
Finishers — page 2

Klassen: Fed cattle prices supporting calf market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $139 to $140 last week, up $1 to $2 from seven days earlier. Strength in the nearby fed cattle market along with the recent rally in the live cattle futures has been supportive for calves under 600 pounds. Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder cattle market volatility continues
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3 lower to $3 higher. Prices were generally steady to $3 higher on Friday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered its estimate for second-quarter beef production by 125 million lbs. in Thursday’s world agricultural supply and demand estimates (WASDE). Fed and feeder cattle futures […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market takes direction from live cattle futures
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $4 lower; midweight calves traded $3 lower to $3 higher and calves under 550 lbs. were relatively unchanged. Yearling supplies are limited at this time of year but demand is also hard to find. These cattle will come on the fed market during the […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes on demand hopes
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier; however, market reports were quite variable depending on the region and weight category. In most cases, prices for calves under 550 lbs. were $2 to as much as $10 higher while values in the heavier weight categories were $3 lower to $3 […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market incorporates risk discount
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were unchanged; however, calves weighing 550 to 800 lbs. traded $3-$5 lower. The market for calves under 550 lbs. traded $5 lower to $3 higher. Early in the week, prices were showing some strength in the lighter weight categories but buying enthusiasm waned from Wednesday through Friday. […] Read more

Klassen: Calf prices ratcheting higher
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged; mid-weight calves were also unchanged while lighter calves traded steady to as much as $6 higher. Alberta and Saskatchewan have experienced adverse weather over the past couple of weeks; however, feedlots in southern Alberta appeared to be more aggressive for […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market experiencing bottoming behaviour
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were down $4-$6 on average; however, mid-weight and lighter calves traded $4 lower to as much as $8 higher. The market was extremely variable for calves. Early in the week, prices in the Lethbridge area were actually $10 above values from seven days earlier but this faded […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market remains under pressure
Pre-election commodity trading in 'risk-off' mode
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2-$5 lower on average; calves under 650 lbs. appeared to trade $3-$8 lower with significant pressure on the weight category between 550 and 650 lbs. Moderate demand surfaced on quality yearlings but major operations appeared to back away from the cattle in the heavier weight […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market grinds lower
'Is there no grain in this country?'
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, prices for western Canadian yearlings weighing over 900 lbs. were down $4-$8 on average; yearlings weighing between 800-900 lbs. were down $2-$4; calves under 800 lbs. were down $8-$12, with the exception of Manitoba, where lighter calves traded $3-$5 below week-ago levels. Feedlot operators are asking, is there no grain in […] Read more

Klassen: Weather, COVID, feed grains pressure feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $2-$4 lower on average; calves traded $2 to as much as $6 below week-ago levels. Southern Alberta received its first snowfall of the season last week, which hindered demand for fresh replacements. Feedlots always incorporate a risk discount when the first snowfall of the year materializes, […] Read more
As Canada’s oldest farm publication, with roots back to 1886, Country Guide is about the business of farming, providing farmers with strategic business thinking. In each issue, enjoy stories on Profiles, Products and People.