Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report, Mt. Sterling, KY

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, March 26, 2025

756 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Bluegrass Stockyard report →

light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $348.10/cwt -8.98 vs last sale · ≈ $1,484/hd at 426 lb · 71 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $318.31/cwt +6.67 vs last sale · ≈ $1,839/hd at 578 lb · 63 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $374.59/cwt +26.12 vs last sale · ≈ $2,084/hd at 556 lb · 59 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 756 751 458
Feeder cattle 654 611 376
Slaughter cattle 72 72 54
Replacement cattle 30 68 28

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher; some weaned thin-fleshed packages suitable for grass sharply higher with very good demand. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower on fleshy offerings; good quality weaned packages noticeably higher with very good demand; over 600 lbs sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with good demand. Slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 lower with moderate demand; except lean cows 3.00 higher with good demand. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher with good demand.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 1 387.50 $387.50 $1,414 -2.98
375–382 fancy 381 7 415.00–432.00 $429.61 $1,637 —
400–435 value added 420 5 385.00–392.50 $389.55 $1,636 -8.57
425–440 433 3 370.00–380.00 $375.61 $1,626 +38.11
460–475 467 5 350.00–365.00 $362.04 $1,691 +7.09
466–482 value added 472 5 380.00–392.50 $387.40 $1,829 +4.18
531 531 5 340.00 $340.00 $1,805 +11.00
502–546 value added 532 21 356.00–386.00 $377.84 $2,010 +2.69
553 fancy 553 42 383.50 $383.50 $2,121 —
556–577 value added 565 17 330.00–363.00 $352.56 $1,992 -6.17
610–622 618 3 296.00–304.00 $301.37 $1,862 +0.82
600–633 value added 627 8 308.00–334.00 $321.67 $2,017 -18.47
655–665 value added 656 14 310.00–340.00 $337.83 $2,216 +31.83
701 fancy 701 25 313.00 $313.00 $2,194 —
700–715 value added 713 8 277.00–289.00 $287.53 $2,050 —
775 775 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,976 —
875–895 888 3 253.00–257.00 $254.98 $2,264 +4.98
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205 205 1 300.00 $300.00 $615 —
315–320 317 3 317.00–350.00 $329.63 $1,045 +24.63
545 545 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,717 +22.74
645 645 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,935 +14.65
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 272.50 $272.50 $804 —
670 670 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,508 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
575 575 1 322.00 $322.00 $1,852 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 fancy 240 1 390.00 $390.00 $936 —
260–280 266 4 325.00–332.50 $328.66 $874 +0.61
255–290 fancy 273 2 350.00–395.00 $371.06 $1,013 —
320–345 334 6 325.00–345.00 $330.13 $1,103 +4.50
335 fancy 335 2 380.00–385.00 $382.50 $1,281 —
350–375 fancy 356 7 350.00–380.00 $362.48 $1,290 —
365–380 375 4 320.00–347.50 $338.60 $1,270 +6.10
375–390 value added 380 3 348.00–357.00 $351.08 $1,334 -27.82
402–448 value added 426 65 320.00–390.00 $352.60 $1,502 -13.31
405–440 430 6 290.00–317.00 $299.31 $1,287 -18.90
450–472 464 4 295.00–305.00 $300.03 $1,392 -24.67
450–496 value added 481 40 319.00–350.00 $331.02 $1,592 -6.88
500–517 value added 507 9 300.00–334.00 $317.42 $1,609 -3.97
500–530 522 10 290.00–300.00 $292.72 $1,528 +1.20
550–590 value added 570 21 300.00–322.00 $307.55 $1,753 -4.09
555–595 575 2 282.50–292.00 $287.42 $1,653 —
582 fancy 582 40 325.50 $325.50 $1,894 —
605–615 610 2 258.50–260.00 $259.26 $1,581 +8.83
600–623 value added 618 21 289.50–313.00 $294.72 $1,821 +6.26
660–665 663 2 270.00–282.00 $275.98 $1,830 +35.22
700–724 value added 721 7 265.00–280.00 $267.08 $1,926 —
728 728 7 244.00 $244.00 $1,776 +4.40
732 fancy 732 10 261.50 $261.50 $1,914 —
752 fancy 752 7 264.50 $264.50 $1,989 —
795 795 1 252.00 $252.00 $2,003 —
920–925 923 2 209.00–228.00 $218.47 $2,016 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 210 1 250.00 $250.00 $525 —
275–295 287 3 280.00–305.00 $296.42 $851 +9.92
360–395 378 3 265.00–292.50 $281.26 $1,063 -16.12
435–445 438 3 275.00–285.00 $281.62 $1,233 —
470–485 479 6 250.00–280.00 $259.74 $1,244 -17.73
585 585 2 260.00–270.00 $265.00 $1,550 -10.00
690 690 1 227.00 $227.00 $1,566 —
730 730 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,460 -28.67
805 805 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,530 —
960 960 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,814 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515 515 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,288 —
555–560 557 3 220.00–250.00 $230.06 $1,281 —
620 620 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,240 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
615 615 2 260.00 $260.00 $1,599 —
760 760 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,748 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075 1075 1 174.00 $174.00 $1,870 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–276 273 5 375.00–397.00 $379.19 $1,035 —
320–345 335 6 330.00–350.00 $342.34 $1,147 -26.39
370–390 fancy 382 3 395.00–410.00 $403.45 $1,541 —
378–395 384 6 375.00–387.50 $378.86 $1,455 +14.00
420–445 value added 431 7 367.50–397.00 $386.18 $1,664 —
450–490 value added 468 18 362.00–375.00 $366.26 $1,714 —
460–490 483 10 336.00–342.50 $338.18 $1,633 -20.23
505–545 value added 523 13 330.00–362.00 $341.83 $1,788 +6.44
556–595 value added 572 11 329.00–341.00 $333.56 $1,908 +2.05
580–586 585 4 309.00–326.00 $313.22 $1,832 +4.52
622–645 value added 635 6 286.00–310.00 $296.20 $1,881 +17.48
665 value added 665 1 272.50 $272.50 $1,812 -13.55
695 695 1 300.00 $300.00 $2,085 —
715 715 1 246.00 $246.00 $1,759 +13.57
775–798 793 5 248.00–264.00 $258.26 $2,048 +15.71
845 845 2 224.00 $224.00 $1,893 -8.47
865 865 2 219.00 $219.00 $1,894 +29.00
905 905 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,729 -10.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 330.00 $330.00 $726 —
255–285 270 2 317.00–357.00 $338.11 $913 +3.11
330 330 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,056 +3.45
375–395 385 2 340.00–347.50 $343.65 $1,323 -1.65
415–430 425 3 335.00–345.00 $338.25 $1,438 +23.25
475–485 480 3 285.00–300.00 $290.05 $1,392 +12.68
515–525 520 2 265.00–317.00 $291.25 $1,514 +21.25
562–570 565 3 252.50–290.00 $277.38 $1,567 +5.92
635 635 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,524 -4.00
685 685 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,781 +22.64
790 790 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,738 -4.00
820 820 1 207.00 $207.00 $1,697 —
950 950 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,662 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
960–1165 1063 (<2 yrs)N/A 2 1,775.00–1,800.00 $1,788.71 —
1300–1440 1370 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 2,250.00–2,675.00 $2,473.36 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
570 570 1 311.00 $311.00 $1,773 —
925 925 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,734 +7.50
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 215.00 $215.00 $462 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1280–1590 1442 75-80% 11 141.00–159.00 $145.49 $2,098 +8.65
1225–1790 1445 75-80% 9 134.00–140.50 $137.38 $1,985 +0.54
1240–1765 1485 75-80% 3 103.00–128.00 $117.48 $1,745 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1125 1125 80-85% 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,474 -9.00
1100–1245 1159 80-85% 7 134.00–141.00 $138.18 $1,602 —
1045–1490 1255 80-85% 11 142.00–156.50 $146.93 $1,844 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845–1320 1038 85-90% 6 114.00–125.00 $118.40 $1,229 —
950–1210 1119 85-90% 6 128.00–145.50 $133.31 $1,492 —
1120 1120 85-90% 1 97.00 $97.00 $1,086 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260 1260 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,890 —
1350–2165 1671 10 173.00–200.00 $185.81 $3,105 —
1745–2450 2125 3 151.00–171.00 $161.26 $3,427 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1085–1380 1169 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 7 144.00–163.00 $153.29 $1,792
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
835–1150 1021 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 134.00–143.00 $139.23 $1,422

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1015 1015 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,075.00 $2,075.00
1215–1507 1356 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,925.00–2,125.00 $2,048.76
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
885–1325 1105 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,475.00–1,810.00 $1,675.85
1200 1200 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1150 1150 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,075.00 $2,075.00 +250.00

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1860–2090 1975 80-85% 2 129.50–135.00 $132.09 $2,609 —

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.