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: Feeder cattle market experiences volatility
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
U.S. beef herd contraction confirmed
Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Now is a good time for western ranchers to be buying bred cows and cow-calf pairs
During the first week of February, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $260-$270 delivered. Live prices were quoted from $160-$162 FOB the feedlot. Western Canada is contending with a backlog of market-ready supplies due to the sharp year-over-year increase in feedlot placements in the latter half of […] 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
Feed barley picture will change by fall
Market Update with Jerry Klassen: With high feed prices, western Canadian feedlots will be at a competitive disadvantage to U.S. feedlots until September
Prairie barley prices reached historical highs earlier in January. Lethbridge-area feedlots were buying feed barley in the range of $445-$455/tonne delivered while Red Deer operations made purchases from $430-$440/tonne. The barley market is functioning to ration demand through higher prices. The domestic feed market needs to trade high enough to halt offshore movement for barley […] 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
Lower beef production driving the feeder cattle market
Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Both U.S. and Canadian producers expected to hold on to replacement heifers
Canadian beef production for the 2021 calendar year was estimated at 3.258 million tonnes, up seven per cent from the 2020 output of 3.057 million tonnes. U.S. commercial beef production was estimated at 27.950 billion pounds, which is a record high. This is up three per cent from the 2020 U.S. production of 27.174 billion […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market establishes short-term stability
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged. Steady demand was noted on 800-plus-pound cattle, but calves and lighter weights experienced softer buying interest. Favourable weather and optimal pen conditions along with firmer live cattle futures supported the yearling market. Imports of U.S. corn continue to run 10-14 […] Read more
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