Slaughter cattle down
SASKATOON (Staff) – Slaughter cattle demand opened the Easter holiday week at steady prices, Canfax reports. But by midweek early hints of weaker prices were apparent. By April 3, prices were down by 50 cents to $1 per hundredweight.
Trade on April 3 saw steers trading from $75.10 to $76.20 per cwt., with heifers ranging from $73.75-$76.20. Top heifer price was $77.40.
Calves continue to make up a greater proportion of the offering, which is making older cattle more difficult to sell, Canfax said.
Cow prices were mostly steady. D1 and D2 cows traded from $38-$51 per cwt. liveweight, with top prices paid from $52-$53. Railgrade bids ranged from $85-$88. Feeder cattle prices were steady, with some undercurrents of strength on those weighing between 600 and 900 pounds.
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Hogs mixed
Saskatchewan was the only market where hog prices gained last week. All other provinces fell due to the Easter holiday.
Saskatchewan producers sent 3,000 fewer hogs to market for an average Index 100 pooled price of $166.80 per hundred kilograms, up $1.20. Manitoba marketings were off by 8,000 head for an average price of $168.47 per ckg., down 20 cents per ckg. Alberta’s marketings were off by 4,000 hogs, for an average price of $167.50, down $3.50 per ckg.
Sheep prices
Prices from the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board were $1.14 per pound for slaughter lambs and $1.30 for new crop lambs. Slaughter sheep ranged from 35-40 cents/lb., while goats ranged from 50-60 cents/lb.
