Name: South Branch Valley Livestock Exchange livestock auction prices — 2025-04-16
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-04-16

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Pygmy Nanny with kid at side $80

Nanny goat with twin kids at side $100

Baby Bull Calves $640-$770

Weight class

Heifers · summary 300–400 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

300–400 lb heifers averaged $148.75/cwt on 4 head.

Average price

$148.75

4 head · 357 lb average

Value per head Derived

$531

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$10

per head · Small 3 over Medium and Large 4

$35.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−182.11

vs WV average

−228.87 vs national

What quality paid 300–400 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Small 3	305	175.00	534	1thin
Medium and Large 4	374	140.00	524	3thin

One grade step is worth $35.00/cwt here — about $10 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 300–400 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 300–400 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale4 hd

148.75

—

WV average5 barns · 78 hd

330.86

−182.11

National average170 barns · 5,993 hd

377.62

−228.87

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
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,397	139.30	1,946	4thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,170	102.37	1,198	4thin
Steers	Choice and Prime	Average	1,583	211.28	3,345	9thin

Every lot, as filed

9 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
Steers	Choice and Prime	—	1,583	211.28/cwt	203.00–212.50	3,345	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%Natural	—	1,480	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,983	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Natural	—	1,358	141.40/cwt	136.00–145.00	1,920	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,080	50.00/cwt	50.00–50.00	540	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,060	112.74/cwt	96.00–127.00	1,195	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,515	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	2,015	1
Steers	Medium and Large 4Thin Fleshed	400–450	420	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	798	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 4Thin Fleshed	350–400	374	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	524	3
Heifers	Small 3Thin Fleshed	300–350	305	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	534	1

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 →