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 prices still rising
The excitement just keeps coming for the Alberta fed market, with prices continuing to rise the week ending May 16.
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Fed steers closed the week at $297.85 per hundredweight, up almost $4 per cwt. from the previous week. Fed heifers strengthened nearly $3 per cwt., ending the week at $295 per cwt.
Over the past 10 weeks, fed prices have trended steady to higher and gained $33 per cwt.
However, Canfax analysts anticipate the fed market is likely nearing a peak.
Yearling volumes are declining, and more fed calves are beginning to come onto the market.
Dressed sales for the week were reported in the range of $495-$500 per cwt. delivered, with interest from all three western Canadian packers. Cattle that traded were scheduled for delivery immediately and into early July.
The Alberta fed cash-to-futures basis was +$0.33 per cwt., the strongest basis reported so far this year.
Western Canadian fed slaughter for the week ending May 10 was 36,000 head, down seven per cent from last year.
Compared to 2024, year-to-date western Canadian fed slaughter volumes are down 73,000 head.
In Ontario, fed prices have rallied at last. Dressed sales were $495 per cwt. delivered, up $15 per cwt. from the previous week. Cattle that traded were scheduled for delivery in early June.
Non-fed market takes a breather
Cull cows, feeder cows and butcher bulls through Alberta auction marts all closed the week ending May 16 lower than the previous week . Week-over-week declines ranged from $2-$9 per cwt.
The exception was railgrade cows, which finished the week steady to $8 per cwt. stronger than the previous week.
For the week ending May 10, western Canadian non-fed slaughter volumes were just below 4,900 head. This tends to trend lower during the warmer months, with cows out on pasture for the summer.
Year-to-date western Canadian non-fed slaughter volumes are 10 per cent smaller than last year. This is also nine per cent below the five-year average and the smallest volumes since 2015.
Cull cow prices in Ontario also eased lower, down $1-$6 per cwt. from the previous week.
For the week ending May 10, eastern Canadian non-fed slaughter volumes were 1,800 head. This is the fourth-smallest weekly volume of 2025 thus far, as well as the fifth consecutive week where weekly slaughter volumes were below year-ago levels.
Year-to-date eastern Canadian non-fed slaughter is down by five per cent from 2024 and the five-year average.
Feeder prices ease
Alberta feeder cattle prices were $8-$13 per cwt. lower the week ending May 16. Most classes of cattle stayed close to their all-time highs.
Lightweight 350-pound steers and heifers eased $40-$46 per cwt. from the previous week , driving the overall easing in feeder prices.
Without that weight class, average Alberta steer prices were down $2.69 per cwt. Average heifer prices eased $6.91 per cwt. lower.
Most classes of steers and heifers saw a stronger price tone in Ontario as average prices rose by $9-$12 per cwt.
There was high demand for lightweight grass-type steers, with 450-650 lb. steers finishing the week $3-$17 per cwt. stronger than the previous week . Heifers of the same weights ranged from $5 per cwt. softer to $24 per cwt. stronger than the previous week.
Steers and heifers heavier than 700 lb. also brought higher prices, with heifers slightly outperforming steers.
The last few weeks have brought a distinctly bullish tone to the Ontario feeder market, Canfax reports.
Over the past month, Ontario 550-lb. steer calves have been at par or at a premium to the Alberta market. Ontario 850-lb. feeder steers have been at a premium to same-weight Alberta steers for the last two months.
For the week ending May 16, Ontario 550-lb. steers were at par with the Alberta market, while 850-lb. feeder steers were at a premium of $43 per cwt.
Cutouts rally again
U.S. cut-out prices rose the week ending May 16, with Choice closing the week at $349.90 per cwt., up $2 per cwt. from the previous week.
Select strengthened by $6 per cwt. to close the week at $339.18 per cwt.
The Choice-to-Select spread was just below $11 per cwt., the narrowest spread since early March.
