Cattle sales up
SASKATOON (Staff) – Despite having just four days of sales due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the volume of slaughter cattle sold last week increased by four percent over the last week of September, Canfax reported in its weekly market report.
But strong movement wasn’t the only good news last week. Prices were steady early and strengthened by $3 per hundredweight for steers and $2 for heifers. However, Canfax said average prices for heifers are still better for heifers than for steers – a trend since August because of their lighter carcasses.
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Canfax said a firmer U.S. market combined with local supplies that are getting a little tighter helped prices to rally. Steers on Oct. 12 were traded between $78-$81.75, while heifers were at $78.75-$82.
In the U.S., prices for cattle in the Southern Plains states started out the week at $62 (U.S.) per cwt., but increased to $65 by the end of the week.
That increase in price made for willing sellers. Feedlots in Nebraska sent 108,000 head to market; Kansas sent 96,000 head and Texas 122,000 head. That compares to 37,000, 56,000 and 58,000 head respectively the previous week.
The increase in the fed market helped to take the downward edge off the calf market, Canfax said. Yearling prices were steady, while calves were about 50 cents lower on average. Alberta volumes of about 45,000 head were down 16 percent compared to the same week in 1994.
Steers weighing 600-700 lbs. averaged $89.91 per cwt. in southern Alberta; $90.67 in central Alberta; $88.25 in northern Alberta; $91.30 in Saskatchewan; $79.13 in B.C. and $92.75 in Manitoba.
