Sale reports / West Virginia / Preston Farmers Market / 2024-11-08

Preston Farmers Market

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Terra Alta, West Virginia · Fri, Nov 8
● Final30 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1876
Feeder Cattle receipts
32 head
25 vs last sale 7 24 vs year ago 8 · +300.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
15 head
2 vs last sale 17 6 vs year ago 21 · 28.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
2 head
2 vs last sale 0 2 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Also sold hereSpecial Graded SaleFri Apr 17, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Higher head run compared to last week by over double, similar offering of Slaughter Cattle with gains in Feeders and short legged stock. Average attendance and trade normal. No test on Feeders; Average Dress Cows sold steady pretty much spot on at $118 per cwt. No test on Bulls. Slaughter Hogs $73-$83. Heiferettes $160-$172.50 per cwt.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $193.01/cwt on 5 head. That ranks 1 of 4 comparable sales and sits 222.36 against this barn's trailing median of $415.36.
Average price
$193.01
5 head · 550 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,062
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$219
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2
$38.35/cwt at this weight
vs the market
42.09
vs WV average
65.38 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1552208.351,1493thin
Medium 2548170.009312thin
One grade step is worth $38.35/cwt here — about $219 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.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

4 sales
440417393370median 415.3603/0604/0304/1005/0805/08
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $426.30, low $383.94, median $415.36 across 4 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale5 hd
193.01
WV average3 barns · 76 hd
235.09
−42.09
National average194 barns · 18,518 hd
258.39
−65.38
This barn, trailing median4 sales
415.36
−222.36
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
BullsLow1,278134.501,7182thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,575122.011,9222thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,317117.061,5425thin
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,06079.008372thin

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age
Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,030$1,0501thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)985$1,5001thin

Every lot, as filed

30 lots · USDA AMS · Preston Farmers Market - Terra Alta, WV
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
BullsMedium and Large 1750–800790167.50/cwt160.00–175.001,3232
BullsMedium and Large 1650–700653180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,1753
BullsMedium and Large 1700–750720165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,1881
BullsMedium and Large 1600–650640197.46/cwt192.50–202.501,2642
BullsMedium and Large 1500–550510215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,0971
HeifersMedium and Large 2450–500490190.00/cwt180.00–200.009312
SteersMedium and Large 1700–750720235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,6923
Beef/Dairy SteersMedium and Large 2Gaunt600–650625195.00/cwt195.00–195.001,2191
Beef/Dairy SteersMedium 2600–650610162.50/cwt162.50–162.509911
HeifersMedium and Large 1500–550515202.50/cwt202.50–202.501,0431
HeifersMedium and Large 2650–700655215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,4081
HeifersMedium and Large 1650–700655195.00/cwt195.00–195.001,2771
HeifersMedium and Large 1450–500495202.50/cwt202.50–202.501,0021
HeifersMedium 1-2600–650617155.00/cwt155.00–155.009562
SteersMedium and Large 1550–600590210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,2391
SteersMedium and Large 1600–650633228.76/cwt225.00–232.501,4482
HeifersMedium 2500–550535150.00/cwt150.00–150.008031
HeifersMedium 2550–600560190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,0641
HeifersMedium 2650–700690185.00/cwt185.00–185.001,2771
HeifersMedium and Large 1550–600570211.27/cwt210.00–212.501,2042
HeifersMedium and Large 1600–650625202.50/cwt202.50–202.501,2661
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-29851,500.00/head1,500.00–1,500.001,5001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,0301,050.00/head1,050.00–1,050.001,0501
Bulls1,180129.00/cwt129.00–129.001,5221
CowsLean 85-90%1,11574.00/cwt74.00–74.008251
Bulls1,375140.00/cwt140.00–140.001,9251
CowsBoner 80-85%1,175113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,3281
CowsBoner 80-85%1,353118.07/cwt114.00–123.001,5974
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,575122.01/cwt118.00–125.001,9222
CowsLean 85-90%1,00584.00/cwt84.00–84.008441

How this sale compares

West Virginia weighted averages
One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every West Virginia auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.