For the week ending June 4, steers were $86.75-$90.75 per hundredweight live to average $90.06, down $1.30, and $147.25-$150.85 on the rail.Heifer trade was $88-$90.25 live, down 45 cents, and $147.25-$150.85 on the rail to average $89.61.Muddy pens made marketing difficult and slowed cattle weight gain.A large captive supply did little to support buying on the cash market. Captive supplies accounted for 78 percent of the total Canfax show list. The total show list was 35,559 head, of which 33,491 sold, up 35 percent.The cash-to-cash basis widened to -$9.01 from -$7.18 the previous week.Weekly Alberta steer slaughter to May 29 was 47,913 head, down three percent. That was four percent higher than last year.Weekly fed cattle exports to May 22 were 13,800 head, down from 14,596 head the previous week but up from last year’s exports of 5,624 head.Large captive supplies and slow weight gain because of wet pens will likely result in increased supplies in the coming weeks.D1, D2 cows were $50-$68 per cwt. to average $59.55 per cwt., up 47 cents.D3 cow prices were almost $1 higher and averaged $53.08.Rail grade cows were $113-$116.The butcher bull rally eased somewhat with prices $50-$85 to average $72.58, down $1.75.Weekly non-fed exports to May 22 rose 13 percent.Wet weather made it difficult to assemble and transport animals to auction, leading to a smaller volume.Auction volume of 20,806 head was 21 percent lower than last week and 23 percent lower than last year.The steer average rose 64 cents per cwt. and heifers were $1.45 higher.Recent precipitation has rekindled interest in lighter grass calves, but with dwindling volumes there are quality problems.Light stocker steers 300-400 pounds traded slightly lower, while 400-500 lb. saw prices $1.20 higher.Steers 500-600 lb. were mostly steady and 600-700 lb. rose $1.90.Steers heavier than 700 lb. were 40-75 cents per cwt. higher.Stocker heifers 300-500 lb. rose more than $1.50, and 500-600 lb. were mostly steady.Heifers 600-900 lb. jumped $1.85-$2.70 higher and those heavier than 900 lb. rose 40 cents.Weekly feeder exports to May 22 were 7,124 head, down 23 percent.So far this year exports total 117,765 head, down 38 percent from last year.With favourable pasture conditions, interest in quality breeding females is strong. Bred cows were $650-$1,410 per head to average $943, down $19.Bred heifers averaged $800 with a range of $650-$950.Cow-calf pairs traded mostly steady at $850-$1,425, averaging $1,134.50.U.S. Choice cutouts closed at $161.92 US, down $2.91 from the week before. Select closed at $154.15, down $3.37.Canadian AAA cutouts closed at $173.55 Cdn, down $2.53 from the previous week.AA was $168.55, down $5.37.The Montreal wholesale market for delivery this week was steady at $178-$180.This cattle market information is selected from the weekly report from Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Moremarket information, analysis and statistics are available by becoming a Canfax subscriber by calling 403-275-5110 or at www.canfax.ca.
Read Also
One Beer Market Updates Day 3 – Lentils and beef
Day 3 of the One Beer Market Update at Ag in Motion 2025.
