Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, replacement cattle over 800 lbs. traded $10-$15 higher; some quality packages were up $20 from week-ago levels. Feeder cattle weighing 600-800 lbs. traded $4-$8 higher; calves under 600 lbs. were up $6-$10 on average, with some packages in Alberta up as much as $15 from last week. Strength in the fed […] Read more
Klassen: Higher fed cattle prices pull up feeder market
Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes
Cow-calf producers selling sooner than normal
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $275 delivered; the Alberta fed market has rallied $10-$12 over the past couple weeks. Secondly, U.S. feeder cattle prices have also rallied US$10-US$12 during the same time frame […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market making seasonal lows
Surge of Canadian cattle exports expected
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder markets were down $2-$4 on average. Prices for feeder cattle in the eastern Prairie regions were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier; however, values in Alberta and western Saskatchewan were down $4 to as much as $8 in some cases. This variation made the market hard to define. […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market continues downward slide
Prairies' snowstorm leads to risk discount
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $2 lower; calves traded $2-$4 below week-ago levels. Saskatchewan and Manitoba experienced their first major snowstorm of the season last week. The market tends to incorporate a risk discount for adverse weather as buyers factor in higher death loss. Also, major feedlot operators believe […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market on soft slope
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $2 lower on average while calves traded steady to as much as $4 lower in certain regions; calves under 550 pounds were quoted $3-$6 below week-ago levels. Barley and wheat prices continue to percolate higher, causing a defensive sentiment amongst buyers. Southern Alberta and […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market grinds lower
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets were down $2-$5 while calves dropped by $3 to as much as $8. We’re now seeing some medium-quality calves weighing around 550 lbs. sell under the psychological $200 level in central Alberta. The market is lacking demand. Feedlot inventories are running 33 per cent above the five-year […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market reflects softer sentiment
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$4 lower; calves over 700 lbs. appeared to hold value; calves weighing less than 700 lbs. were down $3 to as much as $5. The yearling run is basically finished. Ontario buying interest was supportive in the eastern Prairie regions due to the bumper corn crop; […] Read more
Klassen: Demand for feeder cattle eases
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were down $3-$5; calves traded $2-$6 below week-ago levels. The market has come under pressure for three main reasons. Cattle on feed inventories in Alberta and Saskatchewan are 36 per cent above the five-year average. Many feedlots are comfortable with ownership levels. The drought caused about 150,000 […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market continues consolidation
U.S. corn northbound into Prairies
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged while calf markets were down $2-$3 on average. Feedlot inventories in Alberta and Saskatchewan are 30 per cent above the five-year average; therefore, demand is lacking moving into the main marketing period for calves. Finishing feedlots have sufficient ownership and being fairly finicky on […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market holds value
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged; calf prices held value, but there were pockets like Lethbridge where values were $2-$4 higher. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a live basis in the range of $156-$158. If an Alberta feedlot booked its feed grains in April […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
