Th e r e were some pretty good numbers of cattle marketed in Mani toba dur ing the week ended April 1 with values cont inuing to hold steady to firm at most auction yards. Demand for the various classes of cattle remained strong, accounting for the price strength.
Marketings at Heartland Livestock Services at Virden were larger than normal during the week, given that the previous week’s auction was postponed due to unfavourable weather conditions, including the huge snowstorm.
“The demand continued to come from all directions for the animals on offer,” said Robin Hill, manager with Heartland at Virden.
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He estimated about a quarter to maybe a third of the cattle sold at his latest auction were destined for the U.S. market, with a good portion of the remaining animals heading to western packers. A small amount of the cattle were also picked up by outlets in the East.
Fat steers and heifers were of particular interest from the packer community, as were slaughter cows and bulls, Hill said.
Strong ground beef prices continued to stimulate the buying interest from the packers, he said.
Producers looking to rebuild herds also were active participants.
Hill cautioned that as the spring thaw begins in earnest, marketings will likely begin to slow somewhat, as wet soils make it difficult to get trucks out to load animals.
“The top-quality cattle received top dollar,” Hill said, but noted that the discount on second-and third-cut cattle was a bit larger than it has been recently.
Feed supplies for cattle in the Virden area were said to be adequate to meet needs, although some concerns about the low quality of the feed were making the rounds among some producers, Hill said.
“There’s lots of feed, unfortunately just of lower quality,” he said.
FROM THE AUCTION FLOORS
Note:AllpricesinCanadian dollarsperhundredweight (cwt).Thesepricesalsogenerally representthetopone-third ofsalesreportedbythe auctionyard.
Ashern Livestock Mart:An estimated 2,550 head of cattle were sold at the sale held March 30. Included in the sale were 400 slaughter cattle and 2,150 feeders.
In the slaughter market, D1 and D2 cows sold anywhere from $62 to $70; D3 and D4 cows, from $55 to $65; age verified, $70-$85; and good bulls, $70-$100. Heiferettes traded up to $95.50.
Feeder steers weighing 800-900 lbs. sold from $115 to $127; 700-800 lbs., from $123 to $140; 600-700 lbs., $120-$154; 500-600 lbs., $135- $169.75; and 400-500 lbs. , $140-$167.75.
Feeder heifers weighing 800- 900 lbs., traded from $112 to $120; 700-800 lbs., $110-$125; 600-700 lbs., $110-$129; 500- 600 lbs., $110-$138.50; and 400-500 lbs., $120-$151.50.
Gladstone Auction Mart: Sale results not available.
Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart:There were 111 slaughter cattle and 443 feeders sold at the Grunthal yard on March 30. In the slaughter market, fleshy export cows fetched $64-$68; lean export cows, $57-$62; mature cows, $55- $59; feeding cows, $67-$71; export bulls, $80-$85.25; and mature bulls, $75-$80.
Feeder hei fers weighing 800-900 lbs. traded from $100 to $110; 700-800 lbs., $110- $124.25; 600-700 lbs., $120- $134; 500-600 lbs., $130-$150; 400-500 lbs., $130-$144; and under 400 lbs., $125-$138.
Feeder steers weighing 800- 900 lbs. fetched $105-$124.50; 700-800 lbs., $118-$127.50; 600-700 lbs., $127-$144; 500- 600 lbs., $138-$155; 400-500 lbs., $148-$164; and under 400 lbs., $150-$169.
Heartland Livestock Services, Brandon:A total of 2,444 cattle were on offer in Brandon during the week ended March 3 1 . In the slaughter market, A1-A2 steers brought $98-$103.75; A1-A2 heifers, $95-$100.74; D1-D2 cows, $70-$76; D3 cows, $55- $69; feeder cows (shelly), $45- $57; and good bulls, $80-$85.
Feeder steers weighing 900-1,000 lbs. ranged from $108 to $118; 800-900 lbs., $112-$126.50; 700-800 lbs., $118-$134.50; 600-700 lbs., $132-$155.50; 500-600 lbs., $145-$162; 400-500 lbs., $155- $166; and 300-400 lbs., $164- $178.
Feeder heifers weighing 900-1,000 lbs. brought $95-$107.75; 800-900 lbs. , $105-$115; 700-800 lbs. , $114-$123; 600-700 lbs., $120- $135; 500-600 lbs., $133-$146; 400-500 lbs., $135-$144; and 300-400 lbs., $137-$155.
Heartland Livestock Services, Virden:At the sale held March 31, 3,121 head of cattle were marketed. In the slaughter market, butcher steers brought $97-$103.75 while butcher heifers fetched $96-$102. Age-verified young cows traded at $68-$73 with sales to $75.50. D1-D2 cows traded $66-$73; D3 cows, $60- $65; shelly cows, $45-$58; and mature bulls, $83-$88.
Feeder steers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. traded from $107 to $117.50; 800-900 lbs., $114- $127; 700-800 lbs., $122-$133; 600-700 lbs., $133-$151; 500- 600 lbs., $143-$160; and 400- 500 lbs., $150-$173.
Feeder heifers in the 900- to 1,000-lb. category brought $98-$109; 800-900 lbs., $107- $118; 700-800 lbs. , $112- $122.50; 600-700 lbs., $119- $133; 500-600 lbs., $125-$142; and 400-500 lbs., $127-$144.
Killarney Auction Mart: Sale results not available.
Ste. Rose Auction Mart:A total of 1,666 cattle were sold at the March 31 sale. In the slaughter market, D1 and D2 cows ranged from $65 to $73; D3 and D4 cows, $55-$64; canners, $42-$53; and slaughter bulls, $86-$99.
Feeder steers weighing 900-1,000 lbs. fetched $103-$114; 800-900 lbs., $112- $125.50; 700-800 lbs., $122- $134; 600-700 lbs., $130-$145; 500-600 lbs., $144-$167; and 400-500 lbs., $150-$173.
Feeder hei fers weighing 900-1,000 lbs. brought $100- $110; 800-900 lbs., $110-$118; 700-800 lbs., $110-$125.75; 600-700 lbs., $114-$131; 500- 600 lbs., $121-$140; 400-500 lbs., $130-$153; and 300-400 lbs., $125-$158.
Taylor Auctions, Melita:The sale held on March 31 resulted in 129 slaughter cattle and 900 feeders being sold. In the slaughter market, A1-A2 steers over 1,000 lbs. sold from $103 to $106; A1-A2 heifers over 850 lbs., $102-$104.50; D1 and D2 cows, $68-$75; D3 and D5 cows, $55-$68; and good bulls, $82-$89.50.
Feeder steers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. brought $105-$118; 800-900 lbs., $110-$120; 700- 800 lbs., $122-$135; 600-700 lbs., $130-$148; 500-600 lbs., $145-$155; 400-500 lbs., $155- $170; and 300-400 lbs., $165- $185.
Feeder heifers weighing 800- 900 lbs. traded from $110 to $118; 700-800 lbs., $115-$120; 600-700 lbs., $120-$130; 500- 600 lbs., $125-$135; 400-500 lbs., $135-$145; and 300-400 lbs., $145-$155.
Winnipeg Livestock Sales: There were a total of 1,715 head of cattle sold at the auction held April 1, of which 215 were for the slaughter sector and 1,500 went as feeders.
In the slaughter market, dry fed cows brought $67-$71; good fleshed cows, $64-$67; lean cows, $56-$64; young age verified, $60-$77; and good bulls, $87-$96.
Feeder steers weighing 900 to 1,000 lbs. sold from $105 to $117; 800-900 lbs., $115- $128.25; 700-800 lbs., $125- $136; 600-700 lbs., $130-$149; 500-600 lbs., $135-$158; and 400-500 lbs., $140-$162.50.
Feeder heifers in the 800- to 900-lb. category brought $105-$116; 700-800 lbs., $115- $120; 600-700 lbs., $122-$132; and 500-600 lbs., $125-143.50.
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– Robin Hill, Manager With Heartland At Virden
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