The number of cattle populating Canada’s feedlots on Jan. 1 was down from the same date in 2024 and down from the 2019-23 average, according to data from CanFax, a division of the Canadian Cattle Association.
December placements, though, were up from 2023 and the previous five-year average.
Data was collected from CanFax members in Alberta and Saskatchewan with the total on feed and monthly feedlot placements information was shared with the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver to be compiled, graphed and published on the LMIC website. Any other data collected is reserved for CanFax members.
ON-FEED NUMBERS DOWN
Canada’s on-feed total on Jan. 1 was 1.043 million head, the CanFax data showed. This was down 50,000 head, or 4.57%, from 1.094 million a year earlier and down 25,000, or 2.34%, from the 2019-2023 average of 1.068 million.
That compares with the US’ Jan. 1 on-feed total of 11.823 million head, as reported by the USDA, down 159,000, or 1.33%, from 11.982 million a month earlier and down 107,000, or 0.90%, from 11.930 million a year earlier.
Canada’s Jan. 1 feedlot total usually is the second largest of the year, second only to the Dec. 1 total. The five-year average shows a slow but accelerating decline in feedlot totals to the Sep. 1 low of the year. From there, there is a rapid increase to the Dec. 1 annual high.
Last year, the trend started in January being higher than the five-year average, dipped below it in February and remained at lower levels until October and November before falling behind in December.
DECEMBER PLACEMENTS UP
With Jan. 1 on-feed numbers down from a year earlier and down from the five-year average, it might be safe to assume that December placements also were down. But they’re not. They’re up.
Canadian feedlot placements in December totaled 102,000 head, up from 77,871 a year earlier and up from the 2018-2022 average of 91,337 head.
That compares with the US’ December placement rate of 1.642 million head, down 154,000, or 8.57%, from 1.796 million a month earlier and down 56,000, or 3.30%, from 1.698 million a year earlier.
January feedlot placements typically are the third lowest of the year, beaten out by July and December. They rise to a secondary peak in March and the annual high in October as pastures finally give out for the winter.
In 2023, monthly Canadian feedlot placements had a dip in April that was lower than the January and July lows. The 2024 monthly placement rate oscillated around the 2018-2022 average throughout the year.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $203.08 per cwt to $210.18, compared with last week’s range of $206.00 to $210.58 per cwt. FOB dressed steers, and heifers went for $320.19 per cwt to $327.62, compared with $323.19 to $327.97.
The USDA choice cutout Thursday was down $1.26 per cwt at $312.63 while select was off $0.58 at $303.18. The choice/select spread narrowed to $9.45 from $10.13 with 84 loads of fabricated product and 17 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed the weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef was $375.76 per cwt, and 50% beef was $109.96.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $1.20 to $1.33 a bushel over the Mar corn contract, which settled at $4.98, up $0.00 1/2.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Tuesday was $278.51 per cwt, up $0.52. This compares with Thursday’s Mar contract settlement of $266.82, down $2.20.