Sterling Livestock posts Feb. 4 steers near $417 and $378 per head

Sterling Livestock Commission in Sterling, Colorado, recorded feeder activity the week of Feb. 4 that market services flagged as notable for local ranchers and feeders. National Beef Wire highlighted reported drafts showing steers near 692 pounds trading around $417 per head and larger drafts near 781 pounds at roughly $378 per head; NBW posted a Real-Time Index of $376.01 and an NBW Steer Tracker value of $414.57 in its Feb. 5 posting, with the CME Feeder Cattle Index listed at $374.57.

Federal market reporting provides more granular prices in different units. USDA AMS’s Feb. 4 weighted-average report for Sterling lists feeder-cattle prices on a per hundredweight basis. Examples include steers: 132 head at 608-631 lb averaged $463.66 per cwt; 290 head at 702-749 lb averaged $404.11 per cwt; and 66 head at 754-767 lb averaged $389.11 per cwt. Lighter lots showed stronger per-cwt values, 5 head at 424 lb averaged $620.00 per cwt and 12 head at 451 lb averaged $586.00 per cwt. USDA tables also list heifer lots such as 65 head at 683-692 lb averaging $336.40 per cwt.

Because USDA reports are per cwt and NBW cited $/head figures, unit differences matter for direct comparisons. For context, converting USDA’s $404.11 per cwt for the 721 lb average in the 702-749 lb lot yields roughly $2,914 per head using the formula per-head = (per-cwt × weight) / 100. That calculation underscores the need to note units when interpreting market quotes for sale receipts, budgeting and insurance valuations.

Regional market context underlined broader demand and processing flows. Barchart’s market snapshot showed Choice boxed beef at $370.87 (up $2.66) and Select at $367.76 (up $2.85), with USDA federally inspected cattle slaughter at 108,000 head for the Monday cited, 8,000 head above the prior Monday but 5,428 head below the same day last year. Industry commentary and the Sterling Marketing Profit Tracker, with entries by John Nalivka, have been tracking packer margins and cutout trends; recent Profit Tracker headlines noted rising average slaughter cattle prices and volatile packer margins.

What this means locally: ranchers in Logan County should monitor the mix of reported $/head drafts and USDA per-cwt averages when estimating cattle revenues and feeder margins. Strong bids for certain weight classes can lift receipts at the sale ring, while boxed-beef and slaughter counts influence processor bids and packer margins. Sterling’s sale schedule remains active with regular Wednesday noon sales and Saturday mid-morning sales through spring, including Feb. 11 and Feb. 14 upcoming dates.

Expect dealers, feedlots and independent ranchers to watch next week’s receipts for follow-through on buyer demand and for any adjustments in cash bids or forward contracting strategies.