Sale reports / West Virginia / Preston Farmers Market / 2025-05-02

Preston Farmers Market

Name: Preston Farmers Market livestock auction prices — 2025-05-02
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-05-02

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Terra Alta, West Virginia · Fri, May 2

● Final56 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1876

← Apr 25May 2May 4 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

82 head

▲ 11 vs last sale 71▲ 44 vs year ago 38 · +115.8%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

46 head

▲ 28 vs last sale 18▲ 17 vs year ago 29 · +58.6%

Replacement Cattle receipts

43 head

▲ 43 vs last sale 0▼ 14 vs year ago 57 · −24.6%

Also sold hereSpecial Graded SaleWed Sep 30, 2026

View

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $319.67/cwt on 14 head. That ranks 3 of 8 comparable sales and sits −35.56 against this barn's trailing median of $355.23.

Average price

$319.67

14 head · 556 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,778

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$283

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

$34.62/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+21.16

vs WV average

−9.67 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	561	324.62	1,820	12thin
Medium and Large 2	530	290.00	1,537	2thin

One grade step is worth $34.62/cwt here — about $283 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 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale14 hd

319.67

—

WV average4 barns · 102 hd

298.52

+21.16

National average176 barns · 11,721 hd

329.34

−9.67

This barn, trailing median8 sales

355.23

−35.56

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

8 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $426.30, low $303.86, median $355.23 across 8 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

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	1,583	184.88	2,927	3thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,682	147.76	2,485	5thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,250	144.93	1,812	26
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,007	113.57	1,144	7thin
Heifers	Select	Average	1,148	168.09	1,930	2thin
Steers	Select	Average	1,355	150.00	2,033	2thin

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
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,313	$3,087	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,368	$2,660	2thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	950	$2,011	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	750	$1,450	1thin
Bred Heifers	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	(<2 yrs)	907	$1,526	3thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	750	$1,500	1thin
Bulls	N/A	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,132	$2,224	6
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,198	$3,332	21
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,110	$2,500	1thin
Heifer Pairs	Open	(<2 yrs)	850	$1,500	1thin

Every lot

56 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. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers11 lots · lightest first
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 2	310	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	868	1
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	315	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,197	1
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	366	323.20/cwt	310.00–340.00	1,183	5
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 2	425	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,233	1
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	430	322.00/cwt	322.00–322.00	1,385	2
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	495	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,906	1
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	525	367.29/cwt	360.00–375.00	1,928	2
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	642	318.32/cwt	315.00–320.00	2,044	3
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	680	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,972	2
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 2	705	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,657	1
Steers	850–900	Medium and Large 1-2	876	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	2,251	4
Feeder Cattle · Heifers13 lots · lightest first
Heifers	250–300	Medium and Large 1-2	265	354.72/cwt	340.00–360.00	940	4
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	345	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,139	1
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	378	317.45/cwt	315.00–320.00	1,200	2
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 2	410	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,005	2
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	415	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,245	1
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	460	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,426	1
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	510	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	1,505	1
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	549	329.00/cwt	329.00–329.00	1,806	5
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 2	550	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,568	1
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	569	321.49/cwt	300.00–325.00	1,829	7
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 2	825	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,650	1
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	900	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	2,115	1
Heifers	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1-2	1,000	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,750	1
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	250–300	Medium and Large 1-2	273	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	901	2
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	470	361.00/cwt	361.00–361.00	1,697	3
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	575	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	1,926	1
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	660	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,914	1
Slaughter Cattle · Steers1 lot · lightest first
Steers	—	Select	1,355	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	2,033	2
Slaughter Cattle · Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Heifers	—	Select	1,148	168.09/cwt	162.00–175.00	1,930	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,180	169.00/cwt	169.00–169.00	1,994	1
Bulls	—	—	1,785	192.82/cwt	190.00–196.00	3,442	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows9 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	885	80.34/cwt	73.00–85.00	711	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	903	151.50/cwt	130.00–170.00	1,368	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	980	179.35/cwt	160.00–201.00	1,758	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,245	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	1,419	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,263	138.35/cwt	137.00–143.00	1,747	17
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,296	151.09/cwt	142.00–157.00	1,958	7
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,345	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	1,843	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,635	140.45/cwt	138.00–143.00	2,296	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,713	152.63/cwt	148.00–159.00	2,615	3
Replacement Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,132	2,224.21/head	1,800.00–2,700.00	2,224	6
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,365	159.04/cwt	150.00–165.00	2,171	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	690	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,311	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	715	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,716	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,182	130.39/cwt	112.50–140.00	1,541	3
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	750	1,450.00/head	1,450.00–1,450.00	1,450	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	950	2,010.53/head	1,800.00–2,200.00	2,011	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,313	3,087.14/head	2,950.00–3,250.00	3,087	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,368	2,660.28/head	1,975.00–3,250.00	2,660	2
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs3 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,062	3,316.04/head	2,550.00–3,925.00	3,316	7
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,110	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,266	3,340.34/head	2,700.00–3,800.00	3,340	14
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Heifer Pairs	—	Medium and Large 2-3	850	1,500.00/head	1,500.00–1,500.00	1,500	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	750	1,500.00/head	1,500.00–1,500.00	1,500	1
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	907	1,526.01/head	1,200.00–1,900.00	1,526	3

This sale against other markets

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 →

Preston Farmers Market - Terra Alta, WV

Fri May 2, 2025

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Charleston, WV (LS-CW)

Feeder CattleReceipts 82Last week 71Year ago 38

Slaughter CattleReceipts 46Last week 18Year ago 29

Replacement CattleReceipts 43Last week 0Year ago 57

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	903	130.00–170.00	151.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	980	160.00–201.00	179.35

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,345	137.00	137.00
1	—	1,245	114.00	114.00
3	—	885	73.00–85.00	80.34

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	1,263	137.00–143.00	138.35
7	—	1,296	142.00–157.00	151.09

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,635	138.00–143.00	140.45
3	—	1,713	148.00–159.00	152.63

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Select$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,355	150.00	150.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Select$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,148	162.00–175.00	168.09

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,180	169.00	169.00
2	—	1,785	190.00–196.00	192.82

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	N/A	6	—	1,132	1,800.00–2,700.00	2,224.21
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	N/A	2	—	1,365	150.00–165.00	159.04

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,182	112.50–140.00	130.39
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	690	190.00	190.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	715	240.00	240.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,368	1,975.00–3,250.00	2,660.28
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,313	2,950.00–3,250.00	3,087.14
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	750	1,450.00	1,450.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	2	—	950	1,800.00–2,200.00	2,010.53

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	14	—	1,266	2,700.00–3,800.00	3,340.34
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,062	2,550.00–3,925.00	3,316.04
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,110	2,500.00	2,500.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 2-3$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	850	1,500.00	1,500.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	907	1,200.00–1,900.00	1,526.01
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	750	1,500.00	1,500.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	410	245.00	245.00
1	500–550	510	295.00	295.00
1	550–600	550	285.00	285.00
1	800–850	825	200.00	200.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	250–300	265	340.00–360.00	354.72
1	300–350	345	330.00	330.00
2	350–400	378	315.00–320.00	317.45
1	400–450	415	300.00	300.00
1	450–500	460	310.00	310.00
5	500–550	549	329.00	329.00
7	550–600	569	300.00–325.00	321.49
1	900–950	900	235.00	235.00
1	1000–1050	1,000	175.00	175.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	315	380.00	380.00
5	350–400	366	310.00–340.00	323.20
2	400–450	430	322.00	322.00
1	450–500	495	385.00	385.00
2	500–550	525	360.00–375.00	367.29
3	600–650	642	315.00–320.00	318.32
2	650–700	680	290.00	290.00
4	850–900	876	257.00	257.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	310	280.00	280.00
1	400–450	425	290.00	290.00
1	700–750	705	235.00	235.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	250–300	273	330.00	330.00
3	450–500	470	361.00	361.00
1	550–600	575	335.00	335.00
1	650–700	660	290.00	290.00

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.