Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged and mid-weight feeders (600-850 lbs.) were steady to $2 lower, but calves under 600 lbs. were unchanged to as much as $10 lower. Prices were quite variable across the Prairies, which made the market hard to define. The market appeared […] Read more
Klassen: Large feedlot inventories lower feeder demand
Klassen: Feeder market starts 2020 on steady tone
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, short-keep replacement cattle and feeders in the mid-weight categories were steady to $3 lower on average; feeder cattle under 600 lbs. traded $2 lower to as much as $5 higher. Featherlight calves remain strong trading at similar levels to late December. Most auction markets resumed their regular sales schedules last week. […] Read more
Klassen: Fed cattle market underpins feeder cattle prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at an average price of $275 delivered, which equates to $165 on a live basis. Fed cattle prices are now at 52-week highs and feeding margins are in the range of $50 to $70 per head. Strength in the cash fed cattle market was supportive […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market remains firm
Reading Time: 2 minutes Feeder cattle markets experienced light volumes during the final week of December and prices were relatively unchanged compared to week-ago levels. Yearling values were slightly softer, as these cattle will not have enough time to be ready for the April fed market. Buying interest for mid-weight categories was characterized as sluggish, while light-weight bawlers were […] Read more
Klassen: Improving margins support lightweight feeder cattle
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2 to $4 on either side of unchanged; however, calves under 650 pounds were steady to as much as $5 higher. Bids from Alberta packers were sharply higher with fed cattle trading in the range of $160 to $162 on Friday, up $5 to $6 […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market volatility continues
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $5 higher on average. For the second week in a row, the markets were quite variable across the Prairies but shorter-keep yearlings appeared to lead the charge higher. In Alberta, quality 900-lb. steers were once again touching the $190 level and 800-lb.-plus steers […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market under weight of imports
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5 lower to $2 higher. It’s that time of year when most feedlots are carrying sufficient numbers and buyers are hesitant to increase ownership unless they can see profitability. Auction market volumes contained weaned and unweaned calves over the past week; premiums returned for feeders […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle edge higher on improving margins
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings were $2-$3 higher; calf prices were $2 to as much as $4 higher; calves under 600 lbs. were $4 to as much as $10 higher in some cases. February and April live cattle futures appear to be incorporating a risk premium due to the uncertainty in beef production […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market drops on soft demand
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets were down $4-$6 while calf prices dropped $5 to as much as much as $10 in some cases. Comments from order buyers reflect very sluggish demand for this time of year. Ontario farmers have harvested about 50 per cent of the corn crop and buying interest from […] Read more
Klassen: Challenging weather influencing feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged; calves appeared to trade $3 lower to as much as $5 higher. Weather conditions have played a larger role in the price structure this fall. Major finishing feedlots continue to focus on preconditioned calves and have left the unweaned or unvaccinated feeders to the […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
