Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices steady to $5 lower while calves traded steady to as much as $10 lower. Alberta feedlots were shopping across the Prairies; light demand surfaced from eastern Canadian buyers while subdued buying interest was noted from the U.S. Limited numbers were on offer in the eastern Prairie regions […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market softens on trade comments
Klassen: Feeder market eyes feed grain rally
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Limited cattle were on offer with the shortened holiday week, but quality groups were well bid. Feedlot operators have been aggressively selling fed cattle, freeing up pen space. Although feedlot inventories decline in the summer, many operations want to carry sufficient numbers into the […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices remain firm
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels, although larger groups of quality cattle were priced $3-$5 higher. Most auction barns reported small packages on offer with a larger variance in quality. However, there was limited slippage, even on late stragglers. Prices were rather surprising, with one producer noting that medium-frame, medium- […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market stabilizes
After the recent rally, cattle buyers noted that price spreads between weight categories came back in line with traditional levels this week. Shorter-keep yearlings were steady to $4 weaker compared to seven days earlier; mid-weight cattle from 700 to 800 lbs. were relatively unchanged while feeders under 700 lbs. were $4 to $8 higher. On […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle markets erupt
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $10-$13 above week-ago levels and in some cases as high as $20. Buying interest exploded early in the week as adverse weather wreaked havoc across the U.S. southern Plains. Demand for replacements continued to intensify as the fed cattle prices surged. Alberta packers experienced strong competition from buyers south […] Read more
Klassen: Feedlot operators aggressively bid up feeders
Western Canadian feeder cattle continued the upward trend trading $5 to $8 above week-ago levels on average with higher quality feeders as much as $12 higher. Alberta packers were buying cattle near $177 on a live basis, which is about $35 above breakeven pen closeouts. Ongoing strength in the fed cattle market set a positive […] Read more
Klassen: Renewed confidence lifts feeder cattle market
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$5 above week-ago levels on average; stronger buying interest was noted on short-keep cattle with prices quoted $5 to as much as $8 higher. Feedlot operators stepped forward more aggressively with ideas that yearling supplies will dwindle over the next month. Quality cattle are starting to thin out at […] Read more
Klassen: Limited demand means mixed tone for feeders
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices experienced a mixed tone this past week. Heavier weaned calves were trading steady to as much as $4 higher compared to last week; however, shorter-term replacements were steady to $3 lower. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $170 to $172, down from week-ago levels of $177. […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle resume upward trend
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices resumed the upward trend after a brief dip during the first major snowstorm of the year. Feeder cattle weighing above 750 lbs. traded $2-$4 above week-ago levels while calves were readily selling for $4 to as much as $8 higher. Optimism abounds in the feedlot sector, as Alberta fed cattle […] Read more
Klassen: Strong demand underpins feeder market
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $3 above week-ago levels; however, weaned lower-flesh calves were $3 to as much as $6 higher. Southern Alberta calf sales are winding down while other regions are just getting started. This resulted in surreptitious behaviour from Lethbridge-area feedlot operators. Orders stretched across the Prairies, like a slow-moving […] Read more
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