An unusual variation in volume at the Brandon and Virden auction marts took place during the week ending Jan. 21, but spokesmen on both sides were downplaying the difference in numbers.
Heartland Livestock in Virden saw more than 2,300 cattle come through the gates during its weekly sale, while Heartland Livestock in Brandon, which has two sales weekly, saw just barely over 1,000 animals in total during the week.
When asked why numbers were rather low for the week, Keith Cleaver, manager of the Brandon unit, said, “The weather played a bit of a factor, and it’s still pretty early after Christmas. We have almost 2,000 consigned for Tuesday, so they will start to flow next week.”
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Meanwhile, Robin Hill, manager of the Virden station, said it held a pre-sort during the week, which always means larger numbers. He also said Brandon was holding pre-sort this week, so the tables would likely be turned.
“They’re having their big sale this week, while we aren’t going to,” Hill said. “We tried to beat the rush, and the early bird gets the worm, I guess.”
Despite the lower numbers, Cleaver said, the market in Brandon continued to be very strong and prices were steady to a bit higher.
“Demand has been strong,” he said. “Most of the cattle have been staying in Canada. The East has been taking a fair bit of cattle.”
Prices were very good in Virden as well, Hill said.
Producers in the southwest part of the province are not short on feed for the winter, Cleaver said, but noted one factor was becoming a bit of a worry for cattle farmers.
“The only concern is the cost of feed. Grain is getting up there, with some supply worries,” he said. “But there is still lots of hay for sale. Everybody is pretty good, feed-wise, around here.”
Meanwhile, after steadily regressing over the past five years, Canada’s cattle herd may finally be stabilizing.
Speaking at the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Symposium in Saskatoon, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association president Travis Toews said he expects to see Canadian cattle numbers stay status quo throughout 2011, at 4.3 million head. Statistics Canada will release its cattle inventory number for the second half of 2010 next month.
Cattle numbers in all major beef-producing nations are down, with the exception of Brazil.
In other cattle news, Taiwan has said it will increase ractopamine testing on North American beef to 20 per cent (from five per cent), after eight cases were found in shipments from the U.S., and one from Canada.
Consumers in the country have expressed concern about the situation even though Taiwan health officials stressed the levels found were far below those that would cause any public health concerns.
Ractopamine is not approved for use in Taiwan.
FROM THE AUCTION FLOORS
Note:AllpricesinCanadian dollarsperhundredweight.These pricesalsogenerallyrepresentthe topone-thirdofsalesreportedby theauctionyard.
Ashern Livestock Mart:An estimated 905 head of cattle were sold at the sale held Jan. 19.
In the slaughter market, D1 and D2 cows sold anywhere from $50 to $57; D3 and D5 cows, $46-$52; age verified, $57-$62.75; and good bulls, $60-$71.75.
Feeder steers weighing 800-900 lbs. brought $115-$124.75; 700- 800 lbs., $114-$130.25; 600-700 lbs., $120-$140; and 500-600 lbs., $134-$158.
Feeder heifers weighing 700- 800 lbs. brought $107-$116; 600- 700 lbs., $107-$128.50; 500-600 lbs., $116-$135.25; and 400-500 lbs., $118-$134.50.
Gladstone Auction Mart:The Jan. 18 sale saw a total of 802 head of cattle sold at the Gladstone yard. In the slaughter market, bulls sold from $55 to $66.25 while cows brought $25-$60.
Feeder steers in the 900-to 1,000-lb. weight category traded from $90 to $111; 800-900 lbs., $90-$121.50; 700-800 lbs., $100- $125.75; 600-700 lbs., $110- $134.75; 500-600 lbs., $120- $145.50; 400-500 lbs., $120-$156; and 300-400 lbs., $130-$140.
Feeder heifers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. went for $90-$106.25; 800-900 lbs., $90-$106.50; 700-800 lbs., $90-$112; 600-700 lbs., $100- $121; 500-600 lbs., $95-$130.25; 400-500 lbs., $105-$132.25; and 300-400 lbs., $120-$135.
Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart:There were 95 slaughter cattle and 258 feeders sold at the Grunthal yard on Jan. 19. In the slaughter market, fleshy export cows traded from $53 to $58; lean export cows, $47-$52; mature cows, $45-$50; feeding cows, $55- $62; export bulls, $61-$65; and mature bulls, $57-$62.
Feeder heifers weighing 800- 900 lbs. sold from $89-$99; 700- 800 lbs., $98-$109; 600-700 lbs., $108-$114; 500-600 lbs., $114- $130; 400-500 lbs., $129-$139; and under 400 lbs., $125-$135.
Feeder steers weighing 800-900 lbs. ranged from $100 to $116; 700-800 lbs., $115-$125; 600- 700 lbs., $125-$135; 500-600 lbs., $132-$146; 400-500 lbs., $140- $160; and under 400 lbs., $140- $155.
Heartland Livestock Services, Brandon:A total of 480 cattle were on offer in Brandon at the Jan. 18 sale. In the slaughter market, D1-D2 cows went for $54- $62.50; D3 cows, $48-$54; and good bulls, $67-$71.
Feeder steers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. ranged from $102 to $113; 800-900 lbs., $108-$120; 700-800 lbs., $113-$127; 600- 700 lbs., $114-$131; 500-600 lbs., $124-$144; 400-500 lbs., $133- $151.50; and 300-400 lbs., $136- $155.
Feeder heifers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. brought $92-$104; 800- 900 lbs., $100-$108; 700-800 lbs., $106-$117; 600-700 lbs., $110- $123; 500-600 lbs., $114-$129; 400-500 lbs., $117-$131.50; and 300-400 lbs., $118-$134.
Heartland Livestock Services, Virden:There were about 2,341 cattle sold at the sale held Jan. 19.
Butcher steers brought $88- $93 while butcher heifers sold from $87 to $91.50. Age-verified/ young cows ranged from $55 to $61; D1 and D2 cows, $54-$59.50; D3 cows, $50-$54; shelly cows, $35-$45; and mature bulls, $68- $73.50.
Feeder steers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. brought $107-$115; 800-900 lbs., $110-$120.25; 700- 800 lbs., $114-$127; 600-700 lbs., $121-$137.50; 500-600 lbs., $130- $148; and 400-500 lbs., $138- $161.
Feeder heifers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. traded from $97 to $104; 800-900 lbs., $101-$112.50; 700-800 lbs., $107-$118; 600- 700 lbs., $110-$122; 500-600 lbs., $114-$130; and 400-500 lbs., $120-$139.
Killarney Auction Mart:There were about 898 cattle sold at the sale held Jan. 20. In the slaughter market, D1 and D2 cows sold from $59 to $65, while D3 and D4 cows went for $48-$58. Slaughter bulls sold from $61.75 to $71.50.
Feeder steers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. brought $99-$108.50; 800-900 lbs., $108.50-$117; 700- 800 lbs., $114.50-$123.50; 600- 700 lbs., $120-$134; 500-600 lbs., $125-$144.50; 400-500 lbs., $141.50-$158; and under 400 lbs., $152-$171.
Feeder heifers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. traded from $84.50 to $95.50; 800-900 lbs., $94.50- $109.50; 700-800 lbs., $98-$113; 600-700 lbs., $112-$119.50; 500- 600 lbs., $119-$130.50; 400-500 lbs., $126-$140; 300-400 lbs., $132-$148; and under 300 lbs., $109.50.
Ste. Rose Auction Mart:A total of 1,654 cattle were sold at the Jan. 20 sale. In the slaughter market, D1 and D2 cows ranged from $55 to $63; D3 and D4 cows, $45- $54; canners, $25-$41; and bulls, $65-$77.
Feeder steers weighing 800- 900 lbs. brought $110-$124; 700- 800 lbs., $112-$129; 600-700 lbs., $125-$137; 500-600 lbs., $140- $156; 400-500 lbs., $140-$161; and 300-400 lbs., $145-$166.
Feeder heifers weighing 800- 900 lbs. brought $100-$109; 700- 800 lbs., $105-$119; 600-700 lbs., $115-$132.50; 500-600 lbs., $125- $138; 400-500 lbs., $130-$145; and 300-400 lbs., $115-$134.
Taylor Auctions, Melita:The sale held Jan. 20 resulted in 120 slaughter cattle and 697 feeders being sold. In the slaughter market, D1 and D2 cows sold from $52 to $63; D3 and D5 cows, $45-$51.50; and good bulls, $60-$72.
Feeder steers weighing 900- 1,000 lbs. brought $98-$117.50; 800-900 lbs., $110-$124; 700-800 lbs., $120-$132; 600-700 lbs., $126-$148; 500-600 lbs., $138- $155; 400-500 lbs., $138-$157; and 300-400 lbs., $150-$168.
Feeder heifers weighing 800- 900 lbs. traded from $97 to $109.50; 700-800 lbs., $107-$126; 600-700 lbs., $115-$131; 500- 600 lbs., $122-$136; 400-500 lbs., $126-$140; and 300-400 lbs., $130-$144.
Winnipeg Livestock Sales: Prices unavailable from this week’s sale.
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BRENT HARDER
