Daily Cattle Report

Monday February 8, 2010

Slaughter Report Last updated February 8, 2010

Feeder Report Last updated February 8, 2010

Alberta Cattle Industry Market Report

Alberta direct cattle sales on Friday saw no new trade to report. Prices last week were significantly higher on the rail but heavy weights pressured live bids lower. Business this week is not expected until Wednesday.

Last Week

Live

Rail

Steers

73.80-76.70

126.50-130.85

Heifers

76.50-77.50

126.50-130.85


In the cow and bull trade in Northern Alberta on Friday:

D1, D2 cows

D3 cows

Bulls

38.00-47.00

n/a

45.00-63.00

US Trade

The U.S. trade last week saw prices 1.00 higher with late trade up to 87.00 in the South. Asking prices this week are higher at around 89.00-90.00 in the South and 142.00+ in the North. Trade is not expected until later in the week.

Last Week

Live

Choice Steers

84.00-87.00

Choice Heifers

84.00-87.00

Canadian Dollar

The Canadian dollar at 8:30 this morning was trading at 93.50, up 0.30.

Chicago Mercantile Exchange

On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, in midsession trade, live cattle futures are as follows:

February

April

June

87.55, +0.12

90.82, +0.42

88.40, +0.30

Replacement Trade

Information provided on this report is supplied by various auction markets throughout Alberta. In reference to the following prices, producers are reminded to check with individual markets on current prices and trends. Prices quoted include top quality cattle only.

Feeder and stocker prices in Northern Alberta on Friday:

Steers

Heifers

900+

86.00-93.00

78.00-86.00

800-900

90.00-98.00

82.00-90.00

700-800

94.00-101.00

85.00-93.00

600-700

98.00-108.00

86.00-95.00

500-600

102.00-118.00

90.00-102.00

400-500

112.00-125.00

92.00-107.00

300-400

112.00-125.00

95.00-107.00


Bred Cow

Bred Heifers

Cow/Calf Pairs

n/a

n/a

n/a


All information sourced from Statistics Canada, Alberta Agriculture and CanFax

Canfax Weekly Article

The commodity sector continued to struggle this week, which held the Canadian dollar under $0.94 for most of the week. Fed prices responded and live trade for the most part was steady with the previous week. Steers averaged $77.32/cwt, up $0.70/cwt compared to the previous week, while heifers traded $1.70 higher and averaged $77.56/cwt. Sale volumes of around 19,299 head were 19% smaller than last week. The cash to futures basis weakened to -15.46 compared to -14.68 last week. USDA fed export volumes for the week ending January 23rd were 18% higher than the previous week at 11,752 head, but 18% lower than this week last year. Feeder steer prices for Alberta averaged $0.70 higher and the average feeder heifer price was up $0.60. Alberta auction market volumes were just over 35,700 head, up 12% from the previous week. YTD auction volumes were 10% higher than this week last year at around 148,000 head. D1,D2 cow prices were $3.85/cwt higher this week to average $46.74/cwt. Butcher bulls traded $2.05 higher and averaged $54.83/cwt. Bred cows prices strengthened to average $703.33 and heifers averaged $931.25. Pair volumes continue seasonally to be too small to report. Nearby barley futures at Thursday’s close were up $1.50 to finish the week off at $149.50/tonne. This week the Canadian live steer price to Choice cutout value was 51.96%, slightly higher than last week.

Bull factors

  • Firmer live cattle futures.

  • Low feeder cost of gain.

  • Reduced Northwest US fed supply and production due to cold wet conditions.

Bear factors

  • Packer fed Inventories are increasing.

  • Increasing supplies of competing meats due to US poultry trade disruptions.

  • American fed marketings being deferred into spring.

For more detailed information on markets this week please visit the NEW Canfax website www.canfax.ca.

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