Southern Manitoba | Western Manitoba | Southern Alberta
Southern Manitoba, courtesy of Killarney Auction Mart
This week,1,215 cattle went through the ring at Killarney Auction Mart:
- five per cent butchers
- 20 per cent yearlings
- 75 per cent calves
The last week of September often sees the best quality calves of the fall. This is the week when you see Jan./Feb. steer calves start to show up in the sales ring. The market for these calves was stronger as Ontario feedyards started to fill pens. Last week we saw 580-lb. steers top the market at four dollars. This week we saw some 625-lb.steershit that four-dollar mark.
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While there are (and always should be) discounts for frozen ears, horns etc., animals are still bringing more than the best ones used to. Over half of the sale will make their way to Ontario either now or after spending some time in a Prairie feedlot. There are still some yearling heifers going south. Corn silage is starting to get chopped, allowing local feedlots to start putting pens together. Demand is very strong from all directions for feeder cattle.
Cull cows and bulls have hit their peak and are unlikely to get higher as we get further into fall. Overall, this market continues to surpass expectations and brings large smiles from the sellers!
Western Manitoba, courtesy of Heartland Livestock Services
Heartland Livestock Service saw 4,600 cattle go through the ring at Virden, Man., with 75 percent fresh calves, 20 per cent feeders and five per cent butcher cattle.
Very strong market this week—steers are “crazy high.” Steer prices were up$5/cwt in most classes, and up $10/cwt in 800-lb. or heavier steers. Heifers were mixed, with the lightest-weight calves up $5/cwt., the heaviest class steady and all other weights down $5/cwt. Cows and bulls were both down $5/cwt. About 40 per cent of cattle headed south this week, 30 per cent to Eastern buyers, 20 per cent to southern Alberta, and the remaining 10 per cent to local buyers.
A short-term trend this week saw extreme Eastern demand paired with big returns, which made for an incredible market. Advice to producers: Sell, sell, sell! There is almost no way the steers will remain at these levels.
Southern Alberta, courtesy of Perlich Bros.
Calf summary:
- 21 Black Angus steer calves 445 lbs @ $458.00
- 22 Black Angus steer calves 482 lbs @ $443.00
- 17 Black Angus heifer calves 415 lbs @ $414.00
- Fall run calf sales start next week.
- Calf sales are filling up, call us today! 403-329-3101
Yearling summary:
- 97 Black Angus heifers 804 lbs @ $295.50, off grass
- 42 Black Angus heifers 850 lbs @ $293.00, off grass
- 16 Red Angus heifers776 lbs @ $306.00, off grass
- 51 black-cross heifers 1,027 lbs @ $264.00
Slaughter cows hit the $200 mark this week
