Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report, Mt. Sterling, KY

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, April 15, 2026

645 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $430.59/cwt +9.24 vs last sale · ≈ $2,450/hd at 569 lb · 73 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $484.98/cwt +17.48 vs last sale · ≈ $2,880/hd at 594 lb · 44 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $489.30/cwt +20.89 vs last sale · ≈ $2,104/hd at 430 lb · 43 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 645 397 585
Feeder cattle 536 291 478
Slaughter cattle 70 48 79
Replacement cattle 39 58 28

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was mixed with a good quality offering. Feeder steers 450 lbs and under appeared sharply higher, while the 500-650 lbs steers were 4.00 to 6.00 higher with a good supply and good demand for weaned and harder conditioned calves. Feeder heifers 350 lbs and under were sharply lower with a lite test, while the 400-600 lbs heifers were mostly steady with a good supply and good demand. Slaughter cows were 4.00 to 6.00 lower with a good supply and slaughter bulls were 2.00 to 3.00 lower with moderate demand for slaughter cattle.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 590.00 $590.00 $1,947 +41.00
365 fancy 365 2 645.00 $645.00 $2,354 —
390 390 2 570.00–572.50 $571.25 $2,228 —
400–432 fancy 413 7 550.00–585.00 $569.29 $2,351 +16.79
400–441 427 6 512.50–537.50 $524.17 $2,238 -2.29
435 thin fleshed 435 1 602.50 $602.50 $2,621 —
460–495 475 3 485.00–487.50 $485.87 $2,308 -31.63
451–495 fancy 489 31 540.00–557.50 $543.68 $2,659 -23.82
503–530 value added 512 18 512.00–543.00 $527.55 $2,701 +25.01
520–547 537 7 470.00–502.00 $484.31 $2,601 +11.87
570 570 2 475.00 $475.00 $2,708 +7.50
550–596 value added 595 42 485.25–495.00 $485.46 $2,888 —
624–638 value added 628 14 430.00–444.00 $437.89 $2,750 —
645 645 1 400.00 $400.00 $2,580 -12.03
657–660 value added 659 8 420.00–430.00 $422.49 $2,784 —
660–697 685 3 400.00–413.00 $404.18 $2,769 —
712–742 732 8 382.00–395.00 $386.12 $2,826 —
755–769 764 8 381.00–382.00 $381.63 $2,916 —
878 878 3 340.00 $340.00 $2,985 —
980 980 1 285.00 $285.00 $2,793 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 495 1 467.50 $467.50 $2,314 —
526 526 4 457.50 $457.50 $2,406 —
555 555 1 425.00 $425.00 $2,359 —
605–615 610 2 347.50–350.00 $348.74 $2,127 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 425.00 $425.00 $1,870 -55.00
475 475 1 430.00 $430.00 $2,042 —
505–515 508 3 415.00 $415.00 $2,108 -50.00

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 505.00 $505.00 $1,364 -15.57
310–330 320 2 477.50–500.00 $488.40 $1,563 -75.44
320–345 fancy 328 3 530.00–550.00 $538.63 $1,767 —
353–395 377 11 482.50–492.50 $486.04 $1,832 -74.67
350–397 fancy 387 12 505.00–522.00 $516.64 $1,999 -56.27
410–435 421 4 447.50–470.00 $462.62 $1,948 -0.40
410–440 fancy 431 39 485.00–510.00 $492.04 $2,121 +2.04
450–487 fancy 476 16 470.00–492.50 $472.09 $2,247 —
470–498 492 15 435.00–450.00 $444.60 $2,187 -7.29
500–540 value added 527 9 427.50–447.50 $437.26 $2,304 —
550 550 1 355.00 $355.00 $1,952 -59.40
551–585 560 21 397.50–420.00 $411.79 $2,306 -2.61
555–586 value added 573 51 430.00–440.50 $439.82 $2,520 +2.25
610–615 613 2 390.00–397.50 $393.73 $2,414 —
657–696 684 12 342.00–365.00 $353.95 $2,421 -6.39
724 724 18 349.00 $349.00 $2,527 —
805 805 1 342.00 $342.00 $2,753 +19.00
865 865 1 341.00 $341.00 $2,950 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 472.50 $472.50 $1,630 —
385–390 388 2 477.50 $477.50 $1,853 -21.50
440 440 1 425.00 $425.00 $1,870 —
515 515 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,983 —
560–575 568 2 365.00–385.00 $374.87 $2,129 —
635–645 640 2 341.00–360.00 $350.57 $2,244 —
665 665 1 327.00 $327.00 $2,175 —
785 785 1 300.00 $300.00 $2,355 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
685 685 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,124 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 402.50 $402.50 $1,328 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 530.00 $530.00 $1,140 -65.00
315 fancy 315 1 700.00 $700.00 $2,205 —
320–340 330 5 592.50–610.00 $603.48 $1,991 +33.73
355 fancy 355 1 617.50 $617.50 $2,192 —
362–397 384 12 545.00–592.50 $579.59 $2,226 -39.89
410–435 424 5 510.00–527.50 $518.54 $2,199 +36.02
457 fancy 457 2 517.00 $517.00 $2,363 -3.00
483 483 3 480.00 $480.00 $2,318 -20.95
512–540 520 4 462.50–472.50 $468.66 $2,437 -12.46
550–560 fancy 555 11 458.00–474.00 $463.47 $2,572 -11.53
565–590 583 4 425.00–445.00 $431.29 $2,514 -9.33
600 fancy 600 1 432.50 $432.50 $2,595 —
602–630 615 5 355.00–395.00 $375.83 $2,311 -16.14
655–695 666 4 360.00–385.00 $377.25 $2,512 +8.13
703–730 708 6 355.00–370.00 $367.42 $2,601 -7.58
760–762 761 4 370.00–372.50 $371.25 $2,825 +74.25
831 831 3 320.00 $320.00 $2,659 -11.00
855–880 868 2 305.00–320.00 $312.39 $2,712 —
940 940 3 282.50 $282.50 $2,656 —
1045 1045 1 245.00 $245.00 $2,560 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450–470 462 3 432.50–450.00 $440.96 $2,037 —
505 505 1 430.00 $430.00 $2,172 —
565 565 1 400.00 $400.00 $2,260 —
620 620 1 340.00 $340.00 $2,108 —
680 680 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,176 —
800 800 1 265.00 $265.00 $2,120 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1005 1005 (<2 yrs)N/A 2 2,700.00 $2,700.00 —
1395 1395 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 6,125.00 $6,125.00 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,820 —
630 630 1 347.50 $347.50 $2,189 —

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Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
770–925 860 85-90% 4 134.00–148.00 $141.17 $1,214 —
860 860 85-90% 1 104.00 $104.00 $894 —
815–925 870 85-90% 2 124.00–128.00 $125.87 $1,095 —
810–1185 1001 85-90% 9 157.50–173.00 $164.35 $1,645 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1285 1153 80-85% 13 166.00–185.00 $175.86 $2,028 —
1370–1425 1398 80-85% 2 160.00 $160.00 $2,237 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1360 1360 75-80% 1 157.00 $157.00 $2,135 —
1110–1685 1450 75-80% 13 166.00–182.00 $173.09 $2,510 —
1625 1625 75-80% 1 189.00 $189.00 $3,071 -13.12

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1785 1475 3 208.00–217.00 $211.53 $3,120 —
1350–1640 1492 3 186.00–200.00 $195.44 $2,916 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
830–1060 952 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 220.00–247.50 $234.41 $2,232
905–1030 985 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 3 173.00–192.50 $180.02 $1,773

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1185 1185 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,625.00 $2,625.00
1150–1250 1200 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 3,025.00–3,200.00 $3,108.85
1300 1300 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,150.00 $3,150.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
925 925 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00
1275 1275 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,250.00 $2,250.00
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
865 865 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,850.00 $1,850.00

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
685–740 713 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,875.00–1,950.00 $1,913.95

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1120–1560 1238 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 3,725.00–4,500.00 $4,149.72 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1065–1162 1130 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 3 3,050.00–3,700.00 $3,495.74 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
765 765 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,925.00 $2,925.00 —

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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.