Jerry Klassen

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices appear to have stabilized for the time being. Auction market volumes have declined, with the small-farmer cattle feeder preparing for spring seeding. The market will likely consolidate over the next month as warmer temperatures materialize. Demand for grass cattle improved last week but with barley prices jumping another $5 per […] Read more

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $3 per hundredweight lower last week. Alberta feedlots are backlogged with market-ready supplies and this has slowed purchases of replacement cattle. Carcass weights are 30 pounds heavier compared to April of 2011, and there appears to be a two-week back-up of packer purchases. Backgrounding operations are holding […] Read more

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were down $3-$5 per hundredweight on average last week; feedlot buying interest dropped off sharply for replacement cattle as the fed market dipped to $110/cwt, which was down $4-$6/cwt from prices earlier in April. Comments from the industry suggest that packers experienced one of the worst weeks in history with […] Read more

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $1-$3 per hundredweight lower last week due to softer fed cattle prices and stronger barley values. Feedlot buying interest has eased, with higher break-even costs in the deferred months. Lacklustre demand was noted for grass cattle despite an improvement in pasture conditions across most of the Prairies. Feeder steers […] Read more

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $2 per hundredweight lower last week. Weakness in the deferred live cattle futures, along with stronger barley prices, set a negative tone. Larger volume of 800-pound-plus cattle are coming on the market and with cattle-on-feed numbers above last year, demand for replacement cattle is not as strong. […] Read more

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $2-$3 per hundredweight lower last week. Fed cattle prices came under pressure and barley prices surged higher, resulting in a negative tone for the feeder market. In central Alberta, mixed feeder steers averaging 584 pounds brought back $186/cwt, which was considered high compared to other auction barns. Angus-cross medium […] Read more

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $3 per hundredweight lower on average last week. Softer fed cattle prices, along with a stronger Canadian dollar, set a negative tone. U.S. feeder cattle prices were down $2-$4 per hundredweight at major auction barns in the southern U.S. Plains. General comments from the industry suggest that […] Read more