Despite a blizzard barreling into southwestern Manitoba on March 11, which cancelled two cattle auctions, there were still signs of spring during the week ended March 16.
Four auction sites, Ashern, Gladstone and Ste. Rose Auction Marts, as well as Winnipeg Livestock Sales, reported fewer cattle in the rings than the previous week.
Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart and Heartland Livestock Services in Brandon and Virden saw increases. Taylor Auctions in Melita and Killarney Auction Mart cancelled their weekly sales due to the storm, which brought snowfall and winds up to 70 kilometres per hour.
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In total, 8,430 cattle went through the rings, slightly lower than the 9,913 from the week of March 3 to 9. Tyler Slawinski, auctioneer at Ashern and Gladstone, said the numbers are typical of this time of year and he expects them to decrease in coming weeks.
“It was a fairly common run for the time of year, I think,” he said. “There’s bound to be some more heifers out there to market yet and a lot of people market their steers first…Numbers are starting to slow down in some spots a little more. Guys are getting into calving and they need pen space.”
Feeder steers weighing 500 pounds or less sold for between $280 and $385 per hundredweight (cwt.) during the week ended March 16, similar to the $270-$385 range from the week before. Those weighing 800 lb. or more were sold for $195-$275.50/cwt., compared to $195-$271 from the previous week.
Heifers weighing 500 lb. or less sold between $230 and $329/cwt., compared to $230-$316 one week earlier. Those weighing 800 lb. or more sold for $184 to $240/cwt; those from last week sold for $195 to $271.
D1-D2 cows ranged from $100 to $135/cwt., the same as the week before. Bulls sold from $105 to $161/cwt., also similar to the previous week’s range.
“Everything’s still very steady and still very good, as far as cattle marketing goes,” Slawinski said. “We’ve definitely seen whatever slaughter cows that are available in this province in very high demand and I believe they are very current with their slaughtering in (Western Canada).
“I’ve never seen cull cows bring that kind of (prices) in my time in auctioneering. It’s nice to see for a change.”
On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, cattle futures came down from their highest levels in eight years before ending the week with a positive session on March 16.
The April live cattle contract settled at US$162.35/cwt., down $3.05 from the beginning of the week. The April feeder cattle contract closed at $195.15/cwt. a weekly decline of $4.325.
Slawinski said there has been great demand from Eastern Canada along with some demand from Western Canada and the U.S. While he anticipates more snow in the long-term weather forecast, he said current conditions are shaping up well for spring.
“I think in a lot of areas the ground is not frozen. If we get a nice gradual melt, I think it looks very promising,” he said. “It’s a crystal ball. It’s beyond our power…As far as winter conditions go, it hasn’t been that bad a winter.
“Things are shaping up to be better this year than the last five for the cattle producer.”
