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.

Western Canadian feeder cattle volumes were increased 24 per cent on higher marketings in Alberta, according to Canfax.  Trade in Saskatchewan was down significantly last week, as only 13,602 head went through the auction rings, down 28 per cent from 18,743 head the previous week.  Saskatchewan feeder cattle prices were generally down or steady.  Steers 400-500 lb. traded sharply lower, down $3 per cwt., while 500-600 lb. steers traded steady.  Steers 600-700 lb. was down $1 per cwt., while 700-800 lb steers were unchanged.  Eight hundred to 900 lb. steers traded down $1 per cwt. this week.  Heavy steers (900+ lb.) experienced a $1-per-cwt. increase for the second consecutive week.  Four hundred to 500 lb. heifers were unchanged.  Heifers 500-600 lb. traded $1 per cwt. lower.  Heifers 600-700 lb. traded up $1 per cwt., the sole bright spot in the heifer market.  Heifers 700-800 lb. traded steady last week, while heavy heifers (800+ lb.) experienced a price decrease of $1 per cwt.  The Canadian dollar (noon) traded at an average of US$0.9923 this week, approximately $0.01 higher than last week's average of US$0.9851.  There was a great deal of volatility as the dollar bounced up and down with a low of US$0.9853 and a high of US$0.9979.  The Canfax projected Alberta feeder steer (750 lb.) basis for the nearby May contract is -12.49.

Western Canadian fed cattle prices were relatively unchanged last week, as packer demand remained strong.  Alberta fed steers were unchanged, and heifers were up $0.25 per cwt.  Saskatchewan fed steer prices gave back some of their recent rally, as fed steers dropped $1.50 per cwt.  Sales volume of fed cattle was slightly above 20,000 head, down four per cent from approximately 21,000 head the week previous.  The USDA reported 10,505 head of fed cattle moved into the U.S., steady with the previous week's trade of 10,432 head.  Slaughter cows were down sharply.  D1,2 cows recorded an average price $46.76 per cwt., down $3 per cwt. from $49.81 per cwt. the week previous.  The Saskatchewan/Nebraska cash basis for fed cattle weakened this week to $-5.96 from $-4.69 per cwt. 

Craig Klemmer
Livestock Development Specialist
Telephone:  (306) 953-2772
E-mail:  craig.klemmer@gov.sk.ca