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From pasture to policy: Calculating calf and feeder settlements

March 2, 2026

With calving season underway, it is important to understand the differences between your policy options so you can select the coverage that best suits your operation. Our LPI team is here to dispel common myths and answer important questions about the Livestock Price Insurance (LPI) program.

Question: What is the difference between calf and feeder settlements?

Understanding how calf and feeder settlements differ can impact the policy you choose to purchase. Calf and feeder settlements are calculated using similar market-driven methods. Market data is collected from participating auction markets across western Canada and includes online and auction market sales.

The calf settlement index is based on weekly sales data for steers weighing 550–650 pounds, representing an average 600‑pound steer. Outliers in the top and bottom twelve percent are removed from the calculation to ensure accuracy.

The feeder settlement index is calculated using data from steers weighing 750–950 pounds. An adjustment is made with a weekly calculated slide to represent an 850lb steer. The calculation removes any outliers that are 10 per cent above or below.

Join Jeff as he explains the difference between calf and feeder settlements and how each settlement index is calculated.

Visit our Participating Auction Markets page to see which markets provide data for calf and feeder settlements.