🐂 Fed Cattle: Volume Down, Prices Mixed
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Auction volume dropped sharply with only 94 fed steers and heifers sold — down 798 head from last week and 412 fewer than the same week last year.
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Fed steers averaged $250.79/cwt, down $18.70 from last week but still nearly $10 stronger than last year.
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Fed heifers averaged $258.79/cwt, down $11.25 on the week, but up $21.04 from last year.
📉 Ontario Bidding Activity
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No live bids reported in Ontario this week.
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Eastern Canadian processing (week ending March 29) was 24% higher than the same week last year and 4% above the 5-year average.
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Year-to-date (YTD):
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Heifer processing up 8%
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Steers and cows down 2%
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Bulls down 36%
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🇺🇸 U.S. Export & Processing Update
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Eastern Canada sent 4,551 head of fed cattle and cows to the U.S. (week ending March 22) — that’s 59% morethan last year.
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YTD exports to the U.S. are up 57%.
🐄 Cull Cow Market: Supply Light, Prices Strong
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Cull cow receipts: 1,478 head, down 628 from last week and 269 from a year ago.
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Average price: $160.32/cwt, down $2.28, but still $18.41 higher than last year.
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Beef cows climbed slightly to $171.16/cwt, up $0.65 on the week and nearly $19 stronger than last year.
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April 2 sale saw strong pricing despite smaller runs caused by poor weather and tariff-related uncertainty.
🐄📈 Stocker & Feeder Cattle: Big Jump in Supply & Prices
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4,086 stockers sold — 540 more than last week and nearly 1,000 more than last year.
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Demand remained high, with prices increasing across all categories.
🔹 Steer Price Changes (Week-over-Week):
| Weight (lbs) | Price Change |
|---|---|
| 400–500 | +$25.96/cwt |
| 500–600 | +$20.02/cwt |
| 600–700 | +$14.73/cwt |
| 700–800 | +$10.58/cwt |
| 800–900 | +$5.96/cwt |
| 900–1000 | +$2.40/cwt |
| Over 1000 | -$0.68/cwt |
🔹 Heifer Price Changes:
| Weight (lbs) | Price Change |
|---|---|
| 300–400 | +$7.64/cwt |
| 400–500 | +$49.97/cwt |
| 500–600 | +$31.51/cwt |
| 600–700 | +$21.40/cwt |
| 700–800 | +$22.82/cwt |
| 800–900 | +$26.99/cwt |
| Over 900 | +$16.97/cwt |
🚛 Feeder Exports to the U.S.
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Week ending March 22: 588 head exported
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32% below last year
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Still 16% above the 5-year average
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YTD feeder exports are down 20%
🌾 Western Canada & U.S. Market Notes
Alberta:
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Fed steers & heifers hit record highs over $280/cwt
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Dressed sales: $455–$460/cwt
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U.S. buyers active, offering $285–$292/cwt FOB feedlot
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Fed processing (March 29): 38,468 head, up 15.6% from last year
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Alberta cash-to-futures basis: -12.45/cwt, improved $9.46 from previous week
U.S. Market:
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Iowa/Nebraska dressed: $332–$345/cwt (steady)
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Live prices:
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Iowa/Nebraska: $213/cwt (steady)
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Texas/Kansas: $209–210/cwt (steady to $1 weaker)
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Fed Cattle Exchange: Sales limited; South bids around $210–212/cwt
Tariffs & Trade:
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April 2: U.S. announced reciprocal tariffs on other nations
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Canadian cattle/beef exports remain exempt under CUSMA
🐖 Hogs & Feed Outlook
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US hog inventory (March 1): 74.5 million head, slightly below last year
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Corn planting (2025): Projected at 95.3 million acres (+4.7 million from 2024)
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Barley acres continue to decline, now at 2.3 million acres
🧀 US Cutout Trends
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Choice beef: Up 2.3% to $335.72/cwt (new annual high)
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Select beef: Up 3.3% to $319.44/cwt
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Trim/grind summary:
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73% ground: +5.7%
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90% trim: steady
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50% trim: -9.5% (softening)
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