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.
Fed market continues to rally
Western Canadian fed cattle prices moved closer to 2025’s record highs during the week ending Feb. 13.
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Alberta fed steers closed the week at $310.57 per hundredweight, moving $3.06 per cwt. higher than the previous week . Similarly, fed heifer prices were $3.10 per cwt. stronger than the previous week, closing the week at $308.56 per cwt.
Fed prices have rallied by $12-$14 per cwt. since the beginning of the year, and as of writing were within $3-$7 per cwt. of the record-high prices set last year.
Dressed sales were reported at around $520-$525 per cwt. delivered, up $3-$8 per cwt. from the previous week. All western Canadian packers showed buying interest. Cattle that sold were booked for delivery from immediately to the middle of March.
Interest from U.S. packers was also noted, with buyers seeking cattle for delivery in February and March. Bids were reported at a premium over local deals.
The Alberta fed cash-to-futures basis for the week ending Feb. 13 was at -18.22. This was -4.47 weaker than in 2025 but 2.95 stronger than the three-year average of -21.17.
Western Canadian fed slaughter for the week ending Feb. 7 was 35,518 head, four per cent below 2025 levels.
So far this year, weekly slaughter volumes have not hit 40,000 head per week.
Western Canadian fed slaughter for the month of January was 19 per cent below the five-year average, making it the smallest volume since 2018.
Light trade was reported in Ontario during the week ending Feb. 13, with dressed sales steady with the previous week at $530 per cwt. delivered. Cattle that traded were scheduled for delivery during the week of Feb. 23.
Analysts anticipate that fed prices will remain seasonally supportive throughout February.
Cow prices up
Non-fed prices continued to move seasonally higher during the week ending Feb. 13, with volumes beginning to decrease.
Despite one major packer being off the cow market, prices continue to rise, with support coming from feeder cow buyers.
Cow prices have risen by $13 per cwt. since the beginning of the year, now just shy of the record highs set in May 2025.
Rail prices were also higher during this week.
On a cash basis, Alberta cow prices traded at a discount of $2 per cwt. against the U.S. market.
For the week ending Feb. 7, western Canadian cow slaughter totalled just more than 5,600 head. This was down 29 per cent from 2025 and was the smallest slaughter volume for the start of February since 2005.
The only class of cattle that ran above year-ago levels for slaughter volumes was butcher bulls as more stay in Canada for processing.
Feeder prices strengthen
Western Canadian weekly average calf and feeder prices rose $7-$8 per cwt. during the week ending Feb. 13.
Steers and heifers weighing less than 500 pounds were the highlight of the week, bringing $13-$16 per cwt. more than the previous week .
Steers weighing more than 500 lb. were steady to $10 per cwt. higher, and their heifer counterparts were $2-$4 per cwt. higher than the previous week.
Weekly auction volumes in Alberta were just below 29,000 head. While year-to-date volumes are down seven per cent from 2025, they are also five per cent higher than the five-year average.
In Ontario, average steer and heifer prices climbed $3-$6 per cwt. from the previous week.
Steers and heifers weighing 500 lb. and higher saw an overall stronger tone, but the calf market had a softer tone.
Alberta 550 lb. steer calves brought a premium of $73 per cwt. compared to the Ontario market. Alberta 850 lb. feeder steers were at a discount of $3 per cwt. compared to Ontario 850 lb. steers.
Cut-out values mixed
U.S. wholesale beef prices have been moving lower lately as fed cattle prices south of the border rally.
From Feb. 5-12, U.S. Choice cut-out prices fell by $2.41 per cwt. Conversely, Select cutout values rose by $2.66 per cwt. during this time.
