With the market-ready cattle supply still tight, the Canfax weighted average steer price last week rose $1.70 to $92.71 per hundredweight, while heifers traded $1.50 higher to average $92.52 per cwt.
A growing number of fed calves were offered for sale.
Feedlots are current in their marketing and pulled forward a good number of cattle on feed for only a short time. Producers had little success bartering for delayed delivery on these green animals.
Sale volumes fell two percent to 14,111 head.
The cash to futures basis narrowed to -$5.30 compared to -$5.90 the previous week.
Read Also
The Western Producer Livestock Report – July 31, 2025
Western Producer Livestock Report for July 31, 2025. See U.S. & Canadian hog prices, Canadian bison & lamb market data and sales insights.
U.S. interest in Canadian fed cattle continues strong.
Weekly fed exports to the United States to March 20 total 18,540 head. To date, fed exports total 166,452, up from 153,248 last year.
Continued tight North American fed supply heading into April will see more captive cattle hitting the kill floor.
With strong demand, D1, D2 cows averaged $52.90 per cwt., up $1.05, and D3 cows averaged $49.50, up 70 cents.
Rail grade cows were steady at $99-$107.
Butcher bulls rose 75 cents to $63.60.
Weekly cow slaughter to March 27 was 7,199 head compared to a year ago at 3,695 head.
Steers averaged 50 cents higher last week and heifers averaged 45 cents lower.
The higher fed cattle trade helped prop up some prices, while the stronger Canadian dollar lowered others.
Light steers 300-500 pounds rose $1.50-$3, while heifers in the same group were steady to $2.75 lower.
Pressure was noted in 500-600 lb. steers, which traded $2.25 lower.
Steers 800-900 lb. and heavier were steady to $2 higher while heifers were 25-80 cents lower.
Alberta auction volume in the holiday-shortened week totalled 41,184 head, one percent lower than the previous week.
Year-to-date auction market volume is up eight percent at 528,352.
Feeder cattle exports are expected to be small in coming weeks.
Weekly Canadian feeder exports to the U.S. to March 20 total 5,580 head. To date, feeder exports total 35,420, down from 119,766 last year. The Canadian dollar is the wild card with feeder prices.
Auction market volumes are expected to be smaller this week, and prices will likely be mixed.
U.S. choice cutouts closed at $163.75 Cdn, up 97 cents on the week and $27.95 higher than last year. The Select cutout fell 13 cents to $160.63, up $25.45 from last year.
Weekly Canadian AAA cutout to March 26 was$165.30 Cdn, up $5.93 from the previous week but $9.81 lower than last year.
The AA cutout was $164.84, up $6.22 from the previous week but $10.84 lower than last year.
The Montreal wholesale price fore delivery this week was steady at $175-$177.
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.
