Cattle prices in Manitoba remained strong throughout the month of September, and prices have firmed up as the fall run begins.

“We’re going to see volume get fairly big after Thanksgiving,” remarked Robin Hill of Virden’s Heartland Livestock Auction on Oct. 9.

“Volumes at every auction mart are going to increase drastically.”

Last week, auctions across Manitoba saw approximately 2,500 cattle head to the ring. This week, just over 4,000 came to auction.

Prices at Virden’s auction were mostly steady this week, with heavier-weight feeder cattle coming under some pressure.

This week, 800- to 900-pound feeder steers were between $167 and $173 per hundredweight. That compares to last week, when the same weight class was between $164 and $175.

“When we get a bit more volume for the buyers to work with, sometimes that brings more orders out,” remarked Hill, noting that cattle are going both west and east.

“We weren’t in full swing, but next week we will be,” he said.

“The next three weeks will be the busiest of the year.”