Hogs soar
Tight market-ready hog supplies caused U.S. cash prices to jump higher.
The hog supply is becoming so tight that some U.S. packers are trimming their slaughter rates and one Smithfield plant on the U.S. East Coast suspended slaughter operations March 14.
These cuts reflect the damage being done by porcine epidemic diarrhea, which has killed millions of piglets.
Iowa-southern Minnesota hogs delivered to slaughter plants traded at up to $86 US per hundredweight March 14, up from $77-$77.50 March 7.
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The estimated pork cut-out value for March 14 was $124.75 per cwt., up from $111.99 March 7.
U.S. federal slaughter to March 15 was estimated at 2.024 million, down from 2.067 million the previous week. Slaughter totalled 2.194 million last year at the same time.
Bison rise
The Canadian Bison Association said Grade A bulls with desirable weights reached $4 Cdn per pound hot hanging weight. Grade A heifers sold up to $3.85. Support came from U.S. demand fuelled by the weaker loonie.
Quality 2013 bull calves weighing 400-500 pounds reached $2.65 per lb. live weight.
Heifers born in 2013 weighing 300-400 lb. reached $2.20 per lb.
Animals outside the desirable buyer specifications may be discounted.
Sheep and lambs stronger
Beaver Hill Auction in Tofield, Alta., reported that 1,085 sheep and 81 goats sold March 10.
Wool lambs lighter than 70 lb. were $155-$178 per cwt., 70-85 lb. were $153-$172, 86-105 lb. were $145-$159 and 106 lb. and heavier were $138-$149.
Wool rams were $50-$87 per cwt. Cull ewes were $47-$110 and bred ewes were $90-$200 per head.
Hair lambs lighter than 70 lb. were $145-$164 per cwt., 70-85 lb. were $130-$158, 86-105 lb. were $130-$149 and 106 lb. and heavier were $130-$140.
Hair rams were $55-$80 per cwt. Cull ewes were $44-$80 and ewe-lamb families were $150-$200 per unit.
Good kid goats lighter than 50 lb. were $192.50-$235. Those heavier than 50 lb. were $200-$250 per cwt. Nannies were $75-$127.50 per cwt. Billies were $110-$190.
Ontario Stockyards Inc. reported 1,278 sheep and lambs and 69 goats traded March 10.
All lambs traded actively with prices $5-$7 cwt. higher. Good sheep and goats sold steady.
Plainer and thicker sheep sold under pressure.
