Feeder cattle prices were mixed but strong, according to the Provincial Cattle Specialist, Fonda Froats.
Froats broke down the latest Cattle Market Update, issued by Canfax, for the week ending September 1.
She notes average prices for feeder steers ranged from m $460.00 per hundred weight (cwt) for the 400-500lb weight category to $303.00 per cwt for the 900+lb weight category.
The largest price increase for steers was in the 700-800lb category by $13.10 per cwt to average $344.10 per cwt to end the week. The largest decrease was in the 500-600lb category by $8.10 to average $372.90 per cwt.
She says prices for feeder heifers increased in all but one weight category this past week, ranging from $387.33 for the 400-500lb category to $295.06 for the 800+lb category. The biggest price increase was in the 400-500lb category, with prices improving $6.83 to an average of $387.33.
She says feeder cattle pricing is strong based on supply and demand, positive fed cattle margins, and a weaker Canadian dollar.
Froats also says the volume of Saskatchewan feeder cattle sold at auction was up significantly to 6,288 head sold this past week from 2,730 the previous week. She adds year-to-date Saskatchewan feeder cattle marketing’s are one per cent above what they saw last year at 266,783 head.
Regarding Alberta fed steers, Froats says they averaged $231.76 per cwt last week, down slightly from the last reported price on August 18 of $232.73; however, that is above last year’s price of $180.43 for the same week.
Prices for live, non-fed cows in Alberta, as of September 1, were down week-over-week compared to August 25. She says D2 cows decreased $1.49 per cwt to average $147.93 per cwt. The price of D3 cows was down just $0.49 per cwt to an average of $132.43 per cwt.
