Week of January 14 - 19, 2008

This information is provided as a resource by Saskatchewan Agriculture staff.  All stated prices are averages. Please use this information at your own risk.
All prices are quoted in Canadian dollars per hundredweight ($/cwt.) unless otherwise stated.

Feeder Cattle

Auction marts reported another slow week, with sales only marginally higher than last week.  Sales were reported at 10,513 head, up from 9,832 the week previous.  Saskatchewan feeder cattle prices were generally down across all levels of steers and heifers, with a few exceptions which were par with last week.  The lower prices are attributed to the continued strengthening of feed prices.  Barley prices are up, with Lethbridge contracts trading for $7 on the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange.  The Canadian dollar was relatively stable, trading between $0.97 and $0.98.

Light weight steers (300-400 lb.) were down $1 per cwt., while steers 400-500 lb. were trading $2 per cwt. lower.  Steers 500-900 lb. experienced a price decrease of $1 per cwt.  Heavy steers (900+ lb.) were unchanged for the week.  Light weight heifers (300-400 lb.) were down $3 per cwt. for the week.  Heifers 400-600 lb. were unchanged last week.  Heifers 600-800 lb. traded lower this week, down $1 per cwt.  Heavy heifers (800+ lb.) traded on par with last week.  The price spread continues to widen, especially with the lighter classes of steers and heifers, as buyers were not willing to pay for poorer quality animals in the current market.  The Saskatchewan/Nebraska basis was $7.36 for the week, slightly better than $7.40 the week previous.

Fed Cattle & Slaughter Cows

Western Canada's fed cattle market was down sharply this week as Alberta-fed steers experienced a price decrease of $2.75 per cwt., and fed heifers were down $2.50 per cwt.  Saskatchewan-fed steers was down $1 per cwt.  Fed cattle exports to the United States were greatly strengthened this week, as 15,057 head moved south, up over 5000 head from 9,813 head the week previous.  D1,2 cows recorded an average price for slaughter cows of $31.23 per cwt., unchanged from the week previous.

For more information contact the Livestock Development Branch:
Craig Klemmer
Livestock Development Specialist
953-2772
cklemmer@agr.gov.sk.ca