Current Markets & Forecasts

Last week the Canfax fed steer and heifer price closed around $164.50/cwt, $1.50/cwt higher than the previous week. New annual price highs were established last week. Dressed sales were reported from $274.00-275.50/cwt FOB lot. Cattle that traded last week were being scheduled for late May/early June delivery. Alberta fed cash to futures basis weakened going…

Light to moderate volume trade was reported steady with the previous week at $275/cwt delivered and thin comparable live trade developed at $161.50/cwt. Kill dates were spread across the first three weeks of May. Western Canadian fed slaughter for the week ending April 2 surged 11% larger than the previous week to 47,194 head, and…

Thankfully the CP Rail lockout was short lived last week and employees were back to work by mid-day Tuesday. The fed market did see disruption with limited orders placed and an overall lack of buying interest. Total sale volumes were too slight to fully establish a weekly price trend, but the underlying tone was generally…

Cash market buying interest was not surprisingly sluggish last week following the 72-hour CP Rail lockout notice, but moderate volume trade did develop. Dressed prices trended steady to firmer with the bulk of sales reported from $274-275/cwt delivered. Weighted average steer prices closed the week $1.66/cwt higher than the previous week averaging $163.38/cwt and heifers…

Last week the Canfax fed steer and heifer price closed around $162/cwt, $0.50/cwt lower than the previous week. Competition on the cash market was limited, and with the potential strike at Canadian Pacific Railways one packer was not bidding on cattle last week. Dressed sales were reported from $269.00-273.50/cwt FOB lot. Cattle that traded last…

Alberta fed prices firmed $1/cwt higher last week with the bulk of sales reported at the top end of the previous week from $274-275/cwt delivered. Thin live steer trade was reported at $162.50/cwt. Heifer sale volumes were slight, but prices were fully comparable with steers. The majority of cattle traded were scheduled for harvest the…

Last week the Canfax fed steer and heifer price closed around $161.75/cwt, $1.75/cwt higher than the previous week. Fed cattle prices have strengthened for three weeks in a row, gaining $5/cwt. Last week dressed sales were reported from $269.00-273.50/cwt FOB lot. Cattle that traded last week were being scheduled for the week of March 28th…

Last week the Canfax fed steer and heifer price closed around $160/cwt, $1.50/cwt higher than the previous week. Last week dressed sales were reported from $267.50-273.50/cwt FOB lot. Cattle that traded last week were being scheduled for the week of March 14 and 21 delivery. The Canfax average feeder steer price closed the week $2/cwt higher…

The western Canadian fed market has been disappointing on many levels. Weekly dressed sales were reported from $260-275/cwt delivered. Cattle were being scheduled for the week of March 14th delivery. On some sales, a $2/cwt dressed premium would be added to the negotiated sale price if the cattle graded over 70% AAA. Western Canadian steer…

Last week the Canfax fed heifer price closed around $158.25/cwt, $2/cwt lower than the previous week. Both major packers were not bidding on fed cattle last week, reported cash sales went to a couple smaller plants in Alberta. Last week dressed sales were reported from $258.50-268.50/cwt FOB lot. Cattle that traded last week were being…