Canada’s cattle on feed numbers continued to follow last year’s pace and trend by declining in February as January feedlot placements stuck very close to the 2020-2024 average.
The information came from Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattle Association. Canfax surveys its members in Alberta and Saskatchewan monthly for a variety of performance data and shares the total on-feed number and the monthly placement figure with the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver for compilation and publication on its website. The rest of the data is reserved for Canfax members.
ON-FEED NUMBERS DECLINE SEASONALLY
The number of cattle populating Canada’s feedlots on Feb. 1 was 1.009 million head, down 24,000, or 2.32%, from 1.033 million a month earlier, down 4,000, or 0.39%, from 1.013 million a year ago and down 50,000, or 4.72%, from the previous five-year average of 1.059 million.
By contrast, US feedlot numbers on Feb. 1 totaled 11.505 million head, up 55,000, or 0.48%, from 11.450 million on Jan. 1 but down 211,000, or 1.80%, from 11.716 million a year ago. They also were down 475,000, or 3.96%, from the 2020-2024 average of 11.980 million head.
Seasonally, Canada’s cattle-on-feed numbers should decline through May, pick up speed in July and August and bottom for the Sep. 1 count. After that, they should rise steeply into the Dec. 1 census, which is the annual high.
Last year, many feeder cattle may have been shipped south into the high-demand US market where they augmented available feeder cattle from a US herd that is touching a 75-year low. US demand for feeder cattle hasn’t diminished, so many Canadian calves could be coming south again this year, a market analyst said.
PLACEMENTS DOWN FROM 2025
Canada’s feedlot placements in January were down from last year but higher than the 2020-2025 average, the data revealed.
Canada’s January placements totaled 123,625 head, down 11,428, or 8.46%, from 135,053 a year earlier but up 1,348, or 1.10%, from the previous five-year average of 122,277 head.
By contrast, US feedlot placements in January numbered 1.736 million head, up 181,000, or 11.6%, from 1.555 million in December but down 86,000, or 4.72%, from 1.822 million a year earlier. They also were down 208,000, or 10.7%, from the 2020-2025 average of 1.944 million head.
On average, Canada’s monthly feedlot placements rise through March and then decline through July. The accelerate sharply through the October peak and then fall sharply through December.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $240.56 per cwt to $240.97, compared with last week’s range of $240.00 to $249.00 per cwt. FOB dressed steers and heifers went for $381.23 per cwt to $381.45, compared with $382.75 to $389.66.
The USDA choice cutout Monday was up $4.07 per cwt at $391.29 while select was up $4.67 at $383.62. The choice/select spread narrowed to $7.67 from $8.27 with 32 loads of fabricated product and 16 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed the weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef as $429.99 per cwt, and 50% beef was $169.19.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were $0.90 to $1.05 a bushel over the May corn contract, which settled at $4.53 3/4, down $0.06 3/4.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Friday was $366.39 per cwt, down $0.93. This compares with Monday’s Mar contract settlement of $350.65, down $4.97.