Sale reports / West Virginia / Preston Farmers Market / 2026-10-02

Preston Farmers Market

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Terra Alta, West Virginia · Fri, Oct 2
● Final33 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1876
← Sep 25Oct 2latest
Feeder Cattle receipts
48 head
▼ 2 vs last sale 50▼ 14 vs year ago 62 · −22.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
32 head
▲ 21 vs last sale 11▼ 11 vs year ago 43 · −25.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
1 head
▲ 1 vs last sale 0▼ 4 vs year ago 5 · −80.0%
Also sold hereSpecial Graded SaleWed Sep 30, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Average attendance and active market today, similar head run of Feeders compared to last week with an uptick in Slaughter Cows and small runs of Lambs and Goats from the Buckwheat Festival. A lot of quality in the Feeders, especially competitive for cutting Bulls but too few head for a good market test. Slaughter Cows and Bulls sold steady, leveling out after the lowering trends of the past three weeks. Baby Calves up to $550.00 a head, Heiferettes, $139.00 per cwt. Few Sows, $37.00-$39.00 per cwt.

Weight class

Bulls · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb bulls averaged $330.46/cwt on 9 head.
Average price
$330.46
9 head · 553 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,827
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
—
single grade reported
vs the market
−2.35
vs WV average

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1553330.461,8279thin
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 sale9 hd
330.46
—
WV average4 barns · 38 hd
332.80
−2.35
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
Bulls—Average1,810179.513,2492thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,537130.782,0108thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,249123.191,53811
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,156108.231,2517thin
SteersChoiceAverage1,545196.713,0392thin

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
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,060$2,1001thin

Every lot, as filed

33 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
CowsBoner 80-85%—1,143114.94/cwt114.00–116.001,3142
CowsBreaker 75-80%—1,453128.15/cwt124.00–133.001,8626
CowsBreaker 75-80%—1,790138.66/cwt137.00–140.002,4822
CowsLean 85-90%—1,168103.27/cwt91.00–116.001,2066
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed—1,085138.00/cwt138.00–138.001,4971
CowsBoner 80-85%—1,272125.02/cwt118.00–137.001,5909
HeifersMedium and Large 1350–400380355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,3491
BullsMedium and Large 1550–600578317.64/cwt300.00–330.001,8364
BullsMedium and Large 1450–500495375.00/cwt375.00–375.001,8562
HeifersMedium and Large 1550–600568277.56/cwt265.00–290.001,5772
SteersMedium and Large 1500–550545355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,9351
BullsMedium and Large 1650–700665314.10/cwt255.00–375.002,0892
BullsMedium and Large 1700–750715202.52/cwt200.00–205.001,4482
SteersMedium and Large 2300–350315360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,1341
SteersMedium and Large 1750–800780270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,1061
BullsMedium and Large 1500–550533340.71/cwt265.00–370.001,8165
HeifersMedium and Large 1800–850819286.20/cwt275.00–290.002,3444
HeifersMedium and Large 1850–900858277.00/cwt277.00–277.002,3774
SteersMedium and Large 1700–750700280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,9601
BullsMedium and Large 1400–450415355.18/cwt350.00–360.001,4742
HeifersMedium and Large 1300–350330335.00/cwt335.00–335.001,1061
HeifersMedium and Large 1450–500465340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,5812
SteersMedium and Large 2450–500480350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,6801
SteersMedium and Large 2400–450435380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,6531
SteersMedium and Large 2350–400370385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,4251
HeifersMedium 2450–500468250.56/cwt235.00–265.001,1732
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,0602,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1001
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fancy450–500455340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,5471
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy550–600570315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,7961
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy650–700655240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,5721
BullsMedium and Large 1300–350310315.00/cwt315.00–315.009771
Bulls——1,810179.51/cwt179.00–180.003,2492
SteersChoice—1,545196.71/cwt178.00–223.003,0392

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.