Compare Some Prices

[kato]

How be we do a little demonstration of how the packers worked the subsidy game?

We sold 3 fats on Sept.9,2003. This was a week after the subsidy was suspended, and the week before it was re-instated.

If my memory serves me correctly, they were worth considerably less the week before and the week after we sold these. These had been on a waiting list for weeks to go to Alberta, but of course they weren't buying right then because they needed to get their own cattle through the system. Our auction mart had over 900 waiting to go, that didn't make it in time.

The prices we received were as follows:
1 slaughter heifer - 1180 lb. @ 73.50
1 slaughter heifer - 1240 lb. @ 76.75
1 slaughter steer - 1320 lb. @ 78.25

These were sold at Heartland Auction mart in Brandon Sept 9/03, and were Charolais.

Now, it someone has some prices from the week before and after, we could do a little comparison.

Note: even though these prices were pretty good, considering, I think they may have qualified for a bit of subsidy if it had been in effect. As it was, we got nothing.

[bombay_43]

Here is a web site for you to check the prices.
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/app21/rtw/index.jsp

Just click on the Livestock price review on the right hand side of the page. Pick what date, and it will show all prices that week, the week before, and that same week a year prior.

Very interesting!

[kato]

Ours must have gone East. They sold better than Alberta that week.

According to the link.
Aug 15 Steers live price - 34 to 38
and heifers were 35-38.

Aug 22 - steers 35-38 . heifers 35

Aug 29 - steers 57.3-64.6 heifers 59-65.5 (This was when the subsidy ended)

Sept 5 - Steers 60-73.15 heifers 61.5-75.5

Is my math wrong, or is this almost a doubling in price in a little over one week? Imagine that happening the very week the subsidy ended.

Coincidence? MMMM.....