Saskatchewan cattle producers continue to enjoy solid prices.

Canfax’s Cattle Market Update for the week ending November 8th shows most feeder steer and feeder heifer prices were on the rise again. Only the 700-800 pound steers (down $2.19) and the 400-500 pound heifers (down $0.25) reported week-over-week decreases. The largest increase, meanwhile, for the feeder steers was in the 400-500 pound category by $16.62 to $509.50 per cwt for the week ending November 8th. The biggest increase for the feeder heifers was in the 300-400 pound category of $9.83 to a price of $467.33 per cwt.

Overall, this is an improvement for the feeder steers when comparing prices from the week ending November 1st, while the upward trend continues for the heifers. Below are the cattle prices from the week ending November 1st:

There were fewer cattle marketed in the province last week at 46,905 compared to 48,328 marketed during the week ending November 1st. However, the latest figure is above volumes from the same week last year of 42,063 head. To date, the total number of cattle marketed this year is 442,019, 17 per cent below last year’s total. Emily Schmidt, Livestock Intern at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, says prices can be stronger when fewer cattle go to market; she also noted an increase in the price of corn recently, which could potentially impact feeding margins.

When looking at prices of market-ready cattle in Alberta, prices of live, non-fed cattle reported on November 8 were lower compared to the prior week, according to Canfax. The report shows D2 slaughter cows averaged $166.63 per cwt, down $0.26 from the previous week and D3 slaughter cows averaged $154.73 per cwt, a decrease of $0.75. Prices for Alberta fed steers for the week ending November 8 were $241.93 per cwt, up $1.24 from the previous week. Canfax says this is $11.04 above the price the same week last year.