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Prices of Saskatchewan feeder steers and heifers were mostly down compared to prices from earlier this month, according to the Cattle Market Update for the week ending May 23.
Feeder steer prices were available in all but the 700-800 pound weight category and all the heifer weight categories reported prices from last week. Both had double-digit decreases compared to the most recent prices reported in the week ending May 2.
Livestock Intern at the Ministry of Agriculture Emily Schmidt says it's due to the ongoing seasonal decline of feeder cattle going to market as producers are getting ready to move them out to pasture for the summer. She also says cattle could be sent to market earlier than usual in the fall, if moisture conditions across the Prairies don't improve throughout the summer.
The largest decrease among steers was in the 300-400 pound category of $68.33 to an average price of $591.17 per cwt, while the largest increase was in the 800-900 pound steer weight category of $5. 36 to an average price of $401.50 per cwt. For heifers, the largest decrease for the month was in the 400-500 pound category of $39.65 to an average of $523.33 per cwt.
Canfax reported 2,536 head of feeder cattle marketed for the week ending May 23, down from the previous week's 2,789 head marketed and lower than the number of cattle marketed the same week last year of 3,451 head. To date, 172,997 head of feeder cattle have been marketed, up four per cent from 2024.
Cattle prices in Alberta were up compared to the previous week, the reported noted. The price of D2 slaughter cows were up $1.16 to $228.25 per cwt and D3 slaughter cows were also up 62 cents to $205.87 per cwt. Alberta fed steers were also up by $1.70 to $299.55 per cwt. It's also above prices from the same week a year ago when it was $260.28 per cwt.
Live cattle futures rebounded after dipping the previous week. The June contract increased by $3.57 to close Friday at $215.80 per cwt and the August contract increased by $3.70 per cwt to close at $210.45 per cwt.
Feeder cattle futures were mixed; May feeder cattle futures decreased $1.39 to close Friday at $295.46 per cwt, but the August feeder cattle futures price increased by $2.77 to $300.37 per cwt.
This is the last Cattle Market Update as the summer break commences.
