Week of December 3 -- 7, 2007

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

For three consecutive weeks, feeder cattle prices traded steady or slightly higher in both the steer and heifer markets, and across all weight classes in both Alberta and Saskatchewan.   The slight increase in cattle prices is primarily due to a stronger export market and a marginally weaker dollar.  Saskatchewan auction markets' sales were up again this week, with 35,366 head moving through the ring, up from last week's 33,914 head.  Light weight steers (300-400 lb.) were up $3 per cwt., while steers 400-600 lb. were marginally higher: $1 per cwt.  Steers 600-700 lb. experienced a price increase of $2 per cwt.  Steers 700- 800 lb. were up $1 per cwt., while 800-900 weight steers were unchanged.  Heavy steers (900+ lb.) saw the largest price increase, with gains of $4 per cwt.  Light weight heifers (300-400 lb.) were unchanged for the week.  Heifers 400-600 lb. traded $2 per cwt. higher.  Six hundred-700 lb. heifers experienced the greatest gains in the heifer market this week: trading up $3 per cwt.  Heifers 700-800 lb. traded $2 per cwt. higher for the second consecutive week, while heavy heifers (800+ lb.) traded $1 per cwt. higher this week. 

Fed Cattle & Slaughter Cows

Western Canada's fed cattle market experienced a price decrease, halting the trend of price gains over the past couple of weeks.  Saskatchewan fed steers experienced a price decrease of $0.25 per cwt.  Fed cattle exports to the United States were weaker this week, with 17,365 head moving south, down from 19,334 head the previous week.  D1,2 cows values remained relatively flat for the third consecutive week, with the average price of slaughter cows being $30.94 per cwt.

Bred Heifers, Bred Cows & Cow/Calf Pairs

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