Sale reports / West Virginia / Preston Farmers Market / 2026-03-20

Preston Farmers Market

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Terra Alta, West Virginia · Fri, Mar 20
● Final32 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1876
Feeder Cattle receipts
36 head
25 vs last sale 11 85 vs year ago 121 · 70.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
16 head
9 vs last sale 7 10 vs year ago 26 · 38.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
1 head
1 vs last sale 2 2 vs year ago 3 · 66.7%
Also sold hereSpecial Graded SaleFri Apr 17, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Average attendance this week, trade fairly active. Larger head run than last reported with gains in Feeder and Slaughter Cattle. Not enough comparison from last week's report for a market test. Baby Calves up to $1,400.00 per head; Slaughter Hogs, $75.00 per cwt; Heiferettes, $197.00-$210.00 per cwt.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $391.60/cwt on 3 head, down $53.11 from the prior sale (only 17 head in that comparison). That ranks 1 of 2 comparable sales and sits 77.39 against this barn's trailing median of $468.99.
Average price
$391.60
53.11 vs prior sale
3 head · 537 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,103
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
single grade reported
vs the market
67.19
vs WV average
80.52 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 2537391.602,1033thin
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 sale3 hd
391.60
WV average2 barns · 36 hd
458.79
−67.19
National average160 barns · 7,757 hd
472.12
−80.52
This barn, trailing median2 sales
468.99
−77.39
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
BullsAverage1,598170.502,7242thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,559159.412,4846thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,513136.332,0632thin
CowsLean 85-90%Average89584.097533thin
HeifersSelectAverage1,040248.002,5791thin

Every lot, as filed

32 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 1-2700–750735240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,7641
BullsMedium and Large 1-2400–450430470.00/cwt470.00–470.002,0212
BullsMedium and Large 1-2650–700665300.90/cwt260.00–340.002,0012
BullsMedium and Large 1-2450–500470360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,6921
BullsMedium and Large 1-2600–650620325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,0151
HeifersMedium and Large 1500–550500390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,9502
SteersMedium and Large 2500–550523379.90/cwt360.00–400.001,9872
SteersMedium and Large 2550–600565415.00/cwt415.00–415.002,3451
SteersMedium and Large 2400–450405395.00/cwt395.00–395.001,6001
SteersMedium and Large 1750–800760314.88/cwt300.00–335.002,3933
HeifersMedium and Large 2550–600563284.80/cwt270.00–300.001,6032
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy600–650610340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,0741
SteersMedium and Large 1800–850835295.00/cwt295.00–295.002,4631
SteersMedium and Large 1300–350335470.00/cwt470.00–470.001,5751
SteersMedium and Large 2450–500470370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,7391
SteersMedium and Large 2900–950935270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,5251
HeifersMedium and Large 1650–700650320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,0801
HeifersMedium and Large 2400–450420385.24/cwt380.00–390.001,6182
HeifersMedium and Large 1750–800750290.00/cwt290.00–290.002,1751
HeifersMedium and Large 2350–400390400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,5601
HeifersMedium and Large 2600–650605340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,0571
HeifersMedium and Large 2450–500470382.58/cwt375.00–390.001,7982
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,050220.00/cwt220.00–220.002,3101
Bulls1,085125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,3561
Bulls2,110216.00/cwt216.00–216.004,5581
CowsBoner 80-85%1,513136.33/cwt132.00–141.002,0632
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,590158.44/cwt156.00–161.002,5193
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,503170.57/cwt168.00–173.002,5642
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,575140.00/cwt140.00–140.002,2051
CowsLean 85-90%915100.00/cwt100.00–100.009151
CowsLean 85-90%88576.13/cwt75.00–78.006742
HeifersSelect1,040248.00/cwt248.00–248.002,5791

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.