Sale reports / Colorado / Sterling / 2021-10-13

Sterling

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Sterling, Colorado · Wed, Oct 13
● Final57 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1900
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,449 head
162 vs last sale 1,287 414 vs year ago 1,863 · 22.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
81 head
43 vs last sale 124 169 vs year ago 250 · 67.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
12 head
1 vs last sale 13 3 vs year ago 15 · 20.0%
Also sold hereStock Show SpecialSat Jan 17, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Feeder steers under 500 lbs traded sharply higher. Steers from 500 to 650 lbs traded uneven, 4.00 lower to 2.50 higher. Steers over 650 lbs traded mostly steady to 1.50 lower. Feeder heifers under 500 lbs had no comparable trades from last week. Heifers weighing from 500 to 600 lbs traded steady to 1.00 higher and 600 to 700 lbs traded unevenly steady. Heifers over 700 lbs had no comparisons from last week. Slaughter cows traded 2.75 lower. Slaughter bulls traded 2.00 lower on a very light test. Feeding cows traded mostly 4.00 to 7.00 lower with the exception of lean cows, which traded 1.00 higher. Trade activity and demand were moderate to good. Todays run consisted primarily of preconditioned calves with the majority having multiple rounds of vaccinations and most being weaned between 30-60 days. There were also a few long runs of yearling cattle coming off grass. The next available report will be Wednesday, October 20,2021.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $161.43/cwt on 889 head.
Average price
$161.43
889 head · 658 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,063
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$246
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$27.41/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+1.89
vs CO average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1684164.651,127587
Medium and Large 1-2605156.72948278
Medium and Large 2642137.2488024
One grade step is worth $27.41/cwt here — about $246 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 sale889 hd
161.43
CO average4 barns · 2,677 hd
159.54
+1.89
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
BullsAverage1,63478.181,2789thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,31160.7079644
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,60160.3596620
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,14458.966746thin

Every lot, as filed

57 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 1-2714131.61/cwt131.00–134.009405
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2568141.89/cwt137.00–145.0080695
HeifersMedium and Large 2416146.00/cwt146.00–146.006074
HeifersMedium and Large 1340176.00/cwt176.00–176.005982
HeifersMedium and Large 1680145.13/cwt144.50–145.2598742
HeifersMedium and Large 1537152.00/cwt152.00–152.008163
HeifersMedium and Large 2518140.00/cwt140.00–140.007253
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2340165.97/cwt164.00–168.005646
HeifersMedium and Large 2471140.00/cwt140.00–140.006595
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2489142.64/cwt141.00–148.5069826
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2525144.05/cwt141.00–147.0075652
SteersMedium and Large 1573166.31/cwt166.00–167.0095323
SteersMedium and Large 1-2681150.99/cwt149.00–152.001,02821
SteersMedium and Large 1-2528158.19/cwt153.00–164.5083526
SteersMedium and Large 11,029142.75/cwt142.75–142.751,46948
SteersMedium and Large 1-2381191.93/cwt185.00–197.5073111
SteersMedium and Large 1619162.04/cwt159.00–165.501,00397
SteersMedium and Large 1658161.26/cwt158.25–162.001,06145
SteersMedium and Large 1465181.68/cwt175.00–183.0084552
SteersMedium and Large 1331213.00/cwt213.00–213.0070519
SteersMedium and Large 1-2573158.99/cwt157.00–165.0091160
SteersMedium and Large 2788130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,0243
SteersMedium and Large 1-2336190.00/cwt190.00–190.006385
SteersMedium and Large 1-2612154.21/cwt148.00–157.0094493
SteersMedium and Large 1-2809141.91/cwt141.00–142.751,14823
SteersMedium and Large 1754151.00/cwt151.00–151.001,1399
SteersMedium and Large 1-2407174.00/cwt174.00–174.007085
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2416150.00/cwt150.00–150.006245
SteersMedium and Large 1539170.65/cwt169.00–174.0092036
SteersMedium and Large 1722157.49/cwt150.00–161.501,137148
SteersMedium and Large 2652140.00/cwt140.00–140.009139
SteersMedium and Large 1411200.29/cwt200.00–202.5082335
SteersMedium and Large 1-2899135.50/cwt135.50–135.501,21811
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,57659.77/cwt55.00–64.5094213
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,29454.83/cwt50.00–59.5071017
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,32464.46/cwt60.00–67.0085325
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,64260.84/cwt55.00–64.009996
CowsBoner 80-85%1,30063.67/cwt61.00–66.008282
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,07063.60/cwt61.00–65.006813
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21754.31/cwt52.00–56.006613
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,68565.00/cwt65.00–65.001,0951
Bulls2,10080.00/cwt80.00–80.001,6801
BullsReturn to Feed1,87571.33/cwt65.00–77.001,3375
BullsReturn to Feed1,07789.00/cwt89.00–89.009593
Bred CowsMedium and Large 21,169724.77/cwt710.00–735.008,47312
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2627141.48/cwt138.00–144.2588788
SteersMedium and Large 1-2709145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,0287
SteersMedium and Large 1954155.75/cwt155.75–155.751,48675
HeifersMedium and Large 1437159.40/cwt155.00–165.0069736
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2770130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,0013
HeifersMedium and Large 2573125.00/cwt125.00–125.007165
HeifersMedium and Large 1732139.50/cwt139.50–139.501,02114
SteersMedium and Large 2597136.98/cwt130.00–142.0081812
SteersMedium and Large 1-2469169.01/cwt166.00–172.0079316
HeifersMedium and Large 1587150.00/cwt150.00–150.0088125
HeifersMedium and Large 1631147.20/cwt146.50–148.0092922
HeifersMedium and Large 1485150.55/cwt150.00–153.5073019

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.