Fed cattle in Alberta were trading at $191 this past week, which set a positive tone in the feeder complex. Across the Prairies, heavier quality replacements over 700 pounds posted gains of $2 to $4 while lighter-weight cattle were $3 to $5 higher compared to seven days earlier. Feedlot margins improved with break-even pen closeouts […] Read more
Klassen: Higher fed cattle prices pull up feeder values
Klassen: Demand varies for feeder cattle
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quite variable over the past week. Stronger demand was noted in the major feeding regions such as southern Alberta where top-quality steers weighing just over 600 pounds reached $288. Manitoba prices were also steady to $3 higher on buying interest from Eastern Canada and south of the border. However, […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market stabilizes
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged this past week after a surge in buying interest earlier in February. Certain auction markets reported values $2 to $5 higher in Alberta, but other reports from Saskatchewan and Manitoba were actually a bit softer. A smaller group of exotic steers weighing just under 500 pounds sold […] Read more
Klassen: Uncertainty looms for feeder cattle market
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to as much as $5 higher over the past week. Lighter-weight calves under 600 pounds experienced notable gains, while stronger buying interest was also noted on medium- to lower-flesh backgrounded cattle in the 800-pound-plus category. Major feeding operations were quick to discount cattle that appeared to have too […] Read more
Klassen: Renewed buying interest drives feeder market
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices experienced extremely aggressive buying interest this past week. Feeder cattle in the 700-pound-plus category were trading $2 to as much as $8 higher in some cases, while lighter-weight cattle were steady to $5 above week-ago levels. I was extremely surprised by prices and comments after the dismal January market behaviour. […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market turning over
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were very uneven over the past week. Market reports from the major feeding regions reflected values steady to $3 higher, while other reports were steady to $5 lower. Gains were noted on cattle under 500 pounds, such as in central Alberta, where a small group of exotic and Charolais-based steers […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices feel vulnerable
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were extremely volatile this past week. In eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the weaker Canadian dollar had a noticeable effect on demand, with the market trading steady to slightly higher in certain cases. Alberta values, however, were definitely softer as cattle prices came under pressure causing feeding margins to narrow. Buyers […] Read more
Klassen: Feeders trade $2 to $6 higher
Western Canadian feeder cattle values started the year on a very strong tone. Lighter-weight calves under 700 pounds were a solid $4 to $6 higher in comparison to mid-December; replacements over 700 lbs. were $2 to $4 higher on average. This was the first week of major sales in 2015 and cattle buyers were extremely […] Read more
Klassen: Holidays leave feeder cattle market undefined
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were undefined this past week as most auction markets remained on holidays or had limited volumes. Cow-calf producers were not anxious to market calves with adverse temperatures across the Prairies and news of stronger U.S. prices confirmed waiting another week would pay off. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported feeder […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market looking forward
Auction markets across Western Canada will start off the New Year with fairly strong momentum. Newton’s first law of physics states that an object in motion will stay in motion until acted upon by an opposite force. U.S. fed cattle prices staged a miraculous recovery last week and it now appears we could see further […] Read more