Fed cattle prices see slight increase, beef demand strong

Fed cattle prices see slight increase, beef demand strong

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the September 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fed cattle After three weeks of hovering around $150/cwt, the average Alberta fed cattle price increased slightly by mid-August to $151.43/cwt. That is $17.32/cwt higher than one year ago when we were still working through the COVID backlog, and over $9/cwt higher than the five-year average. While sale prices are above last year, the high […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Fed cattle prices see a boost

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the May 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fed cattle Tighter front-end supplies and higher cut-out values on both sides of the border have boosted fed cattle prices. Although not climbing as rapidly as the cut-out value, the Canadian fed cattle price saw a $2/cwt increase between late March and April 9. The second week of April saw a fed steer average of […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle markets experience volatility

Beef prices encourage slaughter pace

Compared to the previous week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$4 on either side of week-ago levels. Prices were quite variable across the Prairies with four main factors influencing buyer sentiment. First, the eastern Prairie regions experienced adverse winter weather. Auction barns in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan had smaller volumes on offer. Buyers shied […] Read more


cattleman on a horse

Cattle producers put their money…

Prime Cuts with Steve Kay

Beef producers have complained for years about how a few large companies dominate beef processing and how much money they make. That domination is nothing new. It goes back a century or more. But despite what some people think, it has not prevented a small but constant stream of new entrants into the sector. As […] Read more

Alberta fed cattle market outlook

Alberta fed cattle market outlook

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $150 to $152 FOB the feedlot during the last week of January. This compares to average values of $136 to $138 FOB the feedlot during the month of December. While prices have stabilized for the time being, there is a fair amount of uncertainty moving […] Read more


U.S. packers saw record operating margins throughout last year, but cattle feeders and producers saw slim or even negative returns.

Hopes for a more normal year in the cattle industry

Prime Cuts with Steve Kay

The North American beef industry started 2021 with cautious optimism of a return to normalized markets and pricing patterns. The industry especially hopes that even if the COVID-19 pandemic continues well into the year, markets will avoid the kind of extreme volatility seen last year. U.S. packers saw record operating margins throughout last year. But […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market bounces on optimistic outlook

Feed barley remains near historical highs

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices traded $2-$4 higher; prices for mid-weight calves were quoted $4-$8 above week-ago levels. Calves under 550 lbs. traded $6 to as much as $10 higher compared to seven days earlier. Improving feedlot margins were the main factor driving the feeder market. June and August live cattle futures […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Fed cattle supply interest picks up in new year

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the February 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fed cattle The start of fed cattle trading in 2021 saw active interest in supply with prices higher than year-end. The backlog from the spring of 2020 appears to have been cleaned up and packers are looking to secure additional inventory. The first weekly average reported in 2021 was $145.53/cwt. This was $1.16/cwt higher than […] Read more