Rising temperatures mean rising cattle numbers at auction marts

Rising temperatures mean rising cattle numbers at auction marts

Temperature spike causes muddy pens, early breakup and animals thrown off feed

The number of cattle going through Manitoba cattle auction sites continued to increase during the week ended Feb. 1. Two weeks after frigid temperatures kept many buyers and sellers at home, warmer-than-normal temperatures to end January attracted more than 1,000 animals to the weekly sales at every site except Winnipeg Livestock Sales. In total, 11,580



Cold keeping cattle, buyers at home

Cold keeping cattle, buyers at home

Sales were cancelled and shipping animals difficult during frigid days

Frigid temperatures, especially in southwestern Manitoba, led to one cancelled sale and very few cattle going through the rings at other auctions during the week ended Jan. 18. Severely low temperatures and bitter wind chill values prompted Heartland Livestock Services in Brandon to cancel its sale on Jan. 16. Winnipeg Livestock Sales and HLS Virden


Photo: Thinkstock

Prairie wheat weekly outlook: U.S. futures raise Western Canadian bids

Total wheat production expected to increase to 33.3 million tonnes; total wheat carryout to 4.2 million

The relatively low prices created some interest in the export market. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported net wheat export sales of 451,400 tonnes in its weekly report on Jan. 25, down 36 per cent from the previous week but up 45 per cent from the four-week average. Recent severe cold weather in the northwestern U.S. Plains may have also caused some crop damage.



Cattle auction sites reopen for 2024

Cattle auction sites reopen for 2024

Cow and bull market better than anticipated

Four Manitoba cattle auction sites reopened during the week ended Jan. 11 after a holiday break, though buying activity hasn’t yet returned to normal levels. Gladstone Auction Mart, Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart and Heartland Livestock Services (HLS) in Brandon all conducted their first regular sales of 2024 on Jan. 9. HLS in Virden followed suit the next day,