More stable beef prices and a smaller show list supported the market but the seasonal trend and large packer captive supplies pushed fed cattle prices lower.The Canfax weighted average steer price in the week ending June 25 was $84.04 per hundredweight, down 80 cents, and heifers were $84.32, down 45 cents.Only a few cattle went south, mainly to get access to timely marketing.Feedlot marketing is current.Captive supply fell to 70 percent of the show list, compared to 72 percent the previous week.Reduced Alberta slaughter and poor cattle performance because of muddy conditions are limiting beef production.Alberta fed carcass weights are below year ago levels at 799 pounds for steers and 740 lb. for heifers.Fed cattle cash prices will struggle to stay steady with the pressures of captive supplies, seasonally larger cattle supplies in North America and limited opportunity for short-term increases in beef demand.Slaughter cows made up the majority of auction volume.D1, D2 cow prices were mostly steady at $46–$65 per cwt. to average $55.59. D3 cows were $35–$54 to average $48.10.Rail grade cows were $108–$112.Butcher bulls were $60–$78, averaging $70.08, down 80 cents.Weekly non-fed exports to the U.S. to June 12 rose about 15 percent.Cow auction volume should trend seasonally smaller, supporting current prices.Various quality grades and small auction volume caused radical weekly price shifts.Tight supplies supported grass stocker prices, but wet southern Alberta pen conditions have slowed placements of heavier feeders.Auction volume of 19,524 head was seven percent lower than the week before and 16 percent higher than last year.The average steer price fell 98 cents and heifers were $1.73 lower.Generally, stocker steers lighter than 700 lb. saw strong interest and steady to firm prices, but 400 to 500 lb. fell $3 per cwt., reflecting a small offering of lower quality steers.Steers heavier than 700 lb. made up the majority of feeder auction volume. Buyer interest was soft and prices slipped $1-$2.Heifers 300 to 500 lb. saw small volumes and fell $3.25-$4.50, giving back the $3 gain from the previous week.Heifers 500 to 700 lb. fell 30-55 cents and 700 to 900 lb. fell $1.30-$2.05. Heifers heavier than 900 lb. were firm.Small sale lots and varied quality will see light feeder prices hold mostly steady, but until pen conditions improve, interest for animals heavier than 700 lb. could be sluggish.Bred cows were $650-$925, down about $50 per head to average $771.67.Few bred heifers sold.Cow-calf pairs saw decent volume and good buyer interest. Pairs averaged $1,159.14, with a range of $850-$1,560.U.S. Choice cutouts rose $1.01 to close at $154.48 US per cwt. and Select rose 53 cents to $146.73.The increase was encouraging, breaking a steady decline from $170.69 on May 6 to $153.48 June 14.Canadian AAA cutouts to June 19 rose $1.86 to $160.26 Cdn.AA cutouts rose $1.16 to $156.31.The Montreal wholesale market for delivery this week was steady at $176-$178.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.
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