Sale reports / Colorado / Sterling / 2021-09-22

Sterling

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Sterling, Colorado · Wed, Sep 22
● Final41 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1900
Feeder Cattle receipts
912 head
417 vs last sale 1,329 85 vs year ago 827 · +10.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
151 head
108 vs last sale 43 11 vs year ago 140 · +7.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
46 head
24 vs last sale 22 40 vs year ago 6 · +666.7%
Also sold hereStock Show SpecialSat Jan 17, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago: Feeder steers under 800 lbs had no comparisons for a market trend. Feeder steers over 800 lbs traded 1.00 to 6.00 lower. Feeder heifers under 750 lbs had no comparison from the last sale, while those over 750 lbs traded steady to 3.50 higher. Replacement cattle had no comparisons from the last test. Trade activity and demand were moderate. The next available report will be Wednesday, October 6, 2021.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $154.73/cwt on 580 head.
Average price
$154.73
580 head · 804 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,244
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$200
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$3.07/cwt at this weight
vs the market
0.72
vs CO average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1816155.061,266518
Medium and Large 1-2701151.991,06662
One grade step is worth $3.07/cwt here — about $200 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 sale580 hd
154.73
CO average4 barns · 991 hd
155.45
−0.72
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
BullsHigh1,75780.691,41840
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,35867.5091779
CowsBreaker 75-80%Very Low1,68061.761,0383thin
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,11457.6864320

Every lot, as filed

41 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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2361162.00/cwt162.00–162.005856
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2728140.00/cwt140.00–140.001,0196
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2506146.08/cwt146.00–147.0073914
SteersMedium and Large 1582171.00/cwt171.00–171.0099511
SteersMedium and Large 1966140.18/cwt140.00–147.001,35438
SteersMedium and Large 1876152.01/cwt148.50–154.001,332131
HeifersMedium and Large 1889137.39/cwt135.00–137.751,22196
SteersMedium and Large 1-2479174.00/cwt174.00–174.008337
SteersMedium and Large 1715154.53/cwt152.00–156.001,10572
SteersMedium and Large 1-2643148.00/cwt148.00–148.0095218
HeifersMedium and Large 1821144.50/cwt144.50–144.501,1868
HeifersMedium and Large 1776146.00/cwt146.00–146.001,13317
HeifersMedium and Large 1904137.00/cwt137.00–137.001,23832
SteersMedium and Large 1-2836145.57/cwt145.50–147.501,21729
HeifersMedium and Large 1979133.10/cwt133.10–133.101,30335
SteersMedium and Large 1-2539165.00/cwt165.00–165.008898
SteersMedium and Large 1460176.09/cwt176.00–177.0081011
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2760137.77/cwt137.00–138.001,0479
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2480154.43/cwt152.00–155.0074110
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned595139.00/cwt139.00–139.008276
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2610141.00/cwt141.00–141.008606
SteersMedium and Large 1790159.43/cwt150.00–161.001,259194
SteersMedium and Large 1905150.93/cwt149.50–156.001,36661
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,2901,085.00/cwt1,085.00–1,085.0013,9971
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,2181,129.58/cwt1,125.00–1,150.0013,7586
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3021,278.62/cwt1,125.00–1,285.0016,64821
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,388911.95/cwt900.00–975.0012,65814
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 21,1201,134.43/cwt1,075.00–1,200.0012,7062
Bulls2,02088.24/cwt88.00–88.501,7822
Bulls1,65376.66/cwt69.00–79.501,26718
Bulls1,82483.56/cwt80.50–85.501,52420
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,36070.51/cwt65.00–75.0095957
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,14664.68/cwt62.00–67.007417
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,07075.35/cwt75.00–75.508063
CowsLean 85-90%1,23060.47/cwt60.00–61.007442
CowsLean 85-90%1,08530.94/cwt22.00–39.003363
CowsBoner 80-85%1,34466.31/cwt63.00–73.508914
CowsBoner 80-85%1,35558.23/cwt50.00–61.0078918
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,77041.00/cwt41.00–41.007261
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,63572.14/cwt70.50–73.501,1792
CowsLean 85-90%1,06852.22/cwt48.50–57.505585

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.