Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings weighing over 800 lbs. traded steady to $2 lower on average. Feeder cattle under 800 lbs. were relatively unchanged. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at an average price of $288 delivered, down from the range of $288-$290 seven days earlier. Using a 60 […] Read more
Klassen: Negative feeding margins temper strength in feeder market
Klassen: Steady demand supports feeder cattle prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged. Weakness in deferred live cattle futures and uncertainty in the feed grain market tempered the upside for all weight categories of replacement cattle. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $288-$290 delivered, steady to $2 lower […] Read more
Klassen: Canadian feeder market divorces from feeder cattle futures
Timing of new-crop feed grains leads to shift
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$4 on either side of unchanged. The quality was quite variable resulting in the wide price structure; however, decent genetic and lower flesh packages were red hot. Feedlot operators were extremely aggressive on 700- to 800-lb. steers although higher weight categories were also well bid. Auction […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market develops two-tier price structure
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings markets traded $2-$4 higher on average; feeder cattle in the 600- to 800-pound weight category were up $3 to as much as $6 while calves under 600 lbs. traded $4-$8 higher. The Canadian dollar strengthened on Friday but the softer tone from Monday through Thursday contributed to the […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market starts seasonal rally
Ontario demand leads charge higher in Manitoba
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $4 to as much as $6 higher on average. Calf markets were sharply higher. Auction barns in Manitoba reported calf prices up $8-$10 on average with certain pockets up as much $15. Calf markets in Alberta and Saskatchewan were up a solid $5-$8 from week-ago levels. […] Read more
Klassen: Feedlot demand up prior to seasonal rally
Market for calves 'boiling hot' in Manitoba
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending April 30, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quite variable. Yearlings traded $8 lower as much as $5 higher. Severe discounts were noted on fleshier cattle; some auction barns reported the bulk of cattle over 800 pounds were medium to heavier flesh. Deferred live cattle futures were under pressure but the […] Read more
Klassen: Adverse weather tempers feeder cattle market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$4 on either side of unchanged. Southern Alberta experienced severe wind and dust storms last week which softened buying interest from a large portion of feedlot operators. At the same time, grass conditions are quite variable across the Prairies despite the recent precipitation. Cooler temperatures […] Read more
Klassen: Yearling prices soften but calves drop sharply
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices unchanged to $4 lower on average while calves were down $4 to as much as $8 in some cases. The steer-heifer spread appeared to widen by $2-$3 for yearlings and $3-$6 for calves. Adverse weather set a negative tone and the market appeared to incorporate a risk […] Read more
Klassen: Feedlots value feeders on finished cattle price projections
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to the week ending March 2, western Canadian yearling prices were $3-$5 lower on average. Mid-weight replacements in the range of 650-800 lbs. were down $8-$12. Steer calves under 650 lbs. traded steady to $5 lower. Heifer calves under 650 lbs. were also down $8-$12. The market was hard to define for heifer calves […] Read more
Klassen: Steady fed cattle market supports feeder complex
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $2-$4 higher on average while calves were steady to as much as $5 higher. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $273-$275 delivered; live prices were quoted at $161 f.o.b. the feedlot. There is a severe backlog of market-ready […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
