Canfax Weekly Article | Report for the week of October 13, 2025

Last week, the Canfax average fed steer and heifer price closed around $302.50/cwt live, $2.50/cwt lower than the previous week. Fed prices have declined for four consecutive weeks, dropping $13/cwt. Light trade was reported last week, with dressed sales from $504.50–506.50/cwt FOB the feedlot. Competition on the cash market was mixed; one major Western Canadian packer was not bidding on cattle. Cattle that traded were scheduled for delivery throughout the month of November. U.S. packer interest was noted, and light volumes of Western Canadian fed cattle were marketed south. These cattle will be priced off the five-area average.

Even though it is still early, weather and road conditions have been good, and trucks have been able to keep up with the larger volumes of calves and feeders on offer. Eastern Canadian feedlot demand has moderated slightly, but there were still reports of calves from Western Canada being shipped as far as Quebec. Last week, the Canfax average feeder steer and heifer prices were $5–6/cwt lower. Steer and heifer calves from 500–700 pounds traded steady to higher, while pressure was noted on feeders over 800 pounds with prices down $2–10/cwt. Alberta auction volumes were just over 44,000 head, 3,000 head larger than last year. Canadian feeder cattle exports to the U.S. for the week ending September 27th totaled 2,756 head.

Western Canadian prices are holding near record highs, while the Eastern Canadian market has dropped $20/cwt over the past month. Last week, Alberta D2 cows traded $2/cwt lower, averaging $227/cwt with a range from $210–258/cwt. D3 cows averaged $203.75/cwt. Butcher bulls traded $1/cwt higher, averaging $243/cwt, with a range from $180–287/cwt. Canadian butcher bull exports to the U.S. for the week ending September 27th were 781 head.

Bull

• Both live and feeder cattle contracts established new highs last week
• In August, Canadian beef exports were 2 per cent larger than last year
• The near-by Canadian dollar is trading at the lowest point since April

Bear

• Western Canadian packers have scaled back hours; over the past four weeks, fed slaughter volumes are down 8 per cent versus last year
• U.S. pork cutout values remain under pressure, trading at the lowest point since May
• Western Canadian steer and heifer carcass weights are larger than weights in Eastern Canada