Snow, mud, and challenging fall weather across the Prairies put a damper on cattle activity in Manitoba during the week ended Oct. 11.

“Guys aren’t really after cows right now,” remarked Harold Unrau of Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart.

He noted feeder cattle prices were under pressure compared to the week prior.

“From here right to southern Alberta, there’s snow and mud,” he said.

A winter storm warning was issued for southern Manitoba on Thursday morning, calling for 10 to 15 cm of snow and winds up to 70 km per hour. Periods of heavy snow were forecast until Saturday, with 30 to 50 cm of snow accumulating in some areas.

On top of discouraging demand, the wet and mucky conditions also kept some cattle from auction.

“A lot of guys can’t even get into their pens to haul them out,” explained Unrau. “It’ll have to dry up or freeze up for anything to change.”

When weather improves, as it is sure to do, Unrau expected both stronger volumes and demand to take some pressure off of prices.

This week, prices for 700- to 800-lb. cattle were between $155 and $197 per hundredweight. That compares to last week when prices for the same weight class were from $168 to $209.