(Alice McFarlane/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

Cattle Markets

Price fluctuations for cattle markets

Nov 20, 2019 | 4:40 PM

Feeder cattle prices across Saskatchewan were mixed during the past week.

Provincial cattle specialist Leah Clark said similar to last week, feeder steers and heifer prices prices were mixed.

“Saskatchewan feeder steer prices ranged from $7.16 per hundredweight (cwt) higher to $2.83 per cwt lower. The largest reported decrease was for the 600 to 700 pound feeder steers while the largest prices increase was for those lighter weight 400 to 500 pound steers,” Clark said. “Heifers followed that same trend. They ranged from a decline of $1.86 per cwt to an increase of $4.41 per cwt. The largest decline was for the 700 to 800 pound heifers and the largest price increase was for the light 400 to 500 pound heifers.”

Clark said there was some volatility in the futures markets last week which played a role. Barley prices were creeping up with the focus on inventory. There were some U.S. cattle market indicators influencing the market including the reopening of the Tyson Plant that was closed after a fire.

“Nothing very serious, just a note that corn prices are going down. The corn availability down there wasn’t as bad as originally thought so we’re seeing those prices decline. We’re seeing our Lethbridge barley increase a little bit,” she said. “It’s been reported that the opening of the Kansas plant is likely to happen next month so I’m interested to see what the impact is there. When we look at the indicator of choice beef cutout, which is the price of our retail meat, the price is up over 12.5 per cent from last year so that’s an excellent indicator for our markets.”

MLAs clash over foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland

Nov 10, 2025

Outstanding community members

'We all loved him': respected Prince Albert broadcaster passes away

Oct 09, 2025

Nearing the end of harvest

Meals in the field and hats in combines: a look into end of harvest traditions

Oct 09, 2025

Canfax reported 53,887 head of cattle were sold in Saskatchewan last week, up slightly from the previous week.

“Right now in the fall run we are four per cent higher in our marketings from where we were last year and that’s interesting because we started a lot slower then last year, so we’re really keeping up.” Clark said.

–

alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: AliceMcF