Prices at Manitoba’s eight cattle auctions have plateaued for now, but Scott Anderson of Winnipeg Livestock Auction Sales says they are likely to remain strong for now.
“When we came back in January, every week things were a little bit higher. But it’s the same old story, though. How high can you go?” Anderson said last week.
Between Winnipeg’s Feb. 16 and 23 sales, most feeder cattle prices did not change. However, the top end for a few weight categories saw some movement. For example, the 400- to 500-pound steers had their high side dip from $511 per hundredweight on Feb. 16 to $500 on Feb. 23. Meanwhile, 300-400 lb. steers had their top end rise from $525 to $545/cwt. between those sales.
Read Also
Canadian canola prices hinge on rain forecast
Canola markets took a good hit during the week ending July 11, 2025, on the thought that the Canadian crop will yield well despite dry weather.
As for feeder heifers, 700-800 lb. animals had their top price increase from $320/cwt. on Feb. 16 to $344 on Feb. 23.
“The fat cattle are worth lots of money,” Anderson said, noting feed grain prices have been declining. “And if you can make them fatter for less money, everybody wants to own some.”
Prices for feed barley and wheat have dropped over the last month. Barley has lost 15 to 39 cents per bushel across Western Canada, with old-crop prices as of Feb. 29 at $4.32 to $6.25/bu. delivered, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. A year ago barley prices were $2.25 to $3.11 higher than now.
It is a similar story for feed wheat, with prices losing 10 to 41 cents in the last month and sitting at $7.11 to $8.57/bu. Over the last 12 months, wheat backtracked by $2.88 to $3.35/bu.
Anderson said the price of U.S. corn imports continued to drop as well.
One thing that’s set to change is the number of cattle coming to market, he added.
