It was another interesting week for the cattle markets in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Saskatchewan's Ministry of Agriculture's weekly marketing report for the week ending March 12th shows...
Canfax reported a total of 14,363 head of cattle were sold, down from 19,650 head during the previous week, and more than the 9,259 head marketed during the same week last year.
Feeder steer prices were mainly lower across the weight categories when compared to prices reported the previous week. The only price increase was seen in the 700-800lb weight category, increasing $0.30 per cwt to end the week averaging $188.80 per cwt. The largest price decrease week-over-week was seen in the 300-400lb weight category which declined by $11.07 per cwt to end the week averaging $261.33 per cwt. The 800-900lb weight category ended the week with an average price of $175.70 per cwt. The weekly average steer price, across the reported weight categories, was $212.49 per cwt in Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan feeder heifer prices were mainly higher across all the reported weight categories when compared to prices the previous week. The only price decrease was seen in the 500-600lbweight category, decreasing $1.03 per cwt to end the week averaging $196.67 per cwt. The largest price increase was seen in the 300-400lb weight category, with prices increasing by $4.95per cwt to end the week averaging $216.25 per cwt. The 700-800lb weight category ended the week with an average price of $171.10 per cwt. The weekly average heifer price across the reported weight categories was $189.67 per cwt in Saskatchewan.
Provincial Cattle Specialist Natasha Wilkie telling Golden West a number of factors could be influencing the markets.
"The spread between steers and heifers was likely just in demand. You know, they were looking for heifers last week and so we saw deliveries were fairly steady. So that was good. That didn't really change over the previous week. Something that might be putting some pressure on the markets is the Canadian dollars creeping up. On Friday, it ended out at 80 cents, and then something that's providing support is feeder cattle futures, those markets ended the week higher last week."
The Alberta Beef Producer's Weekly Canfax Report shows ...
The Canfax fed steer price closed last week around $149/cwt, $1/cwt lower than the previous week. Fed prices are at their lowest point in seven weeks. Last week dressed sales were reported from $247-250/cwt FOB the lot. Cattle that traded last week were being scheduled for the week of April 5th and 12th delivery. Last week on a cash to cash basis, Alberta fed prices were trading at an estimated $7.50/cwt premium against the US market.
Last week the Canfax average feeder steer price closed the week $1.50/cwt lower while heifer prices were mostly steady. The largest week over week price decline was on 3-400 pound calves with prices down $5/cwt. Steers over 700 lbs traded $1-2/cwt lower while same weight heifer prices closed the week steady to $2/cwt higher. Western Canadian calf and feeder indices closed the week at $216.61/cwt and $185.02/cwt respectively. Alberta weekly auction volumes totaled just over 41,000 head. Canadian feeder cattle exports to the US for the week ending February 27th totaled 1,884 head.
Alberta D2 cow prices traded fully steady with live trade reported from $80-94/cwt. Last week D3 cows averaged $75.25/cwt. YTD Western Canadian cow slaughter is 17% lower than last year. Butcher bulls traded $1.75/cwt lower to average $105/cwt and live trade was reported from $90-124/cwt. Canadian butcher bull exports to the US for the week ending February 27th totaled 663 head.
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