Sask. cattle market mixed for the week ending Sept. 24

Cattle producers looking at fluctuating markets

Please find included the latest Cattle Market Update, for the week ending September 24, 2021. Highlights for the week include the following:

·       Feeder steer prices were mixed across the weight categories when compared to prices reported the previous week. Prices ranged from $267.50 per cwt for the 300-400lb weight category to $185.88 per cwt for the 900+lb weight category this week. The largest price increase was seen in the 800-900lb weight category, with prices improving $1.92 per cwt to end the week averaging $196.92. The largest price decrease was seen in the 300-400lb weight category, with prices declining $4.33 per cwt.

·       Average weekly prices for Saskatchewan’s feeder heifers were mixed to lower across the reported weight categories when compared to prices the previous week. Prices ranged from $217.80 per cwt for the 300-400lb weight category to $175.50 cwt for the 800+lb weight category. The only price increase was seen in the 800+lb weight category, with prices improving $0.79 per cwt. The largest price decrease was seen the 500-600lb weight category, with prices declining $3.62 per cwt to end the week averaging $187.38 per cwt.

·       Live cattle future contracts saw both ups and downs throughout the week, although ended the week higher overall. The October live cattle futures contract edged US$0.125 per cwt higher relative to the previous week to settle Friday at US$122.925 per cwt. The December contract saw a price increase US$0.625 per cwt compared to the previous week to settle Friday at US$128.150 per cwt.

·       Choice beef cutout prices (600-900 lb.) for the week averaged US$308.76 per cwt, down US$11.46 per cwt from US$320.22 per cwt the previous week, a decrease of 3.6 per cent. The choice beef cutout is however 42.4 per cent higher than the same week a year ago when it was valued at $216.87.

Cattle producers looking at fluctuating markets