Activity is holding up well at Winnipeg Livestock Sales despite some easing in cattle prices, according to field representative Scott Anderson.
“The futures have been kind of working their way lower,” he said.
The five-day change at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange saw values lose US$1.65 per hundredweight, with the nearby December contract closing on Oct. 19 at US$185.30/cwt.
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Cattle prices in Alberta were softer during the week of Oct. 16, Anderson added.
“It seems a little bit of the excitement [on the Prairies] has gone out of the air as far as the prices go, but still they are holding together,” he said, noting they are much higher than a year ago.
Back on Oct. 14, 2022, feeder steers at Winnipeg (300-400 lb.) fetched $300-$362/cwt. At Winnipeg’s Oct. 13, 2023 sale, feeders in the same weight class brought in $450-$550/cwt. Feeder heifers in that class a year ago sold for $230-$290/cwt. compared to $400-$491 on Oct. 13.
Among heavier feeders, the 700- to 800-pounders last year garnered $225-$257/cwt. versus $318-$348 at Winnipeg’s most recent sale.
Slaughter prices have also jumped a fair bit over the last year. For example, mature bulls at Winnipeg went for $135-$138/cwt. a year ago compared to $152-$158 now.
For the week ending Oct. 19, slaughter cattle prices at Winnipeg were steady to up $1/cwt. on the week.
Going into Winnipeg’s Oct. 20 sale, Anderson estimated more than 1,700-1,800 cattle would be sold, including a special Angus sale.
Manitoba saw a new minister of agriculture appointed on Oct. 18, as incoming Premier Wab Kinew tapped the newly elected MLA for Dauphin, Ron Kostyshyn, for the post.
Kostyshyn was previously ag minister from January 2012 to May 2016 and had been the MLA for Swan River from October 2011 to April 2016.
Manitoba Beef Producers issued a statement congratulating the new minister and the Kinew government.
“Minister Kostyshyn brings to this key role both his past experience around the cabinet table, as well as the knowledge and experiences gained as a primary producer himself. Having that agricultural and rural perspective around is very important to our members.
“We look forward to working with Minister Kostyshyn, Premier Wab Kinew and the other new cabinet ministers, as well as the staff of their respective departments on a variety of matters related to our sector and capturing the opportunities related to it,” the statement read.
