Sale reports / West Virginia / Preston Farmers Market / 2026-05-01

Preston Farmers Market

Name: Preston Farmers Market livestock auction prices — 2026-05-01
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-05-01

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Terra Alta, West Virginia · Fri, May 1

● Final56 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1876

← Apr 26May 1May 8 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

77 head

▲ 17 vs last sale 60▼ 5 vs year ago 82 · −6.1%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

37 head

▼ 5 vs last sale 42▼ 9 vs year ago 46 · −19.6%

Replacement Cattle receipts

54 head

▲ 49 vs last sale 5▲ 11 vs year ago 43 · +25.6%

Also sold hereSpecial Graded SaleWed Sep 30, 2026

View

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $477.03/cwt on 6 head, down $16.24 from the prior sale. That ranks 4 of 4 comparable sales and sits +64.76 against this barn's trailing median of $412.26.

Average price

$477.03

▼ 16.24 vs prior sale

6 head · 520 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,481

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$338

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

$44.43/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+1.86

vs WV average

−3.99 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	524	484.43	2,538	5thin
Medium and Large 2	500	440.00	2,200	1thin

One grade step is worth $44.43/cwt here — about $338 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 sale6 hd

477.03

—

WV average3 barns · 37 hd

475.16

+1.86

National average169 barns · 10,621 hd

481.02

−3.99

This barn, trailing median4 sales

412.26

+64.76

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

4 sales

Steers 500–600 lb: high $493.27, low $365.19, median $412.26 across 4 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	1,920	200.00	3,840	1thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,222	171.60	2,098	11
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,695	163.82	2,777	2thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,073	128.73	1,381	12

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)	1,285	$3,280	4thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,065	$2,800	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,105	$2,800	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,330	$2,685	10
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,488	$2,406	2thin
Bred Heifers	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	900	$2,200	1thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,000	$1,950	1thin
Bulls	N/A	Young (2-4 yrs)	952	$2,514	3thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,443	$4,428	17
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,243	$3,600	3thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,095	$3,348	6
Stock Cows	Open	(<2 yrs)	975	$3,350	5

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	250–300	Medium and Large 1	268	650.00/cwt	650.00–650.00	1,742	2
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	395	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	1,738	1
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	397	535.00/cwt	535.00–535.00	2,124	3
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 2	405	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,539	1
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	477	504.35/cwt	475.00–508.00	2,406	9
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	500	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	2,200	1
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	524	484.43/cwt	470.00–490.00	2,538	5
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	600	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	2,580	1
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	638	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	2,616	6
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	655	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	2,686	1
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	715	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,503	1
Feeder Cattle · Heifers10 lots · lightest first
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	363	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	1,488	3
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	450	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,665	4
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	495	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,906	1
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	518	354.83/cwt	350.00–360.00	1,838	2
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	540	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,836	1
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	590	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	2,124	1
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	643	345.02/cwt	340.00–350.00	2,218	2
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	650	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,690	1
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	676	338.60/cwt	335.00–345.00	2,289	8
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	800	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	2,720	1
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 1	450	500.00/cwt	500.00–500.00	2,250	1
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1	522	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	2,297	3
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 2	540	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	2,214	1
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1	564	431.64/cwt	430.00–435.00	2,434	3
Bulls	700–750	Medium and Large 1	715	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	2,431	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,920	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	3,840	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows8 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	695	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	556	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,030	156.95/cwt	151.00–162.00	1,617	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,083	204.83/cwt	200.00–210.00	2,218	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,096	135.11/cwt	123.00–145.00	1,481	8
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,249	159.40/cwt	147.00–169.00	1,991	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,262	173.85/cwt	170.00–179.00	2,194	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,350	70.00/cwt	70.00–70.00	945	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,695	163.82/cwt	159.00–168.00	2,777	2
Replacement Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	952	2,514.19/head	2,200.00–2,800.00	2,514	3
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs8 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 2-3	1,000	3,500.00/head	3,500.00–3,500.00	3,500	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 2-3	1,050	2,997.62/head	2,950.00–3,050.00	2,998	3
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,120	4,000.00/head	4,000.00–4,000.00	4,000	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 2-3	1,150	3,547.83/head	3,500.00–3,600.00	3,548	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,200	3,600.00/head	3,600.00–3,600.00	3,600	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,349	4,205.37/head	3,100.00–5,000.00	4,205	8
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,527	4,625.71/head	3,950.00–5,225.00	4,626	9
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,530	3,700.00/head	3,700.00–3,700.00	3,700	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows7 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,065	2,800.00/head	2,800.00–2,800.00	2,800	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,105	2,800.00/head	2,800.00–2,800.00	2,800	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,285	3,279.91/head	2,650.00–4,100.00	3,280	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,330	2,684.81/head	1,600.00–3,750.00	2,685	10
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,345	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,749	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,488	2,405.88/head	2,300.00–2,500.00	2,406	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,650	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	2,888	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	900	2,200.00/head	2,200.00–2,200.00	2,200	1
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,000	1,950.00/head	1,950.00–1,950.00	1,950	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	970	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	1,989	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	975	3,350.00/head	3,300.00–3,550.00	3,350	5
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,256	160.76/cwt	145.00–185.00	2,019	5

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 1, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 77Last week 60Year ago 82

Slaughter CattleReceipts 37Last week 42Year ago 46

Replacement CattleReceipts 54Last week 5Year ago 43

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 2-3$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,050	2,950.00–3,050.00	2,997.62
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,150	3,500.00–3,600.00	3,547.83
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,000	3,500.00	3,500.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,200	3,600.00	3,600.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	8	—	1,349	3,100.00–5,000.00	4,205.37
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	9	—	1,527	3,950.00–5,225.00	4,625.71
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,530	3,700.00	3,700.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,120	4,000.00	4,000.00

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	3	—	952	2,200.00–2,800.00	2,514.19

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)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	2	—	1,488	2,300.00–2,500.00	2,405.88
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	1,650	175.00	175.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	1,065	2,800.00	2,800.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,285	2,650.00–4,100.00	3,279.91
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,345	130.00	130.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,105	2,800.00	2,800.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	10	—	1,330	1,600.00–3,750.00	2,684.81

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	—	1,000	1,950.00	1,950.00
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	900	2,200.00	2,200.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	970	205.00	205.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	5	—	975	3,300.00–3,550.00	3,350.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,256	145.00–185.00	160.76

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	250–300	268	650.00	650.00
3	350–400	397	535.00	535.00
9	450–500	477	475.00–508.00	504.35
5	500–550	524	470.00–490.00	484.43
1	600–650	600	430.00	430.00
1	650–700	655	410.00	410.00
1	700–750	715	350.00	350.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	350–400	395	440.00	440.00
1	400–450	405	380.00	380.00
1	500–550	500	440.00	440.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
6	600–650	638	410.00	410.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
1	650–700	650	260.00	260.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	450	370.00	370.00
2	500–550	518	350.00–360.00	354.83
1	550–600	590	360.00	360.00
2	600–650	643	340.00–350.00	345.02
8	650–700	676	335.00–345.00	338.60
1	800–850	800	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	363	410.00	410.00
1	450–500	495	385.00	385.00
1	500–550	540	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	450–500	450	500.00	500.00
3	500–550	522	440.00	440.00
3	550–600	564	430.00–435.00	431.64
1	700–750	715	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	500–550	540	410.00	410.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,249	147.00–169.00	159.40
3	—	1,262	170.00–179.00	173.85

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,695	159.00–168.00	163.82

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	695	80.00	80.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,083	200.00–210.00	204.83

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,096	123.00–145.00	135.11
2	—	1,030	151.00–162.00	156.95
1	—	1,350	70.00	70.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,920	200.00	200.00

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.