Sale reports / Colorado / Sterling / 2023-10-25

Sterling

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Sterling, Colorado · Wed, Oct 25
● Final62 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1900
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,130 head
193 vs last sale 937 239 vs year ago 1,369 · 17.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
160 head
51 vs last sale 109 40 vs year ago 200 · 20.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
25 head
25 vs last sale 0 21 vs year ago 4 · +525.0%
Also sold hereStock Show SpecialSat Jan 17, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week, trade and demand were steady. Todays feeder cattle supply was comprised mostly of calves coming straight off the cow, many being preconditioned. Feeder steers traded mostly 2.00 to 17.00 lower, with a light trade on cattle over 700 pounds. Feeder heifers traded 7.00 to 20.00 lower with a few trades sharply lower. Compared to last weeks trade on slaughter cows and bulls was moderate. Slaughter cows traded 2.00 to 5.00 lower and slaughter bulls traded 2.00 to 3.00 lower. Next available report will be available as receipts warrant.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $280.72/cwt on 584 head.
Average price
$280.72
584 head · 568 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,593
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$155
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$28.28/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+9.21
vs CO average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1568287.861,634434
Medium 1455285.001,2973thin
Medium and Large 1-2570259.571,479147
One grade step is worth $28.28/cwt here — about $155 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 sale584 hd
280.72
CO average5 barns · 5,164 hd
271.51
+9.21
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
BullsAverage1,734104.981,82016
CowsPremium White 65-75%Low1,710103.001,7611thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,480100.571,4889thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,34391.661,23156
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,17175.1888168

Every lot, as filed

62 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 1Value Added464269.06/cwt265.00–275.001,24825
HeifersMedium and Large 1811223.00/cwt223.00–223.001,80911
HeifersMedium and Large 1Value Added432276.23/cwt276.00–277.001,19341
HeifersMedium 1543210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,1403
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned669247.42/cwt240.00–251.001,65522
SteersMedium and Large 1Value Added507310.23/cwt302.50–315.001,57365
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned592228.00/cwt228.00–228.001,35012
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned604244.00/cwt244.00–244.001,47416
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned651224.00/cwt224.00–224.001,4588
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned581234.38/cwt231.00–239.001,36243
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned548265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,45238
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned578253.09/cwt245.00–256.001,46315
SteersMedium and Large 1989228.96/cwt227.00–230.502,26425
SteersMedium and Large 1426321.07/cwt310.00–340.001,36855
SteersMedium and Large 1-2319325.00/cwt325.00–325.001,0375
SteersMedium and Large 1530285.60/cwt282.50–287.501,51421
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned623269.00/cwt264.00–271.001,67647
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned645238.49/cwt237.75–247.501,53854
SteersMedium and Large 1-2479290.34/cwt273.00–292.501,39127
SteersMedium 1Value Added455285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,2973
SteersMedium and Large 1827231.00/cwt231.00–231.001,9109
SteersMedium and Large 1474316.91/cwt300.00–322.501,50272
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned677232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,5745
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned572277.11/cwt264.00–287.501,58591
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned725235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,70419
HeifersMedium 2413141.00/cwt141.00–141.005826
HeifersMedium and Large 1384292.49/cwt290.00–295.001,12325
HeifersMedium 1597200.00/cwt200.00–200.001,1945
HeifersMedium and Large 1472256.00/cwt256.00–256.001,20813
BullsMedium and Large 1Value Added597262.50/cwt262.50–262.501,5679
BullsMedium and Large 1Value Added366300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,0989
SteersMedium and Large 1-2510262.00/cwt262.00–262.001,3363
SteersMedium and Large 1341340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,1598
HeifersMedium and Large 1315307.50/cwt307.50–307.509693
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2303252.00/cwt252.00–252.007646
HeifersMedium and Large 1421258.50/cwt255.00–261.001,0887
HeifersMedium 1326240.00/cwt240.00–240.007826
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned528235.12/cwt231.00–243.001,24155
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned663202.50/cwt202.50–202.501,3434
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fancy452280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,2663
HeifersMedium and Large 1514251.17/cwt248.00–252.501,291100
HeifersMedium and Large 1553247.00/cwt247.00–247.001,3664
HeifersMedium 1480227.50/cwt227.50–227.501,0923
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Value Added467235.94/cwt232.00–242.001,1028
HeifersMedium and Large 1946216.00/cwt216.00–216.002,0439
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,149137.10/cwt136.00–138.501,57516
BullsReturn to Feed1,165120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,3981
Bulls1,783106.62/cwt101.00–110.001,9016
Bulls1,814114.12/cwt112.00–117.002,0705
Bulls1,70187.33/cwt71.00–97.001,4854
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,47499.16/cwt95.00–101.001,4627
CowsLean 85-90%1,19885.05/cwt80.00–91.001,01930
CowsLean 85-90%1,16373.78/cwt65.00–80.0085824
CowsLean 85-90%1,12956.43/cwt51.00–67.0063714
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,710103.00/cwt103.00–103.001,7611
CowsBoner 80-85%1,35491.49/cwt88.00–100.001,23949
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,215120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,4581
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,78591.00/cwt91.00–91.001,6241
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,155119.00/cwt119.00–119.001,3742
CowsBoner 80-85%1,180105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,2391
CowsBoner 80-85%1,49279.01/cwt72.00–85.001,1793
CowsBoner 80-85%92070.00/cwt70.00–70.006441

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.