MarketsFarm – Dry pasture conditions in Manitoba mean cattle markets may make for a busier fall than normal.
“The yearling run is right around the corner,” remarked Robin Hill of Heartland Livestock Auction Ltd. in Virden.
Dry pasture conditions and rising feed prices are expected to speed up cattle volumes to auction in the fall, after many locations take a summer hiatus.
“We’re running out of pasture this way, and I know the Interlake is maybe even worse off,” Hill said.
According to Manitoba Agriculture’s most recent crop report, pasture conditions are rapidly declining across the province due to hot, dry weather. In the Northwest region, pasture conditions are rated as 50 per cent good-to-fair and 50 per cent poor-to-very poor. In the Central region, the report expects livestock owners to begin supplementing feed on pasture lands soon, if they haven’t began to do so already.
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Fed cattle and bulls are also likely to come to market sooner than anticipated, due to drier-than-average summer weather.
“Dry conditions should bring the calves and feeders to town a little early this fall,” said Hill.
This week, fed cattle prices were up by C$2 to C$4 in some locations.
