Spring finally arrived in Manitoba as the temperature hit double-digits during the week ended April 13 and the only things higher than thermometer readings were cattle prices.
Six cattle auction sites in Manitoba hosted regular sales during the week, while Killarney Auction Mart and Winnipeg Livestock Sales were both off due to the Easter holiday. Heartland Livestock Services in Brandon also took the week off for maintenance.
Brennin Jack, manager of the Heartland auction sites in Brandon and Virden, said the warmer weather was a far cry from the “calf-killing” blizzard that blanketed much of southern Manitoba exactly one year ago.
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“We’re hoping that the real spring is here,” he said. “Currently with the high temperatures, there’s definitely some water starting to flow and I think that’s going to hold some numbers back next week. It’s looking like it’s going to be a later spring.”
At least 6,800 cattle went through the rings during the week ended April 13.
The feeder market is still offering high prices, with steers weighing up to 800 lb. being sold for more than $300 per hundredweight. The maximum price for lightweight steers was $408/cwt., $20 higher than the previous week.
With steers in shorter supply, demand for heifers has also risen and those weighing up to 700 lb. were sold for more than $300/cwt.
“We’re starting to see some replacement heifers to go out to breed, so that’s something we haven’t seen in several years. (But) more heifers are getting sold than going out to breed,” Jack said. “I really think (prices) are going to get very strong on the bred market.”
As for the slaughter market, D1 and D2 cows were sold in the $110 to $138/cwt. range. Mature bulls sold for $105 to $169.75/cwt., compared to $124 to $163 the previous week. Heiferettes sold for $100 to $196/cwt.
On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the April live cattle contract hit an all-time high at US$177.700/cwt. on April 13 before closing at $175.500/cwt. The most heavily-traded June live cattle contract also reached a record-breaking $166.275/cwt. on April 13 before ending the day at $164.500/cwt.
The April feeder cattle contract reached its highest level since September 2015 at $204/cwt. on April 13 before settling at $202.675/cwt. The highest-traded May feeder cattle contract hit a seven-year high of $210.150/cwt. on the same day before moving down to $207.800/cwt.
Jack said some cattle are staying local, but others have been moved to Alberta, Ontario and even Nebraska. He doesn’t believe there is more room for prices to go higher in the coming weeks.
“Some of those cows right at grass time (at) certain weights may pick up a little bit,” he said. “If the futures and the fat market continue to stay strong, who knows? It could continue to get stronger, but I feel as though we’re getting pretty close to hitting a peak for the spring.”
