For the week ending June 21, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were unchanged to $10 lower on average compared to seven days earlier. However, prices for August and September delivery were unchanged from the previous week.
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $500-$502/cwt delivered, down $2-$4/cwt from the previous week. The softer tone to the fed market caused the rally in the feeder market to stall. It’s also that time of year when feeder cattle supplies are limited. While there are still some quality packages coming available, the bulk of auction market volumes consist of off grades and stragglers, which are trading at $10 to as much as $20 discount.
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The Ponoka market report had a large package of black mixed steers marked an average weight of 1075 pounds off grass for early August delivery priced at $384/cwt. For August 15 to September 15 delivery, 1,000-pound mixed steers off grass are trading in the range of $395-$400/cwt fob farm (depending on location) in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The market report for Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba had black mixed steers averaging 880 pounds trading for $424/cwt. Southeast of Edmonton, a smaller group of Simmental cross heifers evaluated at 900 pounds notched the board at $367/cwt.
At the Westlock sale, run-of-the-mill mixed heifers on hay and greenfeed diet with full herd health data scaled at 801 pounds traded for $416/cwt. In Central Saskatchewan, larger frame lower flesh Charolais steers weighing just over 800 pounds supposedly sold for $465/cwt.
The Ponoka market report had red mixed steers averaging 702 pounds on greenfeed and oats diet with processing records selling for $501cwt. South of Calgary, medium to larger frame, lower flesh Angus based heifers weighing 710 pounds were last bid at $445/cwt
Southeast of Saskatoon, mixed weaned heifers on the card at 605 pounds supposedly traded at $502/cwt. The Ste Rose Auction Mart report had black steers weighing just under 600 pounds reaching $615/cwt.
In the Calgary region, Simmental based 510-pound, weaned steers sold for $630/cwt. In Southern Alberta, mixed weaned heifers around 520 pounds supposedly traded for $558/cwt.
On June 1, cattle on feed 150 days or longer in Alberta and Saskatchewan were 359,177 head, up 2.9 per cent or 9,957 head or from the June 1, 2024 number of 349,220. Market-ready fed cattle supplies will make a seasonal high in Western Canada during June and this will likely weigh on the fed market. Secondly, it looks like the live and feeder cattle futures have topped out for the time being.
