Sale reports / Kentucky / Mount Sterling Livestock Auction / 2026-10-21

Mount Sterling Livestock Auction

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · Wed, Oct 21
● Final114 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2202
Feeder Cattle receipts
468 head
▼ 275 vs last sale 743▼ 93 vs year ago 561 · −16.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
102 head
▲ 44 vs last sale 58▲ 5 vs year ago 97 · +5.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
60 head
▼ 64 vs last sale 124▲ 11 vs year ago 49 · +22.4%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was mixed with an average quality offering. Feeder steers 350-650 lbs were steady to 5.00 lower with a limited supply and spotty demand, while the yearling steers appeared firm but with limited head to head comparisons. Feeder heifers 350 lbs and under were sharply higher with a lite test, while the 400-600 lbs heifers were steady to 5.00 higher with a good supply and good demand for quality cattle. Slaughter cows and bulls were steady to 3.00 higher with a good supply and good demand.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $390.22/cwt on 26 head, down $15.50 from the prior sale. That ranks 7 of 24 comparable sales and sits −59.80 against this barn's trailing median of $450.02.
Average price
$390.22
▼ 15.50 vs prior sale
26 head · 541 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,112
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$340
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1
$54.29/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−3.49
vs KY average
−49.05 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2543394.292,14223
Medium and Large 2523368.521,9272thin
Large 1530340.001,8021thin
One grade step is worth $54.29/cwt here — about $340 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.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale26 hd
390.22
—
KY average26 barns · 900 hd
393.71
−3.49
National average183 barns · 33,329 hd
439.27
−49.05
This barn, trailing median24 sales
450.02
−59.80
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

24 sales
530470411351median 450.0202/2504/2206/1709/2310/28
Steers 500–600 lb: high $515.83, low $365.46, median $450.02 across 24 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

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—Low1,673173.772,90712
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,606134.082,15323
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,303133.991,74517
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,108105.391,16823
HeifersSelect and ChoiceAverage1,387173.232,4033thin

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)1,289$2,7205
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,195$2,5468
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,263$2,2002thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)874$1,7638
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)980$1,7501thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)958$1,7002thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,335$1,5182thin
Cow-Calf Pairs1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,476$3,4504thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,574$3,2826
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,175$2,9001thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,433$2,8452thin

Every lot, as filed

114 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. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers22 lots · lightest first
Steers150–200Medium and Large 2185400.00/cwt400.00–400.007402
Steers200–250Medium and Large 2245450.00/cwt450.00–450.001,1031
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2360385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,3861
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2387443.36/cwt440.00–450.001,7163
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Fancy388496.00/cwt496.00–496.001,92410
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2425420.77/cwt415.00–427.501,7883
Steers450–500Large 1475382.50/cwt382.50–382.501,8172
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2479381.86/cwt370.00–395.001,8295
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2-3480312.50/cwt312.50–312.501,5001
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2487425.11/cwt410.00–428.002,07015
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2523399.16/cwt390.00–405.002,08812
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2523368.52/cwt367.00–370.001,9272
Steers500–550Large 1530340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,8021
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Value Added540422.00/cwt422.00–422.002,2791
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Value Added556404.00/cwt404.00–404.002,2464
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2576373.44/cwt365.00–380.002,1516
Steers600–650Medium and Large 2605326.00/cwt326.00–326.001,9721
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2614374.61/cwt359.00–380.002,3004
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2681338.01/cwt336.00–340.002,3024
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2735334.94/cwt319.00–338.002,4626
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2770320.44/cwt311.00–330.002,4672
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2Value Added820354.50/cwt354.50–354.502,90761
Feeder Cattle · Heifers27 lots · lightest first
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 2210430.00/cwt430.00–430.009031
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 1-2Fancy241533.97/cwt530.00–542.501,2873
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2262495.00/cwt495.00–495.001,2972
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2303430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,3034
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Fancy319482.67/cwt465.00–492.501,5405
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 2-3340305.00/cwt305.00–305.001,0371
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Fancy355451.00/cwt445.00–460.001,6015
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2379407.40/cwt397.00–417.001,54410
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Fancy424432.15/cwt417.00–445.001,8329
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2430380.79/cwt380.00–382.501,6373
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2437400.95/cwt390.00–410.001,7525
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2-3442350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,5472
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Fancy457381.53/cwt377.00–390.001,7443
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2481322.44/cwt320.00–330.001,5514
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2487353.04/cwt346.00–365.001,71912
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2515317.43/cwt300.00–322.501,6355
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Value Added516355.30/cwt353.00–370.001,83331
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2535342.37/cwt337.50–347.001,8327
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2-3557240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,3372
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2568304.98/cwt300.00–310.001,7322
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2575326.12/cwt319.00–340.001,8759
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Value Added582360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,0952
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Value Added616358.01/cwt347.50–359.502,2058
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2618315.94/cwt310.00–319.001,9533
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2680285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,9381
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2690307.50/cwt292.50–315.002,1225
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2740310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,2942
Feeder Cattle · Bulls32 lots · lightest first
Bulls150–200Medium and Large 2-3185360.00/cwt360.00–360.006661
Bulls200–250Medium and Large 2-3240350.00/cwt350.00–350.008401
Bulls250–300Medium and Large 1-2252482.50/cwt482.50–482.501,2162
Bulls250–300Medium and Large 2260400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,0401
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1-2Fancy315505.74/cwt497.50–520.001,5933
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 2330410.00/cwt410.00–410.001,3531
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1-2337465.00/cwt465.00–465.001,5672
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 2367416.79/cwt400.00–427.501,5305
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2383465.96/cwt457.50–475.001,7852
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2Fancy385502.50/cwt502.50–502.501,9352
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 2-3406300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,2183
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2427436.09/cwt427.50–440.001,8623
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 2441407.96/cwt407.00–412.001,7995
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2465393.98/cwt382.50–400.001,8326
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 2493355.58/cwt352.50–365.001,7534
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 2513312.80/cwt300.00–325.001,6052
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2Fancy524390.06/cwt375.00–402.002,04410
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2527344.95/cwt340.00–360.001,8188
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 2-3540240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,2961
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2566357.86/cwt340.00–367.002,0256
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2Fancy568382.50/cwt382.50–382.502,1734
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 2588298.30/cwt290.00–310.001,7543
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2625329.31/cwt317.00–339.002,05816
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 2625290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,8131
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2666326.09/cwt309.00–336.002,1729
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 2676296.77/cwt290.00–300.002,0063
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1-2715296.46/cwt282.50–305.002,1206
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1-2787295.01/cwt275.00–300.002,3225
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1-2812262.64/cwt250.00–269.002,1333
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 2858234.99/cwt232.50–237.502,0162
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 2920223.00/cwt223.00–223.002,0521
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 2970211.00/cwt211.00–211.002,0471
Slaughter Cattle · Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Heifers—Select and Choice1,387173.23/cwt161.00–180.002,4033
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,217158.17/cwt148.00–166.001,9253
Bulls——1,795190.46/cwt187.00–193.503,4192
Bulls——1,833175.69/cwt172.00–182.003,2207
Slaughter Cattle · Cows8 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%91362.71/cwt55.00–69.005732
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,10995.94/cwt91.00–101.001,0646
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,128113.71/cwt107.00–125.001,28314
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,215131.00/cwt131.00–131.001,5921
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,265139.83/cwt137.00–145.001,7696
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,323130.81/cwt121.00–136.001,73111
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,546141.01/cwt139.00–143.002,1806
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,627131.63/cwt124.00–136.002,14217
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows13 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Small and Medium 27771,050.00/head1,050.00–1,050.001,0502
Bred Cows—Small and Medium 27951,400.00/head1,400.00–1,400.001,4001
Bred Cows—Small and Medium 28001,100.00/head1,100.00–1,100.001,1001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 29062,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0006
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 29801,750.00/head1,750.00–1,750.001,7501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 31,0181,286.30/head1,185.00–1,375.001,2862
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 21,1051,300.00/head1,300.00–1,300.001,3001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1152,300.00/head2,300.00–2,300.002,3001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 21,1802,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2542,965.54/head2,550.00–3,350.002,9666
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3452,300.00/head2,300.00–2,300.002,3001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,4123,049.61/head2,600.00–3,375.003,0504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,5651,735.00/head1,735.00–1,735.001,7351
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows1 lot · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,092168.17/cwt127.00–220.001,83618
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs7 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 21,1752,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 21,3852,594.95/head2,400.00–2,800.002,5952
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,4332,845.46/head2,650.00–3,050.002,8452
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,4763,450.00/head3,450.00–3,450.003,4504
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,6624,175.00/head4,175.00–4,175.004,1752
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,6704,000.00/head4,000.00–4,000.004,0001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,6802,150.00/head2,150.00–2,150.002,1501

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.