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Klassen: Feeder market remains firm

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending February 21, Western Canadian markets for yearlings or backgrounded cattle traded steady to $10/cwt higher. The calf market was mixed with values quoted $5 higher to $10/cwt lower. Feedlot margins appear to be improving in the short-term which supported the yearling market. Extremely cold temperatures across most of Alberta may have […] Read more

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Klassen: Feeder market eyes fed cattle for direction

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending February 14, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. The deferred live cattle futures have been consolidating in a narrow range over the past month, which has limited the upside in the feeder complex. Supplies of yearlings or replacements over 800 pounds are increasing as […] Read more


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Klassen: Calf markets continue to climb

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending February 7, Western Canadian feeder markets traded $10 higher to $10 lower compared to seven days earlier. The cash market was extremely volatile as the sell-off in the feeder cattle futures on Thursday, February 5, installed cautious tone amongst buyers late in the week. Fleshier cattle in smaller packages were discounted […] Read more

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Klassen: Feeder Cattle Market Waits For Direction

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending January 31, Western Canadian feeder markets were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier. Adverse weather in southern Alberta may have tempered buying interest for lighter weight calves.  Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $508-$510 per hundredweight delivered, steady to $2/cwt higher than last […] Read more


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Klassen: Western Canadian calf prices ratchet higher

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending January 24, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $10/cwt lower to $10/cwt higher compared to seven days earlier. The market was quite variable depending on flesh conditions and genetic quality. Prices for backgrounded yearlings or fall placed calves were steady to $5 higher on larger packages on controlled weight gain diets; […] Read more

A cow in the auction ring at the Gladstone Auction Mart in October 2025.  Photo: Greg Berg

Klassen: Feeder market near historical highs

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending January 17, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5/cwt lower to $10/cwt higher compared to the week ending January 10. The market was quite variable across the Prairies with weather conditions influencing the price structure. Overall, there was very strong demand with Ontario and Southern Alberta feedlots aggressively working to secure […] Read more


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Klassen: Feeder cattle market starts 2026 with stronger tone

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending January 10, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were up $8-$10/cwt on average compared to three weeks earlier. Strength was noted in backgrounded pre-conditioned replacements weighing 700 pounds plus. Quality genetic packages with full processing were up $20/cwt in some cases. The weather was quite variable and feedlots have experienced above normal […] Read more

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Klassen: Feeder market poised to strengthen

Reading Time: 2 minutes There were no feeder cattle sales in Western Canada for the week ending January 3. However, there were some sales in the U.S. and the Canadian markets will follow suit once activity returns to normal. For example, at the Ozarks Regional Stockyards in West Plains, Missouri, weaned and vaccinated steers and heifers over 750 pounds […] Read more



A cow in the auction ring at the Gladstone Auction Mart in October 2025.  Photo: Greg Berg

Klassen: Feeder market closes year on soft tone

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending December 20, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were steady to $10 weaker compared to seven days earlier. For the second week in a row, the price range was quite wide for similar weight cattle. Larger operations were focused on pre-conditioned vaccinated cattle given the adverse weather conditions. The quality of cattle […] Read more