Fed cattle steady
Fed steers averaged $119.48 per hundredweight, up seven cents while heifers were $118.16, down 21 cents.
Dressed sales were mostly steady at $200 per cwt. delivered.
Uncertain beef demand beyond Memorial Day in the U.S. saw the packing sector there apprehensive.
A handful of fed cattle traded south on May 17, getting an extra bang from the depreciated Canadian buck.
Weekly sales fell 14 percent to 14,215 head. Showlist offerings are expected to increase as more calves become market ready.
Cows up
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D1, D2 cow prices edged higher to range $74-$85 to average $79.20 while D3s ranged $65-$76 to average $70.17.
Railgrade prices ranged $151-$156.
Dryness in the western U.S. Plains has led to heavy culling in beef and dairy. Non-fed exports to May 4 rose four percent to 7,266 head.
Heavy feeders down
Moderate to heavy feeders are aggressively discounted while demand for lighter feeders remains strong.
Auction volume is higher than normal due to trading of feeders typically marketed in late winter or early spring.
The extra volume is limiting the ability of feeder prices to rise.
Local and eastern Canadian demand for replacement quality heifers has supported prices.
Alberta and Saskatchewan replacement heifers sold at $975-$1,050 per head. Weekly Alberta auction volume fell 16 percent to 25,358.
Beef values rise
Demand for the May holidays on both sides of the border lifted meat values. American beef cut-out prices hit new records and on May 16, Choice was $208.77, up $3.28. Select rose $1.68 to $192.71.
Weekly Canadian cut-out values to May 10 rose with AAA $3.16 higher and AA up 36 cents.
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.
