Sale reports / West Virginia / Preston Farmers Market / 2026-03-06

Preston Farmers Market

Name: Preston Farmers Market livestock auction prices — 2026-03-06
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-03-06

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Terra Alta, West Virginia · Fri, Mar 6

● Final52 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1876

← Nov 14Mar 6Mar 13 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

126 head

▲ 117 vs last sale 9▲ 126 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Slaughter Cattle receipts

10 head

▼ 26 vs last sale 36▲ 10 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Replacement Cattle receipts

13 head

▲ 8 vs last sale 5▲ 13 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Also sold hereSpecial Graded SaleWed Sep 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Nice run of thin fleshed grass ready cattle with good demand.

NOTE: 115# black bull calf bring $1600

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 $419.04/cwt on 15 head. That ranks 7 of 8 comparable sales and sits +63.80 against this barn's trailing median of $355.23.

Average price

$419.04

15 head · 535 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,244

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$211

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

$5.05/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−10.28

vs WV average

−1.92 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	544	420.05	2,286	12thin
Medium and Large 2	500	415.00	2,075	3thin

One grade step is worth $5.05/cwt here — about $211 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 sale15 hd

419.04

—

WV average3 barns · 180 hd

429.32

−10.28

National average181 barns · 13,944 hd

420.96

−1.92

This barn, trailing median8 sales

355.23

+63.80

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	1,840	183.88	3,383	2thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,269	152.49	1,935	5thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,303	136.69	1,781	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
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,535	$3,231	3thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,100	$3,900	1thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,250	$3,387	4thin
Bulls	N/A	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,250	$4,058	2thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,310	$4,011	3thin

Every lot

52 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 · Steers21 lots · lightest first
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 2Thin Fleshed	357	540.00/cwt	540.00–540.00	1,928	4
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	360	480.00/cwt	480.00–480.00	1,728	1
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	395	495.00/cwt	495.00–495.00	1,955	1
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	408	486.78/cwt	470.00–500.00	1,986	3
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 3	465	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,721	1
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	490	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	2,107	1
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 2Thin Fleshed	493	512.50/cwt	512.50–512.50	2,527	3
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 2Thin Fleshed	500	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	2,250	1
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	505	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	2,273	1
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	510	462.50/cwt	462.50–462.50	2,359	6
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 2	550	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	2,145	1
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	565	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	2,486	1
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	591	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	2,600	5
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 2Thin Fleshed	597	427.50/cwt	427.50–427.50	2,552	2
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 2	620	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	2,015	1
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	638	420.66/cwt	410.00–426.00	2,684	8
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	687	378.37/cwt	370.00–395.00	2,599	3
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 2	745	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	2,496	1
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	772	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,702	2
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	805	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,818	2
Steers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1-2	950	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	2,993	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers15 lots · lightest first
Heifers	200–250	Medium and Large 3Thin Fleshed	245	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	980	1
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	355	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,260	1
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 2Thin Fleshed	423	446.17/cwt	440.00–450.00	1,887	5
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	425	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	1,785	2
Heifers	400–450	Small 1-2	435	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,610	1
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	492	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	2,189	3
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	500	415.00/cwt	415.00–415.00	2,075	3
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	535	434.50/cwt	410.00–437.50	2,325	9
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	572	376.68/cwt	350.00–420.00	2,155	3
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 2	620	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,984	2
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	639	348.76/cwt	330.00–355.00	2,229	11
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	652	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	2,412	3
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	721	330.75/cwt	315.00–335.00	2,385	12
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	755	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,643	2
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	923	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	2,723	2
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	570	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,995	1
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 2	585	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	2,282	1
Bulls	600–650	Small 2	625	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,813	1
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	690	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	2,277	1
Bulls	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	735	387.50/cwt	387.50–387.50	2,848	1
Bulls	850–900	Small 1-2	870	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	2,262	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,840	183.88/cwt	158.00–204.00	3,383	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows3 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,045	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	1,891	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,303	136.69/cwt	121.00–152.00	1,781	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,325	145.36/cwt	132.00–151.00	1,926	4
Replacement Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	1,250	4,058.00/head	3,850.00–4,250.00	4,058	2
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs2 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,245	4,500.00/head	4,500.00–4,500.00	4,500	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,343	3,766.20/head	3,700.00–3,850.00	3,766	2
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,535	3,231.38/head	1,555.00–4,300.00	3,231	3
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,100	3,900.00/head	3,900.00–3,900.00	3,900	1
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,250	3,387.00/head	3,300.00–3,450.00	3,387	4

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 Mar 6, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 126Last week 9Year ago 0

Slaughter CattleReceipts 10Last week 36Year ago 0

Replacement CattleReceipts 13Last week 5Year ago 0

Nice run of thin fleshed grass ready cattle with good demand.

NOTE: 115# black bull calf bring $1600

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	400–450	423	440.00–450.00	446.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 3 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	200–250	245	400.00	400.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	425	420.00	420.00
3	450–500	492	445.00	445.00
9	500–550	535	410.00–437.50	434.50
3	550–600	572	350.00–420.00	376.68
11	600–650	639	330.00–355.00	348.76
3	650–700	652	370.00	370.00
12	700–750	721	315.00–335.00	330.75
2	750–800	755	350.00	350.00
2	900–950	923	295.00	295.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	350–400	355	355.00	355.00
3	500–550	500	415.00	415.00
2	600–650	620	320.00	320.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Small 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	400–450	435	370.00	370.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	350–400	395	495.00	495.00
3	400–450	408	470.00–500.00	486.78
1	450–500	490	430.00	430.00
1	500–550	505	450.00	450.00
1	550–600	565	440.00	440.00
8	600–650	638	410.00–426.00	420.66
3	650–700	687	370.00–395.00	378.37
2	750–800	772	350.00	350.00
2	800–850	805	350.00	350.00
2	950–1000	950	315.00	315.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	357	540.00	540.00
3	450–500	493	512.50	512.50
1	500–550	500	450.00	450.00
2	550–600	597	427.50	427.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	550–600	591	440.00	440.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	350–400	360	480.00	480.00
6	500–550	510	462.50	462.50
1	550–600	550	390.00	390.00
1	600–650	620	325.00	325.00
1	700–750	745	335.00	335.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 3$ per cwt · actual wt
1	450–500	465	370.00	370.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	550–600	585	390.00	390.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Small 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	850–900	870	260.00	260.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	550–600	570	350.00	350.00
1	650–700	690	330.00	330.00
1	700–750	735	387.50	387.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Small 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	600–650	625	290.00	290.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	N/A	2	—	1,250	3,850.00–4,250.00	4,058.00

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	2	—	1,343	3,700.00–3,850.00	3,766.20
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,245	4,500.00	4,500.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	1,535	1,555.00–4,300.00	3,231.38

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,100	3,900.00	3,900.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,250	3,300.00–3,450.00	3,387.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,840	158.00–204.00	183.88

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,045	181.00	181.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,325	132.00–151.00	145.36

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,303	121.00–152.00	136.69

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.