Sale reports / Colorado / Sterling / 2021-10-27

Sterling

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Sterling, Colorado · Wed, Oct 27
● Final52 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1900
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,209 head
416 vs last sale 793 163 vs year ago 1,046 · +15.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
111 head
50 vs last sale 61 1 vs year ago 110 · +0.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
27 head
17 vs last sale 44 29 vs year ago 56 · 51.8%
Also sold hereStock Show SpecialSat Jan 17, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Trade activity and demand were moderate. Feeder steers under 550 lbs traded 1.00 to 10.00 higher. Steers between 550 to 700 lbs traded 3.00 to 6.00 lower, and those over 700 lbs traded steady to 3.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 550 lbs traded 2.00 to 4.00 higher. Heifers over 550 lbs had no comparisons from last week to accurately trend. Today's run consisted of a mix of feeder calves with 0 to 60 day wean times and mostly at least two rounds of vaccinations and a run of yearling cattle coming off grass. Calves with multiple rounds of vaccinations and longer wean times continue to carry a stronger demand. The next available report will be Wednesday, November 3, 2021.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $157.65/cwt on 681 head.
Average price
$157.65
681 head · 661 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,042
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$26
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$18.32/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+1.37
vs CO average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1632166.341,051358
Medium and Large 1-2693148.021,026323
One grade step is worth $18.32/cwt here — about $26 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 sale681 hd
157.65
CO average5 barns · 4,614 hd
156.28
+1.37
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
BullsAverage1,93584.091,62710
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,54565.001,0041thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,34857.2077188
CowsLean 85-90%High1,11845.6651117

Every lot, as filed

52 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 1373175.79/cwt169.00–176.5065611
SteersMedium and Large 1-2493175.00/cwt175.00–175.008638
SteersMedium and Large 1-21,065116.01/cwt115.00–117.001,2362
SteersMedium and Large 1-2865137.71/cwt131.00–139.001,19137
SteersMedium and Large 1746160.03/cwt159.50–161.001,19451
SteersMedium and Large 1-2724148.35/cwt147.50–149.001,07441
SteersMedium and Large 1626159.21/cwt159.00–160.0099733
SteersMedium and Large 1805158.00/cwt158.00–158.001,27231
SteersMedium and Large 1-2535166.00/cwt166.00–166.0088821
SteersMedium and Large 1-2633150.85/cwt146.00–156.0095585
SteersMedium and Large 1925143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,3232
SteersMedium and Large 1-2676145.88/cwt144.00–150.0098641
SteersMedium and Large 1-21,030117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,2054
SteersMedium and Large 1408195.77/cwt195.00–196.0079917
SteersMedium and Large 1469187.31/cwt180.00–190.5087816
SteersMedium and Large 1-2776142.45/cwt140.00–145.001,1058
SteersMedium and Large 1768154.74/cwt148.00–157.001,18816
SteersMedium and Large 1-2575158.06/cwt156.00–162.0090938
SteersMedium and Large 1554165.96/cwt165.50–167.0091942
SteersMedium and Large 1859152.47/cwt152.00–153.001,31034
HeifersMedium 2733117.00/cwt117.00–117.008585
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2613138.35/cwt137.50–140.0084818
HeifersMedium and Large 1-21,002119.50/cwt119.50–119.501,1973
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2484146.00/cwt146.00–146.0070714
HeifersMedium and Large 1828138.00/cwt138.00–138.001,1432
HeifersMedium and Large 1467157.03/cwt153.00–163.0073372
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,31567.00/cwt67.00–67.008811
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,06061.00/cwt61.00–61.006471
CowsLean 85-90%1,12341.87/cwt39.00–45.5047010
CowsBoner 80-85%1,34749.59/cwt45.00–53.5066825
CowsBoner 80-85%1,33355.55/cwt55.00–56.007402
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,12049.42/cwt47.00–51.005546
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,54565.00/cwt65.00–65.001,0041
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,35060.26/cwt55.00–65.5081460
Bulls1,76781.64/cwt78.00–85.001,4433
Bulls1,85571.00/cwt71.00–71.001,3171
Bulls2,03387.49/cwt86.50–90.001,7796
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,18172.01/cwt66.00–75.0085027
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2860129.00/cwt129.00–129.001,1093
HeifersMedium and Large 1607143.84/cwt141.00–145.5087330
HeifersMedium and Large 1519151.02/cwt148.00–156.0078412
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2673134.90/cwt132.00–138.0090825
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2534144.91/cwt141.00–147.0077453
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2443147.00/cwt147.00–147.006512
SteersMedium and Large 1-2819134.16/cwt131.00–137.001,09938
HeifersMedium 2633127.77/cwt126.00–129.0080926
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2576141.82/cwt134.00–144.5081778
SteersMedium and Large 1658154.00/cwt154.00–154.001,01315
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2792122.00/cwt122.00–122.009663
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2370163.50/cwt163.50–163.506051
SteersMedium and Large 1512175.11/cwt168.00–177.00897101
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2810138.00/cwt138.00–138.001,1184

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.