Canfax Weekly Article | Report for the week of August 17, 2026

After a stressful six weeks, the Western Canadian fed market appears to have found some support. Weighted average steer prices ended the week $5/cwt higher than last week at $321/cwt. This week’s weighted average is just shy of the 10-year index of $322/cwt, projected for September. Weighted average heifer prices were at $318/cwt, up $7/cwt from the previous week. Dressed sales ranged from $515–$530/cwt delivered with the bulk of the sales at $530/cwt, $2–$6/cwt higher. Packer interest was mixed with one packer off the market this week. Live sales were marketed at $315–$316/cwt, $4–$5/cwt stronger. U.S. packer interest was noted, and light volumes moved south. Sales to the U.S. were at a premium over local deals. Delivery was scheduled throughout September.

Alberta auction volumes were 23,767 head, 49 per cent higher than last year but 4.9 per cent below the five-year average. The majority of the sales volumes were marketed through electronic/video sales at 17,890 head; 8,609 head of those were for forward delivery from September to November. The cash market has remained relatively light over the past few weeks. The feeder market has generally moved sideways since March and has not experienced the typical seasonal rally heading into the second half of the year. As the yearling run gets underway, this should give a better picture of where the current cash market stands with larger volumes and a more reflective price movement.

The non-fed market seasonally struggles through the third quarter, and that has been the case so far this year. Early marketed grass cull cows ended the week $2–$4/cwt softer than last week and have been under pressure for most of the past seven weeks. Butcher bulls eased $2/cwt lower. Railgrade cows were in a wide range of $430–$450/cwt, steady to $15/cwt softer than last year. Feeder cows found support, up $8/cwt from last week and have been straddling $270/cwt for the past nine weeks.

Bull

• Forward delivery sales for September to December were consistently at a premium compared to the July cash prices.
• Western Canadian fed market found some support.
• U.S. cutout values found support.

Bear

• Another U.S. packer shuttered its doors and the Pasco, Washington, plant is reportedly up for sale but still operating.
• Non-fed market seasonally struggles in the third quarter.
• U.S. fed prices were $5–$8/cwt lower than the previous week.