Alberta and Saskatchewan heifer placements in the lighter weight categories are down from year-ago levels. Comments from ranchers and order buyers suggest that Western Canadian ranchers are holding back on heifers to expand the herd. This usually results in a narrowing of the steer/heifer spread.
Klassen: Canadian heifer retention tightening feeder supply
Klassen: Quality yearlings lead feeder complex higher
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were quoted $5 lower to $5 higher on average in the week ending June 15. However, quality packages of yearlings traded $5 to as much as $10 above week-ago levels
Klassen: Feeder cattle market ratchets higher on stronger fed market
For the week ending June 8, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3 to $6 above week-ago levels. In certain locations, quality packages of 600 pound plus steers were $8 to $10 higher compared to seven days earlier. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $440/cwt, up $2/cwt from the previous […] Read more
Factors influencing the feeder cattle market
Market Talk with Jerry Klassen
I’ve received many inquiries over the past couple of months about the price outlook for feeder cattle. Many analysts focus on feeder supplies and use this to determine their view or perspective of the market; however, we all know there are additional factors that affect price direction. Corn and barley prices, exchange rates, feeding margins […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market hard to define on smaller volumes
For the week ending June 1, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to the previous week. It’s that time of year when volumes are limited and the market can be quite variable from region to region.
Klassen: Demand for grass cattle pushes feeder market higher
In the week ending May 25, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were trading $4 to $8 higher compared to seven days earlier. Some higher quality genetic packages of 700-pound plus cattle were up as much as $10 from week-ago levels.
Klassen: Demand for grass cattle pushes feeder market higher
For the week ending May 18, Western Canadian yearling markets were trading $3 to $5 higher compared to seven days earlier. Calf prices were relatively unchanged compared to the prior week. The feeder market appears to be consolidating near historical highs.
Klassen: Feeder cattle market takes defensive tone
It’s that time of year when available supplies start to decline. At the same time, demand is limited. Most backgrounding operators have sufficient numbers and demand for grassers is waning. Ontario interest was noted in Manitoba and Eastern Saskatchewan, which appeared to sustain prices near last week’s levels.
Klassen: Feeder cattle experience weather market
For the week ending May 4, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quite variable and the market was hard to define. Alberta and certain regions of Saskatchewan received snow, which caused the market to trade $3 to $5 lower. However, in Eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, feeder cattle prices were steady to $3 higher.
Feed barley outlook for 2024-25
Market Talk with Jerry Klassen
Western Canadian barley prices have been grinding lower throughout the winter due to a lack of export demand and larger imports of U.S. corn. However, in late March, domestic prices in the non-major feeding regions of Western Canada were competitive with world values. This caused offshore movement to increase and stabilized the downward slide. It […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
