Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian yearling markets were actively trading $2-$5 above week-ago levels while prices in the Lethbridge area were up a solid $5 to as much as $10 in some cases. Improving pen conditions, along with a stronger fed cattle market, resulted in a surge of buying interest from southern Alberta operations. Orders from Feedlot Alley […] Read more
Klassen: Seasonable temperatures enhance feeder market
Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged. Stronger export demand appears to be supporting the market in Manitoba and certain pockets in Saskatchewan; however, Alberta feedlot interest remains subdued. Adverse weather continues to plague southern Alberta. Snow and freezing temperatures followed by brief melting periods have resulted in very poor […] Read more
Klassen: Rising feed grain prices weigh on feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels; however, feeder cattle fit for grass and calves dropped $4 to as much as $10 from seven days earlier. Rising feed grain costs appear to be affecting lighter weight categories more than the yearling market. Feedlots will be struggling with negative margins through the summer […] Read more
Klassen: Buyers’ temperance subdues feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were under pressure trading steady to $3 lower; however, eastern Canadian orders were prevalent in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan, where values were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Alberta feedlot demand was subdued as the deferred live cattle futures traded to three-month lows. Most operations are holding high-priced […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market sends mixed signals
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian average yearling prices were steady to $3 lower while heavier replacements above 1,000 lbs. actively traded $3 to as much as $6 lower. Weakness in deferred live cattle futures, along with rising feed grain prices, caused buyers to lower their bids accordingly. Steers averaging 1,000 lbs. were readily trading […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices gaining momentum
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $4 higher while calves and grass cattle markets were relatively unchanged. Once again, there was a wide range of prices across the Prairies as feedlots adjust to higher feed grain prices. Secondly, buyers were quick to discount fleshier cattle; backgrounded calves fed too much […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle markets absorbing price uncertainty
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were quite variable throughout the week due to the uncertain price structure in the deferred position. Yearling prices differentiated by nearly $15 across the Prairies while lighter calves were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Adverse weather throughout January and February has tempered demand for replacement cattle. Southern Alberta has received […] Read more
Klassen: Stronger fed cattle prices jolt feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Feeder cattle markets came alive last week as fed cattle prices took a fortuitous bounce. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $276-$279 on a dressed basis, up approximately $4 from week-ago levels. Improving beef demand enhanced wholesale beef prices, which quickly spilt over into the cattle complex. Compared to last week, […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder markets experience lacklustre trade
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels as extremely cold temperatures hinder market activity. Most auction barns reported small groups of various quality cattle on offer, which made the market hard to define. In the major markets of Alberta such as Lethbridge, there were very few yearlings available. This forced major […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes on U.S. inventory data
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged but there was a wide variation across the Prairies. Major markets in Alberta traded steady to as much as $5 higher, while Saskatchewan and Manitoba prices were quoted $3 higher to as much as $5 lower. Major finishing operations in Alberta focused on […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
