Fed cattle The western Canadian fed cattle market has strengthened to $172.26/cwt, an increase of four per cent or just over $7/cwt. Compared to a year ago, the mid-May average is $8.83/cwt higher. While the average price increase is favourable, there are cost increases and higher break-even levels on these cattle, record-high cost-of-gain and the […] Read more
Fed cattle market sees strength
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the June 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle exports on the rise, high feed costs weigh on feeder market
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the May 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle The fed cattle cash market continues to trade in a relatively flat pattern, waiting for the prospect of the typical spring rally. Plagued by larger front-end supply and longer lift times, fed cattle have traded in the low $160s/cwt since the start of 2022. Wholesale prices have started to move higher, which is […] Read more
Cull cow prices see normal first-quarter improvement
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the April 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle Large kill volumes through February and increased front-end supply in the U.S. have held the fed cattle market in a tight trading range. Fed cattle prices in Western Canada ranged from $161.31/cwt to $163.24/cwt over a four-week period. The fed steer average on March 11 was $161.72/cwt. While the fed average is $11.72/cwt […] Read more
U.S. fed cattle market, live export demand seen strong
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the March 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle The start of 2022 saw larger numbers of market-ready fed cattle as drought-placed cattle were on feed earlier than typical. At the same time, packing plants faced staffing issues as the Omicron wave peaked. Prices struggled to see a typical start-of-the-year improvement. At the start of February, feedlots were in a more current […] Read more
New year sees large fed cattle supply in Canada
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the February 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle Due to the drought-forced placement pattern last year, the market-ready fed cattle supply in Canada is larger than normal for the start of a new year. This, coupled with uncertainty in the cattle market due to labour disruptions in many industry sectors, has led to a back-log of front-end supply and a soft […] Read more
U.S. cash cattle market sees significant gains, Canadian market more subdued
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the January 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle The cash market in the U.S. has seen significant gains, with prices reaching highs not seen since 2015. However, in Canada, ample market-ready supply coupled with recent packing plant labour issues kept a lid on local prices and led to a wider than historically normal basis. A huge shift in basis took place […] Read more
Fed cattle supply outpaces demand, non-fed cow price lowest in a decade
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the December 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle Canadian supplies are outpacing demand. Even with more slaughter shifts, the fed market remained within a fall low trading range. Fall 2021 saw most trade fall within $155.61/cwt and $158.25/cwt. The mid-November average is $156.38/cwt for fed steers in Western Canada, $22.88/cwt above the same week in 2021. Higher input costs created negative […] Read more
Boxed beef exports strong, non-fed cattle prices down sharply
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the November 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle Fed cattle prices are trading mostly sideways. As of mid-October, the fed steer cash average in Alberta had ranged from $156/ cwt to $158/cwt over the past seven weeks. The mid-October average is $156.81/cwt. Basis is still at a premium, with the spot basis at +$2.90/cwt, compared to a five-year average of -$1.84/cwt. […] Read more
Feeder cattle markets steady despite high feed grain prices
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the October 18, 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle Fed cattle prices have held a steady trading range over the past several weeks. The last full trading week in September saw the Alberta fed steer average $158.01/cwt, which was $24/cwt higher than the same week in 2020. This sideways trading pattern shifted the fed spot basis back to a premium position, $0.45/cwt […] Read more
Continued demand for beef keeps fed cattle prices steady
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the September 27, 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle Aggressive local slaughter, continued beef demand and up-to-date marketing of front-end supply kept fed cattle prices steady to slightly higher through August and September. The first week of September leading into the Labour Day weekend saw an average fed steer price at $156.27/cwt, an increase of $1.88/cwt from the previous week and over […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
