The number of cattle populating feedlots in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada, on Dec. 1 was up from November and the 2017-2021 average but very near last year’s Dec. 1 count, according to data collected by CanFax, a private advisory group and compiled and released by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver, Col.
CanFax collects the data from member feedlots and gives the data for the total on feed and monthly placements to the LMIC for compilation and publication on the LMIC website. Whatever other data it collects is kept and disseminated to its members only.
ON-FEED NUMBER UP
As of Dec. 1, the total number of cattle on feed in Canada was 1.160 million head, up 61,000, or 5.55%, from 1.099 million a month earlier, up 2,000, or 0.17%, from last year’s 1.158 million and up 79,000, or 7.31%, from the previous five-year average of 1.081 million.
Canadian feedlot inventories tended to follow the seasonal trends this year, although at higher levels than the 2017-2021 average, except for May and June when the numbers were less than the average. Monthly totals were less than the same 2022 month through August but moved to a level higher than last year in September where they remained through the latest census.
Last year, the on-feed totals remained elevated from the five-year average all year.
Seasonally, Canada’s on-feed totals should drop for the Jan. 1 inventory.
NOVEMBER PLACEMENTS DOWN
November placements of calves into Canada’s feedlots were down seasonally from October but also were down from the year-ago period and down from the previous five-year average.
In November, Canadian feed yards introduced 237,070 calves to the lot. This was down 120,639, or 33.7%, from 357,709 in October, down 44,097, or 15.7%, from 281,167 a year earlier and down 48,893, or 17.1%, from the previous five-year average of 285,963.
Month-to-month changes in Canadian feedlot placements have a strong seasonality to them. Any changes to the trend, as occurred in May when placements went up from April instead of down, are short. Seasonal changes in weather conditions make variations difficult because it affects the amount of pasture time is available to the cattle.
With that in mind, December placements should be down from November, and January placements should be close to December’s total.
Through November, monthly placements were less than last year through May. From June through September, placements totaled more than the 2022 month, while they were down in October and November.
US cattle numbers have been falling over the last few years, and feeder cattle imports from Canada as well as Mexico could rise in coming months, reducing Canadian placement potential.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $169.00 per cwt to $170.94, compared with last week’s range of $165.82 to $173.08 per cwt. FOB dressed steers, and heifers went for $268.37 per cwt to $269.70, compared with $268.50 to $27.
The USDA choice cutout Tuesday was down $0.10 per cwt at $288.83 while select was off $0.56 at $263.16. The choice/select spread widened to $25.67 from $25.21 with 102 loads of fabricated product and 33 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $1.28 to $1.38 a bushel over the Mar corn contract, which settled at $4.72 3/4 a bushel, down $0.04 1/4.
No delivery intentions were posted for Dec live cattle Tuesday.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Monday was $219.91 per cwt, up $1.84. This compares with Tuesday’s Jan contract settlement of $221.90, down $1.27.