Name: South Branch Valley Livestock Exchange livestock auction prices — 2025-09-17
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-09-17

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Feeder cattle sale Saturday September 20, 2025

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $292.50/cwt on 2 head. That ranks 1 of 2 comparable sales and sits −161.44 against this barn's trailing median of $453.94.

Average price

$292.50

2 head · 515 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,506

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$423

per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 3

$65.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−110.35

vs WV average

−112.14 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	530	325.00	1,723	1thin
Medium and Large 3	500	260.00	1,300	1thin

One grade step is worth $65.00/cwt here — about $423 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale2 hd

292.50

—

WV average7 barns · 389 hd

402.85

−110.35

National average165 barns · 10,728 hd

404.64

−112.14

This barn, trailing median2 sales

453.94

−161.44

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	1,025	165.00	1,691	1thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,218	88.75	1,081	3thin

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.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,280	$2,470	1thin

Every lot, as filed

12 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
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,280	2,470.00/head	2,470.00–2,470.00	2,470	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	420	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	1,575	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	530	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	1,723	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	695	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,946	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	600–650	630	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,418	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	500–550	540	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,431	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,005	40.00/cwt	40.00–40.00	402	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,025	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,691	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,325	113.13/cwt	106.00–120.00	1,499	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	650–700	650	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,593	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 3	700–750	700	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,575	1
Steers	Medium and Large 3	500–550	500	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,300	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 →