Cattle prices and volume both climb
SASKATOON (Staff) – Prices for slaughter cattle in Alberta advanced, on average, by $3-$4 per hundredweight last week on massive volumes, Canfax reported.
Feedlots were willing sellers of more than 27,000 head, nearly half of which were bought up by Americans. Canfax said volume for the previous week was 15,000 head.
Most of the volume came early in the week.
By May 9, slaughter steers were priced from $70-$73.50, while slaughter heifers were at $70-$72.50 per cwt.
Canfax said lower wholesale prices earlier in the month definitely stimulated beef trade. Montreal’s wholesale price was up $4 per cwt. to $153, while Calgary’s range was up $3 at $122-$126 per cwt.
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Limited volumes of slaughter cows and the strength in the fed cattle market helped prices increase by an average $2-$3 per cwt. D1 and D2 cows were bid from $36-$48 a cwt. Railgrade bids were $80-$86.75.
Feeder prices were likewise helped by the improvement in slaughter prices. Volumes, too, are scarce; Canfax said the number of calves sold last week is down 28 percent compared to the first week of May and down 37 percent compared to the same week last year.
Average prices were $3-$5 per cwt. higher.
Hogs prices continue rally
Fewer hogs across most of North America allowed prices on the Prairies to jump about 10 percent per hog in a week’s time.
Saskatchewan’s average Index 100 price jumped by $7.70 per hundred kilograms to $182.50; Manitoba’s price leapt by $9.47 per ckg to $187.03 and Alberta’s price climbed by $7.50 per ckg to $182.80.
