market reports

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…

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…

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…

Canfax fed steer and heifer prices closed last week around $156.50/cwt, fully steady with the previous week. Fed cattle prices are $21/cwt higher than last year. Last week dressed sales were reported from $260.50-263.50 FOB lot. Cattle that traded last week were being booked for the middle of November delivery. For the week ending October…

The dominant topic in the cattle markets through the summer has been the weather. The drought, and resulting lack of grass, water, feed and record high feed costs have many on edge as they look at marketing strategies for their calves, and possibly even some breeding stock. The wide spread drought across the prairies resulted…

Over the past three weeks fed cattle prices have rallied $4/cwt moving back over $154/cwt. Light trade developed last week with the bulk of sales reported at $260/cwt delivered, and cattle were being scheduled for the second half of September delivery. For the week ending August 21st Western Canadian fed slaughter totaled just over 49,000…

Last week’s dressed sales ranged from $253-254/cwt delivered. Cattle were being scheduled for the first half of September delivery. For the week ending August 7, Western Canadian cattle grading B4 totaled 735 head, the second largest volume seen all year. Warmer temperatures and possibly more overnight delivery cattle could be causing an increase in dark…

Canfax fed steer and heifer prices closed the week around $150/cwt, mostly steady with the previous week. After dropping $14/cwt since June the fed market has found some stability averaging in the low $150s/cwt for the past three weeks. Last week dressed sales were reported from $248.50-251.50/cwt FOB the lot. Most of the cattle that…