Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report, Mt. Sterling, KY

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, April 16, 2025

585 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $347.10/cwt +34.24 vs last sale · ≈ $1,657/hd at 477 lb · 38 head
light 8-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $266.25/cwt ≈ $2,221/hd at 834 lb · 32 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $319.40/cwt +15.01 vs last sale · ≈ $1,799/hd at 563 lb · 31 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 585 364 634
Feeder cattle 478 316 478
Slaughter cattle 79 30 117
Replacement cattle 28 18 39

Compared to last Wednesday feeder steers and heifers under 600 lbs sold sharply higher on weaned packages in a limited comparison. Yearlings good demand in a lite test. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls sold 5.00 to 8.00 higher with very good demand.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–290 fancy 268 3 400.00–447.00 $423.10 $1,134 —
290 290 1 342.50 $342.50 $993 —
305 fancy 305 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,220 —
320–345 value added 333 2 412.00–425.00 $418.74 $1,394 —
350–375 value added 359 4 400.00–437.00 $414.69 $1,489 -10.31
360 fancy 360 1 430.00 $430.00 $1,548 —
360–385 373 2 380.00–397.00 $388.79 $1,450 +0.44
400–440 value added 414 13 395.00–420.00 $408.74 $1,692 +33.64
405–445 422 5 375.00–394.00 $385.28 $1,626 +26.98
455–472 466 3 335.00–367.50 $356.93 $1,663 +11.93
460–499 value added 492 17 390.00–412.00 $400.80 $1,972 +15.80
505 505 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,717 +40.00
508–535 value added 517 11 350.00–395.00 $380.67 $1,968 +15.40
555–595 value added 578 28 342.50–375.00 $355.09 $2,052 +12.18
565–590 578 2 325.00–335.00 $330.11 $1,908 —
600–647 value added 628 21 317.00–337.50 $326.69 $2,052 -0.31
605–639 633 6 290.00–305.00 $302.61 $1,916 +19.61
657 fancy 657 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,971 —
676–680 value added 677 4 290.00–325.00 $316.21 $2,141 —
655–690 681 4 275.00–285.00 $282.60 $1,925 -5.73
701–736 value added 719 7 280.00–300.00 $286.83 $2,062 —
743 743 4 250.00 $250.00 $1,858 —
835 835 2 246.00 $246.00 $2,054 -23.57
900 900 3 248.00 $248.00 $2,232 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 282.50 $282.50 $805 —
317–330 321 3 332.50–360.00 $350.59 $1,125 +0.59
380 380 2 325.00 $325.00 $1,235 -27.89
425–435 428 4 300.00–335.00 $315.12 $1,349 —
530–545 538 2 300.00–312.00 $306.08 $1,647 —
612 612 2 265.00 $265.00 $1,622 +15.00
650–690 663 3 250.00–251.00 $250.65 $1,662 —
775 775 1 226.00 $226.00 $1,752 —
815 815 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,793 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225–240 233 2 252.50–265.00 $258.95 $603 —
400 400 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,060 —
465 465 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,186 -5.00
520 520 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,261 —
640 640 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,408 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
672 672 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,680 -14.00
935 935 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,683 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–285 272 3 367.50–392.50 $381.27 $1,037 +30.77
325–330 327 3 347.50–355.00 $352.47 $1,153 +20.29
315–347 value added 336 3 382.50–425.00 $395.77 $1,330 —
355–395 value added 372 13 370.00–400.00 $393.23 $1,463 —
360–395 378 6 325.00–367.00 $347.50 $1,314 +29.50
410 410 1 321.00 $321.00 $1,316 +10.61
400–445 value added 424 15 352.50–390.00 $372.74 $1,580 +48.27
455–488 475 7 324.00–330.00 $326.57 $1,551 +20.27
456–496 value added 478 31 340.00–375.00 $351.74 $1,681 +36.69
505–515 value added 507 5 322.00–370.00 $346.46 $1,757 +28.80
530–532 531 3 302.50 $302.50 $1,606 +4.59
552–588 562 13 300.00–316.00 $307.50 $1,728 —
550–595 value added 564 18 323.00–330.00 $327.99 $1,850 +23.60
607–620 value added 612 6 280.00–315.00 $298.87 $1,829 +4.87
610–640 625 2 270.00–274.00 $271.95 $1,700 -6.90
740 740 1 244.00 $244.00 $1,806 -16.00
834 834 32 266.25 $266.25 $2,221 —
990 990 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,930 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 307.00 $307.00 $752 —
275 275 1 282.50 $282.50 $777 -29.50
305 305 1 300.00 $300.00 $915 —
360 360 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,206 +47.50
425–427 426 3 301.00–312.50 $308.68 $1,315 +26.21
450–495 479 7 272.00–305.00 $293.60 $1,406 +29.80
500–540 520 2 285.00 $285.00 $1,482 +12.10
570 570 1 193.00 $193.00 $1,100 —
625 625 1 247.00 $247.00 $1,544 +8.17
755–795 775 2 202.50–222.00 $212.00 $1,643 —
805–825 815 2 162.50–175.00 $168.67 $1,375 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 495 1 307.00 $307.00 $1,520 —
540 540 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,566 —
565–590 578 2 257.50–272.50 $264.84 $1,531 —
855 855 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,838 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 350 1 240.00 $240.00 $840 —
440 440 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,034 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265 1265 1 187.00 $187.00 $2,366 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–210 205 2 330.00–375.00 $353.05 $724 —
275 fancy 275 1 407.00 $407.00 $1,119 —
320–335 fancy 328 2 420.00–430.00 $425.11 $1,394 —
370 370 1 410.00 $410.00 $1,517 +31.25
415–425 fancy 418 3 400.00–407.00 $404.63 $1,691 —
415–430 value added 422 4 412.00–427.00 $415.82 $1,755 +40.82
415–445 437 7 344.00–390.00 $383.03 $1,674 +33.34
465–495 481 7 342.00–360.00 $348.77 $1,678 -3.97
515–537 528 7 310.00–344.00 $316.83 $1,673 -8.17
585–597 594 4 320.00–340.00 $327.44 $1,945 —
610–620 value added 615 2 302.50–312.00 $307.21 $1,889 —
688 value added 688 4 285.00 $285.00 $1,961 —
786 786 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,926 -6.76
835 835 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,754 +15.00
850 850 1 227.00 $227.00 $1,930 —
925 925 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,711 —
985 985 1 214.00 $214.00 $2,108 —
1130–1135 1133 2 177.50–198.00 $187.77 $2,127 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 325.00 $325.00 $699 —
345 345 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,000 -21.00
365–390 378 2 280.00–350.00 $313.84 $1,186 -16.16
405–440 425 3 262.50–277.00 $267.97 $1,139 -32.03
485 485 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,382 —
505–545 525 2 272.50–300.00 $285.73 $1,500 —
550–590 570 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,539 +11.44
630–635 633 2 242.50–272.00 $257.19 $1,628 —
670 670 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,708 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,495 -12.50
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 1 250.00 $250.00 $638 —

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Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900–1260 1084 85-90% 19 135.50–158.00 $147.02 $1,594 —
975–1240 1090 85-90% 4 115.00–127.00 $122.11 $1,331 —
1005–1265 1122 85-90% 3 107.00–114.00 $111.16 $1,247 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1365 1187 80-85% 7 143.00–149.00 $147.31 $1,749 —
1100–1430 1243 80-85% 3 132.50–139.00 $136.19 $1,693 +9.70
1065–1575 1256 80-85% 14 151.00–160.00 $155.85 $1,957 +15.85
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1310–1445 1378 75-80% 2 132.00–134.50 $133.31 $1,837 —
1230–1835 1428 75-80% 6 144.00–149.00 $147.44 $2,105 +4.58
1285–1655 1456 75-80% 13 149.00–159.50 $153.68 $2,238 —

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1395 1395 1 153.00 $153.00 $2,134 —
1505–1515 1510 2 171.00–177.00 $173.99 $2,627 —
1450–2100 1877 9 179.00–200.00 $188.62 $3,540 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
815–1105 994 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 162.00–178.00 $168.82 $1,678
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
765–1430 1026 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 133.00–149.00 $140.00 $1,436

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1090 1090 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,350.00 $2,350.00
1125–1355 1292 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 2,100.00–2,625.00 $2,491.60
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1095 1095 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1480 1480 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 2,700.00 $2,700.00 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260 1260 85-90% 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,386 —

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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.