Saskatchewan auction marts saw one of their busiest weeks in a long time last week. 

Canfax reported 40,520 head of feeder cattle moved through the auction ring, more than double the 17,446 animals sold in the previous week.

Provincial Cattle Specialist Fonda Froats says marketings in 2022 are still 17 per cent lower than in 2021.

She says this year is more typical of a fall run, with more pre-sort calf sales taking place.

Feeder steer and heifer prices were mixed across all weight categories.

Feeder steer prices ranged from $341.25 per cwt for the 300 to 400 lb weight category to $223.75 per cwt for the 900+ pound category.  

Prices for feeder heifers ranged from $251.47 per cwt for the 300 to 400 lb weight category to $210.56 per cwt for the 800+lb weight category.

The price changes reflect the increase in the volume of calves coming to town which meant buyers had their pick.

She says were seeing stronger support on those calves, where there was more competition on the offering.

Froats believes we're also seeing support from the lower Canadian dollar, and positive feeder futures.

The price of D2 slaughter cows averaged $104.00 per cwt while the price of D3 slaughter cows was down 85 cents to average at $89.07 per cwt.

The rail price for non-fed cattle in Alberta ranged between $200.00-$205.00 per cwt, down $3.00 per cwt on both ends compared to the previous week.

Froats says U.S. corn prices were down from last week, while new crop barley has taken another jump.

Iowa corn prices was at $361.72 per tonne, and Omaha corn was at $380.08 per tonne.

Lethbridge barley jumped $11.50 per tonne to $443 per tonne last week.