Pork prices brighten
United States hog supplies remained relatively tight last week despite the cleanup after the previous week’s storms.
Good retail pork sales led to higher wholesale prices for pork loins, butts and bellies. This encouraged U.S. packers to raise hog prices.
Iowa-southern Minnesota hog prices (plant top, 51-52 percent lean, live equivalent) rose to $33.25Ð$46 (U.S.) per hundredweight Feb. 4 with a mean of $41.51, up 44 cents from the previous Friday.
Manitoba Agriculture estimated the weighted average Manitoba Index 100 hog price, including premiums, was $156 per 100 kilograms for the week.
Read Also
Russian pulse trouble reports denied
Russia’s pulse crop will be larger than last year, which won’t help prices rally from their doldrums.
The department said it seems Manitoba is closer to becoming a price-setter as provincial hog prices are no longer based directly on the American price, less freight.
Over the past four weeks, the spread between average Manitoba hog prices at Manitoba plants and prices paid at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has almost disappeared.
Cattle too heavy
Fed cattle trade was steady last week and the ranges were tight compared to most weeks. Most of the cattle faced heavy weight penalties, said Canfax.
On average, steers dropped by 17 cents per hundredweight, and heifers were $1.82 lower.
Steers ranged from $90-$92.50 per cwt., flat rail from $155-$156.25. Heifers were spread from $90.25-$92.80, flat rail from $150-$155.85.
For the first time in three weeks, Canadian prices were equal to the U.S. market and a few sales south were made, but not enough to move the market, Canfax said.
Alberta prices Feb. 3 were steers $90.50-$92.50 per cwt., flat rail at $155.45. Heifers were $90.25-$92.80 per cwt., with no rail sales reported.
Volume for the week was down 35 percent at just over 10,000 head.
The Montreal wholesale beef market slipped $3 per cwt. to $160. Calgary wholesales were steady in a range of $154-168, with a top of $174.
Carcass weights are 24 lb. heavier on a year-to-date basis versus the same period last year.
Canfax expects the fed cattle trade will continue as it has for another few weeks. Packers seem comfortable with supply. Ample weight discounts are expected to continue.
Sometimes the last few head from the yearling run are the most difficult to sell, especially when feeder prices are relatively high, said Canfax.
Cows prices were fairly steady.
Most D1,2 cows were quoted from $55-$58 per cwt. with a few grain feds more than $60. D3 prices ranged from $42-$52 with sales to $55.
Feeder cattle prices were barely steady. However, good quality 700-900 lb. cattle saw a bit of recovery.
The market is still down from what it was three weeks ago but prices are strengthening on quality cattle.
Calf prices are virtually unchanged.
Feeder volumes were unchanged, at just under 38,000 head.
In stock cow trade, bred cows were $600-$1,510, with medium types at $850-$1,200, and the good quality cows $1,100-$1,400.
Bred heifers were $850-$1260. Cow-calf pairs were $1,150-$1,550 on a few quotes.
Bison sales
Bison prices from Kramer’s auction Jan. 31 were as follows:
Females 350-400 lb., eight sold, $1,350-$1,700, average $4.50 per lb.; 400-450 lb., 22 sold, $1,500-$2,350, av. $4.19; 450-500 lb., 18 sold, $1,700-$2,300, av. $4.35; more than 500 lb., nine sold, $2,000-$2,500, av. $4.24. Heifers born 1998, 29 sold, $2,000-$3,300, av. $3.55.
Bred cows 32 sold, $1,600-$4,500, av. $3,489 per head.
Males 350-400 lb., four sold, $850-$960, av. $2.44 per lb.; 400-450 lb., six sold, $1,000-$1,030, av. $2.36; 450-500 lb., 19 sold, $1,025-$1,160, av. $2.29; more than 500 lb., 15 sold, $1.090-$1,575, av. $2.33. Bulls born 1998, eight sold, $1,223-$2,000, av. $1,588 per head. Bulls born 1997, 11 sold, $1,100-$2,100, av. $1,527.
