Sale reports / West Virginia / Preston Farmers Market / 2025-10-17

Preston Farmers Market

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Terra Alta, West Virginia · Fri, Oct 17
● Final43 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1876
Feeder Cattle receipts
104 head
20 vs last sale 84 129 vs year ago 233 · 55.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
31 head
5 vs last sale 26 11 vs year ago 42 · 26.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
4 head
4 vs last sale 0 1 vs year ago 3 · +33.3%
Also sold hereSpecial Graded SaleFri Apr 17, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Clean up graded Feeder sale, slightly higher overall offering than last week, small increase in offering of Feeder Calves and Slaughter Cattle. Active trade and above average attendance. Feeder Steers and Heifers sold steady, most graded #1 muscled with some small farmer groups, not many #2 muscled shoulder Calves. Slaughter Cows and Bulls slightly higher than last reported, better quality run of Cows this week.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $353.79/cwt on 15 head. That ranks 1 of 2 comparable sales and sits 115.20 against this barn's trailing median of $468.99.
Average price
$353.79
15 head · 539 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,906
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$589
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$87.70/cwt at this weight
vs the market
50.93
vs WV average
115.25 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1551383.022,11010thin
Medium and Large 2515295.321,5215thin
One grade step is worth $87.70/cwt here — about $589 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 400–500 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 sale15 hd
353.79
WV average3 barns · 661 hd
404.71
−50.93
National average176 barns · 29,227 hd
469.04
−115.25
This barn, trailing median2 sales
468.99
−115.20
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
BullsAverage1,580175.332,7703thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,247148.641,85410
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,590145.682,3168thin
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,107128.621,4236thin

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 Heifers1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)(<2 yrs)750$1,1751thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,140$2,4132thin

Every lot, as filed

43 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
SteersMedium and Large 1200–250220400.00/cwt400.00–400.008801
SteersMedium and Large 1700–750710330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,3431
SteersMedium and Large 1550–600561378.81/cwt355.00–390.002,1258
SteersMedium and Large 1950–1000975293.56/cwt275.00–299.002,8626
HeifersMedium and Large 1650–700665330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,1951
HeifersMedium and Large 1500–550520348.28/cwt325.00–370.001,8114
SteersMedium and Large 1500–550510399.85/cwt385.00–415.002,0392
SteersMedium and Large 1650–700675336.00/cwt336.00–336.002,2683
SteersMedium and Large 1800–850825305.00/cwt305.00–305.002,5161
SteersMedium and Large 1450–500457410.30/cwt370.00–440.001,8755
HeifersMedium and Large 1800–850823291.90/cwt275.00–300.002,4023
SteersMedium and Large 1400–450413396.52/cwt365.00–430.001,6382
HeifersMedium and Large 1300–350318381.38/cwt355.00–405.001,2132
BullsMedium and Large 1550–600575350.00/cwt350.00–350.002,0133
BullsMedium and Large 1350–400385335.00/cwt335.00–335.001,2902
HeifersMedium and Large 1350–400395370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,4621
HeifersMedium and Large 1250–300290347.50/cwt310.00–385.001,0082
CowsLean 85-90%1,152131.34/cwt128.00–135.001,5135
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,633147.67/cwt145.00–151.002,4116
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,460139.71/cwt137.00–142.002,0402
CowsBoner 80-85%1,308157.31/cwt157.00–158.002,0583
Bulls1,580175.33/cwt172.00–181.002,7703
BullsMedium and Large 1600–650605335.00/cwt335.00–335.002,0271
CowsBoner 80-85%1,221144.93/cwt138.00–155.001,7707
CowsLean 85-90%880115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,0121
SteersMedium and Large 2450–500458295.08/cwt290.00–300.001,3512
HeifersMedium and Large 1550–600565335.09/cwt330.00–340.001,8934
HeifersMedium and Large 1950–1000965265.00/cwt265.00–265.002,5571
HeifersMedium and Large 1400–450432335.00/cwt335.00–335.001,4472
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1-27501,175.00/head1,175.00–1,175.001,1751
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,1402,413.16/head2,200.00–2,600.002,4132
SteersMedium and Large 2500–550515295.32/cwt270.00–320.001,5215
HeifersMedium and Large 2400–450440350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,5401
SteersMedium and Large 2400–450415323.33/cwt290.00–340.001,3423
SteersMedium and Large 1750–800790300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,3701
HeifersMedium and Large 2550–600568279.85/cwt270.00–285.001,5903
HeifersMedium and Large 2600–650645230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,4841
SteersMedium and Large 1350–400374407.32/cwt385.00–450.001,5233
SteersMedium and Large 1250–300278415.84/cwt395.00–425.001,1563
SteersMedium and Large 1600–650633348.05/cwt344.99–350.002,2035
HeifersMedium and Large 1450–500476380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,8096
SteersMedium and Large 2350–400350380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,3301
HeifersMedium and Large 2450–500473304.92/cwt290.00–320.001,4422

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.