Average fed cattle prices were up more than $1 per hundredweight last week.
Canfax said fed calves made up 65 percent of the total offering, but two year olds fetched the highest price because they are more likely to grade AAA.
Wholesale beef prices remain sluggish, although movement in the United States has improved. The Safeway strike in Alberta slowed some business here. Montreal wholesale price was steady at $167 per cwt. and the Calgary price increased by $1 to $136-$143.
Canfax says the outlook is for more fed cattle coming on the market, but awakening beef demand in the U.S. should support prices. Canfax thinks fed cattle prices this week could edge up another dollar.
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Feeder cattle prices also improved last week, particularly on heavier classes. Volume was up 23 percent over the week before and up 40 percent over the same week in 1996.
Canfax believes the good demand will continue for at least another week.
Weaker dollar boosts hog prices
Prairie hog prices were up $7-$8 per 100 kilograms thanks to the weaker Canadian dollar and rising U.S. prices.
In Omaha, hogs increased to $56.50 per cwt. by the end of last week, up about $3.
Although Japan, South Korea and Singapore all have banned pork imports from Taiwan because of hoof-and-mouth disease, 13 countries have said they will import Taiwanese pork if its quarantine regulations are met.
The Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board reports old crop lambs sold for $1.25 per lb., new crop lambs $1.40-$1.50 per lb., slaughter sheep 40 cents a lb. and goats 55 cents.
