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Calf prices holding as the fall run begins

Oct 14, 2020 | 4:29 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – With the fall calf run moving into full gear, small price declines were reported last week.

Feed grain prices, namely corn and barley, continue to rise, but there has not been a significant drop in calf prices.

Saskatchewan Cattlemen Association (SCA) chair Arnold Balicki said he is surprised prices have been holding up.

“We thought it would go down. You look at the corn they produce in the States and it is down about half of what they predicted it to be so that will increase the price of barley,” Balicki said. “We thought for sure the price is going to go down on these calves but that hasn’t happened so we’re pretty happy about that.”

Balicki said he is expecting demand will continue to be there several months down the road.

“That forward thinking, they look at the futures and it’s looking good. We have Western Livestock Price Insurance risk management for the feedlot people so that helps. There is a couple of new feedlots coming on stream so there’s more space for these calves,” he said.

Balicki added if COVID-19 stays away from the meat packing plants he expects it to be a good run.

SCA will not be holding its usual fall district meetings due to COVID-19. Instead it will host an online open information session on Oct. 28th.

The only in-person meeting will be for district 7 on Oct. 20 in Kerrobert. It is being held to elect a new director. The two candidates running are William Coventry from Mantario and Joleen Shea from the Kindersley area. The successful candidate will replace Paula Larson.

alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF