Western Producer Livestock Report

Cattle prices steady

Fed cattle prices were mostly steady, said Canfax.

Live trade was mostly in the low $70s per hundredweight and dressed trade was around $120.

Volume traded on the spot market was about the same as the week before at slightly more than 21,000 head.

Alberta prices June 10 were steers $71.50-$73.50, flat rail $117.75-$120 and heifers $70.50-$71.25, flat rail $120. It was the third week in a row for prices around $70.

Supplies of market-ready cattle in commercial feedlots are not building and appear more than manageable for July, said Canfax, but it’s the unknown factor outside of these lots and outside of Alberta that cause the uncertainty of how many fed cattle are available in the short run.

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Canadian cut-out values were $4-$5 cwt. higher, largely following the U.S. lead. American cutouts continued higher with the Choice light up $5.70 US and the Select light up $7.25. These cutouts are now nine to 11 percent higher than a year ago.

Packers continue to keep kills running full out with last week’s kill at Canadian federal plants at 74,000 head. The cumulative total for 2004 is now up 19 percent.

Carcass wholesale pricing saw steady to slightly firmer levels with Montreal steady to $1 Cdn higher at $140-$146 and the Calgary market steady to $2 higher at $134-$138. Byproduct values started to improve, mostly from an increase in hide values.

Feeder falloff

Alberta feeder auction market volumes continued a seasonal decline, said Canfax. Slightly less than 9,500 head traded, down 24 percent from the week before. Prices were mixed.

Better moisture may have spurred last minute spending on grass steers in some areas. Steers 300-500 lb. were $2.75-$3 stronger, but on light volumes, and 500-800 lb. were up 75 cents-$3.25 from last week. Steers 800-900 lb. and heavier were steady to off 25 cents from the week before.

Light heifers were under pressure with 400-700 lb. down $3.25-$4.25. Heifers 700-800 lb. were down $1. Heifers 800-900 lb. and heavier traded $1.25-$2 stronger.

D1, 2 cows were down $1. Slaughter bulls fell $1, averaging $22.75.

Volumes and quality will become an issue as summer advances. D1, 2 cow volumes should start to decrease as producers move cows to pasture.

Stock bred cows in central and northern Alberta were $250-$600, while bred heifers in northern Alberta were $275-$525.

Cow-calf pairs were $300-$700 on medium quality and $700-$1,000 on good quality.

Feeder numbers surveyed

There were fewer cattle on feed in Alberta and Saskatchewan surveyed terminal feedlots with more than 1,000 head for June 1.

The number was down only 10 percent from last year at 763,848 head, the smallest year over year difference since last summer.

Marketings for the survey group were down eight percent from May 2003. The survey group marketed a total of 145,895 head, representing 72 percent of the total marketings.

Placements in all categories increased over last year with 800 lb. and heavier at 68,854 head, up 70 percent; 700-800 lb. at 34,964 head, a 45 percent increase; 600-700 lb. at 19,803 head, an 87 percent increase; and less than 600 lb. at 13,380 head, a 52 percent increase.

Other livestock

The U.S. wholesale pork cut-out value decreased by about $1 US last week to $81.33 per cwt., but the fact the price remained stronger than $80 indicates continuing retail demand, reported Manitoba Agriculture.

Packers responded, securing supplies with increased bids for market hogs. The Iowa-Minnesota daily direct hog price (plant mean, 51-52 percent, lean carcass converted to live weight) increased one percent to $59.47 per cwt. on June 10 after falling to $58.71 the day before.

The Chicago June contract closed at $78.40 per cwt. on June 10 and the December contract closed above $59 for the first time. Manitoba hog prices decreased by almost one percent compared to the week before.