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.
Bad winter weather in the United States is disrupting cattle weight gain, pushing cash and futures prices higher.
Compared to last year, U.S. steer weights are down 22 pounds and heifers are down 19 lb.
The Canfax weighted average on steers was $81.30 per hundredweight, up $2.05, and heifers rose $2.25 to average $81.95.
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Most of the trade was on the rail, and dressed prices rose $4.
Sale volume of 20,856 head was up 41 percent over the week before and there appeared to be little carryover.
The cash to futures basis strengthened slightly to $14.57 under from $14.62 under.
Weekly fed exports to Feb. 6 rose 26 percent to 13,904 head. That was up 17 percent from last year. So far this year, fed exports are down nine percent.
D1, D2 cows rose to $37-$55, averaging $47.19, up 55 cents, and D3 cows were $32-$46.50 to average $41.84, up 65 cents.
Rail grade cows were $90-$94.
Butcher bull prices were $50-$67 to average $57.82, down 15 cents.
Weekly cow slaughter to Feb. 13 in Alberta was 8,976 head, up from last year’s 7,885 head.
Weekly slaughter cow and bull exports to the U.S. to Feb. 6 were 6,668 head.
Grass type feeder cattle saw the strongest interest last week.
Overall, steers averaged $1.39 higher and heifers averaged $1 higher for the week.
Steers 300-400 lb. were $110-$132, averaging 80 cents lower, while heifers were $94-$112, 75 cents higher.
Steers 500-700 lb. were $100-$125, up $2.75-$3, and heifers were $88-$108, up 50 cents-$2.50.
Alberta weekly auction volume fell two percent to 38,719 head, but year-to-date auction market volume is up seven percent.
Weekly feeder exports to the U.S. to Feb. 6 were 2,802 head, down from 10,818 the previous year.
Year to date feeder cattle exports are down 82 percent.
Feeder cattle trade should be steady to stronger this week because of strong futures and continued strength in the fed cattle market.
Smaller U.S. cattle-on-feed numbers indicate there might be demand for imported Canadian feeders this spring.
Bred cow prices varied depending on the region, trading from $500-$1,085 to average $745. Bred heifers were $675-$1,040 to average $816.67.
Upcoming special bred cow sales should increase volumes. Quality cows and heifers will likely see top prices.
U.S. Choice cutouts rose $5.74 US to close at $144.91. Select rose $5.78 to $143.77.
Weekly Canadian slaughter volume to Feb. 13 rose 15 percent from the week before. Canadian AAA cutouts rose $1.91 Cdn from the week before but were $22.90 or 13 percent lower than last year. AA cutouts were up $3.04 from the previous week but were $20.21 lower than last year.
The Montreal wholesale market for delivery this week was firm at $164-$166.
