Strike begins
Fed steers this week traded steady to 50 cents per hundredweight higher, while fed heifers were steady to 25 cents lower, said Canfax.
Because of the Thanksgiving holiday fewer cattle traded.
The strike at Tyson’s Lakeside plant at Brooks, Alta., started midweek.
Other Alberta plants bid higher than they had at the end of the previous week. Good movement of fed cattle into the United States at 14,000 head helped offset the effect of the strike. Over the week, 15,600 head traded, down from 20,000 the week before.
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Alberta prices Oct. 13 were steers $84-$86.75 per cwt. and heifers $86.45, flat rail $144.
Some cattle were processed at Lakeside by the end of the week.
A strong U.S. market is helping to support Canadian prices, said Canfax. The gap between the two is still too wide but should narrow into November, especially if Lakeside can process some cattle.
Wide spread
At the beginning of October, Choice cutouts in the U.S. were $10 Cdn per cwt. over the AAA cutouts. This was the widest spread in a long time, said Canfax.
U.S. cutouts last week were mixed with the Choice up 75 cents US and Select down 50 cents.
Calgary wholesale prices on handyweight steers for delivery this week were $146-$148.
Slow feeder trade
Alberta auction market volumes fell as farmers focused on harvest rather than marketing calves, said Canfax.
Through the week, 62,000 head traded, down seven percent from the week before, but 25 percent higher than the same week a year ago.
Averages were mixed with 300-500 pound steers up $3-$3.25, while 500-700 lb. were steady to slightly higher. Steers 800-900 lb. rose $1.50, but 900 lb. and heavier steers fell 50 cents.
Heifers 300-500 lb. fell 75 cents-$1.75. There was good demand on 500-600 lb. heifers, with averages up $1.50. Heifers 600-900 lb. traded steady to 75 cents lower and 900 lb. and heavier brought $1.75 more.
D1, 2 cows felt the effect of the Lakeside strike with averages down $2. Butcher bulls were also $1.25 lower.
Larger volumes should materialize once harvest is complete, said Canfax. With projected finish prices of about $1 per lb. now for early first quarter, yearling prices are expected to be steady to stronger as volumes taper off.
Stock bred cows in central and northern Alberta brought $600-$1,000 with tops to $1,200.
Bred heifers in northern Alberta were $400-$890. Cow-calf pairs in central and northern Alberta brought between $750-$1,000 on good quality with tops to $1,150.
Hog prices weaken
Ample hog supplies cut into hog prices last week despite a continued strong slaughter pace at U.S. hog plants.
The Iowa-southern Minnesota cash price on Oct. 14 was $48.50 US, compared to $50 on Oct. 7.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture composite pork carcass cut-out value was $69.13 on Oct. 14 compared to $70.73 on Oct. 7.
The hog market in Western Canada has been affected by a small reduction in Olymel’s operations in Red Deer as it prepares for its expansion, and a problem with a freezer at Maple Leaf’s Winnipeg plant.
Sheep, lambs strong
Ontario Stockyards Inc. said 1,219 sheep and lambs and 40 goats traded last week.
Due to the light offering, sheep, lambs and goats sold actively at strong prices.
