Cattle prices remain strong in grass season

Prices are drawing animals that might ordinarily stay on pasture

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Published: June 21, 2024

Beef cattle dig into deep pasture growth in southern Manitoba. PHOTO: ALEXIS STOCKFORD

Most cattle auction sites in Manitoba were closed during the week ended June 20, but it was business as usual at Heartland Livestock Services in Virden.

After a two-week absence, cattle returned to the rings in Virden on June 19 with 1,562 head on offer. Manager Brennin Jack said it was a “huge sale for this time of year” with prices exceeding historical levels.

“The market was very strong. I’d say the cows and bulls were fairly steady but the feeder cattle were $5 to $20 (per hundredweight) higher in spots,” he said.

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“The fats coming out of Ontario have certainly hampered some of the cow movement to the plants, but anything going to grass weighing 600 to 800 pounds were selling very well.”

Virden, Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart, Ste. Rose Auction Mart and Winnipeg Livestock Sales were the only sites that held regular sales during the week.

Feeder steers weighing 600 to 700 lb.. were sold at a range of $325 to $460/cwt. compared to $335 to $435/cwt. the previous week. Feeder heifers in the same weight class ranged from $315 to $385, compared to $290 to $372 the week before.

D1 and D2 cows sold for $140 to $194/cwt with the high price down $11 from one week earlier. Mature bulls ranged from $155 to $239 compared to $206 to $247.50/cwt. the week before. Heiferettes went for $160 to $253/cwt., while the previous week’s prices were $180 to $249/cwt.

Pastures in many areas of the Prairies are in the best condition in years, but high prices are leading producers to sell some of their grass cattle, according to Jack.

“In a regular year, I think a lot of people would be keeping some of these cattle that we’re selling right now. But at these historic levels, I wouldn’t blame them for selling them.”

Both August live and feeder cattle contracts at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange added to their strength during the week. August live cattle closed at US$182.55/cwt. on June 20 for a weekly gain of $5.70. On June 17, the contract hit its highest price since March 21 at $183.70/cwt.

The August feeder cattle contract closed at $259.825/cwt. on June 20, up $1.35 from one week earlier. On June 17, the contract reached $263.075/cwt., the highest level since May 29.

Cattle sold at the auction in Virden were going to Ontario and Western Canada as well as staying local, Jack said. Workers at the Cargill plant in Guelph, Ont., have been on strike since May 27 and workers at the case ready plant in Calgary voted on June 4 and 5 to walk off the job as well. Jack thinks that could slow momentum in cow trade.

“It’s certainly hampering some of the cow market, but it’s still very strong even with this issue happening.”

He also predicts the amount of grass in Manitoba will result in a strong cattle market going into fall.

“All systems sure point to go right now,” Jack said.

About the author

Adam Peleshaty

Adam Peleshaty

Reporter

Adam Peleshaty is a longtime resident of Stonewall, Man., living next door to his grandparents’ farm. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in statistics from the University of Winnipeg. Before joining Glacier FarmMedia, Adam was an award-winning community newspaper reporter in Manitoba's Interlake. He is a Winnipeg Blue Bombers season ticket holder and worked as a timekeeper in hockey, curling, basketball and football.

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