Reading Time: 3 minutes We start off with high pressure dominating most of the Prairies. A large surface high is sitting over the north-central U.S. This is beginning to tap into more heat and moisture, which will allow for warmer daytime highs and nighttime lows as dewpoints creep up.
Prairie forecast: Mostly warm and dry weather expected
Forecast issued May 28, covering May 28 to June 4, 2025
Klassen: Lower beef production forecasts support feeder complex
Reading Time: 2 minutes Improving feedlot margins contributed to the stronger feeder market. Alberta packers were buying finished cattle on a dressed basis at $500/cwt delivered which was fresh record high. Using a 60 per cent grading, this equates to a live price of $300/cwt. Feedlot breakeven pen closeouts are in the range of $260-$270/cwt. Feedlots are anxious to reload and larger groups of quality packages are limited at this time of year.
Klassen: Buying interest for feeder cattle subsides
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending May 16, Western Canadian feeder markets were steady to $6 higher on average compared to seven days earlier. Heifers were relatively unchanged but steers were notably stronger, especially on replacements over 800 pounds.
Klassen: Feedlot operators become cautious on purchases
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending May 10, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $5 higher on average. Quality packages of lighter calves were priced $10-$15 above week ago levels. Many auction barns are only holding sales every two or three weeks at this time of year with limited numbers on offer. This made the market hard to define in certain weight categories.
Klassen: Feeder market consolidates as supplies decrease
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending May 2, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. The heifer discount to steers continues to narrow. Steady buying interest from Ontario was noted in Manitoba and certain locations in Saskatchewan.
Klassen: Higher packer bids enhance feeder complex
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending April 26, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3 to $5 higher compared to seven days earlier.
Klassen: Fall fed cattle supply concerns strengthen feeder complex
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending April 19, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2 to $3 above week-ago levels. Many auction barns did not have sales due to Good Friday but sale volumes were also smaller at active locations.
Klassen: Feeder market returns to historical highs
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending April 12, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded stead to as much as $10 higher compared to seven days earlier. The market has fully recovered from U.S. tariff uncertainty. Strength in the fed cattle market and healthy feeding margins continue drive replacement prices upward.
U.S. livestock: Prices push upward; boxed beef slips back
Boxed beef slips back
Reading Time: < 1 minute Live and fed cattle futures and those for lean hogs on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were higher on Friday.
U.S. livestock: Losses for cattle, upswing in hog prices
Reading Time: < 1 minute Live and fed cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were lower on Thursday, while those for lean hogs were higher. The June live cattle contract retreated 3.175 cents at 195.200 cents per pound. May feeder cattle futures dropped 2.900 cents at 275.300 cents per pound. The USDA reported wholesale boxed beef prices were lower […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
