Fed cattle steady
Fed cattle trade was sluggish with steers averaging $85.36 per hundredweight live, down 22 cents from the week before and heifers off nine cents at $85.27, said Canfax.
Alberta prices Dec. 6 were steers $84 per cwt. live and $142.50-$144.65 on the rail.
Heifer prices were $82.75-$85 live and $142.50-$144 rail.
Volume sold was about 15,000 head, down from the week before but in alignment with the smaller showlist.
With feedlots fairly current and sluggish packer interest, some cattle were carried over.
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Fed cattle exports to the United States were down to 17,365 head, the lowest since the week of Sept. 29.
Canfax said that with a relatively steady dollar and current fed cattle supply, prices should be steady to slightly higher.
Beef dips
U.S. cut-out values were lower last week because packers had to drop beef prices to stimulate sales to move the product from recent large slaughter volumes, Canfax said.
The Choice cutout was $2.25 lower at $147.63 US versus $149.88 last week. The Select cutout dropped $4.58 to $131.15.
Cutouts were expected to trend lower again this week given the large kills and the weak seasonal demand from retailers.
The Calgary wholesale market delivery this week was $1-$2 Cdn higher at $142-$145.
Feeders stronger
For the second week in a row, feeder cattle of all weight ranges saw higher prices and strong demand.
Auction volume rose one percent from the week before for a total of 59,069 head, but that was down 19 percent from the same week a year ago, said Canfax.
Light steers 300-400 pounds, were up $1 per cwt., 400-700 lb. steers climbed $1.75-$2.50 and 700-900 lb. rose $1.25-$1.75. Steers 900 lb. and heavier saw tighter supply with prices $4.25 higher.
Heifers 300-399 lb. were $1.75 per cwt. higher, 400-499 lb. rose $1 and 500-900 lb. climbed $1.75-$2.25. Heifers 900 lb. and heavier rose $1.50.
Canadian feeder exports to the U.S. jumped 62 percent two weeks ago to total 21,769 head.
Feeder cattle prices should remain steady with good buyer demand until things slow down for Christmas, Canfax said.
Feeder volumes could tighten slightly in the next two weeks and give stability to pricing.
Slaughter cows D1, 2 rose 75 cents per cwt.
Butcher bulls were steady to down 25 cents and should remain fairly steady until the new year.
Slaughter cows should be steady to slightly lower for the next two weeks. Volume could increase slightly with more bred cows hitting the market. Some of these lower quality bred animals may find their way to the kill floor.
Pork surplus
Snow, ice and winter storms slowed the movement of market-ready hogs in the U.S. last week.
Pork prices dipped because of the large supply from the fast slaughter pace.
Iowa-southern Minnesota cash hogs traded at $40 US per cwt.
Dec. 7, up from $38.50 to $39
Nov. 30.
The U.S. composite pork carcass cut-out value closed at $59.05 Dec. 7, down from $60.55 Nov. 30.
U.S. slaughter for the week was estimated at 2.383 million, compared to 2.397 million the week before and 2.116 million a year ago.
Bison market optimistic
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Nov. 16 that carcasses from bulls younger than 30 months averaged $200.68 US per cwt. in October. Heifers edged higher to $192.31. Cull cows were $130.87 per cwt.
The Canadian Bison Association said the market is optimistic with the border open. References to animals older than and younger than 30 months may become redundant and pricing will be on carcass grade, weight and quality with reference only to youthful carcasses.
Grade A carcasses from bison bulls younger than 30 months in the desirable weight range in Canada were $1.85-$1.90 per lb.
Heifers were $1.85 to $1.90.
Rail prices for top quality, youthful, older-than 30-month bulls and heifers were $1.75-$1.90 per lb.
Cull cows were 60 cents and bulls ranged from 45-65 cents per lb. hot hanging carcass. Check with marketers regarding large herd bulls for prices and acceptability.
Stronger lamb prices
Ontario Stockyards reported 1,965 sheep and lambs and 82 goats traded last week. New light lambs traded at higher prices.
Other lambs, sheep and goats were steady.
Fancy kid goats fetched premiums, all others were steady.
