Sale reports / Colorado / Sterling / 2023-12-06

Sterling

Name: Sterling livestock auction prices — 2023-12-06
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-12-06

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Sterling, Colorado · Wed, Dec 6

● Final99 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1900

← Nov 8Dec 6Dec 13 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

1,634 head

▼ 393 vs last sale 2,027▲ 229 vs year ago 1,405 · +16.3%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

224 head

▼ 21 vs last sale 245▲ 44 vs year ago 180 · +24.4%

Also sold hereStock Show SpecialSat Jan 17, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Trade activity and demand today was moderate to good. No comparison to last week available due to no coverage of sale due to low receipts. Today's feeder offering was about half weaned 30 to 60 days and half coming off the cow. Most of the calves were preconditioned and on a vaccination program. Next available report will be as receipts warrant.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $250.32/cwt on 834 head.

Average price

$250.32

834 head · 601 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,506

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$38

per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium 1-2

$51.06/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−3.11

vs CO average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	576	253.30	1,458	226
Medium and Large 1	616	252.27	1,555	517
Medium 1	562	247.36	1,391	30
Medium and Large 2	532	235.76	1,254	40
Medium 1-2	702	202.24	1,420	21

One grade step is worth $51.06/cwt here — about $38 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 0–100 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 0–100 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale834 hd

250.32

—

CO average5 barns · 5,580 hd

253.43

−3.11

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt

Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Average	1,603	105.85	1,697	10
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	Average	1,665	102.00	1,698	2thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,440	93.51	1,347	25
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,212	89.71	1,088	120
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,103	75.12	829	39

Every lot, as filed

99 lots · USDA AMS · Sterling Livestock Commission - Sterling, CO

Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers44 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	269	775.00/head	775.00–775.00	775	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	363	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	989	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	384	297.41/cwt	290.00–305.00	1,142	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	407	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	1,068	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	424	281.94/cwt	280.00–285.00	1,195	30
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	477	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	1,252	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	480	273.00/cwt	273.00–273.00	1,310	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	481	299.10/cwt	296.00–310.00	1,439	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	486	289.48/cwt	280.00–297.50	1,407	58
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	492	282.00/cwt	282.00–282.00	1,387	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	512	295.50/cwt	287.00–300.00	1,513	51
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	524	270.11/cwt	262.50–272.50	1,415	27
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	526	271.85/cwt	266.00–281.00	1,430	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	538	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	1,383	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	545	263.50/cwt	263.50–263.50	1,436	4
Steers	—	Medium 1	546	256.56/cwt	240.00–262.50	1,401	15
Steers	—	Medium 1	560	245.50/cwt	242.50–248.00	1,375	11
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	561	217.50/cwt	217.50–217.50	1,220	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	571	271.62/cwt	268.00–279.00	1,551	41
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	578	243.32/cwt	240.00–246.00	1,406	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	587	260.02/cwt	253.00–270.00	1,526	100
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	595	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,488	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	612	252.98/cwt	242.50–256.50	1,548	43
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	618	174.56/cwt	162.50–195.00	1,079	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	622	224.96/cwt	222.00–227.00	1,399	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	627	234.69/cwt	232.00–238.00	1,472	36
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	628	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	1,262	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	630	239.04/cwt	238.00–240.00	1,506	21
Steers	—	Medium 1	631	218.00/cwt	218.00–218.00	1,376	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	669	238.18/cwt	231.00–243.00	1,593	87
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	671	220.61/cwt	215.00–227.50	1,480	28
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	682	212.15/cwt	212.00–212.50	1,447	16
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	703	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	1,434	15
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	724	203.00/cwt	203.00–203.00	1,470	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	726	226.62/cwt	226.00–227.00	1,645	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	742	192.00/cwt	192.00–192.00	1,425	16
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	752	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	1,512	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	770	226.86/cwt	217.00–227.50	1,747	34
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	785	204.98/cwt	187.50–212.50	1,609	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	808	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,737	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	809	223.50/cwt	223.50–223.50	1,808	8
Steers	—	Medium 1-2Unweaned	821	192.00/cwt	192.00–192.00	1,576	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	917	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	1,949	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	986	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,528	4
Feeder Cattle · Heifers35 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	325	700.00/head	700.00–700.00	700	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	333	257.50/cwt	257.50–257.50	857	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	368	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,012	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	381	246.00/cwt	246.00–246.00	937	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	390	238.00/cwt	238.00–238.00	928	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	404	261.30/cwt	257.00–270.00	1,056	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	408	241.23/cwt	240.00–245.00	984	33
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	429	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	912	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	441	243.68/cwt	240.00–252.00	1,075	19
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	483	247.21/cwt	243.00–250.00	1,194	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	495	265.96/cwt	264.50–270.00	1,317	41
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	502	267.05/cwt	265.00–271.00	1,341	35
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	521	192.50/cwt	192.50–192.50	1,003	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	527	242.66/cwt	239.00–244.00	1,279	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	532	214.00/cwt	214.00–214.00	1,138	24
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	542	247.00/cwt	247.00–247.00	1,339	23
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	555	182.50/cwt	182.50–182.50	1,013	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	568	227.98/cwt	224.00–232.50	1,295	79
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	583	209.88/cwt	201.00–212.50	1,224	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	599	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	1,204	9
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	601	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	944	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	619	219.37/cwt	211.00–224.00	1,358	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	620	224.73/cwt	222.00–227.50	1,393	46
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	630	204.94/cwt	204.00–205.50	1,291	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	635	218.66/cwt	217.00–221.00	1,388	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	657	221.00/cwt	221.00–221.00	1,452	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	671	212.20/cwt	211.00–214.00	1,424	32
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	682	188.00/cwt	188.00–188.00	1,282	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	712	200.54/cwt	200.00–201.00	1,428	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	773	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	1,407	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	785	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	1,452	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	873	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,659	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	954	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	1,765	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	998	194.50/cwt	194.50–194.50	1,941	32
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,065	177.50/cwt	177.50–177.50	1,890	3
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	441	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	1,003	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	541	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,163	8
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	548	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	1,069	3
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Steers1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Steers	—	Large 3	467	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	654	9
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	925	102.50/cwt	102.50–102.50	948	1
Bulls	—	—	1,420	90.00/cwt	90.00–90.00	1,278	1
Bulls	—	—	1,695	105.75/cwt	105.00–107.00	1,792	5
Bulls	—	—	1,738	112.41/cwt	111.00–114.50	1,954	3
Slaughter Cattle · Cows12 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	929	91.53/cwt	87.00–93.00	850	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,033	43.70/cwt	41.00–47.00	451	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,054	113.17/cwt	98.00–126.00	1,193	11
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,120	92.06/cwt	88.00–95.00	1,031	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,130	62.65/cwt	60.00–65.00	708	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,135	78.05/cwt	70.00–82.00	886	29
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,206	87.62/cwt	82.00–92.00	1,057	81
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,299	94.30/cwt	93.00–96.00	1,225	14
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,316	76.57/cwt	70.50–81.50	1,008	12
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,422	95.99/cwt	91.00–102.00	1,365	21
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,537	80.48/cwt	79.00–83.00	1,237	4
Cows	—	Premium White 65-75%	1,665	102.00/cwt	101.00–103.00	1,698	2

How this sale compares

Colorado weighted averages

One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every Colorado auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.

Colorado feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Sterling Livestock Commission - Sterling, CO

Wed Dec 6, 2023

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Greeley, CO (LS-GL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 1,634Last week 2,027Year ago 1,405

Slaughter CattleReceipts 224Last week 245Year ago 180

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
43	—	612	242.50–256.50	252.98
41	—	571	268.00–279.00	271.62
87	—	669	231.00–243.00	238.18
34	—	770	217.00–227.50	226.86
51	—	512	287.00–300.00	295.50
13	—	481	296.00–310.00	299.10
8	—	726	226.00–227.00	226.62
10	—	384	290.00–305.00	297.41
8	—	809	223.50	223.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	682	212.00–212.50	212.15
20	—	578	240.00–246.00	243.32
16	—	742	192.00	192.00
5	—	622	222.00–227.00	224.96
5	—	538	257.00	257.00
8	—	480	273.00	273.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	363	272.50	272.50
4	—	986	155.00	155.00
5	—	269	775.00	775.00
8	—	407	262.50	262.50
4	—	545	263.50	263.50
10	—	477	262.50	262.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	631	218.00	218.00
11	—	560	242.50–248.00	245.50
15	—	546	240.00–262.50	256.56

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	630	238.00–240.00	239.04
30	—	424	280.00–285.00	281.94
3	—	917	212.50	212.50
58	—	486	280.00–297.50	289.48
10	—	785	187.50–212.50	204.98
7	—	808	215.00	215.00
22	—	595	250.00	250.00
5	—	526	266.00–281.00	271.85

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	752	201.00	201.00
36	—	627	232.00–238.00	234.69
100	—	587	253.00–270.00	260.02
3	—	492	282.00	282.00
28	—	671	215.00–227.50	220.61
27	—	524	262.50–272.50	270.11
15	—	703	204.00	204.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	561	217.50	217.50
4	—	628	201.00	201.00
7	—	724	203.00	203.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	618	162.50–195.00	174.56

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	821	192.00	192.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Steers — Large 3$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	467	140.00	140.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per head · actual wt
4	—	325	700.00	700.00
6	—	429	212.50	212.50
5	—	521	192.50	192.50
6	—	601	157.00	157.00
4	—	555	182.50	182.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
32	—	671	211.00–214.00	212.20
3	—	368	275.00	275.00
46	—	620	222.00–227.50	224.73
15	—	404	257.00–270.00	261.30
41	—	495	264.50–270.00	265.96
32	—	998	194.50	194.50
15	—	712	200.00–201.00	200.54
79	—	568	224.00–232.50	227.98
35	—	502	265.00–271.00	267.05
3	—	873	190.00	190.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	527	239.00–244.00	242.66
3	—	390	238.00	238.00
11	—	333	257.50	257.50
17	—	619	211.00–224.00	219.37
33	—	408	240.00–245.00	241.23
3	—	1,065	177.50	177.50
13	—	954	185.00	185.00
12	—	483	243.00–250.00	247.21

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	630	204.00–205.50	204.94
21	—	583	201.00–212.50	209.88
24	—	532	214.00	214.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	635	217.00–221.00	218.66
6	—	785	185.00	185.00
23	—	542	247.00	247.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	773	182.00	182.00
19	—	441	240.00–252.00	243.68
3	—	657	221.00	221.00
4	—	381	246.00	246.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	682	188.00	188.00
9	—	599	201.00	201.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	541	215.00	215.00
4	—	441	227.50	227.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	548	195.00	195.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,054	98.00–126.00	113.17
2	—	1,120	88.00–95.00	92.06

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,130	60.00–65.00	62.65
4	—	1,033	41.00–47.00	43.70
29	—	1,135	70.00–82.00	78.05

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,316	70.50–81.50	76.57
14	—	1,299	93.00–96.00	94.30
81	—	1,206	82.00–92.00	87.62

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,665	101.00–103.00	102.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,537	79.00–83.00	80.48
21	—	1,422	91.00–102.00	95.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	929	87.00–93.00	91.53

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,695	105.00–107.00	105.75
3	—	1,738	111.00–114.50	112.41
1	—	1,420	90.00	90.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	925	102.50	102.50

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.