Before Manitoba cattle auction sites and producers take a break for the winter holiday season, they are being given an early gift of strong cattle prices.
During the week of Dec. 15, lightest steers ranged from $260 to $346 per hundredweight, compared to a similar range of $260-$351/cwt during the previous week. The minimum price for a steer was $190/cwt during both weeks.
Prices for the lightest heifers ranged from $225 to $287/cwt, while the range for the week before was $181-$263.
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“(Last week), we saw some really strong prices on feeder cattle, not to mention we’re seeing some pretty big strings of the first-cut, first-choice cattle, which made a big difference on the market,” said Tyler Slawinski, auctioneer at Gladstone and Ashern Auction Marts.
“This week, things looked a little softer on paper, but I don’t think the market was that much softer. It was a decent market overall.
“I don’t know if the numbers are going to be as strong going into the New Year with as many cattle as we’ve sold this fall, but I think time will tell.”
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Slaughter cattle prices were a step higher during the week ended Dec. 15 with D1 and D2 cows selling in a range of $65 to $103/cwt. The previous week’s range was $65-$91. Mature bulls were between $100 and $142.50/cwt, compared to $75-$142 the week before.
“Slaughter cows picked up over the last couple of weeks,” Slawinski said. “Whether cows are being put away for next year, and if so, that will be promising on the cow side of things because it leads to stronger prices down the road.”
On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the February live cattle contract closed at US$154.85/cwt on Dec. 15, gaining 92.5 cents from one week earlier. The January feeder cattle contract ended Dec. 15 at $183.05/cwt, slightly lower than its $183.475 close on Dec. 8.
Feeder and bred cattle sold at auction are being transported to Ontario, Slawinski added, but rising trucking costs may cause buyers to look elsewhere.
“Trucks have been an issue all fall and they are still a bit of a problem. We’re short on drivers and we’re short on trucks. There aren’t enough guys doing it anymore.”
Slawinski is expecting a quieter market heading into the New Year, but prices may move soon after.
“As we start running out of big numbers of cattle, supply and demand probably should kick in and maybe we’ll see a premium on some backgrounded calves, which we haven’t seen for a number of years.”
