Slaughter cattle prices expected steady
STAFF – Slaughter cattle prices held steady to slightly stronger last week and the outlook is also steady.
Canfax said the price range is wide, reflecting the number of days on feed, which varied from 60 to 140. As cattle costs inch higher, packers’ profits are shrinking and some plants have closed for a day or reduced kill rates.
The U.S. is short of well-finished choice grade animals and Midwest packers were willing to pay up to $75 U.S. per hundredweight.
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The cow trade saw fewer animals on offer, reflecting producers’ decisions to feed them with low cost barley instead of selling at recent low prices.
Feeder cattle prices also firmed last week thanks to lower barley prices, strong feedlot margins, strong local demand and fewer cattle coming in.
Prices varied based on quality. Canfax predicted the feeder market will hold steady for the next few weeks. It expects the total number of feeders and calves sold this fall will be down because producers are backgrounding or custom feeding more of their stock.
Hog market up
Hog markets rose again last week, gaining a couple of cents per kilogram.
This reflected the U.S. market where there is good demand for ham as consumers prepare for the American Thanksgiving holiday.
Sheep in demand
The Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board reported good demand for fat lambs. Prices were $1.15 a pound for lambs over 80 lb. and $1.12 for those under 80 lb. Slaughter sheep sold for 30 cents a lb. and goats for 45 cents.
