Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $3 to $7 lower in comparison to week-ago levels as the market continues to digest the weaker fed market and softer wholesale beef values. Feedlot operators were more cautious, realizing the current prices don’t pencil profitably, while the deferred live cattle futures dropped like a power window. Financial risk […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market remains under pressure
Klassen: Narrow margins weigh on feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were under pressure the week ending Sept. 19, trading $5 to as much as $10 lower compared to seven days earlier. Negative feeding margins along with a major selloff in live cattle futures destroyed the buying enthusiasm that was evident earlier in August. Feedlot operators appeared to be in disarray, […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market momentum eases
Reading Time: 2 minutes The upward momentum in the feeder cattle complex appears to have subsided over the past week. Western Canadian prices were relatively stable with week-ago levels but there were cases of quality yearling packages (800-plus lbs.) trading $2 to $4 higher. Excellent pasture conditions and optimal weather have delayed feature sales this year in the eastern […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market firm, erratic
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were generally stronger this past week, with increased volatility at the higher price levels. Larger volumes were noted in Alberta, while Saskatchewan and Manitoba auction markets have yet to come on in full force. Buyers were more finicky in regards to quality features, causing some of the diverse price action. […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market shrugs off economic uncertainty
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded near historical highs this past week despite the chaos in the financial sector and weakness in the fed cattle market. Major operations continued to be aggressive on yearlings, setting a positive tone. The feedlot equity buildup over the past year appears to have increased the risk tolerance and quality […] Read more
Klassen: Major operations aggressively bid feeder cattle
Reading Time: 2 minutes The feeder cattle market in a world of its own but has a fair amount of new information — mostly negative — to digest as the fall run moves into full steam. Despite the upcoming uncertainty, western Canadian yearling prices were $4 to $8 above last week on very strong buying interest from larger operations; […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market tenacious
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices appeared to shrug off all negative economic news and divorce from the fed cattle complex this past week. Volumes were once again quite thin, characterized by varying quality. Feedlot operators were active on all fronts, especially in southern Alberta where the barley harvest is in full swing. Heavier yearlings on […] Read more
Klassen: Softer fed cattle market weighs on feeder prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle traded at similar levels to seven days earlier on very light volumes and little buying interest. Most auction barns were closed and cattle buyers are on holidays, so drawing market information is like the young cowboy at the high school dance — his mind is anywhere but on the markets. Limited […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices stabilize
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices found some footing this past week trading at similar levels to seven days earlier. Auction market volumes consisted of stragglers and late bloomers with minimal numbers on offer; buyers on hand continue to promote the scarcity principle which caused the market to stabilize. Feedlots operators were quite aggressive on 800 […] Read more
Klassen: Various views on the feeder cattle market
Reading Time: 2 minutes If you talked to three Western Canadian cattle buyers this week, you probably would receive four different views on the market. Certain auction barns were reflecting an average week-over-week decline of $3 to $5 but feature strings of cattle were back up to historical high prices. Early sales in the season are like tryouts at a […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
