For the week ending March 28, Western Canadian feeder cattle market once again traded $10/cwt higher to $10/cwt lower compared to seven days earlier.
Backgrounded replacements were down $3-$6/cwt on average with fleshier groups dropping as much as $6-$10/cwt. Calves were quite variable across the Prairies due to limited numbers. There was strong demand for grassers, especially in Central Alberta.
Ontario buying interest was noted at certain locations, which lifted overall average values at those specific auctions. Some larger finishing operators were quiet last week. All these factors resulted in a wide price range.
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At the VJV sale in Ponoka, a pen-size group of lower flesh mixed steers averaging 933 pounds coming off a diet of barley and corn silage with full processing data sold for $469/cwt. Another feature from this location included a group of Charolais cross heifers, scaled at 862 pounds on rolled barley and corn silage diet with full processing data, that were bid at $455/cwt.
The TEAM market report included 68 Angus Simmental cross steers with a mean weight of 880 pounds coming off a diet of diet of barley, corn silage and mineral package with full veterinary data but no implants sold for $481/cwt fob farm near Pierson, Manitoba.
The Lloydminster sale results included a smaller package of red steers weighing 709 pounds dropping the gavel at $589. At the same location, a package of 34 Angus based heifers evaluated at 717 pounds traded for $515/cwt.
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At the Ste. Rose auction, a small package of red mixed steers averaging 631 pounds traded for $607 and five Charolais heifers weighing 651 pounds sold for $557/cwt. The Killarney market report included at group of black steers (no implants) with a mean weight of 655 pounds sold for $614/cwt.
North of Calgary, a farmer reported that short-weaned Simmental mixed steers, averaging 520 pounds with full preconditioning, sold for $755 at a ring sale. In Westlock, a six-pack of Charolais cross Angus heifers averaging 530 pounds on hay diet with all natural description sold for $630/cwt.
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $540/cwt, unchanged from last week. Live sales fob feedlot in Southern Alberta were quoted at $322/cwt. Breakeven fed cattle prices for April on a live basis are in the range of $350-$355/cwt.
Feed barley was trading in the Lethbridge area in the range of $305-$310/tonne delivered while imported U.S. corn was quoted at $300-$305/tonne. Feed barley prices appear to have further upside potential.
