Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $4-$6 lower; however, yearlings and heavier calves experienced a week-over-week decline of $4 to as much as $8 with significant weakness noted in the eastern Prairie regions. Finishing feedlots continue to sit on their hands. Order buyers were active on a scale-down basis and surprised […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market grinds lower
Klassen: Feeder market continues to soften
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, yearlings and heavier calves traded $6 to as much as $10 lower. Colder temperatures, along with lacklustre feedlot demand, set a negative tone early in the week. The downward spiral caused the market to be quite variable across the Prairies. It was not uncommon to see 800- to 850-lb. steers trade […] Read more
Klassen: Fed cattle market leads feeders higher
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $280-$282 delivered on a dressed basis, which equates to $168-$171 on a live basis. Yearlings bought last summer are bringing back $150-$180 margin, which has reinforced buying enthusiasm. Western Canadian yearlings traded $3 to as much as $8 above week-ago levels; calves were relatively unchanged […] Read more
Klassen: Stronger fed cattle market underpins feeder complex
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta fed cattle prices surged $11-$12 this past week, with packers buying fed cattle in the range of $262-$264 on a dressed basis. While most feedlot operations are carrying sufficient numbers at this time of year, quality packages of heavier replacements were extremely precious. Yearlings and calves above 850 lbs. sold steady to $5 above […] Read more
Klassen: Beef demand drives feeder market higher
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling prices were $5 higher on average; calves traded $3 to as much as $6 above week ago levels. Strength in fed cattle prices quickly spilled over into the feeder complex, especially on shorter keep replacements. On Friday, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle from $247 to $250 on […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market remains firm
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian yearling markets were trading $3 to as much as $6 above week-ago levels while calf prices were relatively unchanged. The Canadian dollar was under pressure all week, closing Friday at US77.85 cents, the lowest levels since mid-July. At the same time, April live cattle futures made fresh contract highs, reflecting a week-over-week gain […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market surges
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle markets experienced a precipitous bounce over the past week. Compared to seven days earlier, yearling traded $4-$6 higher; calf markets were trading $3 to as much as $10 above week-ago levels; prices for feather-light bawlers surged with 300- to 400-pounders touching the magical $300 level in some areas. Optimal weather enhanced […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market maintains upward momentum
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3 to as much as $8 higher. Strong gains in the live and feeder cattle futures, along with the softer Canadian dollar, set a positive tone for all weight categories. Central and southern Alberta feedlot operators were quite aggressive on local cattle, which caused major […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market experiences renewed optimism
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, yearlings traded $3-$5 higher while calf prices were $5 to as much as $10 higher in some cases. Southern Alberta yearling prices were unchanged this week after trading at premium to western Canadian markets earlier in September. The U.S. Department of Agriculture came out on Tuesday and lowered its beef production […] Read more
Klassen: Strong Canadian dollar weighs on feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were down $3-$6 on average while calf values dropped $5 to as much as $10 in some cases. Most auction barns held feature yearling sales last week; there were small groups of calves available but the market was quite variable and hard to define in the lighter […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
