A total of 12,772 head of cattle were sold in Saskatchewan the week ending February 24. This is down from 13,406 head sold the previous week, and down from 17,210 head the same week a year ago.
Saskatchewan feeder steer prices were reported in all weight categories over the week with feeder steer prices mixed but primarily higher. Feeder steer prices ranged between $2.50 per cwt lower and $2.21 per cwt higher. Feeder steers weighing over 900 lbs. saw the largest loss; while the 500-600 lb. weight category had the biggest gain increasing $2.21 per cwt.
Feeder Steers weighing 300-400 lbs. averaged $222.25 per cwt up by $1.25 from the previous week. Those 400-500 lbs. were averaging $218.60 per cwt that was also an increase. Those in the 500 to 600 lb. weight category were $203.50 per cwt on average jumping $2.21 from the previous week. The feeder steers weighing 600-700 lbs. were $185.00 per cwt on average. The 700-800 lb. feeder steers were $167.25 per cwt. Those in the 800-900 lb. category were $158.13 per cwt, while feeder steers over 900 lbs. dropped this week to $150.13 per cwt.
Saskatchewan feeder heifer prices were reported in all weight categories over the week with prices ending primarily lower. Feeder heifer prices over the week ranged between $7.43 per cwt lower and $4.37 per cwt higher from the previous week. The biggest price gain over the week was in the 500-600 lb. feeder heifer weight category; while the largest loss was in the 300-400 lb. weight category.
The U.S. beef stocks in cold storage totaled 537.5 million lbs. on January 31, down 5.3 per cent from 567.9 million lbs. on December 31, 2016, but up 0.6 per cent from 534.1 million lbs. the previous year. U.S. beef stocks in cold storage at the end of January were down from the all-time 10-year record highs from a month ago, but still at 10-year record highs for January.
The USDA Cattle on Feed (COF) report indicated that the number of cattle placed on feed in January 2017 was 1.981 million head, up 11.4 per cent from 1.779 million head in January 2016, and up 11.0 per cent from 1.785 million head placed in December 2016. The number of fed cattle marketed in January 2017 was 1.751 million head, up 10.2 per cent from 1.589 million head in January 2016, but down 1.5 per cent from 1.777 million head marketed in December 2016.
The cattle on feed for February 1, 2017 were estimated at 10.782 million head, 0.7 per cent above the February 2016 inventory numbers of 10.709 million head, and 1.7 per cent above the January 2016 numbers.
