Fat cattle prices strengthen
SASKATOON (Staff) -ÊSlaughter cattle trade opened the week steady with the previous week’s prices, but by midweek prices had strengthened by $1 to $1.50 per hundredweight.
Alberta volume was relatively light at 13,000 head, Canfax said, and most moved early in the week to local buyers. Consequently, weekly average prices were steady.
Trade on June 27 had steer prices from $73.10-$75.05 per cwt. while heifers were bid from $72.45-$72.75. Steers on the rail traded from $123.55.
Montreal and Calgary wholesale asking prices are down by $1 per cwt., from $153 in the East and $122-$128 in the West. Beef demand and movement are anticipated to stay steady into the first week of July.
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With Canadian packers shut down on July 1 and their U.S. counterparts on July 4, Canfax doesn’t anticipate much change in prices in the short term. It is generally anticipated beef movement in July won’t keep up to the pace set in May and June.
A lack of animals kept the slaughter cow prices buoyant last week, with a gain of $1-$2 per cwt. D1 and D2 cows were bid from $40-$50 per cwt., with top prices paid to $52. Cows on the rail were bid from $82-$88.75.
Feeders up
Canfax said while supplies of feeder cattle aren’t burdensome, the seasonal supply is more plentiful than it usually is. Buyers, especially Alberta’s feedlots, remain interested in the 800-lb.-plus calves with good quality types higher by $1-$2 per cwt. for the week. Easier barley prices also helped push feeder prices higher.
