Activity is slowly starting to pick up at cattle auction yards around Manitoba, with good demand and solid prices reported for the animals moving during the week ended Aug. 26. Pastures are on the dry side in many areas of the province, bringing some yearlings to market a little earlier than normal.
Top-end bids were up by about a dollar or more per hundredweight for yearling feeder cattle across the province during the week.
In the latest provincial crop report pasture land was said to be on the dry side in a number of locations, while second-cut hay operations were also being hindered by a lack of moisture.
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“With the few cattle we did have, the market looked strong, and we already have more booked for next week,” said Buddy Bergner of the Ashern Livestock Mart following the first sale of the new season at the Interlake facility.
“The grass is getting short and the rain hasn’t been great,” he said, noting yearling marketings should see an increase as more animals are taken off pasture. “We had flood and then drought.”
From a demand standpoint, Bergner said demand for feeder animals looks very strong, with animals moving to feedlots in Ontario and Alberta. “It’s the same as always… we do the growing and they do the feeding.”
On the slaughter side, Bergner said demand was also strong. However, a drought in Texas was leading to more animals being sold down there.
While the increased supply of slaughter animals moving through the markets in the U.S. had yet to alter the Canadian market in any way, Bergner pointed out that the interconnectedness of the North American cattle sector could lead to an impact here as well.
FROM THE AUCTION FLOORS
Note:AllpricesinCanadian dollarsperhundredweight (cwt).Thesepricesalsogenerally representthetopone-third ofsalesreportedbythe auctionyard.
Ashern Livestock Mart:An estimated 177 cattle were sold at the sale held Aug. 24. In the slaughter market, D1 and D2 cows sold anywhere from $65 to $70; D3 and D5 cows, $60- $65; age verified, $68-$78.25; and good bulls, $80-$95.
Feeder steers weighing 700- 800 lbs. brought $112-$127; and 600-700 lbs., $110-$127. Feeder heifers weighing 800-
900 lbs. ranged from $104 to $112.75; 700-800 lbs., $105- $116.25; and 600-700 lbs., $114-$123.
Gladstone Auction Mart: Prices unavailable for Aug. 23 sale.
Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart:Summer schedule in place. No sales until September.
Heartland Livestock Services, Brandon:A total of 412 cattle were on offer in Brandon at the Aug. 23 sale.
In the slaughter market, D1-D2 cows brought $65-$74; D3 cows, $58-$64; shelly cows, $50-$57; and good bulls, $78- $82.
Feeder steers weighing over 1,000 lbs. ranged from $100 to $115; 900-1,000 lbs., $110- $123.50; 800-900 lbs., $118- $129; 700-800 lbs., $123-$138; 600-700 lbs., $130-$144; 500- 600 lbs., $132-$145; and 400- 500 lbs., $135-$146.50.
Feeder heifers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. brought $105-$116; 800-900 lbs., $110-$120; 700- 800 lbs., $112-$122; 600-700 lbs., $115-$132; and 500-600 lbs., $120-$134.
Heartland Livestock Services, Virden:A total of 429 cattle were on offer in Virden at the Aug. 23 sale. In the slaughter market, butcher steers sold for $92 to $96.75; butcher heifers, $91-$95.75; age-verified young cows, $66- $71; D1-D2 cows, $64-$68; D3 cows, $60-$64; shelly cows, $47-$57; and mature bulls, $77-$83.
Feeder steers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. ranged from $114 to $123.75; 800-900 lbs., $118- $131; 700-800 lbs., $123-$134; 600-700 lbs., $126-$140; 500- 600 lbs., $128-$144; and 400- 500 lbs., $132-$150.
Feeder heifers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. brought $105-$117; 800-900 lbs., $111-$121; 700- 800 lbs., $113-$124; 600-700 lbs., $118-$128; and 500-600 lbs., $120-$132.
Killarney Auction Mart: At Killarney’s first sale of the season D1 and D2 cows brought $62-$65 and D3 and D4 cows ranged from $44 to $60. Slaughter bulls traded at $71-$76.
In the feeder market, steers weighing 900-1,000 lbs. ranged from $115 to $119.25; 800-900 lbs., $120-$127; and 700-800 lbs., $128-$134.
Heifers weighing 900-1,000 lbs. brought $106-$111; 800- 900 lbs., $110-$115; and 700- 800 lbs., $116-$122.
Ste. Rose Auction Mart:A total of 375 cattle were sold at the Aug. 25 sale. In the slaughter market, D1 and D2 cows ranged from $60 to $69; D3-D4 cows, $50-$62; canners, $35- $51; slaughter bulls, $75-$84; and medium bulls, $70-$79.
Feeder steers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. brought $110-$118; 800-900 lbs., $115-$125; 700- 800 lbs., $118-$129; 600-700 lbs., $120-$133; and 500-600 lbs., $125-$136.
Feeder heifers weighing 800- 900 lbs. traded from $108 to $116; 700-800 lbs., $110-$121; 600-700 lbs., $110-$123; and 500-600 lbs., $110-$122.
Taylor Auctions, Melita:The Aug. 25 sale saw 94 slaughter and 100 feeder animals move through the yard. A1 and A2 slaughter steers brought $93- $98.25; A1 and A2 heifers, $91- $95.50; D1 and D2 cows, $62- $70; D3 and D5 cows, $58-$62; and good bulls, $80-$84.
Feeder steers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. brought $105-$118; 800-900 lbs., $105-$130; 700- 800 lbs., $110-$135; 600-700 lbs., $115-$138; 500-600 lbs., $120-$140; 400-500 lbs., $125- $145; and 300-400 lbs., $130- $150.
Feeder heifers weighing 800- 900 lbs. traded from $105 to $115; 700-800 lbs., $105-$120; 600-700 lbs., $110-$120; 500- 600 lbs., $110-$125; 400-500 lbs., $115-$130; and 300-400 lbs., $120-$135.
Winnipeg Livestock Sales: There were about 270 cattle sold at the sale held Aug. 26. In the slaughter market, dry fed cows ranged from $63 to $65; good fleshed, $57-$63; lean, $50-$57; age verified, $52-$70; and good bulls, $75- $84.
Feeder steers weighing 800- 900 lbs. brought $118-$122 and 700-800 lbs., $120-$128. Feeder heifers weighing 700- 800 lbs. ranged from $110 to $119 and 600-700 lbs., also $110-$119.
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– Buddy Bergner, Ashern Livestock Mart
“Thegrassisgettingshortand therainhasn’tbeengreat.”
