Saskatchewan's Ministry of Agriculture releasing its latest cattle marketing report for the week ending December 11th.

Provincial Cattle Specialist Natasha Wilkie says this week's report shows a slowdown in the fall run.

Canfax reporting a total of 19,259 head of cattle, down from 28,424 head the previous week, and slightly less than the same week in 2019.

She notes overall, feeder steer prices were primarily lower, across all weight categories.

The only price increase occurred in the 400-500lb weight category, increasing $4.35 per cwt to end the week at an average price of $248.75 per cwt. The largest decrease was in the 900+lb weight category, which dropped $8.70 per cwt to end the week at an average price of $161.70 per cwt.

"Then we look kind of in the middle of the pack, we've got the 700-800lb weight category ended the week with an average price of $182.33 per cwt. The 800-900lb weight category ended the week at an average price of $174.21 per cwt."

The report shows the weekly average steer price, across the reported weight categories, was $206.05 per cwt in Saskatchewan; while the weekly average heifer price across the reported weight categories was $183.82 per cwt in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan feeder heifer prices were mixed across the reported weight categories this week.

The largest increase was seen in the 300-400lb weight category, increasing $2.23 per cwt. The largest decrease was in the 400-500 lb. weight category, dropping $2.06 per cwt, to end the week at an average price of $202.25 per cwt.

Wilkie says there's a number of factors influencing prices right now from the fall slow down to with the fall run slowing down to the rise in feed barley and the increase in the Canadian dollar which has been pretty much on the rise since October.