Sale reports / West Virginia / Preston Farmers Market / 2025-10-31

Preston Farmers Market

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Terra Alta, West Virginia · Fri, Oct 31
● Final23 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1876
Feeder Cattle receipts
31 head
54 vs last sale 85 24 vs year ago 7 · +342.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
21 head
18 vs last sale 39 4 vs year ago 17 · +23.5%
Also sold hereSpecial Graded SaleFri Apr 17, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Lower attendance and much lighter run that last week's Bred Cow special. No market test on Feeder Cattle due to the lighter run but prices followed national trends of the past week. Slaughter Cows $4-$5 lower per cwt, no market test on Bulls. Bullocks $150-$155 per cwt. Red white face cattle noted on report as Medium #1.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $337.67/cwt on 2 head. That ranks 1 of 2 comparable sales and sits 131.32 against this barn's trailing median of $468.99.
Average price
$337.67
2 head · 563 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,901
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
single grade reported
vs the market
57.34
vs WV average
92.05 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1563337.671,9012thin
Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale2 hd
337.67
WV average4 barns · 138 hd
395.01
−57.34
National average179 barns · 33,800 hd
429.72
−92.05
This barn, trailing median2 sales
468.99
−131.32
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
BullsAverage2,010166.003,3371thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,404141.991,9944thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,378133.001,8335thin
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,150112.611,2954thin
HeifersSelectAverage1,048242.152,5384thin

Every lot, as filed

23 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 1550–600570272.50/cwt272.50–272.501,5531
BullsMedium 1450–500478238.25/cwt225.00–252.501,1392
HeifersMedium 1500–550545222.50/cwt222.50–222.501,2131
HeifersMedium 1800–850810230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,8631
HeifersMedium and Large 1350–400370285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,0551
HeifersMedium and Large 1700–750720232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,6741
Bulls2,010166.00/cwt166.00–166.003,3371
HeifersSelect1,048242.15/cwt223.00–251.002,5384
CowsBoner 80-85%1,245130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,6192
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,351134.00/cwt134.00–134.001,8101
CowsLean 85-90%1,04084.00/cwt84.00–84.008741
HeifersMedium and Large 1650–700675262.50/cwt262.50–262.501,7723
HeifersMedium and Large 1600–650613264.85/cwt252.50–277.501,6244
SteersMedium and Large 1750–800750292.50/cwt292.50–292.502,1942
CowsBoner 80-85%1,467135.00/cwt130.00–140.001,9803
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,422144.65/cwt139.00–154.002,0573
CowsLean 85-90%1,187122.15/cwt118.00–125.001,4503
SteersMedium and Large 1850–900862280.00/cwt280.00–280.002,4142
SteersMedium 1350–400365270.00/cwt270.00–270.009861
SteersMedium 1450–500495273.00/cwt273.00–273.001,3511
SteersMedium and Large 1650–700652282.50/cwt282.50–282.501,8422
SteersMedium and Large 1550–600563337.67/cwt325.00–350.001,9012
SteersMedium and Large 1600–650610300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,8302

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.