Klassen: Feeder market sees wide price range

For the week ending December 13, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $10 larger to $10 decrease in comparison with seven days earlier.

General volumes have been decrease in comparison with earlier weeks which contributed to the vast worth vary throughout the Prairies. Opposed climate and variable high quality have been additionally components influencing the value construction.

Main operations extra aggressive on bigger packages of pre-conditioned calves at sure areas. Nevertheless, these cattle are additionally carrying extra flesh at the moment of 12 months, which restricted the upside. Cattle on feed 180 days or longer look like rising in Western Canada and carcass weights have gotten fairly massive.

Extra livestock information: New World screwworm little match for Canadian cold

On the Ponoka sale, a bundle of 20 combined heifers with a imply weight of 918 kilos coming off corn silage and light-weight grain ration with processing data (no implants) have been final bid at $395/cwt. On the similar sale, crimson combined steers carrying decrease flesh averaging 1,054 kilos off hay food regimen with well being information offered for $428/cwt.

The Vermillion Livestock Alternate market report had a gaggle of 29 Charolais based mostly steers weighing 801 kilos traded for $510/cwt. A cattle producer reported a smaller bundle of thinner, bigger body, Simmental based mostly heifers carrying medium flesh averaging 805 kilos have been valued at $448/cwt at a sale north of Calgary.

On the Killarney sale, a bundle 5 black steers scaled at 711 kilos have been valued at $505/cwt. On the similar public sale, a gaggle of 13 Charolais cross heifers averaging 738 kilos dropped the gavel at $435/cwt.

At a hoop sale in central Saskatchewan, a smaller bundle of Charolais heifers averaging 610 kilos notched the board at $510/cwt. On the Gladstone public sale, a function sale included black unique steer calves weighing 618 kilos that offered for $609/cwt.

The VJV market report from Dawson Creek included a gaggle of 20 combined steer calves with a imply weight of 585 kilos that traded for $600/cwt.

On the Ponoka sale, a gaggle of 14 Charolais steers evaluated at 510 kilos coming off a food regimen of cows and creep-feed with full preconditioning data traded for $695/cwt.

The Northern Livestock report from Lloydminster included a gaggle of 9 Angus based mostly heifers scaled at 513 kilos that offered for $600/cwt.

Extra markets information: Riding market swings can add farm profit

On December 10, the U.S. Federal Reserve lowered their benchmark rate of interest from the vary of three.75 to 4.00 per cent to three.50 to three.75 per cent. This could improve client spending in 2026 which is able to contribute to stronger beef demand in the course of the spring and summer season.

U.S. feeder cattle placements from June 2025 by October 2025 have been 8.798 million head, down 866,000 head from the identical interval of 2024. Within the second quarter of 2026, the cattle market will probably be contending with stronger demand and decrease cattle provides. This could lead to a seasonal rally for feeder cattle in the course of the spring interval.

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