Buyers herd up strong prices at spring cattle sale

Ken Johnston
Editor

While the market on cattle has been soft across the country, Stratton Sales Yard saw Winnipeg buyers leave empty handed as they could buy cattle cheaper at home.
The annual spring sale saw an increase of about 30 head sell over last year and Sales Manager Russell Richards said the prices were strong. “In the 500-600 lbs. (range) they fetched about $1.35/lb. and in the 400-500 lbs. (range) they got about $1.56/lb. and in the 6-700 lbs. (range) they got $1.20/lb.”
A total of 340 head of cattle were sold prior to an afternoon bull sale which according to Richards was very successful. There were 22 bulls registered both from local producers and from outside the area.
“The Black Angus bulls sold really well,” said Tom Morrish, President of the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association. Some of them sold for about $2,000 each.
“That price for is good for the Rainy River District and is comparable to other markets across the west,” said Richards.
Other breeds of bulls had mixed results. Morrish said the Charolais did okay but the Hereford’s struggled. “It just depends who is in the crowd and what they are looking to buy,” explained Morrish.
While one producer told the Record Saturday that they stayed away from the sale because the number of head were low, Richards said that the market everywhere across the west is soft right now. “I know of three loads that stayed home because of soft markets. They are waiting for better prices before they sell,” said Richards.
“As (sales) manager I wonder if it is worth the chance having a spring sale. But in the end the support has been good and it gives people a chance to sell some cattle and a chance to market for future sales,” said Richards.
In addition to the cattle, four horses were also sold. That, says Richards, is not unusual for the spring sale. “We keep it open and often have some pigs and other animals sold at the spring sale.” The sales yard in Stratton is equipped to handle just about any kind of farm animals to be sold.