For the week ending June 28, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Volumes moving through the ring were limited and the quality was quite variable.
Off grade cattle in small packages and stragglers were discounted accordingly. This may have resulted in a overall weaker tone. However, auction markets held in-house video sales for deferred delivery and prices didn’t miss a beat. Larger Alberta operations were extremely aggressive and competition was fierce with Ontario orders evident across Western Canada.
On Thursday, June 26, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $498-$503/cwt, down $2-$3/cwt from the previous week. Live bids fob feedlot in southern Alberta were quoted at $295/cwt. Break-even pen closeouts are in the range of $270-$275/cwt. There are more fall placed calves coming on the market and these break-evens are slightly lower.
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At the Ponoka sale, a larger package of black steers averaging 1,000 pounds on light barley and corn silage diet with full processing records dropped the gavel at $387/cwt. At the same sale, a larger group of Simmental cross Angus heifers on the card at 782 pounds coming off a barley, canola meal and silage backgrounding ration with preconditioning data set the bar at $421/cwt.
For September and October delivery, 1,000-pound steers were trading in the range of $395-$400/cwt this past week fob farm in central Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The Westlock Auction report had a smaller package of Angus based steers weighing 900 pounds coming of silage and hay diet on full herd health details traded for $416/cwt. In north-central Saskatchewan, a smaller pen of larger Charolais based steers evaluated at 825 pounds on backgrounding ration (controlled weight gain) with full preconditioning including recent booster were valued at $460/cwt fob farm.
In the southern Alberta region, larger-wide-frame Limousin based steers weighing 735 pounds apparently traded for $525/cwt. In central Saskatchewan, a smaller package of Charolais cross heifers appraised at 710 pounds were quoted at $476/cwt
The Perlich Bros. Auction Market report near Lethbridge had a package of 200 Black Angus steers with a base weight of 650 pounds selling for 551/cwt for December delivery. The Ponoka market report had 110 black steers with a base 550 pounds coming off cows and grass trading for $585 for delivery in early November.
Our straw poll survey suggests that 2025 will be the first year of major heifer retention in Western Canada. This will result in lower overall supplies of feeder cattle. The calves from these heifers will come on the market in 2026. This may be underpinning the feeder market for September through December delivery.
