Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report, Mt. Sterling, KY

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, February 18, 2026

431 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $430.70/cwt +14.33 vs last sale · ≈ $2,225/hd at 517 lb · 48 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $426.03/cwt +29.39 vs last sale · ≈ $2,454/hd at 576 lb · 34 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $478.48/cwt +33.61 vs last sale · ≈ $2,702/hd at 565 lb · 31 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 431 624 0
Feeder cattle 395 555 0
Slaughter cattle 31 44 0
Replacement cattle 5 25 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was stronger with a good quality offering. Feeder steers 600 lbs and under were 3.00 to 8.00 higher or greater in spots with a good supply and strong demand. Yearling steers appeared stronger as well but with limited comparisons. Feeder heifers were sharply higher across all weight classes with a good supply and strong demand. Buyers were active today and continue to increase the premiums paid for quality feeders. Slaughter cows were 2.00 to 4.00 higher with a moderate supply and slaughter bulls appeared stronger but with limited comparisons.

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
350–357 thin fleshed 355 3 577.50–600.00 $584.90 $2,076 —
380–396 fancy 393 8 525.00–550.00 $539.48 $2,120 +23.21
400–415 fancy 407 8 532.50–552.50 $540.29 $2,199 —
420–441 436 4 512.00–520.00 $518.07 $2,259 +44.28
467–498 486 13 466.00–494.00 $480.72 $2,336 +4.20
475–494 fancy 487 15 509.00–527.00 $515.96 $2,513 +1.79
505–540 523 2 417.00–440.00 $428.11 $2,239 +37.02
517–547 value added 536 6 446.00–471.00 $457.09 $2,450 +3.43
550–555 553 3 420.00–447.50 $434.16 $2,401 +41.42
558–577 value added 566 28 465.00–490.00 $483.23 $2,735 +27.38
620–640 value added 623 9 430.00–452.00 $447.33 $2,787 +10.56
600–642 629 4 399.00–420.00 $413.54 $2,601 +4.54
655–673 value added 665 20 415.00–431.00 $419.03 $2,787 —
695 695 1 391.00 $391.00 $2,717 —
700 700 1 386.00 $386.00 $2,702 —
755–793 779 9 352.00–373.00 $360.82 $2,811 +0.82
800–842 828 3 332.00–340.00 $334.58 $2,770 —
898 898 3 331.00 $331.00 $2,972 +8.09
990 990 1 290.00 $290.00 $2,871 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 477.50 $477.50 $1,862 —
410 410 1 435.00 $435.00 $1,784 —
460–477 471 3 431.00–436.00 $434.37 $2,046 +11.87
783 783 4 345.00 $345.00 $2,701 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 1 410.00 $410.00 $1,886 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 470.00 $470.00 $1,246 +1.35
280 fancy 280 1 510.00 $510.00 $1,428 —
337 fancy 337 2 522.50 $522.50 $1,761 +27.50
370–380 375 2 475.00–485.00 $480.07 $1,800 +42.43
365–385 fancy 382 7 497.00–515.00 $507.51 $1,939 +49.46
405–435 fancy 414 6 497.50–505.00 $499.99 $2,070 +26.74
415–440 424 4 452.50–475.00 $465.04 $1,972 +20.82
455 fancy 455 3 482.50 $482.50 $2,195 +17.44
470–485 477 4 435.00–450.00 $441.19 $2,104 +41.25
500–546 value added 516 46 421.00–436.00 $431.60 $2,227 +12.02
530 530 2 410.00 $410.00 $2,173 +20.88
550–570 560 2 385.00–394.00 $389.58 $2,182 +7.86
557–578 value added 577 32 417.50–429.00 $428.31 $2,471 +16.94
610–640 627 3 335.00–355.00 $346.52 $2,173 +1.65
610–647 629 4 384.00–390.00 $386.91 $2,434 +42.04
655 655 2 360.00–365.00 $362.50 $2,374 +29.20
667–697 688 11 338.00–355.00 $345.56 $2,377 +12.26
706–730 714 5 314.00–335.00 $327.69 $2,340 +60.19
748 748 3 342.50 $342.50 $2,562 +22.42
750 750 3 336.00 $336.00 $2,520 +18.66
759 759 10 349.50 $349.50 $2,653 +32.16
770 770 1 315.00 $315.00 $2,426 -2.34
885 885 2 347.50 $347.50 $3,075 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–395 373 4 435.00–455.00 $448.71 $1,674 +41.21
425–445 435 2 422.50–427.50 $424.94 $1,848 —
470 470 2 405.00–410.00 $407.50 $1,915 —
515 515 2 372.50 $372.50 $1,918 —
690 690 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,139 +4.93
850 850 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,295 —
905–915 910 2 277.00–277.50 $277.25 $2,523 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 300.00 $300.00 $855 —
322 322 2 330.00 $330.00 $1,063 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 470 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,810 —
505 505 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,868 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 fancy 280 1 585.00 $585.00 $1,638 —
305–320 313 2 540.00–555.00 $547.32 $1,713 —
355–380 fancy 368 2 560.00–587.50 $573.28 $2,110 —
385 385 1 525.00 $525.00 $2,021 —
400 400 1 495.00 $495.00 $1,980 +17.25
465–495 478 4 462.00–472.50 $469.19 $2,243 +36.69
480 fancy 480 1 497.00 $497.00 $2,386 —
502 fancy 502 2 475.00 $475.00 $2,384 +20.00
525 525 2 440.00–452.50 $446.25 $2,343 +27.43
565–580 575 3 404.00–432.50 $422.92 $2,432 —
625 625 1 406.00 $406.00 $2,538 +29.39
665 665 1 391.00 $391.00 $2,600 +32.23
820 820 1 299.00 $299.00 $2,452 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515 515 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,906 -20.00
805 805 1 265.00 $265.00 $2,133 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
695–1215 1041 85-90% 6 135.00–150.00 $140.67 $1,464 -21.82
1035–1140 1070 85-90% 3 129.00–132.00 $130.29 $1,394 -9.49
1050–1270 1177 85-90% 3 154.50–178.00 $168.85 $1,987 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1390–1645 1504 75-80% 5 177.00–183.00 $179.20 $2,695 —
1455–1845 1634 75-80% 4 158.00–172.00 $167.52 $2,737 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175–1415 1307 80-85% 5 164.00–175.00 $169.85 $2,220 —
1435 1435 80-85% 1 191.00 $191.00 $2,741 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1740 1430 3 181.00–198.50 $192.78 $2,757 —
1715–1890 1803 2 209.50–222.00 $216.05 $3,895 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1100–1125 1113 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 200.00–203.00 $201.52 $2,243

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1250–1305 1278 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 3,100.00–3,300.00 $3,202.15

↑ Back to top

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.