Saskatchewan Cattle Report Shows Feeder Steer Prices Were Mixed

There was a drop in the number of cattle moving through the markets in Saskatchewan last week.

 

Canfax reported a total of 19,650 head, down from 24,092 head the week before.

 

Provincial Cattle Specialist Natasha Wilkie says Saskatchewan feeder steer prices were mixed across all weight categories last week.

 

"Inventory deliveries were fairly steady again this past week. Providing some support for some of those guys within a small reprieve in the prices of feed grains. So both Lethbridge barley and feed corn in the US came down a little bit. And then as to why heifers went down last years were mixed, likely a supply demand thing. You know, people were looking for some of those steers and maybe not so much the heifers."

 

Feeder steer prices were mixed across the weight categories when compared to prices reported the previous week. The largest price increase was seen in the 400-500lb weight category, increasing $2.89 per cwt to end the week averaging $254.75 per cwt. The largest price decrease week-over-week was seen in the 700-800lb weight category which declined by $4.71 per cwt to end the week averaging $188.50 per cwt. The 800-900lb weight category ended the week with an average price of $178.10 per cwt. The weekly average steer price, across the reported weight categories, was $216.04 per cwt in Saskatchewan.

 

Saskatchewan feeder heifer prices were lower across all the reported weight categories when compared to prices the previous week. The smallest price decrease was seen in the 500-600lb weight category, decreasing $1.80 per cwt to end the week averaging $197.70 per cwt. The largest price decrease was seen in the 300-400lb weight category, with prices decreasing by $6.40 per cwt to end the week averaging $211.30 per cwt. The 700-800lb weight category ended the week with an average price of $167.30 per cwt. The weekly average heifer price across the reported weight categories was $187.28 per cwt in Saskatchewan.

 

Meantime, the price of D2 slaughter cows saw a price decrease of $0.76 per cwt for an average price of $86.10per cwt, while the price of D3 slaughter cows remained fairly steady down one cent for an average of $76.30 per cwt.