Increasing feed costs could temper cattle market strength

Increasing feed costs could temper cattle market strength

Strength in the Canadian dollar may also drag on beef cattle traffic

Prices for cattle moving through Manitoba’s auction yards held relatively steady during the week ended June 11, although activity was slowing down for the summer. Good rains during the week across much of the province should help ease concerns over dry pastures and forage crops, although more moisture will be needed going forward. Strong demand for beef has

Thinning cattle numbers pass through Grunthal

Thinning cattle numbers pass through Grunthal

Some producers kept cattle back on improved pastures

Despite the number of cattle headed to market declining with the greening of pastures, the Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart will continue to press ahead with its weekly auctions, according to manager and field rep Harold Unrau. “We only shut down for the week of July long and the week of August long,” he said. For


Recent snowstorm a mixed blessing for cattle markets

Recent snowstorm a mixed blessing for cattle markets

It kept cattle at home, but more precipitation was, and is, needed

After weeks of above-average temperatures and dry conditions, a snowstorm travelling across southern Manitoba on April 12-13 affected local cattle markets during the week ending April 15. The system, which brought 10-15 centimetres of snow to most areas, prompted many to wait until next week before selling their animals. Auction sites at both Ashern and

Auction action accelerates on warmer spring weather

Auction action accelerates on warmer spring weather

Buyers Down East are now more current in their cattle purchases

Spring weather kept cattle auction yards across Manitoba busy during the last ‘official’ week of winter, as producers were busy moving animals before pastures green up and attention turns to field work. “It’s been an incredibly busy month all over Manitoba for cattle marketing ever since things warmed up after the cold snap,” said Allan

Pipestone fire a loss for Manitoba markets

Pipestone fire a loss for Manitoba markets

Top-end bids for feeder cattle show signs of coming off

Manitoba’s cattle sector took a hit during the week as a fire destroyed the historic Pipestone Livestock Sales yard in the southwestern corner of the province. The blaze started at around 6:30 p.m. on March 1, with over 80 per cent of the structures and equipment engulfed in flames and destroyed, according to owner Gene


Cattle sales recover from February cold snap

Cattle sales recover from February cold snap

Feed values and the Canadian dollar are up, Chicago live cattle futures down

After frigid temperatures affected most of Manitoba earlier in February, cattle sellers made up for lost time as thousands of cattle poured through the rings during the week ending Feb. 26. More than 14,000 cattle were auctioned off across the province, including at least 13,000 feeders. By comparison, at least 7,000 cattle in total were sold at

Manitoba fall cattle run comes to an end

Manitoba fall cattle run comes to an end

Local beef plants showed some demand for slaughter cattle

The fall run in the Manitoba cattle industry largely wrapped up on the week ended Dec. 17. As that large influx of cattle came to an end for 2020, prices for feeders were down a few cents per pound and those for slaughter were up a few cents, according to Harold Unrau, manager of the

Cattle hold steady with fall run winding down

Cattle hold steady with fall run winding down

Barley and wheat values are stronger, pressuring cattle values farther west

As the fall run continues at Manitoba’s cattle auctions, prices held steady, according to Tyler Slawinski, an auctioneer at the Ashern and Ste. Rose auction marts. “The fall run is still booming. We were full on; Ashern had nearly 2,900 and Ste. Rose had almost 2,600,” he said. Province-wide, auctions sold more than 15,000 head


Cattle values expected to drop in coming weeks

Cattle values expected to drop in coming weeks

The chance of COVID-19 hitting packers again has cattle markets on edge

Feeder cattle prices at Manitoba’s cattle auctions have been steadily rising, though the rally isn’t expected to last for much longer. “With futures dropping and grain prices going up, I expect (prices) will stay steady or drop a bit next week,” Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart manager Harold Unrau said. Feed grain prices in Western Canada have been

Rising Chicago futures lift prices against higher loonie

Rising Chicago futures lift prices against higher loonie

Sale prices rose a few dollars, Virden’s Hill reports

Auction prices increased this week by $2-$3 per hundredweight (cwt) at Heartland Livestock Services’ auction at Virden on July 22, according to Robin Hill, the auction’s manager. “The one thing about the feeder cattle, we’ve really seen the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) really take off last week,” he said. Futures values at the CME are