Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $2 lower; calves weighing 500 to 650 lbs. traded $2-$4 lower while lighter weights under 500 lbs. were steady to $5 higher. There is a distinct price structure for each weight category, depending on the time frame for the finished animal. The overall feeder […] Read more
Klassen: Stronger barley prices weigh on feeder market
Klassen: Yearling market holding value
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged while calves traded $3 higher to $3 lower on average. The yearling run is well underway and there was no shortage of buying interest. Finishing feedlots were very aggressive on quality packages coming fresh off grass. Once again, buyers focused on local cattle, causing […] Read more
Klassen: Yearling prices on fire
Canada's cattle herd remains in contraction stage
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, yearlings coming off grass traded $3-$5 higher; backgrounded yearlings were $1-$3 higher on average while calf markets were relatively unchanged. February and April live cattle futures closed marginally lower for the week; however, fed cattle basis levels from U.S. packers are very strong for winter and spring. This appears to be […] Read more
Klassen: Yearling demand remains firm
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings fresh off grass traded steady to $2 higher; backgrounded yearlings were relatively unchanged. The calf market was too thin to quote. Major feedlot operators set the price structure and were once again very aggressive. While many feedlots are backed up with market-ready supplies of fed cattle, some feedlots […] Read more
Klassen: Weaker feed grains drive feeder market higher
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings traded $2-$4 higher. This was the first week of the fall yearling run with larger groups of quality packages and there was no shortage of buying enthusiasm. Heavier yearlings were readily trading at 52-week highs. Feed barley prices collapsed in southern Alberta as the harvest started in the […] Read more
Klassen: Strong demand underpins yearlings
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, yearlings traded steady to $4 higher on average; calves traded $2-$4 lower, although light volumes made the market hard to define. All eyes were on feeder cattle futures, which closed up nearly $4 for the week. This set the direction in Western Canada. Auction barns in Manitoba and Saskatchewan remain in […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market drawing attention
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling prices were $2 to $4 higher while calf markets traded $2 to $4 on either side of unchanged. U.S. prices were also up $2 to $4 which lent support to Canadian domestic values. Volumes remain thin across the prairies; many producers are busy with silage operations and pasture […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market looking firm for fall
Reading Time: 2 minutes The western Canadian feeder market was hard to define last week due to the small volumes. Small groups under 10 head were quite common and in many cases, one to three head were running through the ring. Discounts were quite severe on these stragglers; however, quality feeder cattle traded at similar levels to last week. […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market in summer mode
Set-aside program not having much effect yet on prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged. Volumes are quite thin at this time of year, which makes the market hard to define. Steady demand surfaced on quality groups of yearlings and calves, while late stragglers and heavier-flesh feeders were severely discounted. Pasture conditions are favourable across the Prairies and […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market searching for direction
Feedlots expecting barley prices to drop
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices continue to trade in a sideways pattern. Compared to last week, prices were quoted $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Most auction barns were on holidays last week and arenas that did hold sales experienced limited volumes. Therefore, the market was hard to define. U.S. feeder cattle markets were steady […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
