Fed cattle Fed cattle prices in Canada reached new highs during the second week of March. Urged higher by tightening supplies, smaller beef production, solid demand and stronger cutout values, the average fed steer price reached $203.90/cwt in Alberta. An average of $203.90/cwt is an improvement of nearly 10 per cent or $17.86/cwt since the […] Read more
Fed cattle prices reach new highs
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the April 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Beef demand remains strong, cattle supply expected to tighten
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the March 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle Since the start of 2023, the fed cattle cash market has continued to grind higher. By mid-February, the Alberta fed steer price was $194.10/cwt, which is more than an $8/cwt improvement since the start of 2023, and over $34/cwt higher than the same week in 2022. Although prices have improved, the Canadian market […] Read more
Cattle-on-feed numbers rise, feed costs remain at ‘record-high levels’
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the February 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle Smaller slaughter numbers and lighter carcass weights through the holidays led to a stronger cash price as we started the new year. The first week of trade in 2023 ended with an average of $186.04/cwt, which was $1.54/cwt higher than the end of 2022 and over a $3/cwt improvement from the December low. […] Read more
Fed cattle prices struggle in fourth quarter
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the January 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle Fed cattle prices struggled through the fourth quarter of 2022. Front-end supplies were expected to be cleaned up before holiday demand and buying took place. However, fed sellers still struggle with front-end supply and now large fed carcass weights just keep adding pounds that need to be marketed before getting ahead of the […] Read more
Fed cattle market struggles, feeder exports seen slower
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the December 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle The local fed market continues to struggle. The wide basis has started to encourage additional U.S. buyer interest, but large carcass weights and longer lift times are making it difficult to stay current. Steer carcass weights are at near-record levels, at 972 lbs. in mid-November, which compares to 946 lbs. last year. The […] Read more
Beef demand reacting to inflationary pressures
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the November 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle Canadian fed cattle prices are not experiencing the price strength that has been seen recently in the U.S., which is abnormal but has been the case a few times this year. Western Canadian feedlots were not as current as was expected for October. Reduced weekly kill numbers and decreased beef exports are contributing […] Read more
Feeder cattle prices, auction market volumes see ‘significant jump’
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the October 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle The fed cattle market has continued its contra-seasonal move through the third quarter. Typically, larger fed cattle numbers with more days on feed are met with consumers pulling back as fall schedules commence along with the additional expenses that accompanying all hit at once. The third quarter has seen larger carcass weights and […] Read more
Good buyer demand pushes feeder cattle prices higher
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the September 27, 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle The Alberta fed cattle average set new highs each week as the market entered September. This contra-seasonal price pattern is a result of manageable summer supplies, solid demand and a softer Canadian dollar. It is encouraging to see beef demand and retail sales remain strong as consumers navigate inflation across North America. At […] Read more
Fed cattle prices hit six-year highs
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the September 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle It is not very often we see annual highs set for fed cattle in August! Fed cattle prices have traded the typical sluggish summer market for a contra-seasonal strong market driven by manageable supplies, smaller carcass weights and solid beef demand. The mid-August fed steer cash price was $177.41/cwt — not only the […] Read more
Strong seasonal demand bodes well for cattle market
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the August 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle The fed cattle market held up through the summer, with recent weeks trading between $174.18/cwt and $175.32/cwt. Strong seasonal demand heading into barbeque season as well as restaurant and food service beef movement recovering to pre-pandemic levels have supported prices. At mid-July, the fed steer average in Western Canada was $175.06/cwt, an increase […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
