Week Ending March 26, 2026
Ontario feed cattle are trading at some of the strongest levels we've seen all year. Here's what this week brought to the market.
Fed Cattle Prices
Steers (Large & Medium Frame, Over 1,250 lbs): Averaged $321.28 per hundredweight this week, based on 210 head. That translates to $5,374 per animal for a typical 1,673 lb steer. Prices ranged from $306.28 to $329.71 per cwt, with tops hitting $354.
Heifers (Large & Medium Frame, Over 1,000 lbs): Averaged $320.17 per hundredweight on 340 head. A typical 1,451 lb heifer brought $4,641 per animal. The range was $305.51 to $328.67, with tops at $395.
For comparison, dairy cross cattle—culls from the milking herd—traded significantly lower. Dairy steers averaged $274.58/cwt and dairy heifers $262.31/cwt, reflecting their breeding background and typically softer meat quality.
Cows & Bulls
Beef cows continued their solid trend, averaging $200.72/cwt across 2,076 head. That works out to roughly $2,974 per 1,481 lb animal. Prices ranged from $167.86 to $238.91, depending on condition and grade.
Bulls were firmer this week, with heavy bulls (over 1,600 lbs) averaging $255.11/cwt—about $5,127 per animal.
Stocker Cattle (Feeder Market)
The feeder market remains active. Large frame stocker steers in the 700-799 lb range averaged $527.61/cwt ($3,968 per head). Lighter stockers, in the 500-599 lb range, brought $641/cwt ($3,475 per head). Generally, lighter cattle command higher per-pound prices because there's more room for gain.
The Bottom Line
Fed cattle are trading at historically strong levels. A steer hitting $5,374 and a heifer at $4,641 reflects solid demand from packers and export markets. These are real dollars in the pocket for producers who finished cattle well and brought them to market at the right weight.
The consistency in pricing week-to-week suggests stability in the market—not a spike, but solid footing. For producers considering when to market their next group, this is respectable ground.