Backgrounded replacements were down $3-$6/cwt on average with fleshier groups dropping as much as $6-$10/cwt. Calves were quite variable across the Prairies due to limited numbers. There was strong demand for grassers, especially in Central Alberta.

Ontario buying interest was noted at certain locations, which lifted overall average values at those specific auctions. Some larger finishing operators were quiet last week. All these factors resulted in a wide price range.

For daily livestock futures updates, visit the Western Producer Markets Desk

At the VJV sale in Ponoka, a pen-size group of lower flesh mixed steers averaging 933 pounds coming off a diet of barley and corn silage with full processing data sold for $469/cwt. Another feature from this location included a group of Charolais cross heifers, scaled at 862 pounds on rolled barley and corn silage diet with full processing data, that were bid at $455/cwt.

The TEAM market report included 68 Angus Simmental cross steers with a mean weight of 880 pounds coming off a diet of diet of barley, corn silage and mineral package with full veterinary data but no implants sold for $481/cwt fob farm near Pierson, Manitoba.

The Lloydminster sale results included a smaller package of red steers weighing 709 pounds dropping the gavel at $589. At the same location, a package of 34 Angus based heifers evaluated at 717 pounds traded for $515/cwt.

More cattle coverage: Canadian Cattle Association won’t back traceability changes

At the Ste. Rose auction, a small package of red mixed steers averaging 631 pounds traded for $607 and five Charolais heifers weighing 651 pounds sold for $557/cwt. The Killarney market report included at group of black steers (no implants) with a mean weight of 655 pounds sold for $614/cwt.

North of Calgary, a farmer reported that short-weaned Simmental mixed steers, averaging 520 pounds with full preconditioning, sold for $755 at a ring sale. In Westlock, a six-pack of Charolais cross Angus heifers averaging 530 pounds on hay diet with all natural description sold for $630/cwt.

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $540/cwt, unchanged from last week. Live sales fob feedlot in Southern Alberta were quoted at $322/cwt. Breakeven fed cattle prices for April on a live basis are in the range of $350-$355/cwt.

Feed barley was trading in the Lethbridge area in the range of $305-$310/tonne delivered while imported U.S. corn was quoted at $300-$305/tonne. Feed barley prices appear to have further upside potential.

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“After extensive producer engagement and input from provincial beef organizations, the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) does not support proceeding with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) currently proposed amendments to Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations (Identification and Traceability),” the organization said in a post to social media on Monday.

It added that it supports livestock traceability for disease preparedness, market access and confidence in the beef sector. The association said it and provincial groups will convene a task force “to work for producers on a risk-based, industry-led approach to disease preparedness and emergency management.”

The stance comes after outcry from beef producers across Canada earlier this year, who expressed concerns about “government overreach” and burdensome regulation.

The changes, which included reporting animal move-ins within seven days and more robust requirements around premise identification numbers and required reporting, were first intended to roll out this spring. The Canadian Food Inspection said in January that it would pause the publication of proposed amendments after hearing producer concerns.

The proposed regulations are aligned with the industry-led Cattle Implementation Plan, which was established by all sectors of industry at the National Cattle Traceability Summit in August 2011 and adopted in 2016.

On Jan. 9, CCA president Tyler Fulton posted a message to social media platform X, noting those concerns from membership.

“Be assured the Canadian Cattle Association has and will continue to advocate for a traceability system that works for ranchers and feeders and beef farmers,” he said.

He added, however, that being able to. move quickly to disease threats is key to the beef sector’s business.

“Given the Canadian cattle industry’s reliance on export markets, we need to be prepared and have the tools available to manage animal disease events quickly and efficiently,” he said in the same post.

—With files from Janelle Rudolph

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On March 27, federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced that the government will propose amendments to the Income Tax Act to extend the income tax deferral period for livestock producers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Eligible producers received compensation for their animals to be destroyed due to bovine tuberculosis in 2024 and 2025.

This action is a response to concerns from livestock producers about the challenges of replenishing their herds during the same tax year that they received compensation.

Under the Health of Animals Act, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency provided compensation to livestock producers whose animals were destroyed in 2024 and 2025 due to the bovine TB outbreak.

A section of the Income Tax Act allows for only a one-year deferral, but the proposed amendments will allow livestock producers to defer compensation for a prescribed schedule from 2026 to 2030, enabling them to have greater flexibility to manage their incomes and sustain their operations as they rebuild their herds.

Producers who received amounts as compensation in 2025 or 2026 under the Health of Animals Act because they had to destroy their animals due to tuberculosis outbreaks will have the option of including those amounts in income for tax purposes as follows:

• Up to 100 per cent of the compensation deferred to the 2027 tax year, with at least 83 per cent included in income in 2027.
• Up to 17 per cent of the compensation deferred to the 2028 tax year, with at least nine per cent included in income in 2028.
• Up to eight per cent of the compensation deferred to the 2029 tax year, with at least four per cent included in income in 2029.
• Up to four per cent of the compensation deferred to the 2030 tax year, with the remaining four per cent included in income in 2030.

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Backgrounded replacements were quite variable with sharper discounts noted on fleshier groups. The heifer discount to steers appeared to be wider in some cases but it was largely based on quality features. Calves may have been slightly softer this week but larger groups under 600 pounds were hard to find. Smaller packages of calves around 500 pounds were down $10-$15/cwt on average.

For daily cattle and livestock price updates, visit the Western Producer Market Desk

The TEAM auction report included a group of 60 larger frame black steers with a mean weight of 1,025 pounds being fed eight pounds of barley and silage ration on the full herd health program that sold for $451/cwt fob farm near Saskatoon. At the Ste. Rose auction, a smaller package of mixed steers weighing 894 pounds sold for $480/cwt.

Northern Livestock Sales in Lloydminster reported a smaller package of Simmental based heifers averaging 842 pounds that traded for $460/cwt. At the VJV sale in Ponoka, a group of 82 tan mixed steers averaging 850 pounds on barley and corn silage diet with full processing records and implants traded for $514/cwt.

The VJV market report from Westlock included a smaller package of Simmental Charolais cross steers evaluated at 709 pounds being fed silage and hay on full herd health program dropped the gavel at $574/cwt. At the sale in Killarney, an eight-pack of 727 pound black heifers traded for $456/cwt.

North of Calgary, a smaller package of Angus cross short-weaned heifers with a mean weight of 615 pounds coming off a diet of hay and silage with full processing traded for $605 at a ring sale, a farmer reported. Northwest of Saskatoon, a group of Charolais cross weaned steers averaging 680 pounds with full preconditioning records on a diet of silage and pellets were valued at $680/cwt fob farm.

More cattle coverage: What makes good beef? Global study reveals surprising answers about meat quality

At the Killarney sale, a nine-pack of Charolais steers weighing 555 pounds sold for $656/cwt and a four-pack of the same genetics averaging 482 pounds notched the board at $735/cwt. The Vermilion Livestock Exchange reported a three-pack of British blended steers weighing 515 pounds that sold for $752/cwt.

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $540/cwt delivered, up from the range of $525-$538/cwt a week earlier. Feedlot margins have improved but remain in negative territory which is limiting the upside for feeder cattle prices. Feed barley was trading in the Lethbridge area in the range of $295-$305/tonne delivered, up $30-$40/tonne from mid February.

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Live cattle gave up some of Tuesday’s gains before settling slightly higher, with a meatpacking plant on strike and dry weather and fires in Nebraska further tightening historically low cattle numbers.

CBOT corn futures climbed on Wednesday following crude oil prices, which rose more than five per cent on Wednesday after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to attack several energy facilities across the Middle East, heightening the risk of further disruptions to energy supplies in the region.

Strength in crude oil is seen as supportive given corn’s role as a feedstock for ethanol. However, rising corn prices also makes feeding cattle more expensive, supporting feeder cattle futures, according to Karl Setzer, co-founder of ConsusAg Consulting.

Meanwhile, workers have gone on strike at a large JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colorado, which is likely to reduce U.S. beef production at a time when consumers face record prices for beef.

CME April live cattle settled 0.175 cents higher at 235.4 cents per pound. April feeders finished down 1.075 cents at 358.725 cents per pound.

Meanwhile, dry weather and fires in pasturelands of Nebraska could displace tens of thousands of head of cattle and spur ranchers to slaughter parts of the herd they have been working to rebuild, according to analysts.

Beef packer margins rose to $142.15 per head on Wednesday, up from gains of $128.90 on Tuesday, and losses of $10.45 a week ago, according to livestock marketing advisory service HedgersEdge.

CME lean hog futures LHJ26 ended up 0.025 cent at 93.75 cents per pound.

— Reporting by Renee Hickman

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Weakness in the nearby and deferred live cattle prices along with strength in the barley market resulted in a negative tone for the overall feeder complex. Feedlot margins have deteriorated in the short-term which contributed to the defensive tone amongst buyers.

Get daily livestock markets updates at the Western Producer Markets Desk.

On March 12, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $525-$530/cwt delivered, down from last week’s average price $538/cwt. On a live basis, this would equates to $315-$318/cwt. Breakeven fed cattle prices are currently in the range of $330-$340/cwt.

The TEAM auction market report included a group of 67 black Angus cross steers carrying lighter flesh, averaging 925 pounds with full processing records and implants coming off a diet of four pounds of wheat and corn silage that sold for $468/cwt fob ranch near Vauxhall.

At the Ponoka sale, 28 tan heifers with a mean weight of 894 pounds coming off a diet of seven pounds of barley and silage and full processing records included traded for $444/cwt. In Westlock, a group of eight Angus cross heifers averaging 802 pounds on a diet of free choice hay and five pounds of pellets with full processing data traded for $489/cwt.

The Vermillion Livestock Exchange reported a group of 15 black steers on the card at 714 pounds exited the ring at $590/cwt. This compares to the Killarney sale, where a group of 21 black steers weighing 713 pounds were last bid at $569/cwt and a smaller package of black heifers averaging 716 pounds silenced the crowd at $504/cwt.

The Lloydminster market report included a six-pack of Charolais cross steers scaled at 611 pounds that sold for $700/cwt. At the same location, a group of Angus blended heifers weighing 601 pounds traded for $577/cwt.

More livestock coverage: High prices, tight supply: A profitable 2026 for cattle

Lighter weight calves were quite variable across the Prairies. At the Ste. Rose auction, a group of 17 Charolais steers evaluated 521 pounds notched the board at $727/cwt. This compares to the Lloydminster sale were a group of eight Charolais based steers weighing 521 pounds dropped the gavel at $765/cwt.

On March 12, wholesale choice beef was trading at US$397/cwt, up US$10/cwt from the prior week while select product was quoted at US$390/cwt, also reflecting a week-over-week gain of US$10/cwt.

Beef demand will be key to sustaining the current prices structure for fed and feeder cattle. For fall delivery, 1,000 pound steers off grass were quoted in the range of $475-$485/cwt relatively unchanged from three weeks earlier.

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JBS workers strike in Colorado

Beef packers have scaled back production in recent weeks and traders are monitoring developments at a large JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colo., where workers have gone on strike.

The dispute reduces U.S. beef production capacity at a time when consumers face record prices for hamburgers and steaks and Trump has struggled to make good on a pledge to cool costs.

The workers have launched a two-week strike and will remain on the picket lines until JBS negotiates fairly with workers, according to the union.

Beef prices soared after a years-long drought burned up grazing lands and drove ranchers to slash their herds to the lowest level in 75 years.

Chicago Mercantile Exchange April live cattle settled 2.35 cents higher at 233.25 cents per pound (USD). April feeders finished up 12.30 cents at 355.45 cents per pound.

Beef packer margins rose to US$57.10 per head on Monday, up from gains of $45.20 on Friday, and losses of $117.95 a week ago, according to livestock marketing advisory service HedgersEdge.

CME lean hog futures ended up 0.05 cents at 93.50 cents per pound.

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Strength in the feed grains complex along with weaker deferred live cattle futures set a negative tone. Feedlot operators exhibited a cautious tone as feeding margins are in deep in red ink for late March and April.

More beef cattle coverage: JBS workers to strike at U.S. beef plant as consumers face record prices

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $535-$539/cwt delivered, up $4-$5 from last week. Using a 60 per cent grading, live prices would equate to $321-$323/cwt delivered. Southern Alberta breakeven pen closeout values average $340/cwt for March.

At the Ponoka sale, a group of black mixed steers averaging 1,022 pounds on a diet of 14 per cent barley, three per cent canola meal and silage with full processing records, including implants sold for $458/cwt. The Lloydminster market report had a group of 41 Simmental based steers weighing 920 pounds that silenced the crowd at $484/cwt.

Northeast of Calgary, a pen-sized group of medium to larger frame Charolais cross heifers weighing 875 pounds on light grain and silage diet with full health data and implants were valued at $455/cwt fob farm.
The Ste Rose Auction Mart report included a group of 21 Charolais steers with a mean weight of 816 pounds traded for $529/cwt.

A cattle producer in the Saskatoon region reported a group Angus cross steers weighing just over 700 pounds on light grain, silage and mineral diet that were valued at $610/cwt fob farm. At the Westlock sale, a group of Simmental based, weaned heifers on the full herd health program coming off hay and silage diet averaging 700 pounds dropped the gavel at $540/cwt.

In central Alberta, a cattle producer reported at group of medium to larger frame red mixed steers averaging just over 600 pounds on silage, mineral supplement that notched the board at $692/cwt. The Lloydminster market report included a smaller package of 44 mixed heifers scaled at 608 pounds that exited the ring at $598/cwt.

Find daily livestock futures coverage at the Western Producer markets desk.

The Vermillion market report included 10 exotic steers averaging 552 pounds that sold for $738 and a pair of tan steers weighing 482 pounds that traded for $810/cwt. The Killarney market report had a smaller package of red heifers weighing 526 pounds that were valued at $660 and a three-pack of black heifers averaging 466 pounds priced at $697/cwt.

U.S. and Canadian equity markets dropped sharply this past week. Cattle producers are concerned that higher energy prices will slow economic growth and enhance inflationary pressures thereby reducing beef demand.

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Feeding margins have improved over the past week with Southern Alberta pen-closeouts now hovering near breakeven. Ontario feedlot margins are in positive territory by $20-$40/head.

At the Ponoka video sale, a group of 61 mixed steers with a mean weight of 1,009 pounds on five pounds of rolled barley and corn silage diet with full health records and implants sold for $462/cwt fob farm. At the Ste Rose Auction Mart in Manitoba, a group of 18 Charolais steers weighing 914 pounds dropped the gavel at $486/cwt.

For up to date livestock futures prices, visit the Western Producer Markets Desk.

Northwest of Saskatoon, a farmer reported a group of 850-pound Charolais cross steers on backgrounding ration with full processing and implants were valued at $505/cwt fob farm. Similar quality heifers with a mean weight of 834 pounds were quoted at $479/cwt.

The Perlich Bros auction market report included 50 larger frame, medium to lower flesh, black Angus steers averaging 811 pounds that sold for $532/cwt. At the Prince Albert sale, a smaller group of red replacement heifers weighing 782 pounds silenced the crowd at $515/cwt.

At the Lloydminster sale, a group of 46 Simmental steers with a mean weight of 721 pounds traded for $586/cwt. At the same sale, a group of 22 black heifers weighing 693 pounds were last bid at $526/cwt.

At the Westlock sale, red Angus Simmental weaned steers with full processing records on hay diet averaging 651 pounds set the bar at $639/cwt. North of Calgary, a producer reported a group of black, weaned heifers weighing just over 600 pounds on silage and hay diet sold for $610/cwt at a ring sale. At the Prince Albert sale, a handful of black steers weighing 580 pounds traded for $676/cwt.

At the Killarney sale, a handful of black steers weighing 552 pounds traded for $717/cwt and black heifers averaging 543 pounds sold for $621/cwt. The Perlich Bros market report included at group of 55 black Angus steers weighing 500 pounds that were valued at $802/cwt.

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $530-$535/cwt. Using a 60 per cent grading, this equates to a live price of $318-$321/cwt. Ontario steers were trading at an average of $535/cwt delivered plant.

For April, fed cattle breakeven prices on a live basis are around $350/cwt in Southern Alberta.

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Health Canada issued a temporary stop sale order for all Deccox products in Canada due to a regulatory compliance issue with an ingredient supplier said animal nutrition company Philbro Animal Health Corporation.

Deccox, the trade name for decoquinate products sold by Philbro, is a non-antibiotic medication for preventing coccidiosis in calves. It’s administered through feed, milk or milk replacers, according to Philbro’s site.

There are no safety or efficacy concerns with Deccox, the company said in a fact sheet posted to the Ontario Sheep Farmers website. It said the issues are with the manufacturer of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), not Philbro and are procedural in nature. Products are not being recalled.

No other products in the company’s portfolio are affected.

Health Canada hasn’t provided a timeline for the stoppage, Philbro said.

“Philbro is working closely with the API manufacturer to obtain clarification and will communicate updates as soon as additional information becomes available,” it added.

Coccidiosis is a disease affecting calves which is caused by protozoan parasites according to an article from Ohio State University. Infection can cause symptoms ranging from depressed appetite and poor weight gain to bloody diarrhea and death.

Coccidiosis can affect calves as young as three weeks of age but is most frequently diagnosed at stressful times like weaning or entry to a backgrounding operation or feedlot, the Ohio State University article said. Calves usually develop immunity by one year of age.

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