Sale reports / West Virginia / South Branch Valley Livestock Exchange / 2023-11-15

South Branch Valley Livestock Exchange

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Moorefield, West Virginia · Wed, Nov 15
● Final30 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1878
Feeder Cattle receipts
35 head
0 vs last sale 35 23 vs year ago 12 · +191.7%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
96 head
67 vs last sale 29 70 vs year ago 26 · +269.2%
Also sold hereSpecial Graded SaleSat Apr 25, 2026Slaughter Cattle Special
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Above average attendance for today's Slaughter Cattle Special; demand remaining fairly firm compared to last month's sale despite national trends over the same time. Higher yield Choice and Prime Steers sold $3 lower per cwt, Choice 3-4 $5-$7.75 lower; underscoring the lowering trend it should also be noted that weights averaged 25 to 80 lbs. less this sale. Little bit different story for Choice Heifers as demand rose $2 per cwt despite them averaging 130 lb. heavier a head. Slaughter Cows selling steady to $1 per cwt higher compared to last week, Breakers stood out of the pack by appearing to sell $12 higher, however, they averaged more than 200 lb. per head lighter today. No market test on Bulls or Feeders. Heiferettes, $106-$120 per cwt.

*No Sale Wednesday, November 22--Happy Thanksgiving! *

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $136.27/cwt on 15 head. That ranks 1 of 2 comparable sales and sits 95.91 against this barn's trailing median of $232.17.
Average price
$136.27
15 head · 614 lb average
Value per head Derived
$837
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$460
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$19.52/cwt at this weight
vs the market
48.93
vs WV average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1741144.941,0748thin
Medium and Large 3350132.004621thin
Medium and Large 2490125.426146thin
One grade step is worth $19.52/cwt here — about $460 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 0–100 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 0–100 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale15 hd
136.27
WV average5 barns · 334 hd
185.20
−48.93
This barn, trailing median2 sales
232.17
−95.91
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
BullsAverage1,513101.001,5282thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,39888.091,2313thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,27280.321,02210
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,15855.3864115
HeifersChoice and PrimeAverage1,282167.922,15310
HeifersChoiceAverage1,552151.002,3443thin
SteersChoice and PrimeAverage1,608179.662,88927
SteersChoiceAverage1,514175.712,66014

Every lot, as filed

30 lots · USDA AMS · South Branch Valley Livestock Exchange - Moorefield, 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 1490170.00/cwt170.00–170.008331
BullsMedium and Large 1543155.81/cwt152.50–162.508463
BullsMedium and Large 1400185.00/cwt185.00–185.007401
BullsMedium and Large 1295210.00/cwt210.00–210.006201
HeifersMedium and Large 3350132.00/cwt132.00–132.004621
BullsMedium and Large 1590142.00/cwt142.00–142.008381
HeifersMedium and Large 2610137.50/cwt137.50–137.508391
SteersMedium and Large 3520140.00/cwt140.00–140.007281
SteersMedium and Large 3300166.00/cwt166.00–166.004981
HeifersMedium and Large 2Fleshy500105.00/cwt105.00–105.005251
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy660144.00/cwt144.00–144.009501
HeifersMedium and Large 1585147.50/cwt147.50–147.508631
HeifersMedium and Large 1731146.00/cwt146.00–146.001,0674
HeifersMedium and Large 2457127.50/cwt127.50–127.505834
HeifersMedium and Large 1880142.00/cwt142.00–142.001,2502
Bulls2,010115.00/cwt115.00–115.002,3121
Bulls1,01587.00/cwt87.00–87.008831
CowsLean 85-90%1,08535.38/cwt34.00–37.003842
CowsBoner 80-85%1,34382.17/cwt78.00–85.001,1044
CowsLean 85-90%1,12447.61/cwt33.00–56.005356
CowsLean 85-90%1,22364.52/cwt60.00–75.007895
HeifersChoice1,552151.00/cwt151.00–151.002,3443
SteersChoice and Prime1,542176.68/cwt175.00–177.002,7246
SteersChoice and Prime1,627180.51/cwt179.00–182.002,93721
CowsLean 85-90%1,16875.86/cwt73.00–81.008862
HeifersChoice and Prime1,282167.92/cwt167.00–171.002,15310
CowsBoner 80-85%1,16289.52/cwt88.00–91.001,0403
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,39888.09/cwt84.00–94.001,2313
CowsBoner 80-85%1,28768.64/cwt60.00–73.008833
SteersChoice1,514175.71/cwt173.00–178.002,66014

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.