Cattle graze on a pasture in Manitoba’s Interlake in July 2025. Photo: Greg Berg

Klassen: Feeder market softens on weaker demand

For the week ending October 25, Western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $10/cwt below prices from the previous week. Calves in the range of 550 pounds to 850 pounds were down $8 to $12 on average while feeders under 550 pounds were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. U.S. government comments regarding the

  Photo: Thinkstock

Klassen: Feeder market extends rally

Western Canadian yearling prices traded back up to historical highs over the week ended Oct. 18, while calf markets made fresh highs at many locations. Western Canadian yearlings off grass traded $5-$10 higher on average compared to seven days earlier. Steer calves in the weight range of 550-825 pounds traded $8-$12/cwt higher on average while



Photo: File

Klassen: Highs in place for the feeder market

For the week ending October 4, Western Canadian grass yearling markets traded steady to $5-$8/cwt lower on average compared to seven days earlier. Backgrounded yearlings were down $5-$12/cwt. Calf markets were down $5 to $10/cwt from a week earlier. There was an influx of calves over the past week which resulted in the softer tone



Photo: Geralyn Wichers

Klassen: Feeder market slips off record highs

For the week ending September 20, Western Canadian feeder markets traded steady to $5/cwt lower compared to seven days earlier. There were pockets where quality calf packages traded $10-$15/cwt below prices from the prior week. The October feeder cattle futures have been trading at $15/cwt premium to the deferred March 2026 contract. This inverse in


Photo: Canada Beef

Klassen: Feeder market eyes deferred live cattle futures

For the week ending September 13, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. The April 2026 live cattle futures ended the week at $233, down $10 from the contract highs. Nearby feedlot margins remain favorable; however, profitability in the deferred positions has evaporated given the weakness in the deferred

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Klassen: Feeder market consolidates at historical highs

For the week ending September 6, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $525/cwt, up $15/cwt from a week earlier. Using a 60 per cent grading, this equates to a live price of $315/cwt. Current breakeven pen closeout