Hog numbers pick up
SASKATOON (Staff) – Despite storms and frigid temperatures, prairie hog producers sent a pile of naimals to better-prices markets last week.
In Saskatchewan, sales were up by 6,000 head to 19,046. The pooled price on Index 100 hogs was $132.50, up $4 per hundred kilograms compared to the first week of the new year.
Alberta producers sent 40,000 head to market, 2,000 more than the previous week, for a pooled price of $128.50 per ckg.
Manitoba producers were extremely busy, selling 45,000 head (that’s 18,000 more than the first week of January) at an average price of $136 per ckg.
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Cattle trade lacklustre
Cattle markets, by comparison, were lacklustre. Poor weather kept ranchers from delivering and some auction markets didn’t bother opening up shop last week. As a result no prices are available for Manitoba or Saskatchewan feeder cattle.
Just a handful of bred female sales were logged last week, with cows quoted between $760-$1,160 and heifers from $880-$1,240.
Slaughter cattle trade movved a little faster last week, as many feedlots had moved a lot of their animals in December and packers were forced to bid aggressively in order to shake some animals loose.
By week’s end slaughter heifers were trading on par with steers; prices Jan. 6 were between $87 and $90.50.
With fewer heifers and steers available, trade in slaughter cows was lively on a limited offering last week. Canfax reports D1 and D2 cows trding between $55 and $63.50 per cwt., with some sales to $65.
