Fed cattle remain steady
SASKATOON (Staff) – Fed cattle prices held onto gains made in late October last week and top-quality cattle even added $1 per cwt. to the price. Canfax reported steers and heifers weighing less than 1,300 lbs. were trading between $86.50 and $88 per cwt.
Trade early in the week was brisk, with more than 15,000 head sold thanks to U.S. buyers early in the week and local packers from the middle of the week. Cattle weighing more than 1,400 lbs. were priced $1-2 per cwt. less than those in the 1,300-lb. range.
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Feeder cattle traded steady this past week: a good sign after two months of falling prices. Canfax said more than 32,000 head traded in southern Alberta, which Canfax said qualifies as a full-out run. Volumes in Alberta were up 10 percent from the week before at 89,000 head. Saskatchewan sold not quite 36,000 head and Manitoba almost 8,000 head.
Average prices for 600-700 lb. steers in Alberta was $105 per cwt. in the north to $109 in the south. Saskatchewan averages were $108.20 while Manitoba steers in this class brought $111.17.
Hogs mixed
U.S. hog prices continued to drop last week, with cash hogs in Omaha down 75 cents on the week at $31.25 (U.S.).
The news in Canada, however, was a little better, with Saskatchewan and Manitoba hog prices gaining on the week, while Alberta lost. Average pool price in Saskatchewan was $104.60 up by 20 cents per ckg, while Manitoba posted a gain of $1.51 and Alberta’s price dropped.
Statistics Canada’s hog inventory report shows breeding stock on Canadian hog farms as of Oct. 1 was virtually the same as 1993 at 1.15 million head. Of all other pigs, supplies of those weighing more than 60 kg were up by three percent compared to 1993, at 3.15 million head.
Total pigs on farms stands at 10.97 million, up one percent from 1993.
