Name: Sterling livestock auction prices — 2024-03-06
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-03-06

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Trade activity and demand was very good. No trends available as last report was 3 weeks ago. Feeder steers and heifers had strong upward tones. Slaughter cows and bulls also had sharply higher tones from three weeks ago. Next available report will be as receipts warrant.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $334.27/cwt on 174 head. That ranks 1 of 2 comparable sales and sits −166.84 against this barn's trailing median of $501.10.

Average price

$334.27

174 head · 546 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,824

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$130

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2

$51.66/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+17.02

vs CO average

+21.27 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	537	341.66	1,836	111
Medium and Large 1-2	558	324.54	1,810	57
Medium and Large 2	588	290.00	1,705	6thin

One grade step is worth $51.66/cwt here — about $130 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 600–700 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale174 hd

334.27

—

CO average3 barns · 449 hd

317.25

+17.02

National average178 barns · 13,961 hd

313.00

+21.27

This barn, trailing median2 sales

501.10

−166.84

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Low	1,709	142.53	2,436	8thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,520	126.41	1,921	35
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,327	126.38	1,677	213
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,142	113.51	1,296	32

Every lot, as filed

78 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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	852	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	1,798	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	663	262.00/cwt	262.00–262.00	1,737	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	540	333.18/cwt	322.50–342.50	1,799	33
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	631	262.67/cwt	259.00–265.00	1,657	39
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	731	231.08/cwt	222.00–237.00	1,689	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	480	299.46/cwt	295.00–305.00	1,437	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	631	245.00/cwt	244.00–245.50	1,546	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	515	272.51/cwt	270.00–277.50	1,403	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	494	315.22/cwt	310.00–318.00	1,557	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,020	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	1,989	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	494	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,630	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	631	299.84/cwt	294.00–307.50	1,892	127
Steers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	788	257.80/cwt	251.00–261.00	2,031	116
Steers	Medium and Large 1	300–350	314	402.50/cwt	402.50–402.50	1,264	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	814	243.23/cwt	232.00–247.00	1,980	56
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	427	328.41/cwt	320.00–333.00	1,402	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	427	363.39/cwt	360.00–369.00	1,552	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	912	232.91/cwt	230.00–237.50	2,124	61
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	564	330.01/cwt	322.50–335.00	1,861	42
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	681	284.32/cwt	279.00–288.00	1,936	37
Steers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	393	357.50/cwt	357.50–357.50	1,405	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	772	235.14/cwt	230.50–241.00	1,815	62
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	700–750	744	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,808	45
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	719	266.98/cwt	260.00–271.00	1,920	100
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	521	348.75/cwt	345.00–357.50	1,817	69
Steers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	474	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,754	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	377	335.19/cwt	331.00–340.00	1,264	36
Dairy Heifers	Small 3	800–850	810	107.50/cwt	107.50–107.50	871	2
Dairy Heifers	Small 3	700–750	720	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	792	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	861	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,998	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	516	300.76/cwt	297.00–307.50	1,552	51
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	586	278.63/cwt	277.00–287.00	1,633	46
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	667	249.11/cwt	244.00–254.00	1,662	77
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,316	125.94/cwt	123.00–127.00	1,657	11
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,300	100.00/cwt	100.00–100.00	1,300	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,154	112.55/cwt	109.00–119.00	1,299	25
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,064	119.76/cwt	117.00–126.00	1,274	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,516	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,925	33
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,585	116.72/cwt	111.00–123.00	1,850	2
Steers	Large 1	900–950	939	205.50/cwt	205.50–205.50	1,930	8
Steers	Large 1	1000–1050	1,013	193.50/cwt	193.50–193.50	1,960	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,328	126.40/cwt	120.00–128.00	1,679	202
Bulls	—	—	1,670	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	1,921	1
Bulls	—	—	1,641	149.24/cwt	144.00–152.00	2,449	5
Bulls	—	—	1,900	139.52/cwt	138.00–141.00	2,651	2
Dairy Heifers	Large 3	1200–1250	1,200	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	1,824	1
Dairy Heifers	Large 2-3	1250–1300	1,292	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	2,067	15
Dairy Heifers	Large 2-3	1100–1150	1,105	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,713	2
Dairy Heifers	Large 2-3	1350–1400	1,365	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	2,170	1
Dairy Heifers	Large 2-3	1300–1350	1,345	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	2,112	1
Heifers	Large 1	650–700	682	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,637	3
Heifers	Medium 1	500–550	523	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,213	9
Heifers	Medium 1	450–500	473	281.00/cwt	281.00–281.00	1,329	4
Heifers	Medium 1	650–700	689	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,585	4
Dairy Heifers	Large 3	900–950	920	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,196	2
Dairy Heifers	Large 3	1150–1200	1,173	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,760	2
Dairy Steers	Large 3	700–750	724	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	789	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	800–850	803	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,951	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	550–600	566	296.00/cwt	296.00–296.00	1,675	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	600–650	620	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,953	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	650–700	661	291.00/cwt	291.00–291.00	1,924	10
Heifers	Medium 1-2	850–900	865	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	1,220	2
Steers	Medium 1	600–650	600	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	1,230	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	686	234.98/cwt	232.00–237.00	1,612	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	928	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,949	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	850–900	880	177.00/cwt	177.00–177.00	1,558	6
Steers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	588	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,705	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	600–650	615	275.50/cwt	275.50–275.50	1,694	36
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	500–550	506	318.00/cwt	318.00–318.00	1,609	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	1050–1100	1,085	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	1,801	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	641	278.00/cwt	278.00–278.00	1,782	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	817	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,716	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	577	269.80/cwt	264.00–272.00	1,557	63
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	432	345.98/cwt	335.00–355.00	1,495	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	795	222.00/cwt	222.00–222.00	1,765	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	582	312.65/cwt	310.00–317.00	1,820	24
Steers	Medium and Large 1	1100–1150	1,143	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	2,069	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	853	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	1,868	13

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.

Colorado feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Sterling Livestock Commission - Sterling, CO

Wed Mar 6, 2024

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Greeley, CO (LS-GL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 1,706Last week 718Year ago 0

Slaughter CattleReceipts 290Last week 0Year ago 0

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	400–450	432	335.00–355.00	345.98
9	450–500	494	330.00	330.00
33	500–550	540	322.50–342.50	333.18
24	550–600	582	310.00–317.00	312.65
9	600–650	641	278.00	278.00
3	650–700	663	262.00	262.00
5	800–850	817	210.00	210.00
7	850–900	852	211.00	211.00
4	900–950	928	210.00	210.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	300–350	314	402.50	402.50
3	350–400	393	357.50	357.50
19	400–450	427	360.00–369.00	363.39
4	450–500	474	370.00	370.00
69	500–550	521	345.00–357.50	348.75
42	550–600	564	322.50–335.00	330.01
127	600–650	631	294.00–307.50	299.84
37	650–700	681	279.00–288.00	284.32
100	700–750	719	260.00–271.00	266.98
116	750–800	788	251.00–261.00	257.80
56	800–850	814	232.00–247.00	243.23
5	850–900	861	232.00	232.00
61	900–950	912	230.00–237.50	232.91
1	1000–1050	1,020	195.00	195.00
2	1100–1150	1,143	181.00	181.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	900–950	939	205.50	205.50
3	1000–1050	1,013	193.50	193.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
29	600–650	620	315.00	315.00
10	650–700	661	291.00	291.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	600–650	600	205.00	205.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	550–600	588	290.00	290.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
36	350–400	377	331.00–340.00	335.19
14	400–450	427	320.00–333.00	328.41
29	450–500	494	310.00–318.00	315.22
51	500–550	516	297.00–307.50	300.76
46	550–600	586	277.00–287.00	278.63
39	600–650	631	259.00–265.00	262.67
77	650–700	667	244.00–254.00	249.11
28	700–750	731	222.00–237.00	231.08
62	750–800	772	230.50–241.00	235.14
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	450–500	480	295.00–305.00	299.46
9	500–550	515	270.00–277.50	272.51
63	550–600	577	264.00–272.00	269.80
12	600–650	631	244.00–245.50	245.00
22	650–700	686	232.00–237.00	234.98
30	750–800	795	222.00	222.00
13	850–900	853	219.00	219.00
3	1050–1100	1,085	166.00	166.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
7	500–550	506	318.00	318.00
16	550–600	566	296.00	296.00
36	600–650	615	275.50	275.50
45	700–750	744	243.00	243.00
28	800–850	803	243.00	243.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	650–700	682	240.00	240.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	473	281.00	281.00
9	500–550	523	232.00	232.00
4	650–700	689	230.00	230.00
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	850–900	865	141.00	141.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	850–900	880	177.00	177.00
Dairy Heifers — Small 3$ per cwt · actual wt
1	700–750	720	110.00	110.00
2	800–850	810	107.50	107.50
Dairy Heifers — Large 3$ per cwt · actual wt
2	900–950	920	130.00	130.00
2	1150–1200	1,173	150.00	150.00
1	1200–1250	1,200	152.00	152.00
Dairy Heifers — Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
2	1100–1150	1,105	155.00	155.00
15	1250–1300	1,292	160.00	160.00
1	1300–1350	1,345	157.00	157.00
1	1350–1400	1,365	159.00	159.00
Dairy Steers — Large 3$ per cwt · actual wt
11	700–750	724	109.00	109.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,316	123.00–127.00	125.94
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,300	100.00	100.00
25	—	1,154	109.00–119.00	112.55
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,064	117.00–126.00	119.76
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
33	—	1,516	127.00	127.00
2	—	1,585	111.00–123.00	116.72
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
202	—	1,328	120.00–128.00	126.40
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,670	115.00	115.00
5	—	1,641	144.00–152.00	149.24
2	—	1,900	138.00–141.00	139.52

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.

Feeder Cattle — prices, barns, and planning

Fed Cattle — the cash market and what quality pays

Beef & Retail — from the box to the grocery shelf

Feed & Hay — the cost side, cash not futures

Cows & Bred Stock — the rebuild market

More

Sterling