For the week ending August 16, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were unchanged to $10 higher. Strength was noted in grass yearlings in the 800-950-pound categories.
Calf volumes were limited last week which made the market hard to define. Buyers reported that Ontario demand stretched all the way into central Alberta setting the overall price structure. Feedlot margins remain in positive territory and operations are current with production. Grass conditions have been quite favorable over the past month and yearling weight gains have been better than expected.
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Chicago feeder cattle futures set fresh highs on Monday. Lean hog contracts also rose.
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at an average price of $505/cwt, steady to $5/cwt higher than last week. Ontario packers were buying Grade A steers on a dressed basis at $527/cwt. There appears to be stronger packer demand in the short-term.
In Ponoka, medium to larger frame black steers with full processing records coming off pasture weighing 1,075 pounds sold for $408/cwt. At the same sale, Simmental mixed heifers averaging 950 pounds traded for $430/cwt.
Northwest of Saskatoon, a pen-sized group of larger frame mixed steers on backgrounding grain and silage ration with full pre-conditioning carrying medium flesh levels averaging 1,050 pounds traded for $414/cwt fob farm for September 20 delivery. In the same region, the Team Auction market report had 100 black steers carrying lower flesh levels weighing 1,050 pounds coming straight off pasture trading for $421/cwt for September 2 delivery.
Northwest of Calgary, a larger package of Charolais cross steers weighing 930 pounds off pasture apparently sold for $468/cwt fob ranch. Southeast of Edmonton, larger frame Charolais Simmental blended steers weighing just over 800 pounds broke the psychological $500 level and reportedly sold for $508/cwt. Southeast of Calgary, larger frame lower flesh Simmental blended heifers off pasture averaging 830 pounds traded for $460/cwt.
The Ponoka market report also had Charolais cross steers off a diet of cows, grass and minerals weighing 650 pounds moved through the ring at $604/cwt. These steers are travelling to Ontario.
In the August World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, the USDA lowered U.S. 2025 third quarter beef production by 175 million pounds and decreased fourth quarter output by 90 million pounds. The U.S. corn crop was raised to 425 million tonnes, up from 378 million tonnes last year. This was considered bullish for the feeder market.
