The fall run was in full swing across Manitoba’s cattle auction yards during the week ended Nov. 10. Prices held reasonably steady for feeder cattle but butcher cows came under pressure.
Top end butcher cows have lost roughly $10 per hundredweight over the past month, and the seasonal increase in numbers coming to market is behind much of the weakness. At this time of year ranchers are pregnancy-testing their cows and moving open ones to market.
“We see it every year,” said Allan Munroe, of the Killarney Auction Mart, on increased cow numbers. He said bids are still about $20 higher than they were at the same time a year ago.
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D1 and D2 butcher cows were generally bringing $80 to $90 per cwt. in the province during the week.
“Butcher cattle are dropping now as lots of culls are coming to town across the Prairies,” added Winnipeg Livestock Sales in its weekly report.
On the feeder side, bids held firm for most classes despite increased fall volumes.
“There was excellent demand on all classes of feeder cattle this week,” said the Winnipeg Livestock Sales Nov. 4 report. “With the fall run in full swing and auction marts getting swamped with calves, buyers will become more selective in their buying. The spread between top end calves and second cut cattle will become larger.”
Munroe said strong demand is evident, “and it’s been a very steady fall even considering the volumes of cattle coming and the (issues with) trucking. We need more livestock haulers.”
High fuel prices and inflation are affecting truck availability.
“Every available truck seems to find a load,” said Munroe, whether cattle are going east or west. Some yearlings are also heading south, although younger calves are staying in Canada.
There were good silage and feed grain crops this year, so local demand for feeder cattle is also solid, Munroe said. While grain isn’t cheap and the cost of gain is still high, the overall feed situation is more comfortable than last year.
Bred cattle sales are popping up around the province, with Killarney running one every week into December.
“Hopefully we get some people who want to buy some bred cows … if someone is looking, there will certainly be opportunities.”
The increase in bred cow sales comes as numerous people exit the industry after struggling over the past year, which “is not what we’d care to see,” said Munroe.
