Sale reports / Kentucky / Mount Sterling Livestock Auction / 2026-09-30

Mount Sterling Livestock Auction

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · Wed, Sep 30
● Final100 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2202
← Sep 23Sep 30latest
Feeder Cattle receipts
665 head
▲ 481 vs last sale 184▲ 177 vs year ago 488 · +36.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
37 head
▲ 16 vs last sale 21▼ 47 vs year ago 84 · −56.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
71 head
▲ 20 vs last sale 51▼ 100 vs year ago 171 · −58.5%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was spotty with an average quality offering of mostly yearling cattle. Light weight steers 400 lbs and under appeared lower with a lite test, while the 500-650 lbs steers were 5.00 to 8.00 higher with a good supply and good demand for weaned and harder conditioned calves. Feeder heifers 350-600 lbs were 3.00 to 5.00 lower with a good supply and moderate demand. Slaughter cows and bulls were steady to 2.00 lower with a moderate supply and noted an increased interest in cows returning to the farm.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $378.35/cwt on 55 head, up $4.34 from the prior sale (only 19 head in that comparison). That ranks 4 of 22 comparable sales and sits −77.78 against this barn's trailing median of $456.13.
Average price
$378.35
▲ 4.34 vs prior sale
55 head · 567 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,146
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$367
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2
$42.12/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−15.51
vs KY average
−35.48 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2568379.122,15354
Medium and Large 2530337.001,7861thin
One grade step is worth $42.12/cwt here — about $367 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
530470411351median 456.1302/1103/2505/1307/0809/30
Steers 500–600 lb: high $515.83, low $365.46, median $456.13 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 sale55 hd
378.35
—
KY average26 barns · 994 hd
393.87
−15.51
National average172 barns · 15,995 hd
413.83
−35.48
This barn, trailing median22 sales
456.13
−77.78
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
Bulls—Average1,572174.352,7413thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,264143.451,8134thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,375133.891,8415thin
CowsLean 85-90%High1,028117.551,2086thin

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)1,238$2,8132thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,134$2,7608
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)980$2,7001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)960$2,6751thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,288$2,2502thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)886$2,1505
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)825$2,2751thin
BullsN/AYoung (2-4 yrs)1,370$2,1501thin
Cow-Calf Pairs2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,350$4,9001thin
Cow-Calf Pairs2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,510$4,4001thin
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,650$3,8001thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,293$3,6239
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,048$3,3653thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,255$2,1882thin

Every lot, as filed

100 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
BullsMedium and Large 1-2550–600568332.33/cwt320.00–345.001,8882
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2350–400385387.50/cwt387.50–387.501,4921
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600–650632336.86/cwt328.00–351.002,12917
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed650–700653360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,3519
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600568322.69/cwt310.00–334.001,83321
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added800–850801349.50/cwt349.50–349.502,79964
BullsMedium and Large 1-2450–500489358.89/cwt350.00–370.001,7555
SteersMedium and Large 1-2700–750731321.92/cwt308.00–329.002,3533
HeifersMedium and Large 2500–550528300.81/cwt287.50–314.001,5882
SteersMedium and Large 2600–650630310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,9531
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2400–450425365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,5511
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added1150–12001,172275.25/cwt275.25–275.253,22650
SteersMedium and Large 1-2500–550518357.41/cwt350.00–367.001,8518
SteersMedium and Large 1-2800–850840304.00/cwt304.00–304.002,5541
BullsMedium and Large 2450–500488320.84/cwt320.00–322.501,5663
HeifersMedium and Large 2450–500483317.90/cwt305.00–324.001,5353
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added850–900896323.00/cwt323.00–323.002,89454
SteersMedium and Large 1-2550–600575353.69/cwt351.00–355.002,0349
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650–700664293.35/cwt285.00–297.001,94811
BullsMedium and Large 2350–400390425.00/cwt425.00–425.001,6582
HeifersMedium and Large 2550–600558301.75/cwt301.00–302.001,6844
SteersMedium and Large 2450–500475376.22/cwt365.00–399.001,7873
SteersMedium and Large 2350–400370440.00/cwt440.00–440.001,6281
HeifersMedium and Large 2250–300265370.00/cwt370.00–370.009811
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added600–650607336.50/cwt336.50–336.502,04354
BullsMedium and Large 2400–450415379.82/cwt370.00–385.001,5763
SteersMedium and Large 2-3450–500487340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,6564
SteersMedium and Large 2-3350–400365340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,2413
HeifersMedium and Large 2350–400368370.84/cwt370.00–372.001,3655
SteersMedium and Large 2500–550530337.00/cwt337.00–337.001,7861
SteersMedium and Large 1-2750–800757311.65/cwt310.00–315.002,3593
BullsMedium and Large 2500–550505312.00/cwt312.00–312.001,5761
BullsMedium and Large 2-3450–500475312.00/cwt312.00–312.001,4821
BullsMedium and Large 2-3300–350337342.50/cwt342.50–342.501,1542
HeifersMedium and Large 2200–250245395.00/cwt395.00–395.009681
SteersMedium and Large 2650–700695310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,1551
BullsMedium and Large 2550–600590300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,7701
HeifersMedium and Large 2-3400–450425277.50/cwt277.50–277.501,1791
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 2—1,2502,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 2—1,2081,953.38/head1,825.00–2,200.001,9533
Bred CowsMedium and Large 2—1,2101,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8501
SteersMedium and Large 2-3400–450400337.50/cwt337.50–337.501,3501
HeifersMedium and Large 2800–850805260.00/cwt260.00–260.002,0931
BullsMedium and Large 2-3350–400350347.50/cwt347.50–347.501,2161
CowsBoner 80-85%—1,280160.00/cwt160.00–160.002,0481
CowsBreaker 75-80%—1,375133.89/cwt130.00–137.001,8415
BullsLarge 1650–700652297.50/cwt297.50–297.501,9402
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,6503,800.00/head3,800.00–3,800.003,8001
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,4353,702.22/head3,175.00–4,300.003,7022
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,5104,400.00/head4,400.00–4,400.004,4001
Bulls——1,698181.78/cwt180.50–183.503,0872
Bulls——1,320159.50/cwt159.50–159.502,1051
CowsLean 85-90%—1,165142.00/cwt142.00–142.001,6541
CowsLean 85-90%—880104.09/cwt92.00–115.009163
CowsLean 85-90%—1,180125.53/cwt118.00–135.001,4812
CowsBoner 80-85%—1,258137.94/cwt133.00–150.001,7353
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,3504,900.00/head4,900.00–4,900.004,9001
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,1453,700.00/head3,700.00–3,700.003,7001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2—1,3652,650.00/head2,650.00–2,650.002,6501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2—8862,149.75/head1,875.00–2,250.002,1505
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2—1,0903,244.48/head2,625.00–3,700.003,2445
Bred CowsMedium and Large 2—1,0702,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5001
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 2—1,4203,025.00/head3,025.00–3,025.003,0251
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,1653,611.16/head3,400.00–3,800.003,6112
BullsMedium and Large 2—1,3702,150.00/head2,150.00–2,150.002,1501
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 2—8252,275.00/head2,275.00–2,275.002,2751
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2—9602,675.00/head2,675.00–2,675.002,6751
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2—944200.51/cwt175.00–235.001,8939
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500465376.45/cwt365.00–379.001,75011
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy550–600558367.57/cwt362.50–372.502,0516
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2—9802,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2—1,4053,125.00/head3,125.00–3,125.003,1251
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,2601,875.00/head1,875.00–1,875.001,8751
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,2583,994.90/head3,950.00–4,050.003,9953
BullsMedium and Large 1-2650–700666313.78/cwt307.50–323.002,0907
BullsMedium and Large 1-2500–550519334.30/cwt325.00–342.501,7358
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 2—1,2452,975.00/head2,975.00–2,975.002,9751
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 2—9402,125.00/cwt2,125.00–2,125.0019,9751
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2850–900875287.50/cwt287.50–287.502,5161
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2950–1000970225.00/cwt225.00–225.002,1831
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy450–500460391.00/cwt391.00–391.001,7995
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open700–750720314.00/cwt314.00–314.002,2611
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Fancy500–550522359.34/cwt357.00–367.501,8768
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,0003,197.00/head2,900.00–3,500.003,1972
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650616298.93/cwt290.00–310.001,8419
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2450–500468346.94/cwt337.50–357.501,62416
BullsMedium and Large 1-2400–450420436.51/cwt430.00–450.001,8336
BullsMedium and Large 1-2350–400383467.45/cwt460.00–475.001,7902
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2700–750730282.84/cwt275.00–295.002,0655
BullsMedium and Large 1-2800–850810280.00/cwt280.00–280.002,2681
SteersMedium and Large 1-2450–500455430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,9571
SteersMedium and Large 1-2400–450421410.00/cwt410.00–410.001,7263
BullsMedium and Large 1-2600–650614321.04/cwt310.00–325.001,9715
BullsMedium and Large 1-2750–800770299.79/cwt297.50–302.002,3082
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Guaranteed Open550–600563342.00/cwt342.00–342.001,9254
SteersMedium and Large 1-2650–700682349.96/cwt346.00–350.502,3878
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added1000–10501,013299.50/cwt299.50–299.503,034107
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added550–600577390.00/cwt390.00–390.002,25037
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2500–550522327.53/cwt319.00–345.001,71017
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2750–800765302.00/cwt302.00–302.002,3101

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.