Jerry Klassen

Reading Time: 2 minutes Feedlot buying interest appears to be waning at the higher levels as breakeven pen closeout prices on 750-pound-plus feeders continue to creep higher. Upcoming uncertainty in feed grain prices, along with softer wholesale beef values, has the ability to squeeze feeding margins in late summer and feedlot managers are carefully assessing the risk/reward economics. Alberta […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Throughout the winter and early spring period, feeder cattle prices have been trending higher led by strength in beef values throughout the food processing chain. However, it appears consumer demand is now starting to ease, given historical high retail values. Restaurants are also cutting costs or serving smaller portions in order to reduce the effect […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder prices for 800-plus-pound cattle were generally steady with week-ago levels while lower weight categories experienced a week-over-week gain of $3-$6 per hundredweight (cwt). Strength in the U.S. feeder complex led the surge higher on grassers and lighter weight feedlot placement cattle. Healthy feedlot margins continue to support the overall feeder complex and […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes After the buying frenzy in mid-March, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were generally steady last week, with stronger demand noted in the lighter-weight stocker categories. The market is now experiencing 650-pound steers readily trading at $210 per hundredweight (cwt), with favourable pasture conditions expected in most regions of Western Canada. In certain cases, higher prices […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were generally steady to $3 per hundredweight (cwt) higher while lighter weight stockers under 600 pounds were $3-$5/cwt higher. Order buyers are telling feedlot managers that quality cattle are in tight supply and despite record-high prices, the “just get ’em” orders continue to flow into auction rings. There was no […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Feeder cattle weighing under 700 pounds sold $2-$4 per hundredweight (cwt) higher last week in Western Canada while heavier replacements were steady to $2/cwt above week-ago levels. Quality feeder cattle supplies are starting to wane this time of year and feedlot managers were aggressively bidding on performance-based replacements. Buying interest on grassers was well noted […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $4 to $6 per hundredweight (cwt) higher last week with quality mid-weight cattle showing a week-over-week increase of $10/cwt. Feeding margins have been in positive territory since the beginning of the year, reaching over $200 per head in some cases, which is the main factor driving feeder cattle higher. […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Record-high U.S. fed cattle prices spilled over into the western Canadian feeder market this week causing prices to trade steady to as much as $5 per hundredweight (cwt) higher depending on the region. Lighter-weight cattle under 600 pounds were notably stronger trading as much as $10/cwt higher at certain auction barns. Fancier top-quality stocker steers […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $3-$8 per hundredweight (cwt) higher on average, depending on the region, with stronger buying interest noted in the lighter weight categories. Pen closeouts have been near record highs for almost a month and the longer this trend continues, the more orders flow into auction barns. […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices set new record highs at most auction barns last week. It appears that pen closeouts are profitable by approximately $200/head and feedlot operators are anxious to reload. Buying interest for grassers is also starting to step forward and backgrounding operators were actively buying lighter weight cattle, lifting prices for calves […] Read more