This cattle market information is selected from the weekly report from Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattle Association. More market information, analysis and statistics are available by becoming a Canfax subscriber by calling 403-275-5110 or at www.canfax.ca.
Steers, heifers down
The fed market continues to be hot, rising by $28 per hundredweight over the past 10 weeks.
Read Also
One Beer Market Updates Day 3 – Lentils and beef
Day 3 of the One Beer Market Update at Ag in Motion 2025.
Alberta steers closed the week ending Jan. 24 down $1.33 at $267.93 Jan. 24. Average steer prices over the past two weeks held in the upper $260s per cwt, topping the record high set in June 2024.
Heifers were down $4.94 to close the week at $265.67.
Some cattle are being sold ahead of schedule because of historically strong fed prices.
In terms of inventory, feedlots are very current with western Canadian carcass weights now 50 pounds below last year. Cattle are being shipped at lighter weights, but quality grade per cent remains impressive, setting a new record for the month of January. This can be seen as positive for the beef industry, illustrating the genetic improvements of the last few years.
Dressed sales were from $445-450 per cwt. delivered, with cattle being booked for early February delivery.
While U.S. packers have been active on the western Canadian fed market, no cash sales were reported, contributing to lower weighted average prices.
Western Canadian fed slaughter for the week ending Jan. 18 totalled slightly more than 35,000 head. This is the smallest volume for mid-January since 2019.
Dressed sales in Ontario rose from $445 to $450 per cwt., steady to $5 per cwt higher than the previous week.
From December to January, fed cattle price insurance coverage has strengthened. Fed coverage levels have reached a record high, which may offer producers peace of mind in light of the high cost of bunk replacements and the current political unrest.
Cow prices mixed
The Alberta cull market was varied, with D2 cows and butcher bulls down about $2 per cwt, while D3 cows strengthened by $2 per cwt. Feeder cows were just steady with the previous week’s prices, but rail grade cows were fully steady.
Alberta D2 and D3 cows were $12 per cwt. back of last year’s high set in July and August. Feeder cows are $14 per cwt. below their record high, while butcher bulls are $16 per cwt. shy of their record high.
Ontario’s cull market saw a stronger tone, with D2 cows up by $5 per cwt. and D3 cows up $2 per cwt. Cull cow prices in Ontario are $8-11 per cwt. below their record highs.
It’s possible that the record highs set last summer could be surpassed in both Alberta and Ontario ahead of summer turnout.
Cow slaughter for the week ending Jan. 18 was six per cent below last year and 11 per cent below the five-year average.
Cutout softens
Choice and Select cutouts softened by 0.7 per cent, with Choice closing at $330.96 per cwt and Select at $317.21 per cwt.
The Choice-to-Select spread was $13.75 per cwt., slightly narrower than the week ending Jan. 17.
Auctions busy
Strong feeder futures have helped to sustain the fourth quarter rally into January.
Alberta auction volumes reached 42,100 head, 43 per cent higher than the same week last year. This is due to record-high feeder prices, good weather and cattle being marketed now to get ahead of potential tariffs.
The feeder market saw a small pullback on lighter feeders, but prices remain near record highs.
Calves between 400-600 lb. softened by $7.56-9.83 per cwt., while feeders in the 600-900 lb. range held mostly steady. Steers weighing 900 lb. and more were up by $4.18 per cwt.
Heifers saw a better week than steers, with calves in the 400-700 lb. range trading steady to $2.89 per cwt lower. Heifers weighing 700-900 lb. and heavier held steady to $4.71 per cwt. stronger.
There is optimism in the market, as shown by the premium on forward delivery sales. Forward delivery sales for six-weight steers priced at $475 per cwt., a premium when compared to the current market at $459 per cwt.
Seven-weight steers for March delivery priced at $420 per cwt., slightly stronger than the current market price at $417 per cwt, while eight-weight steers were $381 per cwt., just below the current price of $384.25 per cwt.
Feeder exports to the United States were 2,074 head for the week ending Jan. 11, up three per cent from last year. Exports from Eastern Canada were 1,365, continuing to run larger than Western Canada.
