Winnipeg Livestock Auction finally had the opportunity to hold a proper sale following some disappointing outings that were sharply reduced due to frigid weather and winter storms that kept both buyers and sellers at home.
There were 100 sheep and goats delivered for the Feb. 20 auction. Producers and buyers had high expectations and anything could have happened. But even with that anticipation in the air, few expected the exciting bidding at this sale, likely a reflection of buyers with low supplies.
In the sheep sale, two groups of ewes set the tone off the mark, with an exciting round of bidding reaching unexpected prices of $1.51 and $1.47/lb. There were no rams delivered to this sale.
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Moving on to the lambs, 15 134-pound Suffolk-cross lambs continued this unusual bidding, fetching $1.64/lb.
The market lambs maintained this bidding pattern. The lighter-weight market lambs garnered a bit more buyer attention, compared to the slightly heavier market lambs. Twenty-two 91-pound Katahdin-cross lambs brought $2.10/lb.
The feeder lambs created their own excitement, with only one group available for buyers. The 12 83-pound lambs brought $2.23/lb.
The lighter lambs maintained and built on the buyer excitement. Two 70-pound Clun Forest-cross lambs brought $2.35/lb. Three 70-pound lambs brought $2.30/lb. Ten 64-pound lambs brought $2.29/lb.
There’s still plenty of winter left ahead of us and buyers appeared reluctant to risk their chance with low-weight lambs. It’s been a difficult winter to calculate the raising costs.
Eleven 50-pound Rideau-cross lambs brought $1.10/lb. Nine 39-pound lambs brought $1/lb.
Goat does garnered much of the interest, with La Mancha representing the goat doe dairy class.
One lower-weight buck still earned high bids. The animal appeared to have Sannen-cross characteristics, and so likely had multiple purpose. A larger Alpine-cross wether was notably nervous in the arena.
The goat kid class saw strong bidding, reflecting the limited delivery during past sales.
The Ontario Stockyard Report differed sharply from the local market. The latest issue indicated all classes sold, but with lower bidding and little buyer interest.
