The number of cattle moving through Saskatchewan Auction Marts last week was down.

Canfax reported a total of 4,221 head of cattle down from the previous week of 6,276 head.

Natasha Wilkie is a Provincial Cattle Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture.

She says feeder steer prices were lower across the limited reported weight categories.

" The 600-700lb weight category saw prices decrease by $1.20 per cwt to end the week averaging $210.00 per cwt; while the 700-800lb weight category saw prices decline $5.16 to end the week averaging $194.67 per cwt. Saskatchewan’s feeder heifers were mainly lower across the reported weight categories when compared to prices the previous week. Prices ranged from $189.83 per cwt for the 500-600lb weight category to $163.67 per cwt for the 800+lb weight category. The only price increase was seen in the 800+lb weight category, with prices improving by $3.29 per cwt. The largest price decrease was seen in the 600-700lb weight category, with prices declining $8.13 per cwt to end the week averaging $174.00 per cwt."

Wilkie contributes the move in the markets to moisture concerns still playing a factor, and a reprieve from the ever rising feed grain prices.

She says the price of live, non-fed cattle in Alberta were mixed, week-over-week.

"The price of D2 slaughter cows moved higher with prices improving $0.69 per cwt to average $103.13 per cwt; while the price of D3 slaughter cows saw a price decrease of $0.93 per cwt from the previous week to average $89.00 per cwt. "

The fed cattle price for Alberta fed steers this week was reported at $164.37 per cwt, a price decrease of $0.35 from the previous week’s price of $164.72.

She's says overall she's looking for some support for prices next week to keep them fairly steady.

"This week we saw the feed grain prices soften and the corn futures were down. We saw the Canadian dollar down slightly which is a good thing when your looking at the export market."