Current Markets & Forecasts

Moderate volume Alberta cash trade developed the week before Christmas with the bulk of sales reported fully steady with the previous week from $276-278/cwt delivered. Weighted average steer prices closed the week at $165.53/cwt and cattle were scheduled three to five weeks out. Western Canadian fed slaughter for the week ending December 18th was 7%…

Last week the Canfax fed steer and heifer prices closed around $163.75/cwt, $1.25/cwt higher than the previous week. Alberta fed prices are $27/cwt higher than last year and $15/cwt higher than the five-year average. Last week dressed sales were reported from $273.50-275.50/cwt FOB lot. Most of the cattle that traded were being scheduled for late…

Last week the Canfax fed heifer price closed around $160/cwt, $5/cwt higher than the previous week. This is the highest fed prices have been since June. Last week dressed sales were reported at mostly $270/cwt delivered. With weaker basis levels many producers passed bids and a decent portion of last week’s cash offering will be…

It was another week of steady prices for the western Canadian market, but prices lost ground to the U.S. market. Alberta fed prices are now estimated at around a $10.50/cwt discount to the Nebraska market and basis levels are the weakest in one year. With barley prices setting new annual highs and feedlot space tight…

The dry weather this summer certainly impacted many producers’ marketing and winter feeding plans, but there was also some welcome moisture relief earlier this fall that took pressure off cow culling and allowed for a bit more orderly fall run of calves. That said fall offerings are larger, as less producers are backgrounding their calves…

Last week the Canfax fed steer and heifer prices closed around $155.50/cwt, the market tone was steady with the previous week. Fed cattle prices have trended sideways for the past few months. Since the start of July fed cattle prices have ranged from $150-158/cwt. Last week dressed sales were reported from $258.50-261.50/cwt FOB lot. Most…

Alberta fed bids started off at $257/cwt delivered and by Wednesday afternoon/Thursday, bids/sales were reported in the $261-262/cwt area delivered to the plant. Dressed bids/sales were anywhere from steady to $5/cwt higher than the previous week. Sale volumes were too light to establish a weighted average price trend last week. For the month of October…

By Alex McCuaig The pricing impact of this year’s drought on Canada’s ranchers is starting to be felt as western Canadian cattle begin their journey off the range and into the markets. For Alberta Beef Producer chair Melanie Wowk, this year’s fall run will see more cows heading to market than usual due to the drought….

Canfax fed steer and heifer prices last week were around $153/cwt, $2.50/cwt lower than the previous week. This is the lowest fed prices have been in nine weeks. Dressed sales were reported from $254-256/cwt FOB lot. Cattle that traded last week were being booked for the second half of November delivery. On a cash-to-cash basis,…

The fed price tone softened as the week progressed and dressed sales were reported from $260-265/cwt delivered last week. A few producers opted out and carried cattle over into this week. Cattle that traded were scheduled for the end of November delivery. Alberta fed cash to futures basis against the nearby October live cattle contract…