Canfax cattle market report – July 30, 2026
Fed prices fall
The western Canadian fed market continued to face pressure during the week ending July 17, with prices falling further.
Alberta fed steers closed the week at $340.26 per hundredweight, down $13.16 per cwt. from the previous week. This was the largest week-over-week decline noted since early 2022.
Fed heifer prices were down $6.31 per cwt. to close the week at $339.74 per cwt.
Dressed sales were reported in the range of $565-575 per cwt. delivered. Cattle that traded were scheduled for delivery from early August to the first half of September.
Packer activity on the cash market was mixed for the second straight week, with packers trying to purchase limited volumes from as many feedlots as possible.
The Eastern Canadian fed market saw prices soften during the week ending July 17, with average steer and heifer prices falling $9.50 per cwt. from the previous week.
Dressed sales in Ontario were reported at $575 per cwt. delivered, down $10-$15 per cwt. from the previous week. Cattle that sold were set to be delivered in late July.
Ontario’s newest federally inspected plant, Blue Lakes Premium Meats, has opened, which will provide a small increase to regional packer capacity.
Non-fed prices steady to lower
Non-fed prices in Western Canada were mostly softer for the week ending July 17.
Alberta D2 and D3 cows eased $6 per cwt. lower from the previous week. Even with this seasonal pressure, D2 cows were $6 per cwt. shy of their record high.
Cow prices tend to move seasonally lower during the second half of the year.
Feeder cow prices softened by $1 per cwt. to close the week at $269 per cwt, while butcher bulls fell $5 per cwt. from the record-high prices set the previous week.
Rail grade cows remained steady in the range of $450-460 per cwt.
Western Canadian cow slaughter for the month of June totalled 18,851 head. This was seven per cent higher than in June 2025 but 26 per cent lower than the five-year average.
Second quarter western Canadian cow slaughter totalled 65,197 head, six per cent higher than last year.
Fed prices strong
Calf and feeder prices in Western Canada stayed close to record-high levels during the week ending July 17.
At time of writing, both the spot market and forward delivery market were more favourable to the seller.
However, short-kept feeders weighing between 1,100-1,200 pounds were the exception, with prices falling by $10-$15 per cwt. and some being passed on in video sales that week.
Volumes selling through commercial auction markets were seasonally lower, and analysts anticipate the yearling run will start later than usual, with more cattle on offer in September compared to August.
Canadian cattle imports from the United States for the month of May totalled just more than 38,000 head, making it the largest May import volume on record.
Year-to-date imports from the U.S. totalled 194,500 head, which was 38,000 head more than the same time last year.
The forward delivery calf market was lightly tested, with western Canadian steer calves weighing 500-599 lb. for October delivery bringing $686-$799 per cwt. The average was $745 per cwt. based 537 lb.
Forward delivery prices were about $20 per cwt. higher than the June average.
In Eastern Canada, feedlots were very active on the fall delivery calf market, and record-high forward delivery calf prices were established.
Recently, bred heifers on offer for immediate and late fall delivery have sold in the range of $5,500-$6,300 per head. Demand from cow-calf producers continues to be strong, and bred heifers were trading at a premium over the feeder market.
Cutouts under pressure
U.S. cut-out prices continued to fall during the week ending July 17, the result of larger beef inventories and seasonally softer demand.
Choice and Select cutouts ended the week down $8-$12 per cwt. from the previous week. This was $2-$4 per cwt. lower than the same week last year.
The Choice-to-Select spread was $13 per cwt. This has narrowed considerably since June, when the spread was $22 per cwt.
