The number of cattle moving through the auction rings seemed to slow down last week everywhere but Manitoba.
Over 5800 head of cattle were sold through Manitoba Auction Marts.
Stats show the average price for fed steers ranged from 412.75 per cwt for the 401-500 pound animals to $312.83 per cwt for the 800-900 pound category. Overall, the biggest price change was for the 401-500 pound steers which saw an increase of $60.25 per cwt.
The biggest price change for feeder heifers was in the 601-700 pound category which saw an increase of $57.83 per cwt. Feeder heifer prices ranged from $331.25 per cwt for the 401-500 weights to $257.50 per cwt for the 900+ category.
Slaughter cattle prices in Manitoba saw an $11.50 per cwt increase for D1 -D2 cows with the average price reported at $142.50 per cwt. D3 cows came in at $118.75 per cwt, slaughter bull prices averaged $161.69 per cwt.
In Saskatchewan, there was a significant drop in the number of cattle moving through the auction rings last week.
Canfax reported 2,730 head of feeder cattle sold last week compared to 7,607 head the previous week. Market volume was below the 3,692 head marketed during the same week last year. Year-to-date data shows Saskatchewan feeder cattle marketings are above the 2022 level at 260,495 head.
Provincial Cattle Specialist Fonda Froats says the change in the numbers is likely based on the timing of some special sales, and when producers have had to remove cattle from deteriorating pasture conditions due to drought.
Drought conditions and a tight feed supply have been the main contributors to the declining numbers in western Canada.
Saskatchewan's weekly cattle marketing report shows the average feeder steer prices ranged from $441.67 per cwt for the 300-400 pound weight category to $310.17 per cwt for the 900+ category. The largest price increase was in the 500-600 pound category, with prices up $27.50 per cwt to end the week averaging $381.00 per cwt.
Feeder heifer prices increased with prices ranging from $390.50 per cwt for the 300-400 pound category to $291.63 per cwt for the 800+ category. The largest price increase was in the 400-500 pound weight category, with prices improving an impressive $45.25 per cwt to end the week averaging $380.50 per cwt.
Sale volumes in Alberta for the week ending August 25 were too light for Canfax to establish any average fed steer price. The market was considered steady-to-weaker compared to the previous week when the average Alberta fed steer price reported was $232.73 per cwt.
Alberta's D2 cows averaged $149.42 per cwt, while D3's averaged $132.92 per cwt. The rail price for non-fed cattle in Alberta ranged between $285.00-290.00 per cwt, unchanged from the previous week.
Source : Pembinavalley online