Heifers head to market
SASKATOON (Staff) – Warmer weather prompted cattle feeders to offer more than 15,000 head of slaughter cattle for sale in Alberta last week, a 30 percent increase from the last week of January.
Canfax reports a greater proportion of heifers are making up the slaughter mix, evidence that more were sent to feedlots last fall.
Average steer prices were steady for the week, but heifers were off by 50 cents a hundredweight.
Trade on Feb. 8 saw steers trading from $73.50-$75.80, with top sales from $76.20-$76.50 while heifers were priced at $73.60-$75. Top female sales were $75.45-$76.55.
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Slaughter cow prices were steady early in the week, however prices were lower towards the end of the week as warmer weather prompted bigger sales. D1 and D2 cows were $37-$51 per cwt., with top sales at $52-$53. Railgrade bids ranged from $84-$87.
Meanwhile, stronger prices also seemed to stimulate feeder cattle trade, Canfax said. Some early sales were higher by $1-$2 per cwt., but weren’t sustainable as more calves were sold later in the week.
Hog prices fluctuate
Prairie hog producers increased deliveries after three weeks of severe weather. Prices fluctuated, starting out the week softer but recovering by the end of the week. Sales in Saskatchewan were up by 9,000 head to 25,071 at an average index 100 pooled price of $153.10 per hundred kilograms.
Alberta producers sent 6,000 more hogs to market for a total of 41,387 at an average price of $161.40 per ckg while Manitoba’s sales were up by 5,000 head to 42,616 at a price of $155.11 per ckg.
