Sale reports / Colorado / Sterling / 2021-12-22

Sterling

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Sterling, Colorado · Wed, Dec 22
● Final49 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1900
Feeder Cattle receipts
763 head
623 vs last sale 140 523 vs year ago 240 · +217.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
174 head
106 vs last sale 280 111 vs year ago 285 · 38.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
24 head
582 vs last sale 606 599 vs year ago 623 · 96.1%
Also sold hereStock Show SpecialSat Jan 17, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Trade activity was moderate to good. Feeder steers under 600 lbs traded 2.00 higher to 6.00 lower on a thin test. While feeder steers over 600 lbs had no comparisons from last week. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs traded sharply lower on a thin test and heifers over 600 lbs were 2.00 higher. Slaughter cows traded steady to 3.00 higher and bulls had no comparisons from last week. Bred cows were too light to accurately trend. Due to the holidays, the next available report will be January 05, 2021.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $170.04/cwt on 331 head.
Average price
$170.04
331 head · 624 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,062
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$24
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$24.16/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+1.79
vs CO average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1595179.311,066204
Medium and Large 1-2672155.151,043127
One grade step is worth $24.16/cwt here — about $24 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 sale331 hd
170.04
CO average4 barns · 984 hd
168.24
+1.79
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
BullsHigh1,69777.041,30826
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,73969.491,20811
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,31560.26793102
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,00345.8246021

Every lot, as filed

49 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 1-2531157.83/cwt150.00–160.008389
HeifersMedium and Large 2533145.00/cwt145.00–145.007732
HeifersMedium and Large 1714140.19/cwt139.00–140.501,00110
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2357162.01/cwt160.00–162.5057821
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2633143.41/cwt136.00–147.009083
HeifersMedium and Large 2583142.47/cwt137.00–144.5083114
SteersMedium and Large 1370207.50/cwt207.50–207.507689
SteersMedium and Large 1722150.38/cwt150.00–151.001,08621
SteersMedium and Large 1-2581165.26/cwt163.00–172.009604
SteersMedium and Large 1Value Added602185.00/cwt185.00–185.001,1145
SteersMedium and Large 1538188.79/cwt181.00–189.501,01654
SteersMedium and Large 1-2783140.66/cwt140.00–141.001,10118
SteersMedium and Large 1-2624167.21/cwt160.00–171.501,04319
SteersMedium and Large 1-2685153.81/cwt151.00–160.001,05432
SteersMedium and Large 1-2860137.50/cwt137.50–137.501,1834
SteersMedium and Large 1627174.73/cwt171.50–181.001,09659
SteersMedium and Large 1-2487179.74/cwt178.00–185.008758
SteersMedium and Large 1432209.00/cwt209.00–209.009035
SteersMedium and Large 1665167.00/cwt167.00–167.001,11112
SteersMedium and Large 1769151.57/cwt142.00–154.501,16618
SteersMedium and Large 1466207.00/cwt207.00–207.0096521
SteersMedium and Large 1-2510175.00/cwt175.00–175.0089313
SteersMedium and Large 1-2731143.07/cwt136.00–148.001,04629
HeifersMedium and Large 1438173.00/cwt173.00–173.007584
CowsLean 85-90%98232.70/cwt31.00–34.003213
CowsLean 85-90%1,02244.12/cwt40.00–48.0045111
CowsLean 85-90%98254.11/cwt51.00–57.005317
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,79265.83/cwt56.00–71.501,1804
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,71676.00/cwt76.00–76.001,3045
CowsBoner 80-85%1,28958.97/cwt49.00–69.0076023
CowsBoner 80-85%1,34245.78/cwt41.00–49.006147
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45170.50/cwt67.00–72.001,02312
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,29560.39/cwt49.00–67.5078260
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,69060.52/cwt59.00–62.001,0232
Bulls1,78590.52/cwt85.00–98.001,6165
Bulls1,73875.85/cwt70.00–83.001,31818
Bulls1,30861.72/cwt57.00–66.008073
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,371935.00/cwt935.00–935.0012,8193
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,214692.35/cwt660.00–710.008,40519
HeifersMedium and Large 1660147.23/cwt146.00–147.5097222
HeifersMedium and Large 2773125.00/cwt125.00–125.009663
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650133.00/cwt133.00–133.008653
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2733125.49/cwt125.00–126.009202
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2594147.03/cwt146.00–149.0087327
HeifersMedium and Large 1570152.00/cwt152.00–152.0086620
HeifersMedium and Large 1Value Added456177.00/cwt177.00–177.0080721
HeifersMedium and Large 1521167.05/cwt156.00–170.0087037
HeifersMedium and Large 1465170.00/cwt170.00–170.007917
HeifersMedium and Large 1610150.65/cwt148.00–151.0091925

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.