Genetic quality appeared to influence the market on a larger scale for feeders under 700 pounds. Medium to larger frame preconditioned calves appeared to trade steady to $10 higher on average but “run of the mill” bawlers were steady to $10 lower. If feeders had more risk on feed efficiencies or health, the market priced these cattle with appropriate discounts.

• For more livestock market content, visit the Western Producer Markets Desk

The TEAM market report included a group of 305 black steers with a mean weight of 1,000 pounds on barley, silage and supplement diet with full herd health records including implants sold for $455/cwt fob farm near Allan, Sask.

Northwest of Saskatoon, a pen-sized group of medium to larger frame mixed steers averaging 910 pounds, carrying various butter levels, on barley and silage diet with full processing records traded for $470 fob farm. South of Edmonton, a half-pen of larger frame Angus cross heifers on rolled barley and barley silage diet, with full processing and implants, averaging 875 pounds traded for $464 fob farm.

At the Ste. Rose auction, a smaller package of red mixed steers averaging 826 pounds traded for $507. At the same sale, a 10-pack of red and black heifers evaluated at 826 pounds sold for $459/cwt. In Ponoka, a group of eight lower flesh, 810-pound Simmental cross steers on barley and silage diet for two weeks, with full processing records traded for $525/cwt.

The Vermilion Livestock Exchange reported that five tan steers scaled at 723 pounds traded for $573/cwt. Fourteen tan heifers averaging 737 pounds dropped the gavel at $515/cwt.

The VJV report from Rimbey included a group of 14 mixed steer calves weighing 611 pound coming off a diet of cereal silage, chopped hay and oats, with full processing data were last bid at $655/cwt. In central Alberta, a producer reported at group of mixed weaned heifers averaging 620 pounds with full preconditioning records on silage and limited rolled barley exited the ring at $620/cwt.

• More livestock coverage: Beef industry warns research cuts will set sector back for decades

At the Vermilion sale, a six-pack of 550 pound tans steers traded for $734/cwt and 11 red-white-face 500 pound steers sold for $768/cwt.

At the Ste. Rose, Man. auction, a pair of red and black steers weighing 432 pounds silenced the crowd at $842/cwt. The volume of calves under 550 pounds was limited across the Prairies, which made the market hard to define.

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a live basis at $325/cwt fob feedlot in the Lethbridge area. The breakeven price on these finished cattle is around $355/cwt. This is the fifth consecutive month of negative margins for Alberta feedlots.

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A Canadian beef quality audit conducted 10 years ago pegged the annual cost at $61 million. But that figure did not account for hidden losses like reduced growth efficiency, increased feed costs and added carcass trim. Modelled against more recent U.S. research (Taylor et al. 2025), the real number could be closer to $250 million.

“The important thing was that most of the losses that were associated with that number were before slaughter. So these are your increased energy maintenance,” said Rob Gruninger of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Alberta Beef Producers’ annual beef research showcase at the University of Lethbridge.

“A pen that has 20 per cent animals with liver abscesses will have four per cent increased maintenance energy cattle with A-plus liver.”

The per-animal loss ranges from $11 to $275, depending on severity. A-plus livers — severely abscessed with multiple small abscesses — carry the heaviest penalty, while A-minus livers with one or two small abscesses reduce carcass weight by roughly 29 pounds.

The detection problem

One of the biggest challenges is that liver abscesses are nearly invisible until slaughter. Cattle rarely show clinical signs unless severely impaired, and ultrasounds have proven ineffective at capturing the entire liver. Researchers hope a blood-based test using gene expression will soon fill that gap.

“If there was a way to identify it earlier, better (feed) management decisions would be great,” said Gruninger. “The closest thing I’ve seen in data related to that is the beef-on-dairy. Those animals are on feed for an extra 100 days relative to an Angus cow, and you see significantly higher rates of abscesses.”

What drives the condition

Industry estimates put incidence rates at 10 to 30 per cent across North America, with Canada on the higher end. Steers are more susceptible than heifers. More days on feed and more digestible diets both raise the risk. Dairy cattle have higher rates than beef cattle, with summer months worse than winter. Diets heavy on wheat and barley produce higher rates than corn or sorghum, and silage outpaces hay.

“The currently accepted theory of how liver abscess is developed is that it’s related to acidosis, and so the consumption of highly fermentable diets results in the rapid production of volatile fatty acids,” said Gruninger. “The rumen is only able to absorb those acids at a certain rate. So if you’re producing more acid than the animal is able to use for growth, then the pH of the rumen is going to decrease.”

When pH drops far enough for long enough, the rumen wall can be damaged, allowing gut bacteria into the bloodstream — a condition known as ruminitis. Those bacteria travel through the portal vein to the liver, where they can colonize and form infections. Emerging research also points to hind gut acidosis and epithelial damage in the cecum and colon as another possible entry point.

The core bacteria found in abscessed livers are Fusobacterium and Bacteroides. Both exist in healthy livers too, but at lower levels — meaning the triggering factors, including diet, stress and days on feed, are what tip the balance.

Growing pressure on antibiotics

Tylosin is the primary feed additive used to reduce liver abscesses, cutting incidence by 30 to 35 per cent without affecting gain. But federal pressure to reduce antimicrobial use in livestock is mounting, and Gruninger stressed the industry needs alternatives in case Tylosin is eventually banned.

Current approaches — more fibre and forage, yeast products, direct-fed microbials, essential oils and a dated fusobacterium-specific vaccine — have shown inconsistent or inconclusive results.

Gruninger recommended reducing chronic pen overcrowding, avoiding disruptions during diet transitions, choosing grains carefully and managing days on feed — all in combination with Tylosin until a better option emerges.

“I think the most feasible would be, ‘Could we figure out how to make a vaccine that works well enough that is cost effective and makes sense to use’?” he said. “Maybe targeting more than just fusobacteria.”

Why the cost is likely climbing

With beef cattle being pushed to greater finishing weights and more days on feed in recent years, the economic impact has almost certainly grown. Producers in the audience hypothesized the real cost may be five times the figures from a decade ago.

“The goal of the research is can we find some other (effective) ways,” said Gruninger.

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Beef prices set records this year after the nation’s cattle supply dropped to a 75-year low, leading to record prices for meatpackers such as JBS to buy cattle to slaughter, despite benefiting from the climbing prices.

WHY IT MATTERS: The strike at JBS’s Greely, Colorado site has weighed, somewhat, on U.S. beef prices.

The union representing about 3,800 plant workers said the new round of talks would resume on April 9 and 10 after last month’s strike to press for wages that reflect inflation and a halt to company charges for replacing protective equipment.

“Workers remain united and will continue to fight until JBS fully ends its unfair labor practices,” said Kim Cordova, president of the local union representing the Greeley workers.

It is calling for a contract offer that protects workers, shows them the respect they deserve, and pays them a livable wage, he added in a statement.

There had been no new deal or change to the original offer, a JBS spokesperson told Reuters.

“We are pleased to welcome our team members back and are preparing to resume and ramp up operations at the Greeley plant next week,” the spokesperson added in an email.

The strike dealt a blow to U.S. processing capacity, after Tyson Foods closed a beef plant in Nebraska this year and reduced operations at a Texas facility.

The dispute with the workers, represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union, comes as meatpackers typically seek to boost efficiency by running plants at peak capacity to offset hefty running costs.

— Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan and Chandni Shah in Bengaluru

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Backgrounded replacements were down $3-$6/cwt on average with fleshier groups dropping as much as $6-$10/cwt. Calves were quite variable across the Prairies due to limited numbers. There was strong demand for grassers, especially in Central Alberta.

Ontario buying interest was noted at certain locations, which lifted overall average values at those specific auctions. Some larger finishing operators were quiet last week. All these factors resulted in a wide price range.

For daily livestock futures updates, visit the Western Producer Markets Desk

At the VJV sale in Ponoka, a pen-size group of lower flesh mixed steers averaging 933 pounds coming off a diet of barley and corn silage with full processing data sold for $469/cwt. Another feature from this location included a group of Charolais cross heifers, scaled at 862 pounds on rolled barley and corn silage diet with full processing data, that were bid at $455/cwt.

The TEAM market report included 68 Angus Simmental cross steers with a mean weight of 880 pounds coming off a diet of diet of barley, corn silage and mineral package with full veterinary data but no implants sold for $481/cwt fob farm near Pierson, Manitoba.

The Lloydminster sale results included a smaller package of red steers weighing 709 pounds dropping the gavel at $589. At the same location, a package of 34 Angus based heifers evaluated at 717 pounds traded for $515/cwt.

More cattle coverage: Canadian Cattle Association won’t back traceability changes

At the Ste. Rose auction, a small package of red mixed steers averaging 631 pounds traded for $607 and five Charolais heifers weighing 651 pounds sold for $557/cwt. The Killarney market report included at group of black steers (no implants) with a mean weight of 655 pounds sold for $614/cwt.

North of Calgary, a farmer reported that short-weaned Simmental mixed steers, averaging 520 pounds with full preconditioning, sold for $755 at a ring sale. In Westlock, a six-pack of Charolais cross Angus heifers averaging 530 pounds on hay diet with all natural description sold for $630/cwt.

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $540/cwt, unchanged from last week. Live sales fob feedlot in Southern Alberta were quoted at $322/cwt. Breakeven fed cattle prices for April on a live basis are in the range of $350-$355/cwt.

Feed barley was trading in the Lethbridge area in the range of $305-$310/tonne delivered while imported U.S. corn was quoted at $300-$305/tonne. Feed barley prices appear to have further upside potential.

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“After extensive producer engagement and input from provincial beef organizations, the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) does not support proceeding with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) currently proposed amendments to Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations (Identification and Traceability),” the organization said in a post to social media on Monday.

It added that it supports livestock traceability for disease preparedness, market access and confidence in the beef sector. The association said it and provincial groups will convene a task force “to work for producers on a risk-based, industry-led approach to disease preparedness and emergency management.”

The stance comes after outcry from beef producers across Canada earlier this year, who expressed concerns about “government overreach” and burdensome regulation.

The changes, which included reporting animal move-ins within seven days and more robust requirements around premise identification numbers and required reporting, were first intended to roll out this spring. The Canadian Food Inspection said in January that it would pause the publication of proposed amendments after hearing producer concerns.

The proposed regulations are aligned with the industry-led Cattle Implementation Plan, which was established by all sectors of industry at the National Cattle Traceability Summit in August 2011 and adopted in 2016.

On Jan. 9, CCA president Tyler Fulton posted a message to social media platform X, noting those concerns from membership.

“Be assured the Canadian Cattle Association has and will continue to advocate for a traceability system that works for ranchers and feeders and beef farmers,” he said.

He added, however, that being able to. move quickly to disease threats is key to the beef sector’s business.

“Given the Canadian cattle industry’s reliance on export markets, we need to be prepared and have the tools available to manage animal disease events quickly and efficiently,” he said in the same post.

—With files from Janelle Rudolph

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The company, whose products include beef, poultry and pork, posted a net profit of $415 million (C$574.8 million) for the October-December period, up 0.5 per cent from a year earlier but slightly below the $428 million forecast by analysts polled by LSEG.

JBS said tighter cattle supplies in the United States have driven up livestock costs and squeezed margins in its North American beef division, its largest business by revenue.

Chief Executive Gilberto Tomazoni told Reuters the U.S. cattle supply outlook would remain challenging this year because of the current downturn in the livestock cycle. The company also faces a labor strike at a Colorado plant.

“We don’t think there will be any significant change this year in U.S. cattle supply. It will continue to be a difficult year for us,” he said, adding that strong customer demand could help offset some of the pressure.

North American beef still better than expected

Analysts said despite the pressures on the business, the results from JBS’ North American beef division were better than expected, including the year-over-year margin compression.

“This reflects resilient U.S. demand and disciplined cost management, even as cattle prices remained high,” analysts at JPMorgan wrote.

Santander analysts said they believed tailwinds from derivatives contracts helped to offset elevated U.S. cattle prices, and noted beef demand remained strong despite higher prices.

JBS shares were little changed in after-hours trading. In a separate statement, the firm announced dividends of $1 per share.

JBS’ total adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) fell seven per cent to $1.72 billion (C$2.38 billion), but above analysts’ forecasts of $1.56 billion. The adjusted EBITDA margin fell 1.8 percentage points to 7.4 per cent.

Net revenue rose 15 per cent to a record $23.06 billion (C$31.94 billion), topping analysts’ estimate of $22.38 billion, helped by record sales in its North American and Brazilian beef operations.

Logistics costs and China’s measures

Tomazoni said the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran had increased logistics costs, but he said trade flows remained open and the firm has not seen impacts on protein demand in the Persian Gulf. JBS’ three factories in the Middle East are working normally, he added.

JBS, like other beef exporting companies, also faces restrictions in 2026 on expanding shipments to China, as the Asian country has implemented curbs, including quotas and tariffs, on beef imports from key supplier nations.

He said in Brazil’s case, the country will have to place the volumes that do not go to China in other markets, adding domestic sales could partially offset the impact of the restrictions.

— Additional reporting by Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru

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Backgrounded replacements were quite variable with sharper discounts noted on fleshier groups. The heifer discount to steers appeared to be wider in some cases but it was largely based on quality features. Calves may have been slightly softer this week but larger groups under 600 pounds were hard to find. Smaller packages of calves around 500 pounds were down $10-$15/cwt on average.

For daily cattle and livestock price updates, visit the Western Producer Market Desk

The TEAM auction report included a group of 60 larger frame black steers with a mean weight of 1,025 pounds being fed eight pounds of barley and silage ration on the full herd health program that sold for $451/cwt fob farm near Saskatoon. At the Ste. Rose auction, a smaller package of mixed steers weighing 894 pounds sold for $480/cwt.

Northern Livestock Sales in Lloydminster reported a smaller package of Simmental based heifers averaging 842 pounds that traded for $460/cwt. At the VJV sale in Ponoka, a group of 82 tan mixed steers averaging 850 pounds on barley and corn silage diet with full processing records and implants traded for $514/cwt.

The VJV market report from Westlock included a smaller package of Simmental Charolais cross steers evaluated at 709 pounds being fed silage and hay on full herd health program dropped the gavel at $574/cwt. At the sale in Killarney, an eight-pack of 727 pound black heifers traded for $456/cwt.

North of Calgary, a smaller package of Angus cross short-weaned heifers with a mean weight of 615 pounds coming off a diet of hay and silage with full processing traded for $605 at a ring sale, a farmer reported. Northwest of Saskatoon, a group of Charolais cross weaned steers averaging 680 pounds with full preconditioning records on a diet of silage and pellets were valued at $680/cwt fob farm.

More cattle coverage: What makes good beef? Global study reveals surprising answers about meat quality

At the Killarney sale, a nine-pack of Charolais steers weighing 555 pounds sold for $656/cwt and a four-pack of the same genetics averaging 482 pounds notched the board at $735/cwt. The Vermilion Livestock Exchange reported a three-pack of British blended steers weighing 515 pounds that sold for $752/cwt.

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $540/cwt delivered, up from the range of $525-$538/cwt a week earlier. Feedlot margins have improved but remain in negative territory which is limiting the upside for feeder cattle prices. Feed barley was trading in the Lethbridge area in the range of $295-$305/tonne delivered, up $30-$40/tonne from mid February.

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Live cattle gave up some of Tuesday’s gains before settling slightly higher, with a meatpacking plant on strike and dry weather and fires in Nebraska further tightening historically low cattle numbers.

CBOT corn futures climbed on Wednesday following crude oil prices, which rose more than five per cent on Wednesday after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to attack several energy facilities across the Middle East, heightening the risk of further disruptions to energy supplies in the region.

Strength in crude oil is seen as supportive given corn’s role as a feedstock for ethanol. However, rising corn prices also makes feeding cattle more expensive, supporting feeder cattle futures, according to Karl Setzer, co-founder of ConsusAg Consulting.

Meanwhile, workers have gone on strike at a large JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colorado, which is likely to reduce U.S. beef production at a time when consumers face record prices for beef.

CME April live cattle settled 0.175 cents higher at 235.4 cents per pound. April feeders finished down 1.075 cents at 358.725 cents per pound.

Meanwhile, dry weather and fires in pasturelands of Nebraska could displace tens of thousands of head of cattle and spur ranchers to slaughter parts of the herd they have been working to rebuild, according to analysts.

Beef packer margins rose to $142.15 per head on Wednesday, up from gains of $128.90 on Tuesday, and losses of $10.45 a week ago, according to livestock marketing advisory service HedgersEdge.

CME lean hog futures LHJ26 ended up 0.025 cent at 93.75 cents per pound.

— Reporting by Renee Hickman

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Weakness in the nearby and deferred live cattle prices along with strength in the barley market resulted in a negative tone for the overall feeder complex. Feedlot margins have deteriorated in the short-term which contributed to the defensive tone amongst buyers.

Get daily livestock markets updates at the Western Producer Markets Desk.

On March 12, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $525-$530/cwt delivered, down from last week’s average price $538/cwt. On a live basis, this would equates to $315-$318/cwt. Breakeven fed cattle prices are currently in the range of $330-$340/cwt.

The TEAM auction market report included a group of 67 black Angus cross steers carrying lighter flesh, averaging 925 pounds with full processing records and implants coming off a diet of four pounds of wheat and corn silage that sold for $468/cwt fob ranch near Vauxhall.

At the Ponoka sale, 28 tan heifers with a mean weight of 894 pounds coming off a diet of seven pounds of barley and silage and full processing records included traded for $444/cwt. In Westlock, a group of eight Angus cross heifers averaging 802 pounds on a diet of free choice hay and five pounds of pellets with full processing data traded for $489/cwt.

The Vermillion Livestock Exchange reported a group of 15 black steers on the card at 714 pounds exited the ring at $590/cwt. This compares to the Killarney sale, where a group of 21 black steers weighing 713 pounds were last bid at $569/cwt and a smaller package of black heifers averaging 716 pounds silenced the crowd at $504/cwt.

The Lloydminster market report included a six-pack of Charolais cross steers scaled at 611 pounds that sold for $700/cwt. At the same location, a group of Angus blended heifers weighing 601 pounds traded for $577/cwt.

More livestock coverage: High prices, tight supply: A profitable 2026 for cattle

Lighter weight calves were quite variable across the Prairies. At the Ste. Rose auction, a group of 17 Charolais steers evaluated 521 pounds notched the board at $727/cwt. This compares to the Lloydminster sale were a group of eight Charolais based steers weighing 521 pounds dropped the gavel at $765/cwt.

On March 12, wholesale choice beef was trading at US$397/cwt, up US$10/cwt from the prior week while select product was quoted at US$390/cwt, also reflecting a week-over-week gain of US$10/cwt.

Beef demand will be key to sustaining the current prices structure for fed and feeder cattle. For fall delivery, 1,000 pound steers off grass were quoted in the range of $475-$485/cwt relatively unchanged from three weeks earlier.

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