Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending January 25, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $$3-$6/cwt on either side of unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Higher quality genetics and lower flesh replacements were slightly firmer; however, feedlot operators incorporated the appropriate discounts on fleshier types and lower efficiency, smaller frame animals.
Klassen: Western Canadian feeder market holds value on Ontario demand
Prairie forecast: Warm west, cooler east
Reading Time: 3 minutes This forecast period starts with the last of the bitterly cold air departing Manitoba thanks to a weak area of low pressure that moved through on Wednesday. This low, combined with an area of high pressure building over the northwestern U.S., helped to pull mild air in off the Pacific and push it eastwards across the Prairies.
Klassen: Increased feeder cattle selling caps upside momentum
Reading Time: 2 minutes There was a surge in farmer selling across Western Canada last week. Sales volumes were larger than normal at many auction barns. The fear that President Trump would implement a tariff on feeder cattle ignited fears that that market would drop sharply.
Prairie forecast: Mild start replaced by Arctic high pressure
Forecast issued January 15, covering Jan. 15 to 22, 2025
Reading Time: 3 minutes We start this forecast period with an area of low-pressure sliding southeastwards through the southern Northwest Territories and into northern Manitoba. This low is pulling mild air northwards, which means a continuation of mild temperatures in Alberta, while Saskatchewan and Manitoba are seeing a rapid rebound from the cold start to the week.
Klassen: Demand surges for beef, live cattle and feeder cattle
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending January 11, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were up $15-$20/cwt compared to the week ending December 21, 2024. In eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, quality packages of steers 800 pounds and over traded $20/cwt to $25/cwt higher compared to three weeks earlier.
Vanscoy, Sask. plant protein processor closes
Reading Time: < 1 minute Ingredion Inc. has closed its plant protein and flour processing facility at Vanscoy, Sask., effective January 6, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Prairie forecast: Battle between warm and cold
Forecast issued January 8, covering January 8 to 15, 2025
Reading Time: 3 minutes For this forecast period, the weather models have been bouncing back and forth between a return to cold weather after a brief mid-week warmup or a return to the mild weather pattern we saw during much of December. The models have been slowly converging towards the milder solutions, but at this point confidence in the second half of this forecast period is low.
Klassen: Stronger fed market to pull up feeder complex
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Alberta fed cattle market was quoted on a live basis in the range of range of $262-$265/cwt fob feedlot last week. Fed cattle forward contracts for March and April delivery (Alberta) were quoted from $270 to $272/cwt. Compared to last week of November 2024, fed prices are up $20/cwt on average.
Prairie forecast: Colder weather moving in with the New Year
Forecast issued Dec. 31, covering Dec. 31 to January 8, 2025
Reading Time: 3 minutes For this forecast period, it looks like the quiet weather pattern will continue as the weather models are not showing any big storm systems impacting the Prairies. We should continue our slow cooldown with temperatures during most of this forecast period looking to be near to below average.
Klassen: Feeder market has many factors to digest in 2025
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending December 28, there were no feeder cattle sales in Western Canada; however, that didn’t stop cattle producers from emailing or calling me over the holidays inquiring about market direction. I thought it would be an opportune time to discuss a couple factors that will influence the market direction over the next couple of months.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
