For the week ending June 21, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were unchanged to $10 lower on average compared to seven days earlier. However, prices for August and September delivery were unchanged from the previous week.
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $500-502 per hundredweight delivered, down $2 per cwt. from the previous week. The softer tone to the fed market caused the rally in the feeder market to stall, at least for the time being.
It’s that time of year when feeder cattle supplies are limited. While there are still some quality packages coming available, the bulk of auction market volumes consist of off-grades and stragglers. This has dragged down average values.
Read Also
Dry summer conditions can lead to poor water quality for livestock
Drought conditions in the Prairies has led to an decrease in water quality, and producers are being advised to closely monitor water quality for their animals.
Cow-calf producers have sold a record amount of calves and yearlings for August through October delivery. Market continues to trade at historical highs in the deferred positions for larger packages of quality genetics.
The Ponoka market report had a large package of black mixed steers weighing 1,075 pounds off grass for early August delivery priced at $384 per cwt. For Aug. 15-Sept. 15 delivery, 1,000-lb. mixed steers off grass are trading in the range of $395-400 per cwt. FOB farm (depending on location) in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The market report for Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba, had black mixed steers averaging 880 lb. trading for $424 per cwt. Southeast of Edmonton, a smaller group of Simmental-cross heifers evaluated at 900 lb. notched the board at $367 per cwt.
At the Westlock sale, run-of-the-mill mixed heifers on hay and greenfeed diet with full herd health data scaled at 801 lb. traded for $416 per cwt. In central Saskatchewan, larger-framed, lower-flesh Charolais steers weighing just over 800 lb. supposedly sold for $465 per cwt.
The Ponoka market report had red mixed steers averaging 702 lb. on greenfeed and oats diet with processing records selling for $501 per cwt. South of Calgary, medium to larger-framed, lower-flesh Angus-based heifers weighing 710 lb. were last bid at $445 per cwt.
Southeast of Saskatoon, mixed weaned heifers on the card at 605 lb. supposedly traded at $502 per cwt. The Ste. Rose Auction Market report had black steers weighing just under 600 lb. reaching $615 per cwt.
In the Calgary region, Simmental-based 510-lb. weaned steers sold for $630 per cwt. In southern Alberta, mixed weaned heifers around 520 lb. supposedly traded for $558 per cwt.
Many auction barns had singles, pairs or smaller packages below five head trading at a $10-20 per cwt. discount to prices quoted above. It’s local buyers that pick away at these cattle with major operations looking for larger groups or pen-sized packages.
On June 1, cattle on feed 150 days or longer in Alberta and Saskatchewan were 359,177 head, up 2.9 per cent or 9,957 head from the June 1, 2024 number of 349,220. Market-ready fed cattle supplies will make a seasonal high in Western Canada during June, and this will likely weigh on the fed market. It looks like the live and feeder cattle futures have topped out for the time being. The highs may be in place.
