Week of Oct. 20 – Oct. 24, 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 experienced a significant increase in volume last week as the calf run hit the local markets.  Volume was reported at 50,476 head, a 39-per-cent increase over last week's volume of 19,452 head.  U.S exports slowed significantly this week, with exports reported at 4,436 head, compared to 11,967 head the previous week.

Saskatchewan feeder cattle prices were steady to higher in both the steer and heifer markets.  Steers (300-400 lb.) jumped higher, ending the week $5 per cwt higher, while 400-500 lb. steers posted a modest gain of $1 per cwt.  Steers 500-600 lb. closed $3 per cwt. higher.  Steers 600-700 lb. finished the week up $2 per cwt.  Steers 700-800 lb. closed $1 per cwt. higher.  Steers 800-900 lb. were steady for the week.  Heavy steers (900+ lb.) experienced a modest increase, up $1 per cwt.  Light-weight heifers (300-400 lb.) closed $3 per cwt. higher, regaining last week's losses.  Heifers 400-700 lb. finished the week $2 per cwt. higher.  Heifers 700-800+ lb. closed trading $1 per cwt. higher.  The Canfax projected Alberta 750 lb. feeder steer basis is $-25.32, while the 850 lb. basis is $-27.09.

The loonie continued to slide relative to the greenback last week.  The Canadian dollar (noon) traded on average at US$0.8071, down from the previous week's average of US$0.8479.  The loonie closed below the $0.80 mark on both Thursday and Friday.

Fed Cattle and Slaughter Cows

Western Canadian fed cattle prices experienced a nice boost this week.  Alberta fed steers were $5.25 per cwt. higher, while heifers increased $5.15 per cwt.  Saskatchewan fed steers closed the week $4.85 per cwt. higher.  Sales volumes for the week were reported at just under 17,000 head.  Canadian exports of fed cattle to the U.S. were down sharply this week, declining 23 per cent to 10,701 head, compared to last week's volume of 13,975 head. 

D1,2 cows declined $2 per cwt. this week, reporting an average price of $41.54 per cwt., compared to $43.55 per cwt. the week previous.  The Saskatchewan/Nebraska cash basis for fed cattle weakened this week to $-18.01 from $-16.22 per cwt.

For more information, contact the Livestock Development Branch:

Craig Klemmer
Livestock Development Specialist
953-2772
craig.klemmer@gov.sk.ca