For the week ending Aug. 16, western Canadian feeder cattle markets were unchanged to $10 higher.
Strength was noted in grass yearlings in the 800-950 pound categories.
Calf volumes were limited last week, which made the market hard to define.
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Buyers reported that Ontario demand stretched all the way into central Alberta, setting the overall price structure.
Feedlot margins remain in positive territory, and operations are current with production.
Grass conditions have been quite favourable over the past month, and yearling weight gains have been better than expected.
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at an average price of
$505 per hundredweight, steady to $5 per cwt. higher than last week. Using a 60 per cent grading, this equates to a live price of $303 per cwt.
Ontario packers were buying Grade A steers on a dressed basis at $527 per cwt.
There appears to be stronger packer demand in the short-term. Ontario buyers were aggressive on larger-frame genetics such as Limousin and Charolais crosses.
In Ponoka, Alta., medium- to largerframe black steers with full processing records coming off pasture weighing 1,075 lb. sold for $408 per cwt. At the same sale, Simmental mixed heifers averaging 950 lb. traded for $430 per cwt.
Northwest of Saskatoon, a pen-sized group of larger-frame mixed steers on backgrounding grain and silage ration
with full pre-conditioning carrying medium flesh levels averaging 1,050 lb. traded for $414 per cwt. f.o.b. farm for Sept. 20 delivery.
In the same region, the Team Auction Market Report had 100 black steers carrying lower flesh levels weighing 1,050 lb. coming straight off pasture trading for $421 per cwt. for Sept. 2 delivery.
Northwest of Calgary, a larger package of Charolais cross steers weighing 930 lb.
off pasture reportedly sold for $468 per cwt. f.o.b. ranch.
Southeast of Edmonton, larger-frame Charolais Simmental blended steers weighing slightly more than 800 lb. broke the psychological $500 level and reportedly sold for $508 per cwt.
Southeast of Calgary, larger-frame lower-flesh Simmental-blended heifers off pasture averaging 830 lb. reportedly traded for $460 per cwt.
The Ponoka Market Report also had Charolais cross steers off a diet of cows, grass and minerals weighing 650 lb. moving through the ring at $604 per cwt.
These steers are travelling to Ontario.
In the August World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered the country’s 2025 third quarter beef production by 175 million lb. and decreased fourth quarter output by 90 million lb.
The U.S. corn crop was raised to 425 million tonnes, up from 378 million tonnes last year.
These two factors were considered bullish for the feeder market.
The function of the feeder cattle market is to encourage production in ration demand.
We’ve seen 1,000 lb. steers in central Alberta trade for $430 per cwt. The breakeven live price for the finished animal is $330 per cwt., which is up $27 per cwt. from current levels.
There is a fair amount of risk in these replacements.
Looking at past history, feedlot operators need to endure one round of negative margins before there is a serious downward adjustment in the feeder market.
