For the week ending November 8, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $10-$20/cwt below values from seven days earlier. Some packages weighing from 600 to 850 pounds were down as much as $30 from week-ago levels. The April live cattle futures fell $10/cwt over the course of the week while Alberta barley prices gained $5-$8/cwt. Feedlot operators exhibited a cautious tone and certain owners said they would remain on the sidelines until the market stabilized.
The TEAM auction report had a group of Angus cross heifers averaging 975 pounds coming off grass diet with full herd health data valued at $425/cwt fob ranch near Maple Creek for immediate delivery. In central Alberta, a cattle producer reported a mid-sized group of larger frame Simmental cross steers off grass weighing averaging 1,000 pounds traded for $460/cwt fob farm. Yearlings off grass at this time of year are hard to come by.
Related: Alberta ranch family outlasts droughts
Read Also
U.S. grains: Soybeans rise on China demand hopes; corn and wheat rebound
Chicago Board of Trade soybean, corn and wheat futures rose on Monday on signs of progress towards the end of a record-long U.S. government shutdown, along with expectations of a revival of U.S. soybean exports to China, analysts said.
At the Killarney sale, a smaller package of Charolais cross steer calves averaging 816 pounds sold for $499/cwt. At the Ste Rose Auction Mart, a group of 14 black and red heifers averaging 816 pounds traded for $437/cwt.
The Meadow Lake market report had a group of 11 tan steer calves weighing 741 pounds selling for $498/cwt. At the Ponoka sale, a group of tan steers off cows and grass with full processing records averaging 706 pounds traded for $538/cwt. The report also had Charolais heifers with a mean weight of 681 pounds notching the board at $502/cwt.
North of Calgary, a cattle producer reported a group of black, wide-frame Limousin cross, short-weaned, steers averaging 650 pounds traded for $570/cwt. The Gladstone market report included a group of red and black steers evaluated at 594 pounds selling for $632/cwt and a smaller package of black heifers scaled at 573 pounds trading hands at $550/cwt.
The TEAM auction report had a group of 105 red and black steers with a mean weight of 550 pounds with full processing records (no implants) coming straight off their mothers valued at $630/cwt fob ranch near Minton, Saskatchewan.
North of Calgary, a smaller package of mixed heifers averaging 525 pounds coming off cows and grass with health data apparently sold for $588/cwt. The Meadow Lake market report had a group of 23 black steers weighing 399 pounds valued at $822/cwt.
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $493-$495/cwt delivered. Live prices were quoted in the range of $292-$296/cwt fob feedlot in Southern Alberta. Current breakeven pen closeout values are at $297/cwt so margins are moving into negative territory. Feedlot margins are deep in red ink for March and April 2026 based on Fridays live cattle futures close.
