Alberta cattle markets remain strong and steady

There appeared to be little that could get in the way of the Alberta fed market in the second quarter of 2026.

Fed steer prices averaged $343 per cwt, up $49 per cwt from last year. The market softened in July as leverage shifted back to the packer. Recent packing plant news includes the announced closure of the Tyson Foods plant in Joslin, Ill. and Tyson’s intended sale of its Pasco, Wash., plant. These changes come on the heels of the scheduled closure of the JBS plant in Souderton, Pa. It should be noted that plant closures may not align with regional supplies, but are influenced by a plant’s age and need for upgrades. The Cargill plant in Fort Morgan, Colo., is scheduled to come back online on September 7, following a three-month strike/lockout action.

The Alberta feeder market was mostly stable through the second quarter, hovering near the highs set during last year’s fall run. Heavy 9-weight steers averaged $466 per cwt, up $95 per cwt from last year, adding $900/head. Lighter 5-weight steer calves averaged $710 per cwt, up $169 per cwt from last year, with a similar increase per head. The market kicked off the second half of the year with a mixed tone in July. Lightweight calves under 500 lbs found some tailwinds, while prices for feeders over 500 lbs were steady to slightly softer.

Last year, the cash market used the forward delivery market as a launching pad toward higher prices, but that has not been the case so far this year. Yearling steers (9-999 lbs) sold in March/May for May/June delivery were at a $3-11 per cwt premium to May/June cash prices. Forward delivery calf prices (5-599 lbs) for October-December were at a $14-24 per cwt premium to second quarter cash prices.

The western Canadian cull cow market has traditionally been seasonal, with stronger prices during the first half of the year to meet demand for ground beef and burger production for summer grilling. This year was no exception. Alberta D2 cows averaged $249 per cwt in the second quarter, up $24 per cwt from last year. The western Canadian cull cow market has been softer in July and August, again following seasonal trends, with D2 cow prices near $245 per cwt.

Replacement bred females may have begun to turn a corner in the second quarter. Bred cows and heifers were up $1,125–1,350/head from last year at $5,575/head, but were down $75–375/head from the first quarter of 2026. Cow-calf pairs averaged $7,200 in the second quarter, up $1,600/pair from last year, with a modest dip to just shy of $7,000/head in July.

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This was first published in Volume 6 Issue 3 of ABP Magazine (September 2026). Watch for more digital content from the magazine on ABP Daily