Jerry Klassen

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady with week-ago levels as lower volumes were noted at all auction yards. The farmer/cattle producer was busy seeding and pasture conditions remain favourable across the Prairies. Major feedlot operators are content with current inventories into the summer months, given the feedgrain and margin uncertainty. Alberta packers bought fed […] Read more

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady with week-ago levels as continued strength in fed cattle and lower available supplies continued to support the market. Favourable weather allowed seeding to progress quite rapidly in most regions of the Prairies, which resulted in lower auction market volumes. Most backgrounding operations have liquidated fall-placed calves by this […] Read more

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $119-$121 per hundredweight (cwt) last week, which was the main factor causing feeders to trade steady to $2/cwt higher. In Nebraska, slaughter steers traded at an all-time record high of $131/cwt as choice wholesale beef prices reached highs not seen since late 2003. The US. […] Read more

Favourable weather in southern Alberta, along with stronger fed cattle prices, were the main factors causing the feeder market to trade $2 to $4 per hundredweight (cwt) at most auction barns in Western Canada. Alberta packers were buying slaughter cattle in the range of $118-$119/cwt last week, up a solid $5/cwt from seven days earlier, […] Read more

Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were unstable trading steady to $4 per hundredweight (cwt) lower on average, following major U.S. markets lower. U.S. feeder cattle prices were generally down $5-$7/cwt, with spillover pressure from the broad-based commodity sell-off. Prices in Eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba were as much $10/cwt below major Alberta markets, causing feedlot operators […] Read more

Western Canadian feeder cattle were $2 higher to $2 lower per hundredweight (cwt) on average last week. Eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba values appeared to be following the U.S. feeder markets, which were down $3-$6/cwt relative to seven days earlier. Demand for grass cattle was evident on the lighter weight categories, but replacement cattle over 700 […] Read more

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $2 per hundredweight (cwt) higher on average, with certain auction barns reporting prices $2-$4/cwt higher, especially for lighter weight feeders under 600 pounds. The Canadian market was led higher by prices in the U.S. major markets which were a solid $2-$4/cwt higher on average. Alberta packers were […] Read more

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $2-$4 per hundredweight (cwt) lower last week as feeding margins fell further into red ink. Fed cattle prices in Alberta were also $2-$3/cwt lower trading in the range of $111-$112/cwt. Feedlot operators have endured a prolonged period of negative margins, which is starting to weigh heavily on the feeder […] Read more