Overall, there are some very happy producers with this year's calf prices.

Rob Bergevin, President and Auctioneer at Foothills Auctioneers Inc. in Stavely, says their first calf sale was on September 18th due to dry conditions.

"We had 1,500 calves then, and then starting the second of October, we've sold over 3000 calves every Monday since then. The market's very good."

He says, heifer prices have picked up a bit, narrowing the margin between steer and heifer prices.

They're seeing 500 pound calves sell for $2.40 per pound, and six weight calves bringing $2.30 per pound.

"There's a real strong interest. Not a lot of slide between the seven and six weight calves. It seems like these feeders are interested in some of the heavier cattle, but certainly, if you're getting $1,200 to $1,300 for your steer calves, that's nothing sneeze at."

Bergevin says, the calf weights are a little bit off this year.

"I wouldn't say substantially off, but their probably anywhere between 10 and 20 percent off of where they have been in the past, but the offset to that would be the value of the calves are probably 20 to 30 percent higher than what we saw last year."

Foothills Auctioneers Inc. feeder sales are on Mondays, and their regular sales are at 9:00 am on Fridays.

For more information, you can visit their website.


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