Slaughter cattle prices down
SASKATOON (Staff) – Slaughter cattle prices opened the week at steady money, but trade throughout the week saw prices drop by 25 to 50 cents per hundredweight, Canfax reported.
Several loads were bought quietly by American buyers and sent south, which supported prices because local packers weren’t aggressive buyers. Heifers continue to make up more than their normal share of the slaughter mix at 46 percent.
Prices on Feb. 15 saw steers trading between $74-$75.25 with top prices paid between $75.65 and $76.25, while heifers were priced between $72.45-$75.25. One sale topped out at $76.60.
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Slaughter cow sales were $1-$2 per cwt. lower this past week, Canfax reported, as more cows were sold. Again, Canfax said packers seem comfortable with their inventory and aren’t being aggressive bidders. D1,2 cows were bid from $37-$50 per cwt., with top prices paid to $51.50, while railgrade bids ranged from $82-$85 per cwt.
While slaughter cattle prices slumped, feeder cattle prices advanced this past week, Canfax said. Averages were higher by 50 cents to $1 per cwt, despite volumes that were up 16 percent from the previous week.
More bred cows and heifers were sold last week, with prices steady. Cows ranged from $450-$840 with heifers the same, only $20 per head lower on the top end.
Hogs higher
Western Canadian hog prices increased last week, while other North American prices remained steady, the SPI Marketing Group reports.
The Index 100 pooled average price in Saskatchewan was up $4.70 per hundred kilograms; Alberta was up 80 cents per ckg and Manitoba was up $5.01 per ckg.
