Most feeder steer and heifer prices up

Last week was good for the Saskatchewan feeder steer and heifer market.

Canfax released the Cattle Market Update for the week ending Oct. 11, showing prices were available for all weight categories.

Prices for the steers ranged from $315 per hundredweight in the 900-plus pound category up to $518.88 in the 300- to 400-pound category. For the heifers, prices ranged from $307.50 in the 800-plus pound category up to $429.80 per hundredweight in the 300- to 400-pound category.

Only the 500 to 600 and 900-plus-pound steers reported a week-over-week decrease. All the heifer weight categories had increases, with the largest in the 500- to 600-pound category by $14.49 to an average price of $367.16. The biggest increase for the steers was $29.41 for the 600- to 700-hundred category to an average of $389.75.

Canfax reported 20,377 head of cattle went to market last week, above the 14,570 head marketed the previous week but slightly less than what was marketed at the same time last year.

Prices for live, non-fed cattle in Alberta last week were lower compared to the prior week. D2 slaughter cows averaged $176.98 per hundredweight, down by $2.62 from the previous week. D3 slaughter cows averaged $164.19, a $3.25 decrease from the previous week.

The Canfax price for Alberta fed steers for the week ending Oct. 11 was $241.74, down 82 cents from the previous week.

Looking at futures prices, the October and November feeder cattle futures were a bit higher. October feeder cattle futures were up 12 cents to close Friday at $249.75 per hundredweight; November feeder cattle futures were up 52 cents to settle Friday at $249.80.

The upward trend was the same for October and December live cattle futures. The October contract was up $1.60 to close Friday at $188.60 and the December contract was up 57 cents to settle Friday at $187.57.