This cattle market information is selected from the weekly report from Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. More market information, analysis and statistics are available by becoming a Canfax subscriber by calling 403-275-5110 or at www.canfax.ca.
Fed prices remain high
Though the western Canadian fed market has pulled back slightly in recent weeks, prices continue to be historically strong.
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Alberta fed steers closed the week ending June 27 at $298.88 per hundredweight, softening by $0.84 per cwt. from the previous week. Similarly, fed heifers were down a mere $1.06 per cwt. to finish the week at $296.20 per cwt.
Alberta fed prices are now at a discount of $18 per cwt. against the Nebraska market, compared to the $30 per cwt. discount seen a month ago.
Dressed sales were reported in the range of $498-503 per cwt. delivered, with buying interest from all Western Canadian packers.
Interest from U.S. packers has been quiet, likely due in part to green fed calves coming forward that may not bring the quality grade that U.S. packers want.
For the week ending June 21, western Canadian fed slaughter totalled just more than 40,000 head. This is five per cent below last year’s volumes, primarily due to fewer heifers entering the slaughter mix.
Year-to-date western Canadian heifer slaughter volumes are 17 per cent below 2024 levels.
Dressed sales in Ontario were reported at $520 per cwt. delivered, $10 per cwt. lower than prices to two weeks ago, and cattle were scheduled for delivery in one to two weeks.
Non-fed prices move sideways
Alberta D2 cows sold through commercial auction marts were down $4 per cwt. from the previous week, while D3 cow prices were $1 per cwt. lower.
Despite this, Alberta D2 and D3 cow prices are $38-$42 per cwt. higher than this time last year.
Feeder cow prices were about $7 per cwt. lower.
Butcher bulls were up by just more than $1 per cwt., continuing to hover near the annual and all-time high prices.
The railgrade market was reported at $420-$430 per cwt., softening by $10 per cwt. from the previoius week.
In the third consecutive week of softer prices, Ontario D2 cows were down by about $6 per cwt. D3 cows eased just more than $1 per cwt. lower, which has been steady with a softer tone for the past month.
Similar to their western Canadian counterparts, Ontario D2 and D3 cow prices are $28-$35 per cwt. stronger than this time last year.
Canfax noted that prices for cows and bulls coming off summer pasture historically move mostly sideways in July and August.
Feeder markets mostly steady
Alberta auction volumes for the week ending June 27 were 20,883 head. This is the third consecutive week that weekly volumes have reached all-time highs in the past decade.
Feeder markets were mainly steady to stronger, with steers closing the week $4.04 per cwt. higher, while heifers were up $1.51 per cwt.
Steers between 550 and 850 pounds have returned to record-high prices, while heifer of the same weight range are bringing just below their set highs.
In June, forward delivery sales for 500 lb. steers with October and November delivery averaged $586 per cwt., and 600 lb. steers averaged $591 per cwt.
Heifers weighing 500 lb. for October and November delivery averaged $520 per cwt., and 600 lb. heifers averaged $518 per cwt.
All forward delivery sales were priced at a premium to the cash market this week.
The largest premium was on 600-700-lb. heifers for October delivery at $54 per cwt. This was followed by steers weighing 700-800 lb. with a $52 per cwt. premium for September delivery.
The smallest premium was on heifers weighing 500-600 lb. for both October and November delivery, bringing a premium of $8 per cwt. and $6 per cwt., respectively.
Canadian feeder cattle exports to the United States for the week ending June 14 were 1,415 head, down 52 per cent from this time last year.
Year-to-date exports are at 81,360 head, just one per cent above 2024, which is the smallest volume since late January.
Cutouts climb higher
U.S. cut-out prices continue to strengthen, with Choice rising by about $1.25 per cwt. Select prices were $5.15 per cwt. higher than the week prior.
Cutout prices are $71-$77 per cwt. above prices from this time last year.
The Choice-to-Select spread was $15.31 per cwt.
