	337.00	337.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
1	550–600	565	430.00	430.00
3	600–650	603	390.00–395.00	391.66
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	600–650	630	322.00	322.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	450–500	498	453.50	453.50
1	500–550	530	440.00	440.00
1	550–600	550	402.50	402.50
6	650–700	661	363.50	363.50
1	750–800	795	307.00	307.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
64	800–850	815	368.00	368.00
65	900–950	900	343.00	343.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	250–300	270	500.00	500.00
2	300–350	340	560.00–565.00	562.50
1	350–400	395	512.50	512.50
1	400–450	425	480.00	480.00
3	500–550	520	432.50–465.00	452.19
4	550–600	587	431.00–440.00	435.42
3	600–650	615	416.00	416.00
2	650–700	665	362.50–370.00	366.28
1	750–800	785	350.00	350.00
2	800–850	825	335.00–336.00	335.51
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	280	450.00	450.00
2	300–350	325	455.00–462.50	458.58
1	350–400	360	452.50	452.50
3	450–500	470	442.50	442.50
1	550–600	575	390.00	390.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	345	412.00–435.00	427.33
3	350–400	388	405.00	405.00
2	400–450	433	362.50–377.50	370.13
2	450–500	463	360.00–370.00	365.14
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	350–400	375	445.00	445.00
1	400–450	425	442.50	442.50
5	450–500	492	409.00	409.00
1	500–550	520	360.00	360.00
11	550–600	585	346.00–370.00	349.33
1	600–650	615	342.50	342.50
3	650–700	655	343.00	343.00
2	800–850	820	287.00–296.00	291.50
2	950–1000	975	250.00	250.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
5	500–550	513	407.00	407.00
46	900–950	907	295.50	295.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
2	250–300	257	505.00	505.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Guaranteed Open$ per cwt · actual wt
11	700–750	730	335.00	335.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,418	3,225.00–3,450.00	3,331.35
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	1,435	3,300.00	3,300.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,315	2,300.00	2,300.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	N/A	1	—	1,300	2,400.00	2,400.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,087	145.00–160.00	153.70
2	—	1,160	165.00–168.00	166.56
2	—	970	128.00–132.00	130.19
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,287	169.00–180.00	174.15
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,473	170.00–186.00	176.43
Steers — Select and Choice$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,357	230.00–236.00	233.55

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

Steers · 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

Replacement Cattle

Slaughter Cattle