Week of February 18 – February 22, 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

Saskatchewan auction marts reported weaker trading this week.  Sales volumes were reported at 16,851 head, down from 19,107 head the previous week.  Saskatchewan feeder cattle prices were generally higher in both the steer and heifer markets.  Light weight steers (300-400 lb.) traded lower, down $4 per cwt.  Steers 400-700 lb. traded $2 per cwt. higher.  Steers 700-800 lb. steers reported gains of $1 per cwt.  Eight hundred to 900 lb. steers and heavy steers (900+ lb.) reported a slightly higher price, trading up $1 per cwt.  Light weight heifers (300-400 lb.) were up $2 per cwt. for the second consecutive week.  Heifers 400-500 lb. were higher again this week, trading up $1 per cwt.  Heifers 500-600 lb. traded up $2 per cwt. for the third consecutive week.  Heifers 600-700 lb. traded $1 per cwt. higher.  Heifers 700-800 lb. and heavy heifers (800+) were up $2 per cwt.  The average cash price of feed barley for Lethbridge delivery was $205/tonne.  The Canadian dollar was relatively unchanged this week at US$0.9869 from US$1.0.  The Saskatchewan/Nebraska basis weakened this week to $9.18 from $7.42 per cwt.

Fed Cattle & Slaughter Cows
Western Canada's fed cattle market was slightly higher last week, as Saskatchewan steers were up $1.25 per cwt. for the second straight week.  Fed cattle exports to the United States were slightly higher this week, as 19,883 head moved south compared to 18,807 head the week previous.  D1,2 cows recorded an average price for slaughter cows of $39.53 per cwt., up from $37.79 per cwt. the week previous.

Bred Heifers, Bred Cows & Cow/Calf Pairs

The Saskatchewan feeder cattle market is well below last year's prices in today's dollars.  If one converts the prices into 2007 dollars, prices are relatively unchanged from this time last year.  Currently, the United States/Canada exchange rate is approximately at par.  This time last year the exchange rate was approximately $0.86.

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