Sale reports / Colorado / Sterling / 2023-12-20

Sterling

Name: Sterling livestock auction prices — 2023-12-20
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-12-20

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Sterling, Colorado · Wed, Dec 20

● Final68 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1900

← Dec 13Dec 20Jan 24 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

267 head

▼ 1,138 vs last sale 1,405▼ 375 vs year ago 642 · −58.4%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

338 head

▲ 189 vs last sale 149▲ 338 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Replacement Cattle receipts

771 head

▲ 771 vs last sale 0▲ 106 vs year ago 665 · +15.9%

Also sold hereStock Show SpecialSat Jan 17, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Today's sale was a bred cow sale. Today's trade activity and demand on bred replacement cattle was moderate to good. Very light feeder cattle offering today, so no trend is provided. Slaughter cattle trade activity and demand was also moderate to good. Average dress slaughter breaker cows were 5.00 lower while average dress boner and lean cattle traded 1.00 to 2.00 higher. Average dress slaughter bulls traded 2.00 lower. Next available report will be as receipts warrant. No sale next week due to the holidays.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $231.02/cwt on 102 head.

Average price

$231.02

102 head · 660 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,524

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$308

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

$9.54/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.26

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	514	240.00	1,234	6thin
Medium and Large 1	669	230.46	1,541	96

One grade step is worth $9.54/cwt here — about −$308 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 sale102 hd

231.02

—

CO average4 barns · 1,199 hd

231.28

−0.26

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	—	Low	1,815	100.00	1,815	21
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	Average	1,730	98.00	1,695	1thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,603	91.32	1,463	38
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,294	90.39	1,170	191
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,119	78.32	877	81

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age

Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,236	$3,017	42
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,246	$2,875	59
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,526	$2,820	72
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,235	$2,597	47
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,377	$2,396	70
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,469	$2,200	9
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,092	$2,100	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,613	$2,050	4thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,410	$1,734	39
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,486	$1,550	5
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,474	$1,535	5
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,346	$1,529	70
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,416	$1,400	9
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,091	$2,652	157
Bred Heifers	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,081	$2,300	11
Bred Heifers	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,048	$2,211	61
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,613	$2,000	6

Every lot, as filed

68 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 · Steers9 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	383	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,072	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	503	298.00/cwt	298.00–298.00	1,499	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	506	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,417	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	508	282.50/cwt	282.50–282.50	1,435	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	561	277.50/cwt	277.50–277.50	1,557	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	647	255.50/cwt	255.50–255.50	1,653	28
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	719	234.74/cwt	225.00–236.50	1,688	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	813	227.00/cwt	227.00–227.00	1,846	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	863	207.50/cwt	207.50–207.50	1,791	3
Feeder Cattle · Heifers11 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	400	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,080	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	442	268.00/cwt	268.00–268.00	1,185	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	480	248.00/cwt	248.00–248.00	1,190	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	514	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,234	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	569	247.50/cwt	247.50–247.50	1,408	27
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	654	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	1,543	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	804	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	1,696	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	861	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	1,765	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	903	194.95/cwt	181.00–202.00	1,760	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	992	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,885	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,056	162.50/cwt	162.50–162.50	1,716	6
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Heifers7 lots · lightest first
Dairy Heifers	—	Small 4	845	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	718	2
Dairy Heifers	—	Large 3	1,160	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,740	2
Dairy Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2-3	1,205	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,988	1
Dairy Heifers	—	Large 2-3	1,222	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	1,882	3
Dairy Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2-3	1,285	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	1,979	1
Dairy Heifers	—	Large 3	1,296	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	1,918	4
Dairy Heifers	—	Large 2-3	1,310	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	2,044	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,522	82.59/cwt	76.00–95.00	1,257	5
Bulls	—	—	1,896	100.58/cwt	96.00–105.50	1,907	8
Bulls	—	—	1,918	110.30/cwt	107.00–113.50	2,116	8
Slaughter Cattle · Cows13 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	833	58.01/cwt	57.00–59.00	483	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,038	133.80/cwt	123.00–170.00	1,389	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,063	82.15/cwt	80.00–86.00	873	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,064	65.82/cwt	62.00–70.00	700	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,093	86.86/cwt	83.00–90.00	949	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,147	80.12/cwt	74.00–85.00	919	64
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,179	94.46/cwt	88.00–129.00	1,114	33
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,307	94.22/cwt	93.00–96.00	1,231	27
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,333	88.10/cwt	82.00–92.00	1,174	106
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,342	76.92/cwt	72.00–81.00	1,032	19
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,489	83.88/cwt	81.00–85.00	1,249	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,616	92.19/cwt	88.00–98.50	1,490	34
Cows	—	Premium White 65-75%	1,730	98.00/cwt	98.00–98.00	1,695	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows18 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,022	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	10
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,092	2,100.00/head	2,100.00–2,100.00	2,100	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,235	2,596.54/head	2,450.00–2,700.00	2,597	47
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,246	2,874.77/head	2,750.00–2,950.00	2,875	59
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,303	3,209.99/head	3,200.00–3,225.00	3,210	32
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,313	1,931.98/head	1,750.00–2,200.00	1,932	25
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,329	1,485.31/head	1,400.00–1,750.00	1,485	35
Bred Cows	—	Medium 1-2	1,334	1,287.72/head	1,275.00–1,350.00	1,288	15
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,383	1,788.11/head	1,625.00–2,000.00	1,788	20
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,402	1,507.98/head	1,350.00–1,585.00	1,508	22
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,412	2,653.96/head	2,425.00–2,900.00	2,654	45
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,416	1,400.00/head	1,400.00–1,400.00	1,400	9
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,420	2,025.52/head	1,650.00–2,100.00	2,026	17
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,469	2,200.00/head	2,200.00–2,200.00	2,200	9
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,474	1,535.00/head	1,535.00–1,535.00	1,535	5
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,486	1,550.00/head	1,550.00–1,550.00	1,550	5
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,526	2,820.42/head	2,750.00–2,950.00	2,820	72
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,613	2,050.00/head	2,050.00–2,050.00	2,050	4
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,613	2,000.00/head	2,000.00–2,000.00	2,000	6
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers6 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Non-Legible BANGS	909	1,797.81/head	1,425.00–1,900.00	1,798	28
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,048	2,451.21/head	2,250.00–2,600.00	2,451	80
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,081	2,300.00/head	2,300.00–2,300.00	2,300	11
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,093	2,300.00/head	2,300.00–2,300.00	2,300	6
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,136	2,861.58/head	2,725.00–3,050.00	2,862	77
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,183	2,619.96/head	2,400.00–2,750.00	2,620	27

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 20, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 267Last week 1,405Year ago 642

Slaughter CattleReceipts 338Last week 149Year ago 0

Replacement CattleReceipts 771Last week 0Year ago 665

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	804	211.00	211.00
17	—	654	236.00	236.00
3	—	903	181.00–202.00	194.95
7	—	992	190.00	190.00
27	—	569	247.50	247.50
6	—	1,056	162.50	162.50
6	—	861	205.00	205.00
14	—	480	248.00	248.00
3	—	400	270.00	270.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	442	268.00	268.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	514	240.00	240.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	508	282.50	282.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
28	—	647	255.50	255.50
4	—	813	227.00	227.00
17	—	561	277.50	277.50
20	—	719	225.00–236.50	234.74
4	—	383	280.00	280.00
3	—	863	207.50	207.50
3	—	503	298.00	298.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	506	280.00	280.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Heifers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,285	154.00	154.00
1	—	1,205	165.00	165.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Heifers — Large 3$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,160	150.00	150.00
4	—	1,296	148.00	148.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Heifers — Small 4$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	845	85.00	85.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Heifers — Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,310	156.00	156.00
3	—	1,222	154.00	154.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	10	—	1,022	2,400.00	2,400.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	35	—	1,329	1,400.00–1,750.00	1,485.31
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	25	—	1,313	1,750.00–2,200.00	1,931.98
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	22	—	1,402	1,350.00–1,585.00	1,507.98
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	9	—	1,469	2,200.00	2,200.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	3	—	1,092	2,100.00	2,100.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	4	—	1,613	2,050.00	2,050.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	9	—	1,416	1,400.00	1,400.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	5	—	1,474	1,535.00	1,535.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	5	—	1,486	1,550.00	1,550.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	17	—	1,420	1,650.00–2,100.00	2,025.52
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	59	—	1,246	2,750.00–2,950.00	2,874.77
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	45	—	1,412	2,425.00–2,900.00	2,653.96
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	32	—	1,303	3,200.00–3,225.00	3,209.99
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	72	—	1,526	2,750.00–2,950.00	2,820.42
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	47	—	1,235	2,450.00–2,700.00	2,596.54
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	20	—	1,383	1,625.00–2,000.00	1,788.11

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	15	—	1,334	1,275.00–1,350.00	1,287.72

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,613	2,000.00	2,000.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	11	—	1,081	2,300.00	2,300.00
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	6	—	1,093	2,300.00	2,300.00
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	80	—	1,048	2,250.00–2,600.00	2,451.21

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	27	—	1,183	2,400.00–2,750.00	2,619.96
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	77	—	1,136	2,725.00–3,050.00	2,861.58

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	28	—	909	1,425.00–1,900.00	1,797.81

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	1,307	93.00–96.00	94.22
19	—	1,342	72.00–81.00	76.92
106	—	1,333	82.00–92.00	88.10

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,063	80.00–86.00	82.15

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,093	83.00–90.00	86.86
4	—	833	57.00–59.00	58.01
6	—	1,064	62.00–70.00	65.82
64	—	1,147	74.00–85.00	80.12

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,730	98.00	98.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
34	—	1,616	88.00–98.50	92.19
4	—	1,489	81.00–85.00	83.88

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,038	123.00–170.00	133.80
33	—	1,179	88.00–129.00	94.46

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,522	76.00–95.00	82.59
8	—	1,918	107.00–113.50	110.30
8	—	1,896	96.00–105.50	100.58

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.