The feeder cattle market feels like a falling dagger — and trying to pick a bottom can be painful. Western Canadian auction markets saw heavier replacements over 800 lbs. fall $8-$12 compared to last week; calves were generally $5-$8 below week-ago levels. Feedlot buying interest was once again limited to two or three major operations […] Read more
Klassen: Downward price trend continues for feeder cattle
Klassen: Limited buying interest softens feeder market
Just when I thought feeder cattle prices were stabilizing, once again the unexpected occurs. A sharp rally in U.S. grain futures, along with weaker fed cattle prices, caused western Canadian feeder cattle to trade $6-$12 lower compared to week-ago levels. Auction markets reported limited buying interest, with often only two or three larger feedlots stepping […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market garners support
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively stable over the past week while prices in the major feeding regions were $2 to $5 higher. Alberta fed cattle prices were $2 higher, trading in the range of $170 to $172, which bolstered buying enthusiasm in the heavier weight categories. Feedlot operators in the Lethbridge area were […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle markets remain sluggish
Compared to last week, Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $5 lower across the Prairies while lighter-weight categories suffered a week-over-week decline of $4 to $6. Feedlots were a bit more aggressive on yearlings as quality backgrounded cattle are starting to dwindle at this time of year. A larger group of larger-frame lower-flesh Simmental […] Read more
Klassen: Feedlot operators throw in towel on feeder market
Weaker wholesale beef values, along with softer fed cattle prices, set a negative tone for the feeder cattle market this past week. Western Canadian feeder markets were trading $4-$8 below week-ago levels, with calves trading as much as $10 lower in some cases. Producers can become nauseous watching these live cattle futures, but this is […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle trade lower
The “one-week wonder” from seven to 10 days ago appears to have evaporated; a softer sentiment blanketed Western Canada this week, with feeder markets dropping $4 to $6 on average. A significant slide in live cattle futures, along with softer cash prices, caused feedlots to move into a risk-averse mentality. Heavier replacements took the brunt […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle mixed across the Prairies
Market sentiment can be extremely variable and this week, we saw a large divergence in the price structure across the Prairies. Alberta feeder cattle prices were generally $3 to $6 higher and in some cases as much as $10 above week-ago levels. Buying interest appeared to fade moving east, with Manitoba markets dropping $4-$8 from […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market adjusting to various factors
Western Canadian feeder markets experienced a mixed volatile tone over the past week. Replacement cattle over 800 lbs. were $3 lower to $8 higher on average, while lighter weight categories traded $10 lower to $10 higher in comparison to week-ago levels. Larger volumes of backgrounded yearling cattle are coming on the market at this time […] Read more
Klassen: Uncertain beef demand weighs on feeder market
The prolonged period of negative feeding margins continues to set a tone in the feeder market. Alberta packers were buying limited numbers of fed cattle this past week with dressed sales in the range of $280 to $283, down nearly $10-$14 from two weeks ago. This appears to have spilled over into the feeder market, […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle steady but demand remains sluggish
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded in line with week-ago levels on average, though the market was quite variable across the Prairies. Favourable temperatures in southern Alberta enhanced demand on all weight categories, especially on grassers from 500 to 650 lbs. Higher-quality backgrounded cattle were also $4-$8 higher in certain cases in Alberta. In Saskatchewan […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
