Canfax Weekly Article | Report for the week of June 8, 2026

Alberta fed steer and heifer prices closed the week at $351 and $350/cwt respectively, steady to $2/cwt lower than the previous week. Dressed sales were reported from $580–$590/cwt delivered, steady with the previous week. Packers were looking for quick delivery cattle. Most of the sales this week were calves, though there were some late yearlings marketed. Feedlots have noted that calves could use additional days on feed. Western Canadian steer carcass weights have rebounded from their low of 865 pounds at the beginning of May. Over the past three weeks, steer carcass weights have been on either side of 895 pounds. YTD Western Canadian AAA and Prime grading is 84.5 per cent of all A grades, up 2.1 percentage points from last year.

Last week, Alberta auction volumes were 10,869 head, down 41 per cent from the five-year average. Canfax average feeder steers and heifers closed the week at $2–$9/cwt lower. Over the past month, feeder cattle contracts have dropped $30/cwt while deferred live cattle contracts are down roughly $13/cwt. Every 100-point move on the live cattle futures market has the potential to impact calf prices by $4/cwt. Despite the pullback on the futures market, calf prices are trading within $5/cwt of their recent highs. Heavier weight feeder prices have been relatively flat over the past three weeks, but from a seasonal perspective, the market typically moves higher into the summer.

Alberta saw a million-dollar rainfall across much of the province. Alberta D2 and D3 cows through commercial auction facilities closed the week $1–$3/cwt stronger. For the month of May, D2 cows averaged $251/cwt, up 3 per cent from April and 9 per cent from last May. Cow prices are likely near their annual highs, as the second half of June is when cow prices start to drift lower. Feeder cows were $1/cwt stronger, averaging $268/cwt. Fed cattle and cow exports to the U.S. for the week ending May 23rd were up 28 per cent from the previous week to 9,954 head, while slaughter bull exports were down 45 per cent to 381 head, the smallest since the week ending April 4th.

Bull

• In thirteen out of the past fifteen years, heavier weight feeders have established annual highs during the second half of the year
• YTD Western Canadian AAA and Prime grading is 84.5 per cent of all A grades, 2.1 percentage points stronger than last year
• Packers are looking for quick delivery cattle

Bear

• Seasonally, Western Canada will move into larger fed supplies by the end of the month
• The second half of June is when cow prices typically start to drift lower
• Western Canadian feedlots are currently looking at the largest cost-of-gain disadvantage compared to the U.S. in the last 12 months