The number of cattle being marketed is going down but demand remains high, keeping prices for feeder steers and heifers up in the province.

The Cattle Market Update for the week ending November 29, provided by Canfax, has prices for most categories except for the 300-400 pound steers and heifers, the 700-800 and 800-plus pound heifers, and the 900-plus pound steers. Prices for steers ranged from $352.33 in the 800-900 pound category up to $557.71 in the 400-500 pound category, while prices for the heifers ranged from $385.50 in the 600-700 pound category to $476.04 in the 400-500 pound category. The largest price increase week-over-week was in the 400-500 pound steers of $20.96 per cwt and for the heifers it was the 400-500 pound category by $17.41.

There were less cattle going to market last week of 18,027 head, down considerably from 34,415 head marketed during the week ending November 22. Canfax noted last week’s marketing numbers were above the same week last year when 17,316 head were marketed. There has been 536,482 feeder cattle marketed to date this year, 13 per cent below 2023 levels.

In Alberta, prices for live, non-fed cattle last week were lower compared to the previous week. D2 slaughter cows were $168.75, down just 14 cents from the prior week, and D3 slaughter cows were $155.53 per cwt, down $2.45. The Canfax price for Alberta fed steers for the week ending November 29 was $248.51, up $1.72 from the previous week. Canfax notes there was no price reported from the same week last year.

Livestock Intern at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Emily Schmidt says the fall cattle run slowing down is one factor and more import restrictions on Mexican feeder cattle entering the United States due to cases of New World Screwworm (NWS) is another affecting prices. Schmidt says it could lead to more demand for Canadian feeder cattle.