Ca t t l e auction results in Manitoba during the week ended May 15 were varied. In the slaughter market, auctioneers repor ted mainly steady to stronger prices for cows and bulls. Results for feeders varied with location, with some marts enjoying strong, active trade, while others saw prices ease for all weight categories.

Randy Tkachyk, cattle producer and auction manager at Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart, said prices for cows and bulls have been steady for the last three weeks while feeder prices have softened.

The downside pressure on feeder cattle has had a lot to do with the recent move in the Canadian dollar, he said. During the reporting period, the Canadian dollar touched six-month highs versus the U. S. dollar, near the US87-cent mark. Interest from U. S. buyers had been still evident at the sales, but the producers’ return has slipped due to the currency’s uptick, Tkachyk said.

BRED COWS, COW/CALF PAIRS

On the selling side, calls have been coming in from producers with bred cows and cow/calf pairs to sell, he said.

After bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was confirmed in Canada in 2003, prices for those animals dropped so sharply that many producers were forced to hang onto their supplies. Now, an improvement in prices has given producers looking to move bred cows and cow/calf pairs the opportunity to do so while still netting a decent return for them, Tkachyk said.

In western Manitoba, prices through the ring at the Brandon sale were mainly steady compared to the previous week’s values, according to Keith Cleaver, manager of Heartland Livestock Services in Brandon.

“All weights of feeders were pretty much steady to last week. Fat steers were in the 83 to 86 range and heifers ranged from about 82 to 84.50,” Cleaver said.

As in recent weeks, the number of cattle on offer was strong, at roughly 1,100 head. Local buyers accounted for much of the demand for lightweight cattle, while purchasers from Western Canada secured many of the animals sold in the heavier-weight classes.

Cleaver noted good demand and firm prices for cow/calf pairs.

“I think some guys are short on grassers and given their prices, they have decided instead to go with cow/calf pairs. Pairs this week ran from $1,200 to $1,400, which is a small positive for the cattle market,” he said.

FROM THE AUCTION FLOORS

Note: All prices in Canadian dollars per hundredweight (cwt). These prices also generally represent the top one-third of sales reported by the auction yard.

Due to an early deadline on account of the Victoria Day long weekend, the May 15 auction results from Winnipeg Livestock Sales Ltd. were not included in this week’s report.

Ashern Livestock Mart: An estimated 1,223 head of cattle were sold at the sale held on May 13.

In the slaughter market, older shelly cows sold for $15 and up, while D1 and D2 cows traded from $50 to $66. D3 and D5 cows brought $40-$48. Good bulls sold from $60 to $70.25.

Feeder steers weighing 800-900 lbs. ranged from $88 to $104; 700-800 lbs., $88-$109; 600-700 lbs., $107-$121; 500-600 lbs., $114-$126; and 400-500 lbs., $118-$128. Feeder heifers, 800-900 lbs., fetched from $85 to $97; 700-800 lbs., $90-$104; 600-700 lbs., $100-$109; 500-600 lbs., $100-$119.50; and 400-500 lbs., $100-$120.

Gladstone Auction Mart: The May 12 sale saw a total of 671 head of cattle sold at the Gladstone yard. In the slaughter market, bulls sold from $54 to $66 while cows brought $15-$50, with age verified up to $65.

Feeder steers in the 900-to 1,000-lb. weight category traded from $80 to $93.50; 800-900 lbs., $80-$95.50; 700-800 lbs., $84-$113.50; 600-700 lbs., $95-$118.50; 500-600 lbs., $100-$126; 400-500 lbs., $101-$133.50; and 300-400 lbs., $105-$130.

Feeder heifers weighing 900-1,000 lbs. sold from $65 to $77; 800-900 lbs., $65-$87; 700-800 lbs., $75-$109; 600-700 lbs., $80-$110; 500-600 lbs., $80-$119.50; 400-500 lbs., $83-$122; and 300-400 lbs., $91-$113.50.

Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart: There were 111 slaughter cattle and 353 feeders sold at the Grunthal yard May 13.

In the slaughter market, age-verified cows brought $52-$59, mature cows traded from $43 to $48.50 and lean cows saw $30-$36. Age-verified bulls fetched $53-$59 and mature bulls $45-$52.

Feeder heifers weighing 900-1,000 lbs. sold from $68 to $82; 800-900 lbs., $75.50-$88; 700-800 lbs., $80-$96.50; 600-700 lbs., $83-$105; and 500-600 lbs., $96-$119.

Feeder steers weighing 900-1,000 lbs. sold from $74 to $88.75; 800-900 lbs., $81-$94; 700-800 lbs., $85-$99.50; 600-700 lbs., $90-$114; 500-600 lbs., $93-$118; 400-500 lbs., $97-$121; and under 400 lbs., $98-$126.

Heartland Livestock Services, Brandon: A total of 1,000 cattle were on offer in Brandon during the week.

A1-A2 steers sold from $84 to $86.25 and A1-A2 heifers for $82-$85. D1-D2 cows brought $50-$58.78; D3, $38-$49; shellys, $15-$37; and good bulls, $65-$71.75.

Feeder steers weighing 900-1,000 lbs. saw $89-$96; 800-900 lbs., $95-$103; 700-800 lbs., $98-$109.75; 600-700 lbs., $102-$115; 500-600 lbs., $105-$118; 400-500 lbs., $110-$133; and 300-400 lbs., $105-$122. Feeder heifers weighing 900-1,000 lbs., sold for $88.50; 800-900 lbs., $85-$93; 700-800 lbs., $90-$102; 600-700 lbs., $95-$108; 500-600 lbs., $100-$114; and 400-500 lbs., $100-$116.

Heartland Livestock Services, Virden: There were 608 cattle sold at the auction held May

13. Butcher steers brought $83-$86.25, while butcher heifers sold from $81 to $85.50. Ageverified/ young cows sold for $54-$59; D1-D2 cows, $52-$57; D3 cows, $47-$51; shelly cows, $37-$46 and mature bulls, $66-$72.75.

Feeder steers weighing 900-1,000 lbs. brought $88-$96; 800-900 lbs., $95-$105; 700-800 lbs., $100-$111; 600-700 lbs., $110-$120.75; 500-600 lbs., $115-$129; and 400-500 lbs., $118-$130. Feeder heifers weighing 900-1,000 lbs. traded from $84 to $92.25; 800-900 lbs., $90-$98.50; 700-800 lbs., $95-$105; 600-700 lbs., $100-$110; 500-600 lbs., $103-$113.50; and 400-500 lbs., $105-$116.

Pipestone Livestock Sales: There were 327 cattle sold at the May 11 auction. Included in the sale were 49 slaughter animals and 278 feeders.

In the slaughter market, cows brought $38-$73; heifers, $84.75-$87.25; and bulls traded from $52 to $70.75.

Feeder steers weighing 800-900 lbs. fetched $82-$97; 700-800 lbs., $94-$111.50; 600-700 lbs., $97.50-$119.75; 500-600 lbs., $95-$130.75; 400-500 lbs., $115-$134.50; and 300-400 lbs., $64-$126.

Feeder heifers weighing over 1,000 lbs. saw $78-$81.50; 900-1,000 lbs., $80; 800-900 lbs., $90; 700-800 lbs., $86.50-$104; 600-700 lbs., $95-$110; 500-600 lbs., $94-$112.50; 400-500 lbs., $84.50-$115; and 300-400 lbs., $94-$113.50.

Ste. Rose Auction Mart: A total of 445 cattle were sold at the May 14 auction.

In the slaughter market, D1 and D2 cows ranged from $50 to $59, while D3 cows brought $30-$48 and bulls sold from $60 to $74.

Feeder steers weighing 800-900 lbs. traded from $90 to $100; 600-700 lbs., $110-$120; 500-600 lbs., $115-$125; and 400-500 lbs., $110-$130. Feeder heifers weighing 700-800 lbs. sold from $98 to $103; 600-700 lbs., $102-$106.75; and 500-600 lbs., $105-$113.

Taylor Auctions, Melita: The May 14 auction saw 90 slaughter cattle and 166 feeders sold.

In the slaughter market, A1-A2 steers over 1,000 lbs. traded from $84 to $87; A1-A2 heifers over 850 lbs., $80-$84; D1 and D2 cows, $50-$58; and D3 and D5 cows, from $45 to $50.

Feeder steers in the 900-to 1,000-lb. category ranged from $85 to $95; 800-900 lbs., $90-$108; 700-800 lbs., $95-$119; 600-700 lbs., $95-$116; 500-600 lbs., $100-$120; 400-500 lbs., $105-$124; and 300-400 lbs., $110-$128.

Feeder heifers weighing 800-900 lbs. fetched $82-$92; 700-800 lbs., $85-$100; 600-700 lbs., $90-$105; 500-600 lbs., $95-$108; 400-500 lbs., $100-$112; and 300-400 lbs., from $100 to $115.

Winnipeg Livestock Sales: There were 197 head of cattle sold at the auction held May

12. In the slaughter market, dry fed cows brought $45-$50; good fleshed, $40-$45; lean cows $35-$40; young age verified, $50-$59.50; and good bulls, from $66 to $72.