Jerry Klassen

Feeder cattle markets in Western Canada held steady last week. The initial cold shock usually tempers buying enthusiasm, but we now find cattle buyers accustomed to the wintry conditions. Black Angus seven-weight steers touched $128 per hundredweight. Demand for lighter cattle was also firm with 500-weight cattle trading in the range of $135 to $143; […] Read more

Feeder cattle futures reached over $117 per hundredweight last week on softer corn values and strengthening fed cattle prices. Western Canadian feeder cattle weighing less than 600 pounds were steady to $2 higher last week; cattle weighing 600 to 800 pounds were $1 to $2 weaker while 8-weight feeders were down $2 on average. Barley […] Read more

Calf prices in Western Canada were steady to $2 higher last week with 570-weight steers moving at $130 per hundredweight; tan steers weighing 540 pounds sold for $134/cwt. We continue to see strong demand from both feedlot operators and backgrounding operations. New technology implants and treating methods have caused the large feedlot operator to feel […] Read more

Softer slaughter values in Alberta and stronger barley prices have tempered the upward trend in the feeder cattle market. Steers weighing 840 pounds in southern Alberta sold for $116 last week, which was steady with values earlier in November. Limited discounts were shown for Manitoba cattle as 775-lb. steers brought back $115 in the central […] Read more

Feeder cattle prices in Western Canada held firm near 10-year highs over the last week. Exotic yearling steers weighing 880 pounds brought back $116 per hundredweight (cwt) in central Alberta. Calf prices also remain near historical highs as age-verified black Angus steers weighing 600 lbs. touched $128/cwt. There is an obvious opportunity here for cow-calf […] Read more

Black steers in central Alberta weighing 550 pounds have sold for just over $130 per hundredweight (cwt) while 515-pound steers reached $142. Presorted red steers averaging 420 pounds touched $155/cwt. Sharply higher fed cattle values were quickly passed onto the feeder market, as local auctions reported prices $2 to $4 higher than a week earlier. […] Read more

Calf prices in Western Canada were $2 to $4 higher over the past week, with 600-pound steers bringing back $129 per hundredweight (cwt). We also saw heaver yearlings weighing 950 pounds selling for $107/cwt, about $2/cwt above week-ago levels. We are seeing a significant premium in Western Canada over central U.S. prices as basis levels […] Read more

Calf prices in Western Canada were $1 to $2 higher than week-ago levels but heavier replacement cattle and late blooming yearlings were $2 to $3 weaker. Feedlot buying interest remains strong and there seem to be limited discounts for unweaned calves or regular-run cattle. Feeder cattle futures were down sharply on Friday as corn futures […] Read more

Western Canadian feeder cattle were $2 to $3 higher on average in comparison to week-ago levels. Steers weighing just over 900 pounds brought back $106 in central Alberta while similar prices were Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Buying interest for calves was also strong, with 6-weight steers selling for over $125 in southern Alberta. Managers in Feedlot […] Read more