Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report, Mt. Sterling, KY

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, October 14, 2026

925 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $371.99/cwt +34.99 vs last sale · ≈ $2,458/hd at 661 lb · 92 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $343.51/cwt +8.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,924/hd at 560 lb · 66 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $403.31/cwt +41.47 vs last sale · ≈ $2,297/hd at 569 lb · 53 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 925 441 586
Feeder cattle 743 348 489
Slaughter cattle 58 45 60
Replacement cattle 124 48 37

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was stronger with a good quality offering. Feeder steers 300-700 lbs were sharply higher across all weight classes with a good supply and strong demand for high quality cattle. Feeder heifers 300-450 lbs were sharply higher as well, while the 500-700 lbs heifers were steady to 5.00 higher or greater in spots with a good supply and good demand. Buyers were active today and willing to pay premiums for quality cattle, however plainer, off colored and heavy conditioned calves received heavy discounts. Slaughter cows and bulls were steady to 2.00 lower with a good supply and moderate 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
320 fancy 320 1 522.50 $522.50 $1,672 -23.76
320 320 1 485.00 $485.00 $1,552 +20.00
350 350 1 477.50 $477.50 $1,671 —
370–375 fancy 373 2 520.00–547.50 $533.84 $1,991 +31.34
415 fancy 415 1 502.00 $502.00 $2,083 +38.12
447 447 2 435.00 $435.00 $1,944 -10.85
460 460 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,219 -150.98
452–491 482 9 440.00–448.00 $446.33 $2,151 +30.35
470–495 fancy 485 22 466.00–490.00 $473.73 $2,298 —
500–532 value added 518 9 427.50–450.00 $433.79 $2,247 +13.79
521–543 535 14 387.00–416.00 $413.04 $2,210 +44.74
550–576 value added 561 23 407.00–431.00 $414.91 $2,328 —
550–595 576 30 380.00–401.00 $394.41 $2,272 +32.57
600–638 620 18 340.00–375.00 $360.35 $2,234 +13.72
605–649 value added 637 23 382.00–409.00 $402.11 $2,561 —
658–660 value added 658 75 370.00–380.00 $379.60 $2,498 —
655–686 673 17 324.00–355.00 $338.44 $2,278 +1.44
703–725 707 6 338.00–345.00 $343.80 $2,431 —
750–775 768 4 312.00–330.00 $321.67 $2,470 +9.67
820–847 833 5 301.00–330.00 $321.85 $2,681 —
915–947 936 6 291.00–313.00 $298.17 $2,791 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 420.00 $420.00 $1,638 +10.00
425–435 429 4 402.50–425.00 $418.05 $1,793 +6.35
455–480 466 5 417.50–422.50 $419.07 $1,953 +57.07
525–535 532 3 340.00–350.00 $346.71 $1,844 +5.77
560 560 1 355.00 $355.00 $1,988 —
745 745 1 316.00 $316.00 $2,354 —
955 955 1 235.00 $235.00 $2,244 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 1 365.00 $365.00 $1,022 —
440 440 1 365.00 $365.00 $1,606 —
665 665 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,729 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205–215 210 2 430.00–440.00 $435.12 $914 —
230 fancy 230 1 485.00 $485.00 $1,116 —
250–285 263 3 400.00–410.00 $406.77 $1,070 -23.23
335–347 343 3 415.00–420.00 $416.63 $1,429 +14.13
365–390 374 5 380.00–400.00 $390.46 $1,460 +15.33
360–395 fancy 384 7 410.00–452.50 $418.86 $1,608 —
402–420 fancy 410 5 410.00–440.00 $422.79 $1,733 +37.80
400–442 427 14 385.00–407.50 $394.56 $1,685 +41.96
452–479 fancy 470 19 362.50–382.50 $368.51 $1,732 -7.11
480 480 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,440 -54.62
473–496 484 19 329.00–354.00 $344.99 $1,670 -9.63
505–526 value added 520 11 357.50–361.50 $360.66 $1,875 -7.09
500–548 532 22 333.00–354.00 $341.75 $1,818 +6.02
550–558 value added 556 39 348.00–354.00 $352.17 $1,958 —
550–590 566 27 317.00–345.00 $330.99 $1,873 -4.39
630 630 2 309.00 $309.00 $1,947 +4.87
647 647 7 335.50 $335.50 $2,171 +31.37
650–661 659 11 332.00–347.00 $334.80 $2,206 +49.80
665 665 1 287.50 $287.50 $1,912 +2.50
708–740 722 15 280.00–290.00 $285.49 $2,061 -8.74
750–765 761 5 290.00–306.00 $301.64 $2,295 +21.66
801 801 10 290.00 $290.00 $2,323 +25.11
860 860 1 277.00 $277.00 $2,382 —
860 860 2 302.00 $302.00 $2,597 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,092 -45.00
350–390 370 2 355.00–370.00 $362.91 $1,343 —
400–445 417 3 355.00–360.00 $356.62 $1,487 —
507–540 521 6 300.00–310.00 $304.97 $1,589 -6.68
572–590 581 4 300.00–315.00 $307.62 $1,787 —
605–625 612 3 290.00–303.00 $298.57 $1,827 +13.57
680–685 683 2 265.00–280.00 $272.47 $1,861 —
707 707 2 262.50 $262.50 $1,856 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
630 630 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,858 —
790 790 1 267.50 $267.50 $2,113 —
800 800 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,160 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 1 480.00 $480.00 $1,224 —
285 fancy 285 1 505.00 $505.00 $1,439 —
300–345 fancy 323 2 500.00–502.50 $501.34 $1,619 —
375 375 1 472.50 $472.50 $1,772 +16.05
380 fancy 380 1 500.00 $500.00 $1,900 -0.95
403 fancy 403 3 500.00 $500.00 $2,015 +20.00
410 410 1 472.50 $472.50 $1,937 +25.29
455–475 463 7 420.00–450.00 $426.02 $1,972 -6.99
500–509 fancy 506 11 406.00–430.00 $412.83 $2,089 +24.96
520–535 523 5 373.00–382.50 $377.63 $1,975 +28.29
550–570 fancy 563 8 382.00–400.00 $389.26 $2,192 +29.26
570–595 582 8 355.00–372.50 $360.53 $2,098 +18.09
600–630 fancy 610 8 357.50–368.00 $362.49 $2,211 —
615–645 634 12 324.00–346.00 $330.78 $2,097 +10.68
665–695 684 9 300.00–320.00 $315.68 $2,159 +3.55
710–745 733 9 302.50–319.00 $312.03 $2,287 —
765–780 773 2 290.00–302.50 $296.31 $2,290 -6.19
895 895 1 272.50 $272.50 $2,439 —
975 975 1 240.00 $240.00 $2,340 -32.50
1050 1050 2 217.00 $217.00 $2,278 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415–440 421 7 425.00–440.00 $430.06 $1,811 +17.56
450–477 468 3 395.00–400.00 $396.60 $1,856 -10.15
515–535 528 3 312.00–331.00 $322.56 $1,703 -7.44
560 560 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,904 +30.65
655–665 660 2 275.00–282.50 $278.78 $1,840 —
765 765 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,989 —
825 825 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,980 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–425 415 2 335.00–340.00 $337.56 $1,401 +27.56
500 500 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,425 —
1035 1035 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,552 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1495 1495 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
940–1225 1083 85-90% 2 48.00–54.00 $51.39 $557 -38.69
1075–1165 1117 85-90% 3 99.00–104.00 $100.74 $1,125 —
925–1430 1166 85-90% 18 109.00–128.00 $117.55 $1,371 —
1125–1195 1172 85-90% 3 134.00–136.00 $135.00 $1,582 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350–1355 1353 75-80% 2 136.00–139.00 $137.50 $1,860 —
1350–2070 1643 75-80% 10 123.00–132.00 $128.05 $2,104 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1340 1223 80-85% 4 118.00–132.00 $125.24 $1,532 +7.58
1310 1310 80-85% 1 141.00 $141.00 $1,847 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180–1285 1233 2 148.00–159.00 $153.73 $1,895 —
1410–2015 1750 6 168.00–182.50 $174.70 $3,057 —
1895 1895 1 187.00 $187.00 $3,544 -4.50

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
705–1085 914 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 217.00–235.00 $224.83 $2,055
875–1270 1046 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 11 123.00–174.00 $136.07 $1,423

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
905 905 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,250.00 $2,250.00
1192–1350 1245 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 2,250.00–2,350.00 $2,286.15
1030–1595 1329 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 40 2,500.00–3,325.00 $2,905.37
1150–1685 1386 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 2,725.00–3,550.00 $3,232.58
1020–1775 1408 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,850.00–2,370.00 $2,133.71
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
820 820 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00
830–1130 980 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,775.00–1,800.00 $1,785.59
1002 1002 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,125.00 $2,125.00
860–1085 1010 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,575.00–2,025.00 $1,897.28
Medium and Large 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1120 1120 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00
Small 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
690 690 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
885 885 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,625.00 $2,625.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1175 1175 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,225.00 $3,225.00 —
1405 1405 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 3,300.00 $3,300.00 —
1370–1710 1521 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 2,800.00–3,575.00 $3,218.63 —
1740 1740 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 3,300.00 $3,300.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1490 1490 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,550.00 $2,550.00 —

↑ 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.