Better prices for cattle
Fed cattle price averages rose $4 per hundredweight on steers and $7.50 on heifers, said Canfax.
There was some weakness at the end of the week.
Volume traded was up by 45 percent to 20,567 head.
Packers appeared to be lifting cattle within days after purchasing in many cases. The top end of the price range was paid on top quality, high marbling heifers.
Alberta prices Feb. 26 were steers $82-$87.50 per cwt., flat rail $144-$146.65 and heifers $84.75-$87.85, flat rail $146.
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Canadian prices are once again being influenced by American markets. Despite its own BSE problems, fed prices and cutouts in the U.S. rose, helping push up Canadian prices.
American packers cut their kills hoping to force cut-out values higher. The question is whether retailers will push their prices higher or back off from buying to pressure wholesale prices lower, said Canfax.
U.S. cutout gained three to four percent with Choice up $5.30 US and Select up $3.40.
Canadian packers reported exports sales into Mexico remain heavy, while exports of middle meats to the U.S. have been steady.
Domestic business is steady with Calgary and Montreal wholesale prices for this week increasing. Montreal is up $3-$4 Cdn. per cwt. at $143-$145, while the Calgary market jumped $10 late in the week to $142-$145.
Fewer feeders, better prices
Alberta feeder auction market volume fell six percent from the week before, with just over 14,000 head trading. Prices were up significantly.
Steers 300-500 lb. were $7.50-$8.75 per cwt. stronger, 500-700 lb. were $10.50-$10.75 higher, and 700-900 lb. and heavier were up $4.75-$5.50.
Heifers 300-500 lb. increased by $11.25-$11.50, 500-700 lb. were up $8.25-$8.50 and 700-900 lb. and heavier were $5.25-$6.50 higher.
D1, 2 cows rose $1.25.
The feeder cattle market will remain volatile in the short run as producers struggle with the unknowns surrounding the industry, said Canfax.
The questions of possible financial aid as well as any news regarding the border will influence where producers see the market going.
Stock bred cows were $300-$650 on low quality, while good quality bred cows brought $650-$925. Bred heifers in northern Alberta were $300-$725, while in central and southern Alberta bred heifers brought $650-$825 in light trade.
Cow-calf pairs in northern Alberta were $500-$800 in limited trade.
More demand for pork
Increased demand for pork in the U.S., possibly due to exports, supported the wholesale cutout value.
According to HedgersEdge.com, packer profit margins improved during the week, inspiring a few plants to add Saturday shifts.
The Iowa-Minnesota daily direct hog price (plant mean, 51-52 percent, lean carcass converted to live weight) decreased about one percent from $46.41 US per cwt. on Feb. 23 to $45.92 on Feb. 27. The weaker loonie helped hold Canadian hog prices steady.
While many analysts have assumed that BSE and avian flu problems would increase foreign demand for the other white meat, Japan bought less pork this January than it did a year ago: 60,826 tonnes compared to 63,413 last year, Manitoba Agriculture said.
Lamb under pressure
Heavy lamb prices crashed at Ont-ario Stockyards, where 3,027 sheep and lambs and 182 goats traded.
Light lambs traded up to $10 cwt. lower, while all heavy lambs sold under extreme pressure at prices $30 per cwt. lower. Sheep and goats sold steady.
The following are in dollars per cwt.
Lambs, new crop ; $70 to $160, with highs to $185.
Lambs; 65 to 80 lb. $80-$146, highs to $167.50; 80 to 95 lb. $53-$72; highs to $110; over 95 lb. $52-$66, highs to $107. Feeder lambs $70-$125. Lambs over 120 lb. $30-$54.
Sheep $42-$54, highs to $67. Plainer types, all weights, $40-$54. Rams $50-$65.
