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Klassen: Feeder Cattle Market Waits For Direction

For the week ending January 31, Western Canadian feeder markets were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier. Adverse weather in southern Alberta may have tempered buying interest for lighter weight calves.  Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $508-$510 per hundredweight delivered, steady to $2/cwt higher than last



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Klassen: Western Canadian calf prices ratchet higher

For the week ending January 24, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $10/cwt lower to $10/cwt higher compared to seven days earlier. The market was quite variable depending on flesh conditions and genetic quality. Prices for backgrounded yearlings or fall placed calves were steady to $5 higher on larger packages on controlled weight gain diets;

A cow in the auction ring at the Gladstone Auction Mart in October 2025.  Photo: Greg Berg

Klassen: Feeder market near historical highs

For the week ending January 17, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5/cwt lower to $10/cwt higher compared to the week ending January 10. The market was quite variable across the Prairies with weather conditions influencing the price structure. Overall, there was very strong demand with Ontario and Southern Alberta feedlots aggressively working to secure


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Klassen: Feeder cattle market starts 2026 with stronger tone

For the week ending January 10, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were up $8-$10/cwt on average compared to three weeks earlier. Strength was noted in backgrounded pre-conditioned replacements weighing 700 pounds plus. Quality genetic packages with full processing were up $20/cwt in some cases. The weather was quite variable and feedlots have experienced above normal

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Klassen: Feeder market poised to strengthen

There were no feeder cattle sales in Western Canada for the week ending January 3. However, there were some sales in the U.S. and the Canadian markets will follow suit once activity returns to normal. For example, at the Ozarks Regional Stockyards in West Plains, Missouri, weaned and vaccinated steers and heifers over 750 pounds



A cow in the auction ring at the Gladstone Auction Mart in October 2025.  Photo: Greg Berg

Klassen: Feeder market closes year on soft tone

For the week ending December 20, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were steady to $10 weaker compared to seven days earlier. For the second week in a row, the price range was quite wide for similar weight cattle. Larger operations were focused on pre-conditioned vaccinated cattle given the adverse weather conditions. The quality of cattle


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Klassen: Feeder market sees wide price range

For the week ending December 13, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $10 higher to $10 lower compared to seven days earlier. Overall volumes were lower compared to previous weeks which contributed to the wide price range across the Prairies. Adverse weather and variable quality were also factors influencing the price structure. Major operations more

A cow in the auction ring at the Gladstone Auction Mart in October 2025.  Photo: Greg Berg

Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes on fed market recovery

For the week ending December 6, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Many cattle feeders on both sides of the border believe that the fed cattle market will trade back up to historical highs in the second quarter of 2026. This positive sentiment along with year-end buying resulted