Compared to the week ending March 2, western Canadian yearling prices were $3-$5 lower on average. Mid-weight replacements in the range of 650-800 lbs. were down $8-$12. Steer calves under 650 lbs. traded steady to $5 lower. Heifer calves under 650 lbs. were also down $8-$12. The market was hard to define for heifer calves […] Read more
Klassen: Feedlots value feeders on finished cattle price projections
Klassen: Steady fed cattle market supports feeder complex
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $2-$4 higher on average while calves were steady to as much as $5 higher. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $273-$275 delivered; live prices were quoted at $161 f.o.b. the feedlot. There is a severe backlog of market-ready […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market showing strength in deferred positions
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $3-$5 lower on average while calves traded steady to $4 lower. Outside central Alberta, the steer-heifer spread appeared to widen by $2-$4. Strength in corn futures contributed to the defensive tone. Feedlot operators buying hand-to-mouth have been caught off guard with the recent jump in feed […] Read more
Klassen: Deferred live cattle futures underpin feeder cattle prices
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged. Major feedlot operations in Alberta continue to carry large numbers of market-ready cattle. The backlog of fed cattle appears to be worse than earlier anticipated. Yearlings were featured at auction barns in the main feeding regions of Alberta. Feedlot […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market experiences volatility
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2 higher to as much as $5 lower depending on the region. Mid-weight calves weighing 650-800 lbs. were relatively unchanged while lighter weight calves were steady to $3 higher on average. June live cattle are off $9 from their mid-February highs while the December 2022 live […] Read more
Klassen: Surge in feed grain prices shocks feeder cattle market
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$5 lower on average. Feeder cattle weighing 650 to 800 lbs. were relatively unchanged to $3 lower. Calves under 650 lbs. were steady to $4-$6 lower in Alberta, unchanged in Saskatchewan and $3-$5 higher in Manitoba. Fleshier yearlings and calves were heavily discounted last week with […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market shows resilience
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Calves in the range of 600-800 lbs. traded steady to $4 higher. Calves under 600 lbs. were $1-$2 higher in Alberta and Saskatchewan but traded $2-$3 lower in Manitoba. Alberta feedlot operators appeared to shrug off the geopolitical events last […] Read more
Klassen: Weather factors influence calf prices
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $4 lower to as much as $5 higher. Mid-weight feeder cattle traded relatively unchanged with strong demand noted on steers. Steer calves were firm, trading $2-$5 higher while heifer calves traded $4-$5 on either side of unchanged. The market was hard to define for calves and […] Read more
Klassen: Demand increases for lighter-weight feeder cattle
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were unchanged to $4 higher. Mid-weight feeders from 660 to 750 pounds traded $2 to as much as $6 higher on average. Feeder cattle in the 550- to 650-lb. range traded $4 to as much as $10 higher. Feeder cattle under 550 lbs. were up $10-$20 depending […] Read more
Klassen: Diverse price behaviour seen in feeder market
Last week’s price action in western Canadian feeder markets was quite variable. Yearling prices were steady to $4 lower on average across the Prairies. Mid-weight cattle were down $3-$4 in Alberta and $2-$4 higher in Manitoba. Calf prices were also mixed. In eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, calves traded $2 to as much as $8 above […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
