Canfax Weekly Article | Report for the week of September 29, 2025

Last week, the Canfax average fed steer and heifer price closed around $312/cwt live, steady with the previous week. Light trade was reported with dressed sales from $516.50–523.50/cwt FOB the feedlot. Buying interest was noted from all Western Canadian packers, but competition on the cash market was limited. Cattle that traded were scheduled for delivery throughout November. Year-to-date Western Canadian steer slaughter is up 12,000 head compared to last year, while heifer slaughter is down 117,000 head.

The Canfax average feeder steer and heifer prices were $4–6/cwt higher last week. Yearling supplies are starting to seasonally decline, while the calf run is just getting underway. Week over week, the largest price increase was on 400–500 pound steer and heifer calves, with average prices $345/cwt higher than last year. Heavier weight feeder prices have advanced about $20/cwt over the past four to five weeks but are beginning to level off. Seasonally, heavier weight feeder prices usually peak during the second half of September. Last week, Alberta calf and feeder prices were trading at a premium to the Ontario market. Alberta auction volumes were just over 42,000 head, 6,000 head larger than last year. Canadian feeder cattle exports to the U.S. for the week ending September 13th totaled 1,941 head.

Alberta D2 cows traded $2/cwt higher last week, averaging $226.75/cwt with a range from $205–258/cwt. D3 cows averaged $205/cwt. Butcher cow prices are at the highest point since July. Butcher bulls traded $0.50/cwt higher, averaging $246.50/cwt, with a range from $200–291/cwt. Canadian butcher bull exports to the U.S. for the week ending September 13th were 810 head.

Bull

• Alberta/Nebraska fed cash-to-cash basis levels have strengthened in recent weeks
• Western Canadian cow slaughter volumes remain historically small
• For mid-September, Prime/AAA grading percentage is record high

Bear

• Lift times are beginning to stretch out, suggesting Western Canadian packers are well covered with cattle
• Choice cutout values have dropped $44/cwt over the last seventeen consecutive trading sessions
• Based on the latest USDA cattle on feed report, cattle on feed inventories in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Idaho, and Washington state are higher than last year