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 market strengthens
The western Canadian fed market saw prices move higher during the week ending April 2.
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Alberta fed steers closed the week at $325.55 per hundredweight, up $2.59 per cwt. from the previous week. Fed heifer prices strengthened by $3.40 per cwt. to close the week at $323.25 per cwt.
Historically, warmer weather following Easter tends to be supportive of prices for the beef complex.
Over the past few weeks, packer margins have improved, along with a stronger cutout and utilization.
Light trade was reported in terms of Alberta direct cattle sales, with dressed sales at $545 per cwt. delivered. This was $5 per cwt. higher than the previous week .
All western Canadian packers showed buying interest, and cattle that traded were scheduled to be picked up in one to four weeks.
South of the border, the U.S. market rallied, leading to a weaker basis of -15.
Exports of fed cattle and cows to the United States for the month of March were below 10,000 head per week. The lower export volumes were primarily due to labour unrest at the Greeley, Colorado, plant.
For the week ending April 2, western Canadian steer carcass weights were 28 pounds heavier than the same time last year. In Eastern Canada, steer carcass weights were nine lb. heavier than this time last year.
In Ontario, dressed sales were reported in the range of $535-$540 per cwt. delivered. This was up $5-$10 per cwt. from the previous week. Cattle that sold were scheduled for delivery the following week.
Based on the 20-year average, fed prices tend to rally 2.5 per cent from March to April. Demand is expected to increase as spring progresses.
Cull cow price ease lower
After a month of trading stronger, Alberta D2 cow prices eased lower during the week ending April 2.
Prices averaged $240 per cwt., falling $1.50 per cwt. from the previous week.
D2 cows averaged $238 per cwt. during the month of March. This was three per cent higher than February’s average and 19 per cent higher than March 2025’s average.
During March, Alberta D2 cows were at a premium of $3.80 per cwt. over the U.S. market and a $30 per cwt. premium over the Ontario market.
Butcher bull prices have strengthened steadily since the start of the year, averaging $265 per cwt. during the week ending April 2. This was up $7 per cwt. from the previous week and $17 per cwt. higher than last year’s record high.
Butcher bulls averaged $251 per cwt. during the month of March, moving 10 per cent higher since the start of the year.
Railgrade cows traded in the range of $435-$440 per cwt. during the week ending April 2, fully steady with the previous week.
For the month of March, western Canadian cow slaughter totalled 23,904 head. Although this was seven per cent higher than February’s total volume, it was the lowest March slaughter volume since 2015.
Feeder market mixed
Alberta 550-lb. steer calf prices continued to hold near record-high levels during the week ending April 2, averaging around $700 per cwt.
As barley prices in Western Canada traded higher, strengthening to levels not seen since July 2025, this contributed to softening prices for some weight classes, particularly heavier-weight feeders weighing more than 1,000 lb.
Electronic sales for the week in the Prairie provinces saw many steers weighing more than 1,000 lb. selling in the range of $443-$459 per cwt. for immediate delivery. The average was $446.09 per cwt. based at 1,041 lb.
Cut-out prices stabilize
U.S. cut-out values stabilized during the week ending April 2.
Both Choice and Select cut-out prices closed the week in the low to mid-$390s per cwt.
This was eight to nine per cent higher than values five week ago, as well as 21-27 per cent more than this time last year.
The Choice-to-Select spread for the week was $1.83 per cwt.
The Choice-to-Select spread for March averaged $5.47 per cwt. This was five per cent higher than February’s average but still historically weak.
The premium on Choice cutouts seasonally increases throughout spring.
