Fed steers fell $2.50 and heifers dropped $1.70 last week as beef demand remained weak.
Steers traded $73.60-$74.75 to average $74.52. Rail grade was $124.85-$126.30. Heifers traded $73.60-$75.75 to average $74.45 and were $124.85-$126.30 on the rail.
Canfax members sold 16,784 head, down 20 percent from the week before.
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The cash to cash basis weakened to $8.52 under from $7.56 under the week before.
For the week ending Dec. 5, Alberta steer slaughter was 17,283 head and heifer slaughter was 15,148, bringing total slaughter to 43,931, down 16 percent from the previous week.
Weekly fed cattle exports to the United States to Nov. 28 were 9,941 head, down from 12,354 the previous week.
Cold weather slowed movement to markets. Packers have inventory out until January so the next couple of weeks will be tough sledding.
D1, D2 cows averaged $35.16 per hundredweight, up 15 cents, and D3 cows averaged $30.73, up 90 cents.
The Alberta rail grade price range was $65-$70 compared to $67-$72 the previous week.
Weekly cow slaughter to Dec. 5 was 15,264 head in Canada and 11,243 head in Alberta.
Butcher bulls were $37-$53 to average $45.84, up 90 cents.
Feeder cattle trade was lackluster with some buyers off the market until the New Year.
Alberta auction volume fell 20 percent to 45,090 head. Year to date auction volume is two percent smaller at 1.96 million head.
Steers fell 95 cents on average and heifers were down $1.85.
Premiums were paid, depending on the packages of cattle offered.
Weekly feeder exports to the United States to Nov. 28 were 968 head, down from 1,207 the previous week and 8,187 last year.
The weak fed market and the slower Christmas season that is approaching means feeder prices will probably be pressured lower this week.
There were a few special bred sales, but volumes were down from the week before. Bred cows averaged $685, down $24, while bred heifers averaged $971.65, up $157.
Cow-calf pairs averaged $762.50, up $75.
Demand continues to weaken as consumers trim grocery budgets and buy cheaper cuts of beef.
U.S. Choice cutouts fell $2.66 US per cwt. to $134.79 Dec. 10 and Select fell $3.14 to $128.95. Weekly Canadian AAA cutouts to Dec. 4 were $143 per cwt., down 57 cents. AA cutouts rose $1.28 to $143.75. The Montreal wholesale market for delivery this week rose $1 to $156-$162.
Alberta and Saskatchewan cattle on feed Dec. 1 totalled slightly more than one million head, down five percent from last year but up 12 percent from Nov. 1. Placements in November totalled 271,519, up one percent from a year ago.
The number of steers and heifers killed domestically or exported for slaughter in November totalled 174,479 head, five percent larger than last year. Survey group marketings were 147,367 head, up seven from last year but down 11 percent from 2007.
Disappearance was up 35 percent from last year at 13,141 head, but eight percent down from 2007.
