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Cattle Market Update Week of March 10 – March 14, 2008This 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' volume of cattle was down sharply this week, with approximately 4,000 fewer head of cattle entering the ring. This week's trade was 18,294 head, down from the previous week's 22,008 head. Saskatchewan feeder cattle prices were mixed in both the steer and heifer markets. Light weight steers (300-400 lb.) traded higher this week, up $1 per cwt. Steers 400-500 lb. were down $3 per cwt. Steers 500-800 lb. declined again this week, down $2 per cwt. Eight hundred to 900 lb. steers were down $1 per cwt, while heavy steers (900+ lb.) reported a $2 per cwt. decline in price. Light weight heifers (300-400 lb.) were up $1 per cwt. Heifers 400-500 lb. traded down $1 per cwt., while heifers 500-600 lb. were unchanged. Heifers 600-700 lb. were down $2 per cwt. Heifers 700-800 reported an increase of $1 per cwt., building on last week's gains, while heavy heifers (800+) were down $1 per cwt. Cash barley prices were relatively unchanged this week, with the average cash price of feed barley for Lethbridge delivery being approximately $216 per tonne, while delivery to the par region (Saskatoon delivery) was approximately $185 per tonne. The Canadian dollar was relatively unchanged again this week at US$1.016 from US$1.008. Canfax projected basis for the nearby April 2008 contract is -15.20.
Fed Cattle & Slaughter Cows In Western Canada, the fed cattle market was lower. Alberta fed cattle prices fell $0.55 per cwt. for steers and $0.90 per cwt. for heifers. Saskatchewan fed cattle were down $1.25 per cwt. for fed steers. Sales volume of fed cattle was approximately 20,000 head. According to the USDA, there were 17,793 fed cattle exported to the United States, down from 18,048 the week previous. D1,2 cows recorded an average price for slaughter cows of $44.53 per cwt., unchanged from $44.39 per cwt. the week previous. The Saskatchewan/Nebraska basis for fed cattle declined to $-6.20 from $-5.62 per cwt. For more information contact the Livestock Development Branch: |
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