Canada’s cattle on feed totals started 2026 smaller than last year and the 2020-2024 average, but at a point that likely will be the third highest monthly marker of the year.
December placements also were down from 2024 and the 2019-2023 average.
The data came from CanFax, a division of the Canadian Cattle Association. CanFax provides market analysis to its members.
CanFax collects monthly operation data from its members in Alberta and Saskatchewan. It shares the data on total feedlot inventories and monthly feedlot placements with the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver, saving the rest for its members. No information about marketings is shared with the LMIC.
The LMIC then shares monthly Canadian placement and on-feed totals on its website.
ON-FEED SUPPLIES DOWN
Canadian feedlot supplies on Jan. 1 totaled 1.033 million head, down 10,000, or 0.96%, from 1.043 million a year earlier and down 52,000, or 4.79%, from the 2020-2024 average of 1.085 million.
Since month-to-month Canadian feedlot totals have a strong seasonality to them, given the sharp differences in Canada’s summer and winter, Canadian feedlot totals can be expected to decline to the annual low on Sep. 1, a market analyst said. From there, feedlot inventories rise sharply to a Dec. 1 high near 1.1 million head.
Last year, monthly cattle-on-feed totals followed the seasonal trend but held at points lower than the 2020-2024 average all year. One of its widest spreads was the Sep. 1 total.
DECEMBER PLACEMENTS ALSO DOWN
Placements of young cattle into Canada’s feedlots also were down from 20224 and the previous five-year average in December, the data showed.
December placements were pegged at 80,940 head, down 21,104, or 20.7%, from Dec. 1, 2024, when they were 102,044 head and down 8,981, or 9.99%, from the 2019-2023 average of 89,921 head.
Last year’s monthly Canadian feedlot placements wound around 2024 and average totals all year. However, the trend followed the established seasonal trend from month to month. That is, they began the year at a low figure, moved to a seasonal peak by March, declined to a seasonal low by July, rose sharply to the annual peak around 383,000 head by October and then fall to a point near the July low by December.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $232.66 per cwt to $236.10, compared with last week’s range of $231.21 to $235.55 per cwt. FOB dressed steers and heifers went for $365.05 per cwt to $369.43, compared with $362.33 to $366.74.
The USDA choice cutout Wednesday was up $1.35 per cwt at $366.11 while select was up $2.61 at $362.45. The choice/select spread narrowed to $3.66 from $4.92 with 101 loads of fabricated product and 37 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed the weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef as $404.72 per cwt, and 50% beef was $140.74.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $0.95 to $1.10 a bushel over the Mar corn contract, which settled at $4.21 3/4, down $0.02.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Monday was $367.41 per cwt, down $0.27. This compares with Wednesday’s Jan contract settlement of $363.22, up $0.60.