For the week ending July 25, western Canadian feeder cattle markets were unchanged from the previous week, although volumes were limited.
Calves lighter than 550 pounds were extremely variable after jumping sharply the previous week.
Noted demand surfaced from Ontario, where packer direct sales for Grade A steers reached $530 per hundredweight on a dressed basis. Using a 60 per cent grading, this equates to a live price of $318 per cwt.
Read Also
The Western Producer Livestock Report – August 28, 2025
Western Producer Livestock Report for August 28, 2025. See U.S. & Canadian hog prices, Canadian bison & lamb market data and sales insights.
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle at $297.50 per cwt. f.o.b. feedlot in southern Alberta, relatively unchanged from the previous week.
Last week, Ontario corn was quoted at $5.75 per bushel, while barley in the Lethbridge area was trading at $6.50-$6.75 per bu. delivered.
Feedlot margins remain healthy as fall-placed calves come on the fed market. Demand for feeders is at a seasonal high after a period of positive feedlot margins.
In southern Alberta, a pen of medium to larger frame, lower flesh, 1,000 pound mixed steers on silage and supplement ration with full processing records were valued at $398 per cwt. f.o.b. feedlot. At the same feedlot, a pen of 950 lb. mixed heifers on the same diet with full health records were quoted at $385 per cwt f.o.b. feedlot.
The Ponoka, Alta., market report (video sale) had a larger group of tan steers with a base of 620 lb. off grass, minerals and cows with full processing data selling for $610 per cwt. f.o.b. feedlot in east-central Alberta for late October delivery. At the same sale, a package of 200 tan heifers with a base weight of 590 lb. off grass, mineral and cows with full preconditioning sold for $566 per cwt. for October delivery.
Auction markets reported limited volumes with many barns selling 150 to 250 head. The market was hard to define and not representative of prices that will be evident next month.
Small groups of steers of various quality averaging 500-525 lb. were quoted from $600-620 per cwt. The previous week, larger steer calf packages for November delivery coming off grass of similar weight were selling for $670 per cwt. to as high as $699 per cwt.
Analysts are forecasting a U.S. corn crop of 410 million tonnes, up from last year’s output of 378 million tonnes.
U.S. corn will trade into Alberta, possibly as far north as Edmonton and displace barley. This will take about 20 to 30 cents off the cost-per-pound gain. Lower feedgrain prices this fall will enhance the price of feeder cattle by $20 to $25 per cwt.
Cattle on feed 180 days or longer in Alberta and Saskatchewan as of July 1 were 237,000 head, relatively unchanged from last year.
Wholesale beef prices have softened since reaching historical highs in June.
The fed cattle market is expected to soften over the next month, which will offset a portion of the net benefit for lower feedgrain prices.
