Several keys may unlock demand for Manitoba cattle

The Manitoba cattle market looks strong heading into the new year. Firm cattle movement in the fall at various Manitoba auction marts was seen as supportive, setting the stage for 2012. “Hopefully everything will be clear sailing right through 2012 and hopefully we’ll get another two to three years of good marketing for our producers,”

Demand For Feeders Still Strong From West, East

Cattle movement continued strong at auctions in Manitoba for the week ended Oct. 21, with firm demand. Feeder cattle, along with calves off the cows, have contributed much of the movement, said Robin Hill, manager of Heartland Livestock Services at Virden. Feedlot demand from both west and east continues exceptionally high, Hill said, noting the


Field Work Takes Priority Over Cattle Marketings

Cattle movement and prices at auctions in Manitoba maintained steady levels during the week ended Oct. 7, but activity is seen picking up over the next couple of weeks as community pastures begin to empty out. There has been a steady flow of feeders to the auction yards, but butcher animals have been on the

Larger Runs Of Calves Not Expected Till October

Ma n i – toba cattle auction yards generally reported a continuation of strong demand for yearlings and calves during the week ended Sept. 16, although the butcher animals came under a little pressure. There is aggressive trade on the yearlings, said Robin Hill of Heartland Livestock Services at Virden. New-crop calves were also starting


Manitoba’s Yearlings Are Alberta Bound

Ca t t l e mov ing through Manitoba s auction yards continued to see strong demand and prices during the week ended Sept. 9, although the start of the fall run is still a few weeks away. Yearlings accounted for most of the animals moving through the Manitoba auction yards during the week, with

U.S. Cattle Supply, Rising Loonie Pressure Prices

The week ended A u g . 1 saw a large increase in the value of the Canadian dollar, and the strong loonie has limited some of the strength seen at Manitoba auction marts over the last while. Robin Hill, manager of Heartland Livestock Services at Virden, said the majority of the animals at its


Heat Cools Sales Volumes

The hot tempera-t ures across Manitoba during the week ended July 25 limited the amount of animals that were sold, especially during sales early in the week. Heartland Livestock Services in Brandon had only 95 animals come to market at their Tuesday, July 19 sale, but with humidex values nearing – and in some areas

Demand Not Yet Taking Holiday

The cal- endar may have already hit the middle of June, but cattle prices remained fairly steady across auction marts in Manitoba during the week ended June 13. Robin Hill, manager of Heartland Livestock Services at Virden, said butcher cat-t le were very steady at their June 8 sale, in large part because of significant


High Water, Prices Not Causing Major Sell-Off

Fears that flooded pastures coupled with high prices would lead to “dumping” of cattle herds in Manitoba have so far not materialized, according to local auction marts. Buddy Bergner, manager of Ashern Auction Mart, said that although flooding in some areas and especially around Lake Manitoba has created a desperate situation, most ranchers have been

Floods Spur More Cattle, Fewer Buyers To Markets

The high Assiniboine River has not only caused a number of citizens to evacuate their homes in southern Manitoba, but also forced one Manitoba cattle auction mart to cancel its sale during the week ended May 16. Heartland Livestock Services, whose Brandon location is just south of the Assiniboine River, decided it was in its