Name: South Branch Valley Livestock Exchange livestock auction prices — 2024-08-07
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-08-07

Weight class

Heifers · summary 400–500 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

400–500 lb heifers averaged $178.33/cwt on 6 head. That ranks 1 of 2 comparable sales and sits −247.84 against this barn's trailing median of $426.18.

Average price

$178.33

6 head · 437 lb average

Value per head Derived

$779

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$222

per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 1-2

$20.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−83.81

vs WV average

−78.74 vs national

What quality paid 400–500 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	495	195.00	965	1thin
Medium and Large 1-2	425	175.00	744	5thin

One grade step is worth $20.00/cwt here — about $222 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 400–500 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale6 hd

178.33

—

WV average2 barns · 42 hd

262.15

−83.81

National average160 barns · 4,841 hd

257.07

−78.74

This barn, trailing median2 sales

426.18

−247.84

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Average	2,013	161.78	3,257	2thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,547	129.74	2,006	4thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,165	112.33	1,309	3thin

Every lot, as filed

15 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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	200–250	243	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	419	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	481	177.50/cwt	177.50–177.50	854	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	386	192.50/cwt	192.50–192.50	743	6
Heifers	Medium 1-2	200–250	230	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	437	1
Heifers	Medium 1	300–350	310	207.50/cwt	207.50–207.50	643	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	250–300	295	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	605	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	425	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	744	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	250–300	290	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	500	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	375	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	731	1
Bulls	—	—	2,013	161.78/cwt	160.00–164.00	3,257	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,300	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	1,573	1
Heifers	Medium 1	450–500	495	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	965	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,098	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	1,186	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,350	122.40/cwt	120.00–125.00	1,652	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,743	137.07/cwt	134.00–140.00	2,389	2

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.

West Virginia feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →