Klassen: Feeder market sees wide price range

For the week ending December 13, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $10 higher to $10 lower compared to seven days earlier.

Overall volumes were lower compared to previous weeks which contributed to the wide price range across the Prairies. Adverse weather and variable quality were also factors influencing the price structure.

Major operations more aggressive on larger packages of pre-conditioned calves at certain locations. However, these cattle are also carrying more flesh at this time of year, which limited the upside. Cattle on feed 180 days or longer appear to be increasing in Western Canada and carcass weights are becoming quite large.

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At the Ponoka sale, a package of 20 mixed heifers with a mean weight of 918 pounds coming off corn silage and light grain ration with processing records (no implants) were last bid at $395/cwt. At the same sale, red mixed steers carrying lower flesh averaging 1,054 pounds off hay diet with health data sold for $428/cwt.

The Vermillion Livestock Exchange market report had a group of 29 Charolais based steers weighing 801 pounds traded for $510/cwt. A cattle producer reported a smaller package of thinner, larger frame, Simmental based heifers carrying medium flesh averaging 805 pounds were valued at $448/cwt at a sale north of Calgary.

At the Killarney sale, a package five black steers scaled at 711 pounds were valued at $505/cwt. At the same auction, a group of 13 Charolais cross heifers averaging 738 pounds dropped the gavel at $435/cwt.

At a ring sale in central Saskatchewan, a smaller package of Charolais heifers averaging 610 pounds notched the board at $510/cwt. At the Gladstone auction, a feature sale included black exotic steer calves weighing 618 pounds that sold for $609/cwt.

The VJV market report from Dawson Creek included a group of 20 mixed steer calves with a mean weight of 585 pounds that traded for $600/cwt.

At the Ponoka sale, a group of 14 Charolais steers evaluated at 510 pounds coming off a diet of cows and creep-feed with full preconditioning records traded for $695/cwt.

The Northern Livestock report from Lloydminster included a group of nine Angus based heifers scaled at 513 pounds that sold for $600/cwt.

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On December 10, the U.S. Federal Reserve lowered their benchmark interest rate from the range of 3.75 to 4.00 per cent to 3.50 to 3.75 per cent. This should enhance consumer spending in 2026 which will contribute to stronger beef demand during the spring and summer.

U.S. feeder cattle placements from June 2025 through October 2025 were 8.798 million head, down 866,000 head from the same period of 2024. In the second quarter of 2026, the cattle market will be contending with stronger demand and lower cattle supplies. This should result in a seasonal rally for feeder cattle during the spring period.