Fed cattle held firm this week with steady demand across most weight classes. Here's the breakdown in real dollars.
Fed Steers: Stability at the Top
Large frame steers over 1,250 lbs averaged $329.96/cwt on volume of 152 head—putting a 1,694 lb steer at roughly $5,589 per animal. Medium frame steers in the same weight range came in slightly lower at $329.15/cwt (1,692 lb avg), also about $5,580 per head. Both classes showed solid bidding support.
Lighter steers (1,001–1,250 lbs) averaged around $311–$312/cwt—a 1,100 lb steer worth approximately $3,421–$3,432. The drop reflects typical lighter-weight discounts, but still reasonable for spring market conditions.
Fed Heifers: Stronger Than Steers
This week, heifers outperformed steers. Large frame heifers over 1,000 lbs averaged $332.48/cwt on heavy volume (136 head), meaning a 1,502 lb heifer brought home $4,990. Medium frame heifers ran $326.00/cwt across 181 head—a 1,456 lb animal worth about $4,747.
Dairy cross heifers remained under pressure at $280.85/cwt, roughly $3,926 for a 1,398 lb heifer. Quality genetics matter here.
Cows & Bulls: Moderate Recovery
Cows averaged $210.52/cwt across 1,879 head—stronger than last week. A typical 1,477 lb cow fetched $3,107, reflecting renewed demand from processors. Price range was wide ($174–$254/cwt), typical for mixed quality lots.
Bulls held steady at $272.49/cwt for heavyweights over 1,600 lbs (averaging 1,946 lbs), translating to roughly $5,299 per animal.
Stockers: Volume Up, Prices Down
Stocker steers (all frames combined, 600–699 lbs) averaged $611.08/cwt—down slightly from earlier weeks—putting a 650 lb steer at $397.20. Volume was heavy at 309 head, suggesting seasonal feeder demand is active but competitive.
Heavier stocker steers (800–899 lbs) averaged $520.24/cwt across 165 head—a 846 lb steer worth $440.08. Even heavier feeders over 1,000 lbs averaged $454.82/cwt on strong volume (464 head), so a 1,045 lb feeder averaged $475.29.
Stocker heifers ran lighter (fewer head overall) but followed similar pressure: 600–699 lb heifers averaged $510.04/cwt (261 head), putting them at $331.53 per heifer.
What the Numbers Tell Us
The market is tracking as spring typically does—steady demand, fair prices for quality fed cattle, and pressure on lighter feeder stock due to season volume. Fed steers and heifers both averaged in the $330–$332/cwt range, a solid platform for cattle finishing well. Stocker activity is brisk but prices reflect normal spring competition.
The volume numbers matter: this week saw robust bidding (over 1,100 fed cattle across both sexes), which typically keeps prices honest. Cows ticked up slightly, suggesting processor demand is active. If you're selling feeders into this market, expect competitive bids on heavier (800+) animals and slightly softer bids on lighter calves.
Data source: Beef Farmers of Ontario weekly auction market summary, April 3 – April 9, 2026. All prices per cwt; weights and per-head calculations are averages based on reported auction data.